bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two proteins that cycle asynchronously between centrosomes and nuclear structures: Drosophila CP60 and CP190
Authors: Oegema Karen , Marshall Wallace F. , Sedat John W. , Alberts Bruce M.
Published: April 2021

Both the nucleus and the centrosome are complex, dynamic structures whose architectures undergo cell cycle-specific rearrangements. CP190 and CP60 are two Drosophila proteins of unknown function that shuttle between centro-somes and nuclei in a cell cycle-dependent manner. These two proteins are associated in vitro, and localize to centrosomes in a microtubule independent manner. We injected fluorescently labeled, bacterially expressed CP190 and CP60 into living Drosophila embryos and followed their behavior during the rapid syncytial blastoderm divisions (nuclear cycles 10-13). Using quantitative 3-D wide-field fluorescence microscopy, we show that CP190 and CP60 cycle between nuclei and centrosomes asynchronously with the accumulation of CP190 leading that of CP60 both at centrosomes and in nuclei. During interphase, CP190 is found in nuclei. Immediately following nuclear envelope breakdown, CP190 localizes to centrosomes where it remains until telophase, thereafter accumulating in reforming nuclei. Unlike CP190, CP60 accumulates at centrosomes primarily during anaphase, where it remains into early interphase. During nuclear cycles 10 and 11, CP60 accumulates in nuclei simultaneous with nuclear envelope breakdown, suggesting that CP60 binds to an unknown nuclear structure that persists into mitosis. During nuclear cycles 12 and 13, CP60 accumulates gradually in nuclei during interphase, reaching peak levels just before nuclear envelope breakdown. Once in the nucleus, both CP190 and CP60 appear to form fibrous intranuclear networks that remain coherent even after nuclear envelope breakdown. The CP190 and CP60 networks do not co-localize extensively with each other or with DNA. This work provides direct evidence, in living cells, of a coherent protein network that may represent a nuclear skeleton.
Clusterin/ApoJ expression is associated with neuronal apoptosis in the olfactory mucosa of the adult mouse
Authors: Michel Denis , Moyse Emmanuel , Trembleau Alain , Jourdan François , Brun Gilbert
Published: April 2021

The molecular events orchestrating neuronal degeneration and regeneration remain poorly understood. Attempts at identifying genes specifically expressed during these processes, have constantly led to the (re)isolation of the clusterin/ApoJ gene, whose expression is highly reactive to injury in a wide variety of tissues. To get insight into the function of clusterin in neuron loss, we have assessed in detail the clusterin gene expression in an experimental model of neurodegeneration, using the peripheral olfactory system of adult mouse. The sensory neurons of olfactory nasal mucosa can be massively induced to degenerate in vivo, by surgical removal of their only synaptic target: the olfactory bulb. We have previously shown that this neuron loss results from a near-synchronized induction of apoptosis genetic programs. We present here evidence that clusterin gene expression is tightly correlated to the onset of neuronal apoptoses in lesioned olfactory mucosae. The simultaneous preparation of DNA and RNA from the same tissue samples reveals that a strong clusterin mRNA accumulation coincides with the wave of nucleosome-sized DNA fragmentation. However, double detection of apoptotic nuclei by the TUNEL method and of clusterin messengers by in situ hybridization revealed that the clusterin gene expression is not induced in dying neurons, but in the glial sheath surrounding the axon bundles of degenerating olfactory neurons. Clusterin immunocytochemistry reveals that the clusterin protein accumulates not only in these producing cells, but also in the olfactory epithelium, suggesting the possibility of clusterin internalization by cells located at a distance from the synthesis loci. In view of this localization and of the activities of the clusterin protein reported so far, possible functions of clusterin in nervous plasticity are discussed.
A genetic screen reveals a role for the late G1-specific transcription factor Swi4p in diverse cellular functions including cytokinesis
Authors: Igual J. Carlos , Toone W. Mark , Johnston Leland H.
Published: April 2021

The transcription factor Swi4p plays a crucial role in the control of the initiation of the cell cycle in budding yeast. To further understand Swi4p function, we set up a synthetic lethal screen for genes interacting with SWI4. Fourteen conditional mutations which resulted in lethality only in the absence of SWI4 have been isolated. Only two of them were suppressed by ectopic expression of CLN2, indicating that Swi4p is involved in diverse cellular processes in addition to its requirement for CLN1,2 regulation. In most of the mutants a cell cycle phenotype was observed, including defects in G1 progression, budding, the G2/M transition and cytokinesis. In addition, four of the mutations resulted in massive cell lysis at the restrictive temperature, indicating that Swi4p is involved in the maintenance of cell integrity.

