bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytoplasmic Tail Phosphorylation of the α-Factor Receptor Is Required for Its Ubiquitination and Internalization
Authors: Hicke Linda , Zanolari Bettina , Riezman Howard
Published: July 2002

G protein–coupled (GPC) receptors are phosphorylated in response to ligand binding, a modification that promotes receptor desensitization or downregulation. The α-factor pheromone receptor (Ste2p) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a GPC receptor that is hyperphosphorylated and ubiquitinated upon binding α-factor. Ubiquitination triggers Ste2p internalization into the endocytic pathway. Here we demonstrate that phosphorylation of Ste2p promotes downregulation by positively regulating ubiquitination and internalization. Serines and a lysine are essential elements of the Ste2p SINNDAKSS internalization signal that can mediate both constitutive and ligand-stimulated endocytosis. The SINNDAKSS serines are required for receptor phosphorylation which, in turn, facilitates ubiquitination of the neighboring lysine. Constitutive phosphorylation is required to promote constitutive internalization, and is also a prerequisite for ligand-induced phosphorylation at or near the SINNDAKSS sequence. Mutants defective in yeast casein kinase I homologues are unable to internalize α-factor, and do not phosphorylate or ubiquitinate the receptor, indicating that these kinases play a direct or indirect role in phosphorylating the receptor. Finally, we provide evidence that the primary function of phosphorylation controlled by the SINNDAKSS sequence is to trigger receptor internalization, demonstrating that phosphorylation-dependent endocytosis is an important mechanism for the downregulation of GPC receptor activity.
Detection of a Novel Intraneuronal Pool of Insoluble Amyloid β Protein that Accumulates with Time in Culture
Authors: Skovronsky Daniel M. , Doms Robert W. , Lee Virginia M.-Y.
Published: July 2002

The amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is produced at several sites within cultured human NT2N neurons with Aβ1-42 specifically generated in the endoplasmic reticulum/intermediate compartment. Since Aβ is found as insoluble deposits in senile plaques of the AD brain, and the Aβ peptide can polymerize into insoluble fibrils in vitro, we examined the possibility that Aβ1-40, and particularly the more highly amyloidogenic Aβ1-42, accumulate in an insoluble pool within NT2N neurons. Remarkably, we found that formic acid extraction of the NT2N cells solubilized a pool of previously undetectable Aβ that accounted for over half of the total intracellular Aβ. Aβ1-42 was more abundant than Aβ1-40 in this pool, and most of the insoluble Aβ1-42 was generated in the endoplasmic reticulum/intermediate compartment pathway. High levels of insoluble Aβ were also detected in several nonneuronal cell lines engineered to overexpress the amyloid-β precursor protein. This insoluble intracellular pool of Aβ was exceptionally stable, and accumulated in NT2N neurons in a time-dependent manner, increasing 12-fold over a 7-wk period in culture. These novel findings suggest that Aβ amyloidogenesis may be initiated within living neurons rather than in the extracellular space. Thus, the data presented here require a reexamination of the prevailing view about the pathogenesis of Aβ deposition in the AD brain.
A Dynein Light Chain Is Essential for the Retrograde Particle Movement of Intraflagellar Transport (IFT)
Authors: Pazour Gregory J. , Wilkerson Curtis G. , Witman George B.
Published: July 2002

Several enzymes, including cytoplasmic and flagellar outer arm dynein, share an Mr 8,000 light chain termed LC8. The function of this chain is unknown, but it is highly conserved between a wide variety of organisms. We have identified deletion alleles of the gene (fla14) encoding this protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. These mutants have short, immotile flagella with deficiencies in radial spokes, in the inner and outer arms, and in the beak-like projections in the B tubule of the outer doublet microtubules. Most dramatically, the space between the doublet microtubules and the flagellar membrane contains an unusually high number of rafts, the particles translocated by intraflagellar transport (IFT) (Kozminski, K.G., P.L. Beech, and J.L. Rosenbaum. 1995. J. Cell Biol. 131:1517–1527). IFT is a rapid bidirectional movement of rafts under the flagellar membrane along axonemal microtubules. Anterograde IFT is dependent on a kinesin whereas the motor for retrograde IFT is unknown. Anterograde IFT is normal in the LC8 mutants but retrograde IFT is absent; this undoubtedly accounts for the accumulation of rafts in the flagellum. This is the first mutation shown to specifically affect retrograde IFT; the fact that LC8 loss affects retrograde IFT strongly suggests that cytoplasmic dynein is the motor that drives this process. Concomitant with the accumulation of rafts, LC8 mutants accumulate proteins that are components of the 15-16S IFT complexes (Cole, D.G., D.R. Deiner, A.L. Himelblau, P.L. Beech, J.C. Fuster, and J.L. Rosenbaum. 1998. J. Cell Biol. 141:993–1008), confirming that these complexes are subunits of the rafts. Polystyrene microbeads are still translocated on the surface of the flagella of LC8 mutants, indicating that the motor for flagellar surface motility is different than the motor for retrograde IFT.
Lumican Regulates Collagen Fibril Assembly: Skin Fragility and Corneal Opacity in the Absence of Lumican
Authors: Chakravarti Shukti , Magnuson Terry , Lass Jonathan H. , Jepsen Karl J. , LaMantia Christian , Carroll Heidi
Published: July 2002

