ER sliding dynamics and ER–mitochondrial contacts occur on acetylated microtubules

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network is extremely dynamic in animal cells, yet little is known about the mechanism and function of its movements. The most common ER dynamic, termed ER sliding, involves ER tubule extension along stable microtubules (MTs). In this study, we show that ER sliding occurs on nocodazole-resistant MTs that are posttranslationally modified by acetylation. We demonstrate that high MT curvature is a good indicator of MT acetylation and show in live cells that ER sliding occurs predominantly on these curved, acetylated MTs. Furthermore, increasing MT acetylation by drug treatment increases the frequency of ER sliding. One purpose of the ER sliding on modified MT tracts could be to regulate its interorganelle contacts. We find that all mitochondria and many endosomes maintain contact with the ER despite the movements of each. However, mitochondria, but not endosomes, preferentially localize to acetylated MTs. Thus, different ER dynamics may occur on distinct MT populations to establish or maintain contacts with different organelles.     

LRP16与 ERα相互作用增强ERα介导的转录活性

LRP16是一个雌激素（E2）通过受体α（ERα）诱导表达的靶基因,LRP16不仅促进人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞的增殖,而且促进细胞的侵袭生长,但对LRP16作用的分子机制尚不清楚.首先,检测到LRP16表达缺陷明显削弱了MCF-7细胞对E2的反应性增殖能力;采用Northern 印迹与Western印迹法,进一步检测到抑制LRP16表达,明显损害了ERα靶基因对E2诱导上调的反应性,这些基因包括了cyclin D1, c-myc, c-fos,MTA3, pS2和维甲酸受体α基因（RARα）等;以上结果提示,LRP16参与了ERα介导的信号途径.将ERα模式启动子报告基因3×ERE-TATA-luc,ERα以及LRP16表达载体共转染MCF-7与HeLa细胞.结果发现,LRP16增强了ERα对报告基因的转录激活,并呈现对LRP16的剂量依赖性;进而采用GST-pull down以及免疫共沉淀方法证实了LRP16与ERα之间的直接相互作用,该作用不依赖于E2的存在,但可被E2增强;采用哺乳动物双杂交方法进一步证实了ERα与LRP16相互作用位点存在于A/B区的激活功能域-１（AF1）.以上结果表明,LRP16是ERα的一个共激活因子,通过相互作用,LRP16增强了ERα介导转录活性.该研究为LRP16促进ERα阳性乳腺癌细胞增殖与侵袭生长提供了合理的分子解释.     

Enhanced estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) selectivity of fluorinated carborane-containing ER modulators

We previously showed that fluorination of the carborane-containing selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) BE360 altered the agonist/antagonist activity balance and the estrogen receptor (ER) α/β subtype selectivity. Here, we designed and synthesized a series of fluorinated carboranyl phenols as candidate ERβ-selective ligands. Introduction of a fluorine atom onto the carborane cage commonly reduced the binding affinity for ERα, to an extent that depended on the other substituents present. The B-fluorinated m-carboranyl phenol 4a showed fourfold more potent ERβ-binding affinity than the parent non-fluorinated compound 7. 1-Iodo-9-fluoro-m-carboranyl phenol 4f showed high ERβ-binding affinity with an ERβ/ERα selectivity ratio of 8.2. Among the compounds tested, 6 showed the highest ERβ selectivity (10.1-fold) and the highest ER-agonistic activity (EC₅₀: 5.1 × 10^?10 M) in MCF-7 cell proliferation assay.     

ERβ相互作用蛋白PSMC5的分离及其在ERβ信号途径中的作用

雌激素受体β（ERβ）在乳腺癌发生发展中起着重要的作用,寻找与ERβ相互作用的共调节因子对阐明ER信号通路具有重要价值.应用酵母双杂交技术,以ERβ的AF2结构域为诱饵蛋白从人乳腺文库中筛选出了与之相互作用的蛋白26S蛋白酶的亚单位ATPase 5（PSMC5）.GST沉淀实验表明,PSMC5在体外特异地与ERβ相结合.转录活性实验表明,PSMC5以激素依赖的方式降低ERβ转录活性.上述结果提示,PSMC5可能通过影响ERβ信号途径在乳腺癌发生发展中起着重要的作用.     