One of the mutants, rsf1 swi4Δ, was characterized in detail and it is defective in cytokinesis at the restrictive temperature. Staining with Calcofluor revealed that the rsf1 swi4Δ mutant is impaired in chitin biosynthesis. rsf1 is allelic to the AGM1 gene, coding for N-acetylglucosaminephosphate mutase, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of chitin. A single copy of SWI4 suppressed the cytokinesis defect. The above data suggest that Swi4p has a role in cytokinesis and becomes essential in this process when chitin biosynthesis is compromised. As overexpression or ectopic expression of CLN did not suppress the rsf1 swi4Δ mutant phenotype, Swi4p must control some other gene(s) involved in cytokinesis.
HSP70 and HSP90 homologs are associated with tubulin in hetero-oligomeric complexes, cilia and the cortex of Tetrahymena
Authors: Williams Norman E. , Nelsen E. Marlo
Published: April 2021

We show in the present study that homologs of hsp90 and hsp70 are induced by heat shocks in Tetrahymena and appear to form a high molecular mass complex (∼700 kDa) with tubulin. Three members of the hsp70 family (hsp72, 73, and 78) and one member of the hsp90 family (hsp82) have been identified by immunological or by a combination of immunological and sequencing methods. The known components of the 700 kDa complex and the conditions under which it can be recovered suggest that it may be an induced protective assemblage rather than a normal processing intermediate. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence studies suggest further that large amounts of hsp73 and lesser amounts of hsp82 are associated with mature microtubules in both cilia and the cortex in this cell type. Some site-specific localizations of the identified heat shock proteins were also noted in non-microtubular components of the cell cortex.
Polarity sorting of actin filaments in cytochalasin-treated fibroblasts
Authors: Verkhovsky A. B. , Svitkina T. M. , Borisy G. G.
Published: April 2021

The polarity of actin filaments is fundamental for the sub-cellular mechanics of actin-myosin interaction; however, little is known about how actin filaments are oriented with respect to myosin in non-muscle cells and how actin polarity organization is established and maintained. Here we approach these questions by investigating changes in the organization and polarity of actin relative to myosin II during actin filament translocation. Actin and myosin II reorganization was followed both kinetically, using microinjected fluorescent analogs of actin and myosin, and ultrastructurally, using myosin S1 decoration and immuno-gold labelling, in cultured fibroblasts that were induced to contract by treatment with cytochalasin D. We observed rapid (within 15 minutes) formation of ordered actin filament arrays: short tapered bundles and aster-like assemblies, in which filaments had uniform polarity with their barbed ends oriented toward the aggregate of myosin II at the base of a bundle or in the center of an aster. The resulting asters further interacted with each other and aggregated into bigger asters. The arrangement of actin in asters was in sharp contrast to the mixed polarity of actin filaments relative to myosin in non-treated cells. At the edge of the cell, actin filaments became oriented with their barbed ends toward the cell center; that is, the orientation was opposite to what was observed at the edge of non-treated cells. This rearrangement is indicative of relative translocation of actin and myosin II and of the ability of myosin II to sort actin filaments with respect to their polarity during translocation. The results suggest that the myosin II-actin system of non-muscle cells is organized as a dynamic network where actin filament arrangement is defined in the course of its interaction with myosin II.
A minimal region on the integrin β4 subunit that is critical to its localization in hemidesmosomes regulates the distribution of HD1/plectin in COS-7 cells
Authors: Niessen Carien M. , Hulsman Esther H. M. , Oomen Lauran C. J. M. , Kuikman I. , Sonnenberg Arnoud
Published: April 2021

The integrin α6β4 is a major component of hemidesmosomes, in which it mediates firm adhesion to laminin 5. Previous studies have shown that the incorporation of α6β4 into hemidesmosomes requires a 303 amino acid stretch of the cytoplasmic domain of β4, comprising part of the first fibronectin type III (FNIII) repeat, the second FNIII repeat and the segment that connects the second to the third FNIII repeat (connecting segment). Now, we have further defined sequences within β4 that are critical for its localization in hemidesmosomes and we demonstrate that these sequences also induce the redistribution of HD1/plectin into junctional complexes containing the integrin α6β4 in COS-7 cells, transfected with cDNAs encoding α6A and β4. Truncation of the cytoplasmic domain of β4 after amino acids 1,382 or 1,355 in the connecting segment, by which a potential tyrosine activation motif (TAM) is removed, does not prevent the localization of α6β4 in hemidesmosomes in the rat bladder carcinoma cell line 804G and neither did it eliminate the ability of α 6β4 to change the subcellular dis-tribution of HD1/plectin in COS-7 cells. In contrast, β4 subunits in which the entire connecting segment had been deleted or which were truncated after amino acid 1,328, which removes almost the complete segment, had lost both of these functions. Furthermore, when β4 subunits with either a deletion of the second FNIII repeat or a small deletion in this repeat were co-expressed with α6, the integrins were not localized in hemidesmosomes and did not induce the redistribution of HD1/plectin in COS-7 cells. Finally, the fourth FNIII repeat of β4 could not replace the second in either of these activities. These findings establish that a region in β4, which encompasses the second FNIII repeat and a stretch of 27 amino acids (1,329-1,355) of the connecting segment, is critical for the localization of α6β4 in hemidesmosomes and that it regulates the distribution of HD1/plectin.
Apical sorting of influenza hemagglutinin by transcytosis in retinal pigment epithelium
Authors: Bonilha Vera L. , Marmorstein Alan D. , Cohen-Gould Leona , Rodriguez-Boulan Enrique
Published: April 2021