Lumican, a prototypic leucine-rich proteoglycan with keratan sulfate side chains, is a major component of the cornea, dermal, and muscle connective tissues. Mice homozygous for a null mutation in lumican display skin laxity and fragility resembling certain types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. In addition, the mutant mice develop bilateral corneal opacification. The underlying connective tissue defect in the homozygous mutants is deregulated growth of collagen fibrils with a significant proportion of abnormally thick collagen fibrils in the skin and cornea as indicated by transmission electron microscopy. A highly organized and regularly spaced collagen fibril matrix typical of the normal cornea is also missing in these mutant mice. This study establishes a crucial role for lumican in the regulation of collagen assembly into fibrils in various connective tissues. Most importantly, these results provide a definitive link between a necessity for lumican in the development of a highly organized collagenous matrix and corneal transparency.
Claudin-1 and -2: Novel Integral Membrane Proteins Localizing at Tight Junctions with No Sequence Similarity to Occludin
Authors: Furuse Mikio , Fujita Kohji , Hiiragi Takashi , Fujimoto Kazushi , Tsukita Shoichiro
Published: July 2002

Occludin is the only known integral membrane protein localizing at tight junctions (TJ), but recent targeted disruption analysis of the occludin gene indicated the existence of as yet unidentified integral membrane proteins in TJ. We therefore re-examined the isolated junction fraction from chicken liver, from which occludin was first identified. Among numerous components of this fraction, only a broad silver-stained band ∼22 kD was detected with the occludin band through 4 M guanidine-HCl extraction as well as sonication followed by stepwise sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Two distinct peptide sequences were obtained from the lower and upper halves of the broad band, and similarity searches of databases allowed us to isolate two full-length cDNAs encoding related mouse 22-kD proteins consisting of 211 and 230 amino acids, respectively. Hydrophilicity analysis suggested that both bore four transmembrane domains, although they did not show any sequence similarity to occludin. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that both proteins tagged with FLAG or GFP were targeted to and incorporated into the TJ strand itself. We designated them as “claudin-1” and “claudin-2”, respectively. Although the precise structure/function relationship of the claudins to TJ still remains elusive, these findings indicated that multiple integral membrane proteins with four putative transmembrane domains, occludin and claudins, constitute TJ strands.
Mlc1p Is a Light Chain for the Unconventional Myosin Myo2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Stevens Richard C. , Davis Trisha N.
Published: July 2002

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the unconventional myosin Myo2p is of fundamental importance in polarized growth. We explore the role of the neck region and its associated light chains in regulating Myo2p function. Surprisingly, we find that precise deletion of the six IQ sites in the neck region results in a myosin, Myo2-Δ6IQp, that can support the growth of a yeast strain at 90% the rate of a wild-type isogenic strain. We exploit this mutant in a characterization of the light chains of Myo2p. First, we demonstrate that the localization of calmodulin to sites of polarized growth largely depends on the IQ sites in the neck of Myo2p. Second, we demonstrate that a previously uncharacterized protein, Mlc1p, is a myosin light chain of Myo2p. MLC1 (YGL106w) is an essential gene that exhibits haploinsufficiency. Reduced levels of MYO2 overcome the haploinsufficiency of MLC1. The mutant MYO2-Δ6IQ is able to suppress haploinsufficiency but not deletion of MLC1. We used a modified gel overlay assay to demonstrate a direct interaction between Mlc1p and the neck of Myo2p. Overexpression of MYO2 is toxic, causing a severe decrease in growth rate. When MYO2 is overexpressed, Myo2p is fourfold less stable than in a wild-type strain. High copies of MLC1 completely overcome the growth defects and increase the stability of Myo2p. Our results suggest that Mlc1p is responsible for stabilizing this myosin by binding to the neck region.
Involvement of an Actomyosin Contractile Ring in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cytokinesis
Authors: Bi Erfei , Maddox Paul , Lew Daniel J. , Salmon E.D. , McMillan John N. , Yeh Elaine , Pringle John R.
Published: July 2002

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mother cell and bud are connected by a narrow neck. The mechanism by which this neck is closed during cytokinesis has been unclear. Here we report on the role of a contractile actomyosin ring in this process. Myo1p (the only type II myosin in S. cerevisiae) forms a ring at the presumptive bud site shortly before bud emergence. Myo1p ring formation depends on the septins but not on F-actin, and preexisting Myo1p rings are stable when F-actin is depolymerized. The Myo1p ring remains in the mother–bud neck until the end of anaphase, when a ring of F-actin forms in association with it. The actomyosin ring then contracts to a point and disappears. In the absence of F-actin, the Myo1p ring does not contract. After ring contraction, cortical actin patches congregate at the mother–bud neck, and septum formation and cell separation rapidly ensue. Strains deleted for MYO1 are viable; they fail to form the actin ring but show apparently normal congregation of actin patches at the neck. Some myo1Δ strains divide nearly as efficiently as wild type; other myo1Δ strains divide less efficiently, but it is unclear whether the primary defect is in cytokinesis, septum formation, or cell separation. Even cells lacking F-actin can divide, although in this case division is considerably delayed. Thus, the contractile actomyosin ring is not essential for cytokinesis in S. cerevisiae. In its absence, cytokinesis can still be completed by a process (possibly localized cell–wall synthesis leading to septum formation) that appears to require septin function and to be facilitated by F-actin.
The Symmetrical Structure of Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) and MukB Proteins: Long, Antiparallel Coiled Coils, Folded at a Flexible Hinge
Authors: Melby Thomas E. , Ciampaglio Charles N. , Briscoe Gina , Erickson Harold P.
Published: July 2002

Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) proteins function in chromosome condensation and several other aspects of DNA processing. They are large proteins characterized by an NH2-terminal nucleotide triphosphate (NTP)-binding domain, two long segments of coiled coil separated by a hinge, and a COOH-terminal domain. Here, we have visualized by EM the SMC protein from Bacillus subtilis (BsSMC) and MukB from Escherichia coli, which we argue is a divergent SMC protein. Both BsSMC and MukB show two thin rods with globular domains at the ends emerging from the hinge. The hinge appears to be quite flexible: the arms can open up to 180°, separating the terminal domains by 100 nm, or close to near 0°, bringing the terminal globular domains together.