比格犬卵巢子宫内雌激素受体ERα、ERβ的免疫组织化学定位

目的研究雌激素受体α,β在比格犬卵巢及子宫内的定位。方法采用免疫组化SP法DAB显色结合BCIP/NBT及AEC显色检测ERα、ERβ在比格犬子宫及卵巢内的表达。结果比格犬ERα主要表达于卵泡颗粒细胞、卵巢间质腺腺上皮细胞及子宫内膜腺体腺上皮细胞胞核内,胞质内仅有少量表达,而在卵泡膜内膜的间质细胞,腺体周围的基质细胞及小动脉血管内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞、小静脉内皮细胞的胞核内有少量表达。而ERβ则以相同的组织特异性主要表达于上述组织细胞的胞质内,在胞核内有微弱表达。ERα表达于膜黄体细胞的胞核内,而在黄体颗粒细胞胞核与胞质内均有表达。而ERβ则仍特异表达于不同生理阶段黄体细胞的胞质内。BCIP/NBT与AEC双染未见ERα、ERβ在子宫内有明显的共表达现象。结论比格犬ERα、ERβ在子宫与卵巢组织内定位不同,ERα主要定位于胞核,在胞质内有微弱表达,而ERβ主要定位于胞质,在胞核内有零星表达。     

新的ER下游靶基因BAP18的鉴定及其在ER阳性乳腺癌中的作用

雌激素受体(ER)/雌二醇(E2)调控其下游靶基因的转录及蛋白表达,在乳腺癌的发生发展过程中发挥至关重要的作用,寻找新的ER下游靶基因可以为乳腺癌的临床治疗提供新的治疗靶点。该研究通过Western blot和qPCR方法确定了一个新的ER下游靶基因BAP18,其表达量可以被E2和ER上调,同时使用拮抗E2和ER的药物如他莫昔芬或氟维斯群可以使BAP18表达量下降。通过生物信息学分析确定了BAP18转录起始位点前潜在的ER结合位点,构建了检测BAP18转录活性的质粒后,用荧光素酶双报告基因实验和染色质免疫共沉淀实验确定了BAP18启动子上ER的结合位点和上调转录的区域。凝胶迁移实验确定ER可以直接结合BAP18的启动子DNA。最后利用CRISPR-Cas9定向敲除BAP18,发现BAP18的敲除可以导致ER阳性乳腺癌细胞的生长和增殖减慢且凋亡增加。该研究鉴定了BAP18是ER下游靶基因,其在乳腺癌中有促癌作用。BAP18的发现有望为ER阳性乳腺癌的临床治疗提供理论基础和新的治疗靶点。     

ER subtype selectivity of m-carborane-containing phenols: C-alkyl groups on the m-carborane cage enhance ERα selectivity

Estrogen receptor (ER) exhibits two subtypes, ERα and ERβ, whose biological functions are quite different despite expression in the same tissues. We developed diiodo-m-carborane derivative 3a, which showed 14-fold selectivity for ERβ with high binding affinity toward ERβ. Interestingly, introduction of an alkyl group into the carbon atom of the m-carborane cage of 3a markedly enhanced the binding affinity toward ERα and decreased affinity toward ERβ. C-n-propyl derivative 3d showed 28-fold selectivity for ERα in an ER binding assay and promoted proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Docking simulation studies suggest that the directions of the n-propyl group and the diiodo substituent introduced on the m-carborane cage play important roles for the control of ER subtype selectivity. As 3a and 3d showed ERβ and ERα selectivity with high binding affinity, respectively, these ligands may be useful as biological tools to aid in understanding the different roles of ER subtypes.     