The retinal pigment epithelium is endowed with a unique distribution of certain plasma membrane proteins. Na+,K+-ATPase, for instance, is polarized to the apical surface of RPE, rather than to the basolateral surface as in most other epithelia. To study the sorting pathways of RPE cells, we used temperature sensitive mutants of influenza and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to synchronize the transport of hemagglutinin (HA) and VSV G protein (VSV G) along the biosynthetic pathway of the RPE cell line RPE-J. After HA and VSV G accumulated in the trans-Golgi network of RPE-J cells kept at 20°C, transfer to the permissive temperature (32°C) resulted in the transport of both HA and VSV G to the basolateral plasma membrane. Later, while VSV G remained basolateral, HA progressively reversed its polarity, eventually becoming apical. Further analysis demonstrated that the reversal of HA polarity was due to transcytosis of HA from the basolateral to the apical surface of RPE-J cells. To determine whether HA followed a transcytotic route in RPE in vivo, influenza and VSV were injected into the subretinal space of rat eyes. Again, both HA and VSV G were initially observed at the basolateral surface of RPE cells. However, whereas VSV G remained there, HA progressively redistributed to the apical surface. These findings demonstrated that RPE cells use a transcytotic pathway for the targeting of at least some apical proteins to their destination.
pH gradients are not associated with tip growth in pollen tubes of Lilium longiflorum
Authors: Fricker M.D. , White N.S. , Obermeyer G.
Published: April 2021

The cytoplasmic pH of growing pollen tubes of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. was measured using the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2′,7′-bis-(carboxyethyl)-5(6′)-carboxyfl uorescein and confocal fluorescence ratio imaging. The average cytoplasmic pH in the clear zone of the pollen tube tip was pH 7.11, and no consistent pH gradients were detected in the clear zone, averaging around -1.00 milli pH unit microm(−1), or along the first 50 microm of the tube (3.62 milli pH units microm[-1]). In addition, no correlation was observed between the absolute tip cytoplasmic pH or the pH gradient and the pollen tube growth rates. Shifts of external pH to more acidic pH values (pH 4.5) caused a relatively small acidification by 0.18 pH units, whereas a more alkaline external pH >7.0 caused a dramatic increase in cytoplasmic pH and growth stopped immediately. Stimulation of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase by fusicoccin, resulted in an increase of tube growth but no change in cytoplasmic pH. On the other hand, vanadate (250–500 microM), a putative inhibitor of the pump, stopped tube growth and a slight cytoplasmic alkalinisation of 0.1 pH units was observed. Vanadate also arrested fusicoccin-stimulated growth and stimulated an increased alkalinisation of around 0.2 pH units. External application of CaCl2 (10 mM) caused a small acidification of less than 0.1 pH units in the clear zone, whilst LaCl3 (250 microM) caused slight and rather variable perturbations in cytoplasmic pH of no more than 0.1 pH units. Both treatments stopped growth. It was inferred from these data that tip-acid cytoplasmic pH gradients do not play a central role in the organisation or maintenance of pollen tube tip growth.
TLS (FUS) binds RNA in vivo and engages in nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling
Authors: Zinszner Helene , Sok John , Immanuel David , Yin Yin , Ron David
Published: April 2021

TLS, the product of a gene commonly translocated in liposarcomas (TLS), is prototypical of a newly identified class of nuclear proteins that contain a C-terminal domain with a distinct RNA recognition motif (RRM) surrounded by Arg-Gly-Gly (RGG) repeats. Its unique N terminus serves as an essential transforming domain for a number of fusion oncoproteins in human sarcomas and leukemias. In this study we use an in vivo UV crosslinking procedure to probe the interactions of TLS with RNA. TLS is found to bind RNA in vivo and the association of TLS with RNA is rapidly diminished by treating cells with transcriptional inhibitors. This suggests that the species bound by TLS turns over rapidly. Surprisingly, the RRM was found to be dispensable for RNA binding by TLS in vivo, suggesting that at any one time most of the interactions between TLS and RNA in the cell are not sequence specific. Analysis of inter specific heterokaryons formed between human and mouse or Xenopus cells revealed that TLS engages in rapid nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, a finding confirmed by the ability of anti-TLS antibodies to trap TLS when injected into the cytoplasm of HeLa cells. Cellular fractionation experiments suggest that TLS binds to RNA in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and support the hypothesis that TLS functions as a heterogeneous ribonuclear protein (hnRNP)-like chaperone of RNA. These findings are discussed in the context of the role altered forms of TLS play in cellular transformation.
A yeast heat shock transcription factor (Hsf1) mutant is defective in both Hsc82/Hsp82 synthesis and spindle pole body duplication
Authors: Zarzov Patrick , Boucherie Hélian , Mann Carl
Published: April 2021

Cdc28 is a cyclin-dependent protein kinase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is required for the G1/S and G2/M transitions of the cell division cycle. All previously described cdc28 mutants aside from cdc28-1N arrest division specifically in the G1 phase. cdc28-1N arrests division in G2/mitosis. We show here that the cdc28-109 mutant exhibits a mixed cell division arrest at 37°C with cells in both the G1 and G2 phases. In order to identify proteins that functionally interact with Cdc28, we isolated mutants that are colethal with cdc28-109 at its permissive temperature. We describe here our phenotypic analysis of two such mutants, hsf1-82 and ydj1-10, that affect the heat shock transcription factor and a yeast dnaj-like protein chaperone, respectively. hsf1-82 and ydj1-10 temperaturesensitive mutants arrest the cell division cycle at several stages. However, one predominant class of cells in both mutants was arrested with a large bud and a single vertex of microtubules. Electron microscopic analysis of such hsf1-82 cells showed that they contained an unduplicated spindle pole body with an enlarged half-bridge. Twodimensional gel electrophoresis of total cell proteins revealed that the hsf1-82 cells were specifically defective in the expression of the Hsc82 and Hsp82 proteins. Furthermore, the hsf1-82 mutation was suppressed by the HSC82 gene on a multicopy plasmid that restored Hsc82 protein to high levels in these cells. These results show that Hsf1 is required for spindle pole body duplication at 37°C.
Structural and functional similarities between the human cytoskeletal protein zyxin and the ActA protein of Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Golsteyn Roy M. , Beckerle Mary C. , Koay Tom , Friederich Evelyne
Published: April 2021