A surprising observation is that the ∼300–amino acid–long coiled coils are in an antiparallel arrangement. Known coiled coils are almost all parallel, and the longest antiparallel coiled coils known previously are 35–45 amino acids long. This antiparallel arrangement produces a symmetrical molecule with both an NH2- and a COOH-terminal domain at each end. The SMC molecule therefore has two complete and identical functional domains at the ends of the long arms. The bifunctional symmetry and a possible scissoring action at the hinge should provide unique biomechanical properties to the SMC proteins.
Characterization of the Kinetochore Binding Domain of CENP-E Reveals Interactions with the Kinetochore Proteins CENP-F and hBUBR1
Authors: Chan G.K.T. , Schaar B.T. , Yen T.J.
Published: July 2002

We have identified a 350–amino acid domain in the kinetochore motor CENP-E that specifies kinetochore binding in mitosis but not during interphase. The kinetochore binding domain was used in a yeast two-hybrid screen to isolate interacting proteins that included the kinetochore proteins CENP-E, CENP-F, and hBUBR1, a BUB1-related kinase that was found to be mutated in some colorectal carcinomas (Cahill, D.P., C. Lengauer, J. Yu, G.J. Riggins, J.K. Wilson, S.D. Markowitz, K.W. Kinzler, and B. Vogelstein. 1998. Nature. 392:300–303). CENP-F, hBUBR1, and CENP-E assembled onto kinetochores in sequential order during late stages of the cell cycle. These proteins therefore define discrete steps along the kinetochore assembly pathway.

Kinetochores of unaligned chromosome exhibited stronger hBUBR1 and CENP-E staining than those of aligned chromosomes. CENP-E and hBUBR1 remain colocalized at kinetochores until mid-anaphase when hBUBR1 localized to portions of the spindle midzone that did not overlap with CENP-E. As CENP-E and hBUBR1 can coimmunoprecipitate with each other from HeLa cells, they may function as a motor–kinase complex at kinetochores. However, the complex distribution pattern of hBUBR1 suggests that it may regulate multiple functions that include the kinetochore and the spindle midzone.
A Single Gene Product, Claudin-1 or -2, Reconstitutes Tight Junction Strands and Recruits Occludin in Fibroblasts
Authors: Furuse Mikio , Sasaki Hiroyuki , Fujimoto Kazushi , Tsukita Shoichiro
Published: July 2002

Three integral membrane proteins, clau- din-1, -2, and occludin, are known to be components of tight junction (TJ) strands. To examine their ability to form TJ strands, their cDNAs were introduced into mouse L fibroblasts lacking TJs. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that both FLAG-tagged claudin-1 and -2 were highly concentrated at cell contact sites as planes through a homophilic interaction. In freeze-fracture replicas of these contact sites, well-developed networks of strands were identified that were similar to TJ strand networks in situ and were specifically labeled with anti-FLAG mAb. In glutaraldehyde-fixed samples, claudin-1–induced strands were largely associated with the protoplasmic (P) face as mostly continuous structures, whereas claudin-2–induced strands were discontinuous at the P face with complementary grooves at the extracellular (E) face which were occupied by chains of particles. Although occludin was also concentrated at cell contact sites as dots through its homophilic interaction, freeze-fracture replicas identified only a small number of short strands that were labeled with anti-occludin mAb. However, when occludin was cotransfected with claudin-1, it was concentrated at cell contact sites as planes to be incorporated into well- developed claudin-1–based strands. These findings suggested that claudin-1 and -2 are mainly responsible for TJ strand formation, and that occludin is an accessory protein in some function of TJ strands.
Osteoblast Recruitment and Bone Formation Enhanced by Cell Matrix–associated Heparin-binding Growth-associated Molecule (HB-GAM)
Authors: Imai Shinji , Kaksonen Marko , Raulo Erkki , Kinnunen Tarja , Fages Carole , Meng Xiaojuan , Lakso Merja , Rauvala Heikki
Published: July 2002

Bone has an enormous capacity for growth, regeneration, and remodeling. This capacity is largely due to induction of osteoblasts that are recruited to the site of bone formation. The recruitment of osteoblasts has not been fully elucidated, though the immediate environment of the cells is likely to play a role via cell– matrix interactions. We show here that heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM), an extracellular matrix–associated protein that enhances migratory responses in neurons, is prominently expressed in the cell matrices that act as target substrates for bone formation. Intriguingly, N-syndecan, which acts as a receptor for HB-GAM, is expressed by osteoblasts/osteoblast precursors, whose ultrastructural phenotypes suggest active cell motility. The hypothesis that HB-GAM/N-syndecan interaction mediates osteoblast recruitment, as inferred from developmental studies, was tested using osteoblast-type cells that express N-syndecan abundantly. These cells migrate rapidly to HB-GAM in a haptotactic transfilter assay and in a migration assay where HB-GAM patterns were created on culture wells. The mechanism of migration is similar to that previously described for the HB-GAM–induced migratory response of neurons. Our hypothesis that HB-GAM/N-syndecan interaction participates in regulation of osteoblast recruitment was tested using two different in vivo models: an adjuvant-induced arthritic model and a transgenic model. In the adjuvant-induced injury model, the expression of HB-GAM and of N-syndecan is strongly upregulated in the periosteum accompanying the regenerative response of bone. In the transgenic model, the HB-GAM expression is maintained in mesenchymal tissues with the highest expression in the periosteum. The HB-GAM transgenic mice develop a phenotype characterized by an increased bone thickness. HB-GAM may thus play an important role in bone formation, probably by mediating recruitment and attachment of osteoblasts/osteoblast precursors to the appropriate substrates for deposition of new bone.
Integrin-dependent Control of Translation: Engagement of Integrin αIIbβ3 Regulates Synthesis of Proteins in Activated Human Platelets
Authors: Pabla Ravinder , Weyrich Andrew S. , Dixon Dan A. , Bray Paul F. , McIntyre Thomas M. , Prescott Stephen M. , Zimmerman Guy A.
Published: July 2002