兴国红鲤ER基因克隆表达及EE2暴露对肝中ER表达的影响

为评估环境内分泌干扰物对鱼类的影响,研究克隆了兴国红鲤雌激素受体（Estrogen receptor,ER）4种亚型ERα、ERβ、ERβ1、ERβ2的全长cDNA序列,氨基酸序列比对发现兴国红鲤ERs分别与3种鲤科鱼类相应亚型具有较高的同源性。实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）检测结果表明,4种ER亚型mRNA在雌雄成体组织中呈现差异表达,雌性个体中,肝、卵巢和肠中4种ERs的表达量均较高;在雄性个体中,ERα和ERβ主要在肝中表达,ERβ1、ERβ2分别在肠和精巢中的表达量最高。将150日龄的兴国红鲤幼鱼分别暴露在0.01、0.1和1 nmol/L的17α-乙炔基雌二醇（EE2）中4周,检测了雌性幼鱼肝中4种ER基因的表达变化情况。在EE2中暴露1-2周后,兴国红鲤雌性幼鱼肝中ERα基因的表达水平有极显著的提升;各浓度EE2能持续显著促进其肝中ERβ的表达;在1-2周内各浓度EE2对ERβ1表达有所抑制;第1周EE2能够抑制ERβ2基因mRNA的表达,并在0.01 nmol/L时抑制作用达到了显著的水平。上述研究结果表明,EE2暴露能诱导或抑制兴国红鲤雌性幼鱼肝中ER亚型的表达,相对于ERβ、ERβ1和ERβ2、ERα可作为EE2短期（1-2周）敏感性生物学标记。     

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 regulates Sec16A at ER exit sites to allow ER–Golgi export

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) has been associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other disorders. However, its normal physiological functions and pathogenic properties remain elusive. Here we show that LRRK2 regulates the anterograde ER–Golgi transport through anchoring Sec16A at the endoplasmic reticulum exit sites (ERES). LRRK2 interacted and co-localized with Sec16A, a key protein in the formation of ERES. Lrrk2 depletion caused a dispersion of Sec16A from ERES and impaired ER export. In neurons, LRRK2 and Sec16A showed extensive co-localization at the dendritic ERES (dERES) that locally regulate the transport of proteins to the dendritic spines. A loss of Lrrk2 affected the association of Sec16A with dERES and impaired the activity-dependent targeting of glutamate receptors onto the cell/synapse surface. Furthermore, the PD-related LRRK2 R1441C missense mutation in the GTPase domain interfered with the interaction of LRRK2 with Sec16A and also affected ER–Golgi transport, while LRRK2 kinase activity was not required for these functions. Therefore, our findings reveal a new physiological function of LRRK2 in ER–Golgi transport, suggesting ERES dysfunction may contribute to the pathogenesis of PD.     

α-Synuclein Delays Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi Transport in Mammalian Cells by Antagonizing ER/Golgi SNAREs

Toxicity of human α-synuclein when expressed in simple organisms can be suppressed by overexpression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi transport machinery, suggesting that inhibition of constitutive secretion represents a fundamental cause of the toxicity. Whether similar inhibition in mammals represents a cause of familial Parkinson''s disease has not been established. We tested elements of this hypothesis by expressing human α-synuclein in mammalian kidney and neuroendocrine cells and assessing ER-to-Golgi transport. Overexpression of wild type or the familial disease-associated A53T mutant α-synuclein delayed transport by up to 50%; however, A53T inhibited more potently. The secretory delay occurred at low expression levels and was not accompanied by insoluble α-synuclein aggregates or mistargeting of transport machinery, suggesting a direct action of soluble α-synuclein on trafficking proteins. Co-overexpression of ER/Golgi arginine soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (R-SNAREs) specifically rescued transport, indicating that α-synuclein antagonizes SNARE function. Ykt6 reversed α-synuclein inhibition much more effectively than sec22b, suggesting a possible neuroprotective role for the enigmatic high expression of ykt6 in neurons. In in vitro reconstitutions, purified α-synuclein A53T protein specifically inhibited COPII vesicle docking and fusion at a pre-Golgi step. Finally, soluble α-synuclein A53T directly bound ER/Golgi SNAREs and inhibited SNARE complex assembly, providing a potential mechanism for toxic effects in the early secretory pathway.     