The intracellular bacterial parasite Listeria monocytogenes produces ActA protein at its surface to facilitate the localized assembly of actin-filled comets that are required for movement. The organization of actin in Listeria comets shows striking similarity to the organization of actin at the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. Therefore we examined the possibility that an ActA-like protein is present in mammalian cells. By using antibodies directed against ActA, we identified zyxin as an ActA related protein in a number of cell types. We compared the functions of ActA and zyxin by transient expression of variants tagged with an inner plasma membrane localization sequence (a CAAX box). Targeting of the proline rich domain of zyxin to the plasma membrane disrupts the actin cytoskeleton and cell shape in a manner similar to that which occurs with membrane-targeted ActA sequences. A chimeric protein composed of the N-terminal domain of ActA fused to the N-terminal and central domains of zyxin induced a full ActA response in cells. Furthermore, zyxin and ActA exhibit common protein partners in vitro. On the basis of the shared properties of zyxin and ActA, we propose that zyxin enhances actin organizing activity in mammalian cells.
Glucose-induced microautophagy in Pichia pastoris requires the α-subunit of phosphofructokinase
Authors: Yuan Weiping , Tuttle Daniel L. , Shi Yu-Jiang , Ralph Gareth S. , Dunn William A.
Published: April 2021

We have characterized biochemically, morphologically, and genetically two distinct pathways for the selective degradation of peroxisomes in Pichia pastoris. These pathways are independently regulated and analogous to microautophagy and macroautophagy that have been defined in mammalian cells. When P. pastoris is grown in methanol, cytosolic and peroxisomal enzymes necessary for methanol assimilation are synthesized. During adaptation from methanol to glucose, these enzymes are rapidly and selectively degraded within the yeast vacuole by microautophagy. We have isolated gsa mutants that are defective in glucose-induced selective autophagy of peroxisomes. In this study, we have shown that gsa1 is unable to sequester peroxisomes into the yeast vacuole. In addition, we provide evidence that the glucose-induced selective autophagy 1 (GSA1) protein is the alpha subunit of the phosphofructokinase enzyme complex encoded by PFK1. First, we can rescue the gsa1 mutant by transformation with a vector containing PFK1. Second, cellular levels of both PFK1 mRNA and phosphofructokinase activity are dramatically reduced in gsa1 when compared to the parental GS115. Third, a PFK1 knockout (Δpfk1) is unable to degrade alcohol oxidase during glucose adaptation. As observed in gsa1, the peroxisomes in Δpfk1 remain outside the vacuole during adaptation. Our data are consistent with the concept that PFK1 protein is required for an event upstream of vacuole degradation (i.e. signaling, selection, or sequestration). However, the degradation of peroxisomes does not require a catalytically active phosphofructokinase. The inability of Δpfk1 cells to degrade alcohol oxidase can be rescued by transformation with either normal PFK1 or mutant pfk1 whose catalytic site had been inactivated by a single amino acid mutation. We propose that PFK1 protein directly modulates glucose-induced microautophagy independent of its ability to metabolize glucose intermediates.
Mitotic phosphoepitopes are expressed in Kc cells, neuroblasts and isolated chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Bousbaa Hassan , Correia Luis , Gorbsky Gary J. , Sunkel Claudio E.
Published: April 2021

The progression of cells from metaphase to anaphase is thought to be regulated by a checkpoint that delays entry into anaphase until all chromosomes reach a stable bi-polar attachment at the metaphase plate. Previous work has suggested that the 3F3/2 kinetochore phosphoepitopes are involved in this checkpoint system. We show that the 3F3/2 centromere phosphoepitopes are present in Kc cells, third instar larval neuroblasts and isolated chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. In tissue culture cells and neuroblasts isolated from third instar larvae, centromere labelling is detected from early prophase to the metaphaseanaphase transition but absent once cells enter anaphase. During anaphase, the antibody stains the spindle mid zone and during telophase the midbody is labelled until cells separate. In both cell types, the 3F3/2 antibody stains the centrosome from prophase to late telophase. The 3F3/2 staining is retained in Kc cells and third instar larval neuroblasts arrested at the prometaphase state with microtubule inhibitors. Also, two mitotic mutants that show abnormal spindle morphology retain the centromere labelling in a metaphase-like configuration, suggesting that they activate the metaphase-anaphase checkpoint. Finally, mitotic chromosomes isolated in the presence of a phosphatase inhibitor show phosphoepitopes at the primary constriction on the surface of each chromatid, however, chromosomes isolated in the absence of a phosphatase inhibitor do not. Incubation of these chromosomes with ATP causes the rephosphorylation of the phosphoepitopes at the centromere.
Dense core lysosomes can fuse with late endosomes and are re-formed from the resultant hybrid organelles
Authors: Bright Nicholas A. , Reaves Barbara J. , Mullock Barbara M. , Luzio J. Paul
Published: April 2021