Integrins are widely expressed plasma membrane adhesion molecules that tether cells to matrix proteins and to one another in cell–cell interactions. Integrins also transmit outside-in signals that regulate functional responses of cells, and are known to influence gene expression by regulating transcription. In previous studies we found that platelets, which are naturally occurring anucleate cytoplasts, translate preformed mRNA transcripts when they are activated by outside-in signals. Using strategies that interrupt engagement of integrin αIIbβ3 by fibrinogen and platelets deficient in this integrin, we found that αIIbβ3 regulates the synthesis of B cell lymphoma 3 (Bcl-3) when platelet aggregation is induced by thrombin. We also found that synthesis of Bcl-3, which occurs via a specialized translation control pathway regulated by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), is induced when platelets adhere to immobilized fibrinogen in the absence of thrombin and when integrin αIIbβ3 is engaged by a conformation-altering antibody against integrin αIIbβ3. Thus, outside-in signals delivered by integrin αIIbβ3 are required for translation of Bcl-3 in thrombin-stimulated aggregated platelets and are sufficient to induce translation of this marker protein in the absence of thrombin. Engagement of integrin α2β1 by collagen also triggered synthesis of Bcl-3. Thus, control of translation may be a general mechanism by which surface adhesion molecules regulate gene expression.
Characterization of Two Related Drosophila γ-tubulin Complexes that Differ in Their Ability to Nucleate Microtubules
Authors: Oegema Karen , Wiese Christiane , Martin Ona C. , Milligan Ronald A. , Iwamatsu Akihiro , Mitchison Timothy J. , Zheng Yixian
Published: July 2002

γ-tubulin exists in two related complexes in Drosophila embryo extracts (Moritz, M., Y. Zheng, B.M. Alberts, and K. Oegema. 1998. J. Cell Biol. 142:1– 12). Here, we report the purification and characterization of both complexes that we name γ-tubulin small complex (γTuSC; ∼280,000 D) and Drosophila γTuRC (∼2,200,000 D). In addition to γ-tubulin, the γTuSC contains Dgrip84 and Dgrip91, two proteins homologous to the Spc97/98p protein family. The γTuSC is a structural subunit of the γTuRC, a larger complex containing about six additional polypeptides. Like the γTuRC isolated from Xenopus egg extracts (Zheng, Y., M.L. Wong, B. Alberts, and T. Mitchison. 1995. Nature. 378:578–583), the Drosophila γTuRC can nucleate microtubules in vitro and has an open ring structure with a diameter of 25 nm. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals a modular structure with ∼13 radially arranged structural repeats. The γTuSC also nucleates microtubules, but much less efficiently than the γTuRC, suggesting that assembly into a larger complex enhances nucleating activity. Analysis of the nucleotide content of the γTuSC reveals that γ-tubulin binds preferentially to GDP over GTP, rendering γ-tubulin an unusual member of the tubulin superfamily.
Control of Mitotic Spindle Position by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Formin Bni1p
Authors: Lee Laifong , Klee Saskia K. , Evangelista Marie , Boone Charles , Pellman David
Published: July 2002

Alignment of the mitotic spindle with the axis of cell division is an essential process in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is mediated by interactions between cytoplasmic microtubules and the cell cortex. We found that a cortical protein, the yeast formin Bni1p, was required for spindle orientation. Two striking abnormalities were observed in bni1Δ cells. First, the initial movement of the spindle pole body (SPB) toward the emerging bud was defective. This phenotype is similar to that previously observed in cells lacking the kinesin Kip3p and, in fact, BNI1 and KIP3 were found to be in the same genetic pathway. Second, abnormal pulling interactions between microtubules and the cortex appeared to cause preanaphase spindles in bni1Δ cells to transit back and forth between the mother and the bud. We therefore propose that Bni1p may localize or alter the function of cortical microtubule-binding sites in the bud. Additionally, we present evidence that other bipolar bud site determinants together with cortical actin are also required for spindle orientation.
Novel Protein Kinases Ark1p and Prk1p Associate with and Regulate the Cortical Actin Cytoskeleton in Budding Yeast
Authors: Cope M.Jamie T.V. , Yang Shirley , Shang Ching , Drubin David G.
Published: July 2002

Ark1p (actin regulating kinase 1) was identified as a yeast protein that binds to Sla2p, an evolutionarily conserved cortical actin cytoskeleton protein. Ark1p and a second yeast protein, Prk1p, contain NH2-terminal kinase domains that are 70% identical. Together with six other putative kinases from a number of organisms, these proteins define a new protein kinase family that we have named the Ark family.