Electron microscopy was used to evaluate the function and formation of dense core lysosomes. Lysosomes were preloaded with bovine serum albumin (BSA)-gold conjugates by fluid phase endocytosis using a pulse-chase protocol. The gold particles present in dense core lysosomes and late endosomes were flocculated, consistent with proteolytic degradation of the BSA. A second pulse of BSA-gold also accumulated in the pre-loaded dense core lysosomes at 37°C, but accumulation was reversibly blocked by incubation at 20°C. Time course experiments indicated that mixing of the two BSA-gold conjugates initially occurred upon fusion of mannose 6-phosphate receptorpositive/lysosomal glycoprotein-positive late endosomes with dense core lysosomes. Treatment for 5 hours with wortmannin, a phosphatidyl inositide 3-kinase inhibitor, caused a reduction in number of dense core lysosomes preloaded with BSA-gold and prevented a second pulse of BSA-gold accumulating in them. After wortmannin treatment the two BSA-gold conjugates were mixed in swollen late endosomal structures. Incubation of NRK cells with 0.03 M sucrose resulted in the formation of swollen sucrosomes which were morphologically distinct from preloaded dense core lysosomes and were identified as late endosomes and hybrid endosome-lysosome structures. Subsequent endocytosis of invertase resulted in digestion of the sucrose and re-formation of dense core lysosomes. These observations suggest that dense core lysosomes are biologically active storage granules of lysosomal proteases which can fuse with late endosomes and be re-formed from the resultant hybrid organelles prior to subsequent cycles of fusion and re-formation.
Phospholipase A2 inhibition results in sequestration of plasma membrane into electronlucent vesicles during IgG-mediated phagocytosis
Authors: Lennartz Michelle R. , Yuen Anson F. C. , Masi Shannon McKenzie , Russell David G. , Buttle Karolyn F. , Smith Jennifer J.
Published: April 2021

Arachidonic acid is essential for antibody-mediated phagocytosis but its role in this process has not been defined. The phospholipase A2 inhibitor bromoenol lactone decreases arachidonic acid release and arrests phagocytosis; this effect is bypassed by the addition of arachidonic acid to bromoenol lactone-treated cells. In this morphological study, monocytes treated with bromoenol lactone accumulate electronlucent vesicles in the cytoplasm underlying bound targets. The vesicles are not contiguous with the plasma membrane as they are not labeled with cationized ferritin and are not connected to the plasma membrane as determined by high voltage electron microscopy imaging. However, if the plasma membrane is decorated with wheat germ agglutinin-gold prior to vesicle formation, virtually all vesicles contain the gold marker, indicating that they are plasma membrane-derived. The number of vesicles decreases dramatically upon addition of arachidonic acid to phospholipase A2-inhibited monocytes and phagocytosis is restored. Time course studies reveal electronlucent regions surrounding targets at early timepoints and a morphology consistent with fusion of electronlucent vesicles into the developing phagosome. These results are consistent with the following model: during the early stages of antibody-mediated phagocytosis, plasma membrane is sequestered in intracellular vesicles that provide membrane for the forming phagosome via fusion events that require arachidonic acid.
NSF is required for transport from early to late endosomes
Authors: Robinson Linda J. , Aniento Fernando , Gruenberg Jean
Published: April 2021

Protein transport between early and late endosomes is a major membrane trafficking pathway in the cell followed by many proteins, including all down-regulated receptors. Yet, little is known at the molecular level about the mechanisms regulating membrane interactions in the endocytic pathway beyond early endosomes. In this study, we have used an in vitro transport assay to study the biochemical properties of endosome docking/fusion events. Our data demonstrate that N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) sensitive factor (NSF) and its soluble associated proteins (SNAPs) are required for transport from early to late endosomes, as well as at all other steps of endosomal membrane transport. We also find that these proteins are enriched on endosomal membranes. In addition, our studies suggest that besides NSF/SNAPs, another NEM-sensitive component may also be involved in docking/fusion at this late stage of the pathway. Finally, we find that, in contrast to Golgi membranes, NSF association to both early and late endosomal membranes occurs via an ATP-independent mechanism, indicating that the binding properties of endosomal and biosynthetic NSF are different. Our data thus show that NSF/SNAPs, perhaps together with another NEM-sensitive factor, are part of the basic molecular machinery which controls docking/fusion events during transport from early to late endosomes, along the lysosomal degradation pathway.
Three mammalian SCAMPs (secretory carrier membrane proteins) are highly related products of distinct genes having similar subcellular distributions
Authors: Singleton D. R. , Wu T. T. , Castle J. D.
Published: April 2021

The primary structures of three human forms of secretory carrier membrane proteins (SCAMPs) have been deduced from full-length clones isolated from a HeLa cell cDNA library and confirmed by a combination of comparison to expressed sequence tags, microsequencing of purified protein, and in vitro transcription and translation. The structures indicated that SCAMPs are highly related products of distinct genes, and that the sequence identity of an individual SCAMP between different mammalian species is almost complete. Analysis of the distribution of SCAMPs among different mammalian tissues and cells indicates parallel expression of polypeptides and cognate mRNAs, and indicates that the three SCAMPs are usually but not always expressed together. The apparent Mrs of two SCAMPs (1 and 2) do not vary appreciably among species, while that of the third (SCAMP3) is approximately 2 kDa larger in rodent cells than in humans. Examination of the codistribution of the three forms within individual cells using double label immunofluorescence indicates extensive colocalization of SCAMP2 and SCAMP3 with endogenous SCAMP1, however, subcellular regions enriched for a particular SCAMP are readily visible. These findings suggest that the SCAMPs may largely function at the same sites during vesicular transport rather than in separate post-Golgi recycling pathways.
Time scale dependent viscoelastic and contractile regimes in fibroblasts probed by microplate manipulation
Authors: Thoumine Olivier , Ott Albrecht
Published: April 2021