Lack of both Ark1p and Prk1p resulted in the formation of large cytoplasmic actin clumps and severe defects in cell growth. These defects were rescued by wild-type, but not by kinase-dead versions of the proteins. Elevated levels of either Ark1p or Prk1p caused a number of actin and cell morphological defects that were not observed when the kinase-dead versions were overexpressed instead. Ark1p and Prk1p were shown to localize to actin cortical patches, making these two kinases the first signaling proteins demonstrated to be patch components. These results suggest that Ark1p and Prk1p may be downstream effectors of signaling pathways that control actin patch organization and function. Furthermore, results of double-mutant analyses suggest that Ark1p and Prk1p function in overlapping but distinct pathways that regulate the cortical actin cytoskeleton.
Yeast Homologues of Tomosyn and lethal giant larvae Function in Exocytosis and Are Associated with the Plasma Membrane Snare, Sec9
Authors: Lehman Kevin , Rossi Guendalina , Adamo Joan E. , Brennwald Patrick
Published: July 2002

We have identified a pair of related yeast proteins, Sro7p and Sro77p, based on their ability to bind to the plasma membrane SNARE (SNARE) protein, Sec9p. These proteins show significant similarity to the Drosophila tumor suppressor, lethal giant larvae and to the neuronal syntaxin–binding protein, tomosyn. SRO7 and SRO77 have redundant functions as loss of both gene products leads to a severe cold-sensitive growth defect that correlates with a severe defect in exocytosis. We show that similar to Sec9, Sro7/77 functions in the docking and fusion of post-Golgi vesicles with the plasma membrane. In contrast to a previous report, we see no defect in actin polarity under conditions where we see a dramatic effect on secretion. This demonstrates that the primary function of Sro7/77, and likely all members of the lethal giant larvae family, is in exocytosis rather than in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. Analysis of the association of Sro7p and Sec9p demonstrates that Sro7p directly interacts with Sec9p both in the cytosol and in the plasma membrane and can associate with Sec9p in the context of a SNAP receptor complex. Genetic analysis suggests that Sro7 and Sec9 function together in a pathway downstream of the Rho3 GTPase. Taken together, our studies suggest that members of the lethal giant larvae/tomosyn/Sro7 family play an important role in polarized exocytosis by regulating SNARE function on the plasma membrane.
Establishment of the Dorsal–Ventral Axis inXenopus Embryos Coincides with the Dorsal Enrichment of Dishevelled That Is Dependent on Cortical Rotation
Authors: Miller Jeffrey R. , Rowning Brian A. , Larabell Carolyn A. , Yang-Snyder Julia A. , Bates Rebecca L. , Moon Randall T.
Published: July 2002

Examination of the subcellular localization of Dishevelled (Dsh) in fertilized Xenopus eggs revealed that Dsh is associated with vesicle-like organelles that are enriched on the prospective dorsal side of the embryo after cortical rotation. Dorsal enrichment of Dsh is blocked by UV irradiation of the vegetal pole, a treatment that inhibits development of dorsal cell fates, linking accumulation of Dsh and specification of dorsal cell fates. Investigation of the dynamics of Dsh localization using Dsh tagged with green fluorescent protein (Dsh-GFP) demonstrated that Dsh-GFP associates with small vesicle-like organelles that are directionally transported along the parallel array of microtubules towards the prospective dorsal side of the embryo during cortical rotation. Perturbing the assembly of the microtubule array with D2O, a treatment that promotes the random assembly of the array and the dorsalization of embryos, randomizes translocation of Dsh-GFP. Conversely, UV irradiation of the vegetal pole abolishes movement of Dsh-GFP. Finally, we demonstrate that overexpression of Dsh can stabilize β-catenin in Xenopus. These data suggest that the directional translocation of Dsh along microtubules during cortical rotation and its subsequent enrichment on the prospective dorsal side of the embryo play a role in locally activating a maternal Wnt pathway responsible for establishing dorsal cell fates in Xenopus.
The Role of Actin in Spindle Orientation Changes during the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Cycle
Authors: Theesfeld Chandra L. , Irazoqui Javier E. , Bloom Kerry , Lew Daniel J.
Published: July 2002

In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mitotic spindle must align along the mother-bud axis to accurately partition the sister chromatids into daughter cells. Previous studies showed that spindle orientation required both astral microtubules and the actin cytoskeleton. We now report that maintenance of correct spindle orientation does not depend on F-actin during G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Depolymerization of F-actin using Latrunculin-A did not perturb spindle orientation after this stage. Even an early step in spindle orientation, the migration of the spindle pole body (SPB), became actin-independent if it was delayed until late in the cell cycle.

Early in the cell cycle, both SPB migration and spindle orientation were very sensitive to perturbation of F-actin. Selective disruption of actin cables using a conditional tropomyosin double-mutant also led to de- fects in spindle orientation, even though cortical actin patches were still polarized. This suggests that actin cables are important for either guiding astral microtubules into the bud or anchoring them in the bud. In addition, F-actin was required early in the cell cycle for the development of the actin-independent spindle orientation capability later in the cell cycle. Finally, neither SPB migration nor the switch from actin-dependent to actin-independent spindle behavior required B-type cyclins.
H-Ras Activation Promotes Cytoplasmic Accumulation and Phosphoinositide 3-Oh Kinase Association of β-Catenin in Epidermal Keratinocytes
Authors: Espada Jesús , Pérez-Moreno Mirna , Braga Vania M.M. , Rodriguez-Viciana Pablo , Cano Amparo
Published: July 2002

The mechanisms underlying downregulation of the cadherin/catenin complexes and β-catenin signaling during tumor progression are not fully understood. We have analyzed the effect of oncogenic H-Ras on E-cadherin/catenin complex formation/stabilization and β-catenin distribution in epidermal keratinocytes. Microinjection or stable expression of V12Ras into keratinocytes promotes the loss of E-cadherin and α-catenin and relocalization of β-catenin to the cytoplasm and nucleus. Moreover, these effects are dependent on PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase) activity. Interestingly, a strong association of p85α and p110α subunits of PI3K with β-catenin is induced in V12Ras-expressing keratinocytes, and in vitro binding assays show a direct interaction between β-catenin and p85α. Overexpression of either V12Ras or constitutively active p110α induces metabolic stabilization of β-catenin and promotes its accumulation in cytoplasmic and nuclear pools. In addition, the interaction of β-catenin with the adenomatous polyposis coli protein is blocked in V12Ras and p110α transformants though no changes in glycogen synthase kinase 3 β activity could be detected. Nevertheless, in V12Ras transformants the in vivo phosphorylation of β-catenin in Ser residues is strongly decreased. These results indicate that H-Ras activation induces the relocalization and cytoplasmic stabilization of β-catenin by a mechanism involving its interaction with PI3K.
Binding of Integrin α6β4 to Plectin Prevents Plectin Association with F-Actin but Does Not Interfere with Intermediate Filament Binding
Authors: Geerts Dirk , Fontao Lionel , Nievers Mirjam G. , Schaapveld Roel Q.J. , Purkis Patricia E. , Wheeler Grant N. , Lane E. Birgitte , Leigh Irene M. , Sonnenberg Arnoud
Published: July 2002

Hemidesmosomes are stable adhesion complexes in basal epithelial cells that provide a link between the intermediate filament network and the extracellular matrix. We have investigated the recruitment of plectin into hemidesmosomes by the α6β4 integrin and have shown that the cytoplasmic domain of the β4 subunit associates with an NH2-terminal fragment of plectin that contains the actin-binding domain (ABD). When expressed in immortalized plectin-deficient keratinocytes from human patients with epidermol- ysis bullosa (EB) simplex with muscular dystrophy (MD-EBS), this fragment is colocalized with α6β4 in basal hemidesmosome-like clusters or associated with F-actin in stress fibers or focal contacts. We used a yeast two-hybrid binding assay in combination with an in vitro dot blot overlay assay to demonstrate that β4 interacts directly with plectin, and identified a major plectin-binding site on the second fibronectin type III repeat of the β4 cytoplasmic domain. Mapping of the β4 and actin-binding sites on plectin showed that the binding sites overlap and are both located in the plectin ABD. Using an in vitro competition assay, we could show that β4 can compete out the plectin ABD fragment from its association with F-actin. The ability of β4 to prevent binding of F-actin to plectin explains why F-actin has never been found in association with hemidesmosomes, and provides a molecular mechanism for a switch in plectin localization from actin filaments to basal intermediate filament–anchoring hemidesmosomes when β4 is expressed. Finally, by mapping of the COOH-terminally located binding site for several different intermediate filament proteins on plectin using yeast two-hybrid assays and cell transfection experiments with MD-EBS keratinocytes, we confirm that plectin interacts with different cytoskeletal networks.
Defining Fibronectin's Cell Adhesion Synergy Site by Site-Directed Mutagenesis
Authors: Redick Sambra D. , Settles Daniel L. , Briscoe Gina , Erickson Harold P.
Published: July 2002

Fibronectin's RGD-mediated binding to the α5β1 integrin is dramatically enhanced by a synergy site within fibronectin III domain 9 (FN9). Guided by the crystal structure of the cell-binding domain, we selected amino acids in FN9 that project in the same direction as the RGD, presumably toward the integrin, and mutated them to alanine. R1379 in the peptide PHSRN, and the nearby R1374 have been shown previously to be important for α5β1-mediated adhesion (Aota, S., M. Nomizu, and K.M. Yamada. 1994. J. Biol. Chem. 269:24756–24761). Our more extensive set of mutants showed that R1379 is the key residue in the synergistic effect, but other residues contribute substantially. R1374A decreased adhesion slightly by itself, but the double mutant R1374A-R1379A was significantly less adhesive than R1379A alone. Single mutations of R1369A, R1371A, T1385A, and N1386A had negligible effects on cell adhesion, but combining these substitutions either with R1379A or each other gave a more dramatic reduction of cell adhesion. The triple mutant R1374A/P1376A/R1379A had no detectable adhesion activity. We conclude that, in addition to the R of the PHRSN peptide, other residues on the same face of FN9 are required for the full synergistic effect. The integrin-binding synergy site is a much more extensive surface than the small linear peptide sequence.
Mechanism of N-Wasp Activation by Cdc42 and Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate
Authors: Rohatgi Rajat , Ho Hsin-yi Henry , Kirschner Marc W.
Published: July 2002

Neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (N-WASP) transmits signals from Cdc42 to the nucleation of actin filaments by Arp2/3 complex. Although full-length N-WASP is a weak activator of Arp2/3 complex, its activity can be enhanced by upstream regulators such as Cdc42 and PI(4,5)P2. We dissected this activation reaction and found that the previously described physical interaction between the NH2-terminal domain and the COOH-terminal effector domain of N-WASP is a regulatory interaction because it can inhibit the actin nucleation activity of the effector domain by occluding the Arp2/3 binding site. This interaction between the NH2- and COOH termini must be intramolecular because in solution N-WASP is a monomer. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) influences the activity of N-WASP through a conserved basic sequence element located near the Cdc42 binding site rather than through the WASp homology domain 1. Like Cdc42, PI(4,5)P2 reduces the affinity between the NH2- and COOH termini of the molecule. The use of a mutant N-WASP molecule lacking this basic stretch allowed us to delineate a signaling pathway in Xenopus extracts leading from PI(4,5)P2 to actin nucleation through Cdc42, N-WASP, and Arp2/3 complex. In this pathway, PI(4,5)P2 serves two functions: first, as an activator of N-WASP; and second, as an indirect activator of Cdc42.
Transgenic Mice Expressing a Mutant Form of Loricrin Reveal the Molecular Basis of the Skin Diseases, Vohwinkel Syndrome and Progressive Symmetric Erythrokeratoderma
Authors: Suga Yasushi , Jarnik Michal , Attar Paul S. , Longley Mary A. , Bundman Donnie , Steven Alasdair C. , Koch Peter J. , Roop Dennis R.
Published: July 2002