Many essential phenomena in biology involve changes in cell shape. Cell deformation occurs in response to physical forces either coming from the external environment or intracellularly generated. In most tests of cell rheology, an external constraint is usually superimposed on an already mechanically active cell, thus the measurements may reflect both active motion and passive viscoelastic deformation. To show that active and passive processes could be distinguished on a time scale basis, we designed a novel piezocontrolled micromanipulation system to impose dynamic mechanical deformations on individual cells. Chick fibroblasts were seized between two glass microplates; one of the plates, more flexible, served as a sensor of the applied force. Controlled amounts of unidirectional compression and traction in the range of 10−8-10−7 N were applied, using either step functions or sinusoidal signals at chosen frequencies. These tests allowed identification of three time scale dependent regimes. (1) A dominant elastic response, characterized by a linear stress-strain relationship, was especially apparent at short times (seconds); (2) A viscous behavior, characterized by force relaxation and irreversible cell deformation, was noticeable at intermediate times (minutes). Data from traction and oscillatory excitation tests were well fitted by a three-element Kelvin viscoelastic model, allowing the calculation of two elastic moduli in the range of 600-1,000 N/m2 and an apparent viscosity of about 104 Pa.s. (3) A contractile regime, in which actin-dependent traction forces were developed in response to uniaxial load was apparent at longer times (several tens of minutes). These forces were in the order of 4×10−8 N above viscous relaxation. Thus we could distinguish, on a time scale basis, the specific contributions of passive viscoelasticity and active traction, and evaluate their mechanical characteristics within one experiment on a single cell.
Human syntaxin 3 is localized apically in human intestinal cells
Authors: Delgrossi Marie-Hélène , Breuza Lionel , Mirre Christian , Chavrier Philippe , Le Bivic André
Published: April 2021

To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying sorting of apical and basolateral membrane components in human intestinal epithelial cells, we have cloned the human homolog of rat syntaxin 3 and looked for its subcellular localization. Endogenous human syntaxin 3 was found to be localized at the apical membrane of colon epithelial and Caco-2 cells. This apical localization was confirmed by confocal microscopy after transfection of the cDNA coding for either full length or N-terminally truncated human syntaxin 3 in Caco-2 cells. Furthermore the signal(s) and machinery targeting human syntaxin 3 to the apical membrane of epithelial cells are conserved between species since human syntaxin 3 was also localized at the apical membrane of canine MDCK cells and of epithelial cells in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster.
Regulated expression of fibronectin, laminin and related integrin receptors during the early chondrocyte differentiation
Authors: Tavella Sara , Bellese Grazia , Castagnola Patrizio , Martin Ivan , Piccini Daniele , Doliana Roberto , Colombatti Alfonso , Cancedda Ranieri , Tacchetti Carlo
Published: April 2021

We have investigated the expression and localization of fibronectin, laminin, and their receptors, and we used an in vitro chick chondrocyte differentiation model to define a time hierarchy for their appearance in early chondrogenesis and to determine their role in the cell condensation process. By serum fibronectin depletion/reconstitution, or GRGDSP peptide competition experiments, we show that fibronectin contributes to the initial cell-cell interactions that occur during condensation. In later stages, a downregulation of both fibronectin and of its α5β1 integrin receptor occur, as demonstrated by mRNA and protein kinetics. Immunolocalisation studies suggest that the reduction of fibronectin in discrete areas is involved in local activation of the cell differentiation program. Furthermore, we show that laminin is expressed during the in vitro cell condensation process in areas that are negative for fibronectin staining. The types of laminin as well as the timing of expression have been determined by northern blot and RT-PCR analyses. The highest levels of expression are coincident with maximal cell aggregation. The α3β1 laminin receptor, highly expressed in dedifferentiated cells, follows later on the ligand trend. During in vitro chondrogenesis, a down-regulation in the B isoform, and an up-regulation of the A isoform, of the alpha subunit of the α6β1 laminin receptor occurs. Immunolocalisation studies suggest that laminin is involved in the definition of differentiating areas as opposed to non differentiating areas of the condensed region, i.e. the periphery, which eventually gives rise to the perichondrium.
The alternatively spliced domains EIIIB and EIIIA of human fibronectin affect cell adhesion and spreading
Authors: Hashimoto-Uoshima Mariko , Yan Ying Zhuo , Schneider Galen , Aukhil Ikramuddin
Published: April 2021