Mutations in the cornified cell envelope protein loricrin have been reported recently in some patients with Vohwinkel syndrome (VS) and progressive symmetric erythrokeratoderma (PSEK). To establish a causative relationship between loricrin mutations and these diseases, we have generated transgenic mice expressing a COOH-terminal truncated form of loricrin that is similar to the protein expressed in VS and PSEK patients. At birth, transgenic mice (ML.VS) exhibited erythrokeratoderma with an epidermal barrier dysfunction. 4 d after birth, high-expressing transgenic animals showed a generalized scaling of the skin, as well as a constricting band encircling the tail and, by day 7, a thickening of the footpads. Histologically, ML.VS transgenic mice also showed retention of nuclei in the stratum corneum, a characteristic feature of VS and PSEK. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy showed the mutant loricrin protein in the nucleus and cytoplasm of epidermal keratinocytes, but did not detect the protein in the cornified cell envelope. Transfection experiments indicated that the COOH-terminal domain of the mutant loricrin contains a nuclear localization signal. To determine whether the ML.VS phenotype resulted from dominant-negative interference of the transgene with endogenous loricrin, we mated the ML.VS transgenics with loricrin knockout mice. A severe phenotype was observed in mice that lacked expression of wild-type loricrin. Since loricrin knockout mice are largely asymptomatic (Koch, P.K., P.A. de Viragh, E. Scharer, D. Bundman, M.A. Longley, J. Bickenbach, Y. Kawachi, Y. Suga, Z. Zhou, M. Huber, et al., J. Cell Biol. 151:389–400, this issue), this phenotype may be attributed to expression of the mutant form of loricrin. Thus, deposition of the mutant protein in the nucleus appears to interfere with late stages of epidermal differentiation, resulting in a VS-like phenotype.
The Transmembrane Domain of Influenza Hemagglutinin Exhibits a Stringent Length Requirement to Support the Hemifusion to Fusion Transition
Authors: Armstrong R. Todd , Kushnir Anna S. , White Judith M.
Published: July 2002

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored influenza hemagglutinin (GPI-HA) mediates hemifusion, whereas chimeras with foreign transmembrane (TM) domains mediate full fusion. A possible explanation for these observations is that the TM domain must be a critical length in order for HA to promote full fusion. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed biochemical properties and fusion phenotypes of HA with alterations in its 27–amino acid TM domain. Our mutants included sequential 2–amino acid (Δ2–Δ14) and an 11–amino acid deletion from the COOH-terminal end, deletions of 6 or 8 amino acids from the NH2-terminal and middle regions, and a deletion of 12 amino acids from the NH2-terminal end of the TM domain. We also made several point mutations in the TM domain. All of the mutants except Δ14 were expressed at the cell surface and displayed biochemical properties virtually identical to wild-type HA. All the mutants that were expressed at the cell surface promoted full fusion, with the notable exception of deletions of >10 amino acids. A mutant in which 11 amino acids were deleted was severely impaired in promoting full fusion. Mutants in which 12 amino acids were deleted (from either end) mediated only hemifusion. Hence, a TM domain of 17 amino acids is needed to efficiently promote full fusion. Addition of either the hydrophilic HA cytoplasmic tail sequence or a single arginine to Δ12 HA, the hemifusion mutant that terminates with 15 (hydrophobic) amino acids of the HA TM domain, restored full fusion activity. Our data support a model in which the TM domain must span the bilayer to promote full fusion.
Activation of Nuclear Factor κb and bcl-x Survival Gene Expression by Nerve Growth Factor Requires Tyrosine Phosphorylation of IκBα
Authors: Bui Nguyen Truc , Livolsi Antonia , Peyron Jean-Francois , Prehn Jochen H.M.
Published: July 2002

NGF has been shown to support neuron survival by activating the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NFκB). We investigated the effect of NGF on the expression of Bcl-xL, an anti–apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein. Treatment of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, or primary rat hippocampal neurons with NGF (0.1–10 ng/ml) increased the expression of bcl-xL mRNA and protein. Reporter gene analysis revealed a significant increase in NFκB activity after treatment with NGF that was associated with increased nuclear translocation of the active NFκB p65 subunit. NGF-induced NFκB activity and Bcl-xL expression were inhibited in cells overexpressing the NFκB inhibitor, IκBα. Unlike tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), however, NGF-induced NFκB activation occurred without significant degradation of IκBs determined by Western blot analysis and time-lapse imaging of neurons expressing green fluorescent protein–tagged IκBα. Moreover, in contrast to TNF-α, NGF failed to phosphorylate IκBα at serine residue 32, but instead caused significant tyrosine phosphorylation. Overexpression of a Y42F mutant of IκBα potently suppressed NFG-, but not TNF-α–induced NFκB activation. Conversely, overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of TNF receptor-associated factor-6 blocked TNF-α–, but not NGF-induced NFκB activation. We conclude that NGF and TNF-α induce different signaling pathways in neurons to activate NFκB and bcl-x gene expression.
Protein Particles inChlamydomonasFlagella Undergo a Transport Cycle Consisting of Four Phases
Authors: Iomini Carlo , Babaev-Khaimov Veronica , Sassaroli Massimo , Piperno Gianni
Published: July 2002