Fibronectin has a complex pattern of alternative splicing at the pre-mRNA level leading to the expression of different isoforms. The alternatively spliced domains EIIIB and EIIIA are known to be prominently expressed during development and wound healing. While the other spliced domain (CS-segment) is known to promote cell adhesion in a cell type specific manner, the biological functions of the spliced domains EIIIB and EIIIA are not well understood. In the present study, we have prepared expression proteins of specific domains of human fibronectin using a prokaryotic expression system and used the purified fragments to test their ability to support adhesion and spreading of cultured cells. Fragments from type-III domains #7 to #12 were prepared in various combinations to include or exclude the spliced domains EIIIB and EIIIA. The results indicate that cultured NIL fibroblasts adhere to many of the fragments tested. However, the cell adhesion and spreading are enhanced, especially at lower concentrations, to fragments including the domain EIIIB. The inclusion of domain EIIIA led to a decrease in the adhesion of cells and those that adhered did not spread well. When tested in a centrifugal cell adhesion assay, fragments including domain EIIIB resisted the detaching forces and stayed adhered. Fragments that included domain EIIIA were unable to resist the detaching centrifugal forces to the same extent as the fragments that included domain EIIIB alone. These results suggest that the spliced domain EIIIB may be serving important biological functions in enhancing cell adhesion and spreading. This is likely to be mediated by conformational effects because domain EIIIB alone neither exhibited any adhesive activity nor competed in inhibiting adhesion to fragments #7-10.
Nuclear import of DNA in digitonin-permeabilized cells
Authors: Hagstrom James E. , Ludtke James J. , Bassik Michael C. , Sebestyén Magdolna G. , Adam Steve A. , Wolff Jon A.
Published: April 2021

DNA can enter intact mammalian nuclei with varying degrees of efficiency in both transfected and microinjected cells, yet very little is known about the mechanism by which it crosses the nuclear membrane. Nucleocytoplasmic transport of fluorescently labeled DNA was studied using a digitonin-permeabilized cell system. DNA accumulated in the nucleus with a punctate staining pattern in over 80% of the permeabilized HeLa cells. Nuclear localization of the labeled DNA was energy dependent and occurred through the nuclear pore, but did not require the addition of soluble cytoplasmic protein factors necessary for protein import.
Pulse treatment of interphasic HeLa cells with nanomolar doses of docetaxel affects centrosome organization and leads to catastrophic exit of mitosis
Authors: Paoletti Anne , Giocanti Nicole , Favaudon Vincent , Bornens Michel
Published: April 2021

In order to investigate the role of centrosome duplication in mitotic spindle morphogenesis, we designed a 1 hour pulse treatment protocol on synchronized HeLa cells with nanomolar doses of taxoids that might impair centrosome biogenesis but would allow the recovery of normal microtubule (Mt) dynamics before mitosis. We were prompted to use this approach as docetaxel (DOC; taxotereTM), a taxoid known to promote Mt polymerization, was shown to be more cytotoxic when applied during S phase. We show that pulse drug exposure is most efficient in late S and in G2 and results in a marked disorganization of the centrosome in G2, the pericentriolar material (PCM) being dissociated from centrioles. Separation of centrosomes at the G2-M transition is also impaired and mitotic spindle morphogenesis is grossly abnormal: although in most spindles chromosomes align in a metaphase plate, the two centrosomes stay most often unseparated at one pole and most of the NuMA protein accumulates at the other. Interestingly, we find that the centrosomes’ ability to duplicate is not abolished as they are still able to trigger parthenogenetic development of frog eggs. Despite spindle asymmetry, the progression through mitosis is not blocked. This results in a catastrophic exit from mitosis, each mitotic cell generating several micronucleated cells linked together by multiple midbodies. Lack of mitotic block appears therefore as the prime cause of cell lethality. These experiments suggest that NuMA redistribution at the onset of mitosis depends upon the correct redistribution of PCM between centriole pairs. They also indicate that the presence of aberrant spindle poles does not alert the surveillance mechanism controlling the exit of mitosis.
EGF-R dependent regulation of keratinocyte survival
Authors: Rodeck Ulrich , Jost Monika , Kari Csaba , Shih Daw-Tsun , Lavker Robert M. , Ewert Donald L. , Jensen Pamela J.
Published: April 2021

Tissue organization and maintenance within multicellular organisms is in part dependent on the ability of cells to undergo programmed cell death or apoptosis. Conversely, disruption of cell death pathways often is associated with tumor development. At present, the molecular control of apoptosis in epithelial cells is poorly understood. Here we describe evidence linking epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-R) activation to survival of normal human ker-atinocytes in culture. Inhibition of EGF-R activation by an anti-EGF-R antagonistic monoclonal antibody (mAb 425), followed by detachment of keratinocytes from the substratum, induced extensive death with several features of apoptosis in keratinocyte cultures. Other, non-epithelial normal human cells including melanocytes and fibroblasts, did not show this effect. Similar to EGF-R blockade by mAb 425, inhibition of the EGF-R tyrosine kinase activity using tyrphostin AG1478 resulted in lack of attachment and extensive cell death upon passaging. Attachment to keratinocyte-derived ECM partially rescued mAb 425-treated keratinocytes from cell death, indicating that adhesion-dependent and EGF-R-dependent signal transduction pathways serve partially overlapping but not redundant roles in supporting keratinocyte survival.
Transfer of phagocytosed particles to the parasitophorous vacuole of Leishmania mexicana is a transient phenomenon preceding the acquisition of annexin I by the phagosome
Authors: Collins Helen L. , Schaible Ulrich E. , Ernst Joel D. , Russell David G.
Published: April 2021