We used an improved procedure to analyze the intraflagellar transport (IFT) of protein particles in Chlamydomonas and found that the frequency of the particles, not only the velocity, changes at each end of the flagella. Thus, particles undergo structural remodeling at both flagellar locations. Therefore, we propose that the IFT consists of a cycle composed of at least four phases: phases II and IV, in which particles undergo anterograde and retrograde transport, respectively, and phases I and III, in which particles are remodeled/exchanged at the proximal and distal end of the flagellum, respectively. In support of our model, we also identified 13 distinct mutants of flagellar assembly (fla), each defective in one or two consecutive phases of the IFT cycle. The phase I-II mutant fla10-1 revealed that cytoplasmic dynein requires the function of kinesin II to participate in the cycle. Phase I and II mutants accumulate complex A, a particle component, near the basal bodies. In contrast, phase III and IV mutants accumulate complex B, a second particle component, in flagellar bulges. Thus, fla mutations affect the function of each complex at different phases of the cycle.
Multiple cadherin extracellular repeats mediate homophilic binding and adhesion
Authors: Chappuis-Flament Sophie , Wong Ellen , Hicks Les D. , Kay Cyril M. , Gumbiner Barry M.
Published: July 2002

The extracellular homophilic-binding domain of the cadherins consists of 5 cadherin repeats (EC1–EC5). Studies on cadherin specificity have implicated the NH2-terminal EC1 domain in the homophilic binding interaction, but the roles of the other extracellular cadherin (EC) domains have not been evaluated. We have undertaken a systematic analysis of the binding properties of the entire cadherin extracellular domain and the contributions of the other EC domains to homophilic binding.

Lateral (cis) dimerization of the extracellular domain is thought to be required for adhesive function. Sedimentation analysis of the soluble extracellular segment of C-cadherin revealed that it exists in a monomer–dimer equilibrium with an affinity constant of ∼64 μM. No higher order oligomers were detected, indicating that homophilic binding between cis-dimers is of significantly lower affinity.

The homophilic binding properties of a series of deletion constructs, lacking successive or individual EC domains fused at the COOH terminus to an Fc domain, were analyzed using a bead aggregation assay and a cell attachment–based adhesion assay. A protein with only the first two NH2-terminal EC domains (CEC1-2Fc) exhibited very low activity compared with the entire extracellular domain (CEC1-5Fc), demonstrating that EC1 alone is not sufficient for effective homophilic binding. CEC1-3Fc exhibited high activity, but not as much as CEC1-4Fc or CEC1-5Fc. EC3 is not required for homophilic binding, however, since CEC1-2-4Fc and CEC1-2-4-5Fc exhibited high activity in both assays. These and experiments using additional EC combinations show that many, if not all, the EC domains contribute to the formation of the cadherin homophilic bond, and specific one-to-one interaction between particular EC domains may not be required. These conclusions are consistent with a previous study on direct molecular force measurements between cadherin ectodomains demonstrating multiple adhesive interactions (Sivasankar, S., W. Brieher, N. Lavrik, B. Gumbiner, and D. Leckband. 1999. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 96:11820–11824; Sivasankar, S., B. Gumbiner, and D. Leckband. 2001. Biophys J. 80:1758–68). We propose new models for how the cadherin extracellular repeats may contribute to adhesive specificity and function.
S-Nitrosylation of mitochondrial caspases
Authors: Mannick Joan B. , Schonhoff Christopher , Papeta Natalia , Ghafourifar Pedram , Szibor Marten , Fang Kezhong , Gaston Benjamin
Published: July 2002

Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease located in both the cytoplasm and mitochondrial intermembrane space that is a central effector of many apoptotic pathways. In resting cells, a subset of caspase-3 zymogens is S-nitrosylated at the active site cysteine, inhibiting enzyme activity. During Fas-induced apoptosis, caspases are denitrosylated, allowing the catalytic site to function. In the current studies, we sought to identify the subpopulation of caspases that is regulated by S-nitrosylation. We report that the majority of mitochondrial, but not cytoplasmic, caspase-3 zymogens contain this inhibitory modification. In addition, the majority of mitochondrial caspase-9 is S-nitrosylated. These studies suggest that S-nitrosylation plays an important role in regulating mitochondrial caspase function and that the S-nitrosylation state of a given protein depends on its subcellular localization.
Interactions and regulation of molecular motors in Xenopus melanophores
Authors: Gross Steven P. , Tuma M. Carolina , Deacon Sean W. , Serpinskaya Anna S. , Reilein Amy R. , Gelfand Vladimir I.
Published: July 2002

Many cellular components are transported using a combination of the actin- and microtubule-based transport systems. However, how these two systems work together to allow well-regulated transport is not clearly understood. We investigate this question in the Xenopus melanophore model system, where three motors, kinesin II, cytoplasmic dynein, and myosin V, drive aggregation or dispersion of pigment organelles called melanosomes. During dispersion, myosin V functions as a “molecular ratchet” to increase outward transport by selectively terminating dynein-driven minus end runs. We show that there is a continual tug-of-war between the actin and microtubule transport systems, but the microtubule motors kinesin II and dynein are likely coordinated. Finally, we find that the transition from dispersion to aggregation increases dynein-mediated motion, decreases myosin V–mediated motion, and does not change kinesin II–dependent motion. Down-regulation of myosin V contributes to aggregation by impairing its ability to effectively compete with movement along microtubules.