The eukaryotic intracellular pathogen Leishmania mexicana resides inside macrophages contained within a membrane bound parasitophorous vacuole which, as it matures, acquires the characteristics of a late endosomal compartment. This study reports the selectivity of fusion of this compartment with other particle containing vacuoles. Phagosomes containing zymosan or live Listeria monocytogenes rapidly fused with L. mexicana parasitophorous vacuoles, while those containing latex beads or heat killed L. monocytogenes failed to do so. Fusigenicity of phagosomes was not primarily dependent on the receptor utilized for ingestion, as opsonization with defined ligands could not overcome the exclusion of either latex beads or heat killed organisms. However modulation of intracellular pH by pharmacological agents such as chloroquine and ammonium chloride increased delivery of live Listeria and also induced transfer of previously excluded particles. The absence of fusion correlated with the acquisition of annexin I, a putative lysosomal targeting molecule, on the phagosome membrane. We propose that the acquisition of cellular membrane constituents such as annexin I during phagosome maturation can ultimately direct the fusion pathway of the vesicles formed and have described a model system to further document changes in vesicle fusigenicity within cells.
Heat-shock and cadmium chloride increase the vimentin mRNA and protein levels in U-937 human promonocytic cells
Authors: Vilaboa Nuria E. , García-Bermejo Laura , Pérez Concepción , Blas Elena de , Calle Consuelo , Aller Patricio
Published: April 2021

Heat-shock for 2 hours at 42°C, or the administration for 3 hours of 100 or 150 μM cadmium chloride, inhibited the subsequent proliferation activity, induced the expression of functional differentiation markers, and caused an increase in the amount of the stress-responsive HSP70 protein in U-937 human promonocytic cells. In addition, both heat and cadmium produced an increase in the amount of the inter-mediate filament protein vimentin, as determined by immunoblot and immunofluorescence assays. By contrast, the amounts of actin and β-tubulin were not significantly altered. The amount of vimentin mRNA was also increased during recovery from stress, indicating that vimentin expression was not exclusively regulated at the protein level. Although cadmium caused an early, transient stimu-lation of c-jun and c-fos expression and AP-1 binding activity, heat-shock failed to alter both protooncogene expression and transcription factor binding, indicating that the stress-induced vimentin increase was not the result of AP-1-mediated transcriptional activation. Finally, it was observed that the rate of decay of vimentin mRNA upon actinomycin D administration was decreased in heat- and cadmium-pretreated cells in comparison to untreated cells. These results indicate that stress treatments cause an increase in vimentin levels in promonocytic cells, which may be explained at least in part by transcript stabilization.
Identification and characterization of a novel type of annexin-membrane interaction: Ca2+ is not required for the association of annexin II with early endosomes
Authors: Jost Matthias , Zeuschner Dagmar , Seemann Joachim , Weber Klaus , Gerken Volker
Published: April 2021

Annexin II, a member of a family of Ca2+ and membrane binding proteins, has been implicated in regulating membrane organization and membrane transport during endocytosis and Ca2+ regulated secretion. To characterize the mechanistic aspects of the annexin II action we studied parameters which determine the endosomal association of annexin II. Immunoblot analysis of subcellular membrane fractions prepared from BHK cells in the presence of a Ca2+ chelating agent reveals that annexin II remains associated with endosomal membranes under such conditions. This annexin II behaviour is atypical for the Ca2+ regulated annexins and is corroborated by the finding that ectopically expressed annexin II mutants with inactivated Ca2+ binding sites continue to co-fractionate with endosomal membranes. The Ca2+-independent membrane association of annexin II is also not affected by introducing mutations interfering with the complex formation of annexin II with its intracellular protein ligand p11. However, a deletion of the unique N-terminal domain of annexin II, in particular the sequence spanning residues 15 to 24, abolishes the Ca2+-independent association of the protein with endosomes. These results describe a novel, Ca2+-independent type of annexin-membrane interaction and provide a first explanation for the observed preference of different annexins for different cellular membranes. In the case of annexin II this specificity could be mediated through specific membrane receptors interacting with a unique sequence in the annexin II molecule.
Enhancement of the ncd
D microtubule motor mutant by mutants of αTub67C
Authors: Komma Donald J. , Endow Sharyn A.
Published: April 2021

Ncd is a kinesin-related microtubule motor protein required for chromosome segregation in Drosophila oocytes and early embryos. In tests for interactions with other proteins, we find that mutants of αTub67C, which affect an oocyte- and early embryo-specific α-tubulin, enhance meiotic nondisjunction and zygotic loss of ncdD, a partial loss-of-function mutant of ncd. The enhancement is dominant and allele-specific with respect to αTub67C, and depends on the recessive effects of ncdD. Cytologically, embryos of αTub67C/+ show delayed meiotic divisions and defective female pronucleus formation, while meiotic spindle assembly is abnormal in embryos of ncdD/ncdD. Doubly mutant αTub67C ncdD/ncdD embryos are rescued for female pronucleus formation, but show delayed meiotic progression and defective pronuclear conjugation or fusion. Delayed completion of meiosis, together with failure of pronuclear fusion, prevents normal interactions of maternal with paternal chromosomes, enhancing the ncdD mutant phenotype. The genetics and cytology of doubly mutant embryos and the molecular defect of NcdD provide evidence for interaction of Ncd with αTub67C in vivo. These results imply that a specific α-tubulin isoform is required for normal cellular function of a kinesin motor protein.