Synthetic embryonic lethality upon deletion of the ER cochaperone p58 and the ER stress sensor ATF6α

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated as a consequence of alterations to ER homeostasis. It upregulates a group of ER chaperones and cochaperones, as well as other genes that improve protein processing within the secretory pathway. The UPR effector ATF6α augments—but is not essential for—maximal induction of ER chaperones during stress, yet its role, if any, in protecting cellular function during normal development and physiology is unknown. A systematic analysis of multiple tissues from Atf6α−/− mice revealed that all tissues examined were grossly insensitive to loss of ATF6α. However, combined deletion of ATF6α and the ER cochaperone p58^IPK resulted in synthetic embryonic lethality. These findings reveal for the first time that an intact UPR can compensate for the genetic impairment of protein folding in the ER in vivo. The also expose a role for p58^IPK in normal embryonic development.     

Mapping ERβ Genomic Binding Sites Reveals Unique Genomic Features and Identifies EBF1 as an ERβ Interactor

Considerable effort by numerous laboratories has resulted in an improved understanding of estrogen and SERM action mediated by the two estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ. However, many of the targets for ERβ in cell physiology remain elusive. Here, the C4-12/Flag.ERβ cell line which stably expressed Flag.ERβ is used to study ERβ genomic functions without ERα interference. Mapping ERβ binding sites in these cells reveals ERβ unique distribution and motif enrichment patterns. Accompanying our mapping results, nascent RNA profiling is performed on cells at the same treatment time. The combined results allow the identification of ERβ target genes. Gene ontology analysis reveals that ERβ targets are enriched in differentiation, development and apoptosis. Concurrently, E2 treatment suppresses proliferation in these cells. Within ERβ binding sites, while the most prevalent binding motif is the canonical ERE, motifs of known ER interactors are also enriched in ERβ binding sites. Moreover, among enriched binding motifs are those of GFI, REST and EBF1, which are unique to ERβ binding sites in these cells. Further characterization confirms the association between EBF1 and the estrogen receptors, which favors the N-terminal region of the receptor. Furthermore, EBF1 negatively regulates ERs at the protein level. In summary, by studying ERβ genomic functions in our cell model, we confirm the anti-proliferative role of ERβ and discover the novel cross talk of ERβ with EBF1 which has various implications in normal physiology.     

HSP70系统分析与ER的起源

HSP 70是迄今研究过的进化上最保守的蛋白质之一,是分子伴侣的主要成分,对蛋白的跨膜转运及特定构象的维持等起着重要作用。对其序列进行系统分析表明,古细菌,真细菌和真核细胞内的HSP 70虽具有很强的相似性,但各具特点。真核细胞各区室(细胞器)的HSP 70顺序也既有共性,又有特性。根据ER HSP 70的特点,可推测出ER起源于真核细胞诞生的早期阶段,并由此引起细胞内的区室化,这是真核细胞区别于原核细胞的本质特征之一。     

Aging negatively affects estrogens-mediated effects on nitric oxide bioavailability by shifting ERα/ERβ balance in female mice

Aims

Aging is among the major causes for the lack of cardiovascular protection by estrogen (E2) during postmenopause. Our study aims to determine the mechanisms whereby aging changes E2 effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in a mouse model of accelerated senescence (SAM).

Methods and Results

Although we found no differences on NO production in females SAM prone (SAMP, aged) compared to SAM resistant (SAMR, young), by either DAF-2 fluorescence or plasmatic nitrite/nitrate (NO2/NO3), in both cases, E2 treatment increased NO production in SAMR but had no effect in SAMP. Those results are in agreement with changes of eNOS protein and gene expression. E2 up-regulated eNOS expression in SAMR but not in SAMP. E2 is also known to increase NO by decreasing its catabolism by superoxide anion (O₂ ^-). Interestingly, E2 treatment decreased O₂ ⁻ production in young females, while increased O₂ ⁻ in aged ones. Furthermore, we observed that aging changed expression ratio of estrogen receptors (ERβ/ERα) and levels of DNA methylation. Increased ratio ERβ/ERα in aged females is associated to a lack of estrogen modulation of NO production and with a reversal in its antioxidant effect to a pro-oxidant profile.

Conclusions

Together, our data suggest that aging has detrimental effects on E2-mediated benefits on NO bioavailability, partially by affecting the ability of E2 to induce up regulation of eNOS and decrease of O₂ ⁻. These modifications may be associated to aging-mediated modifications on global DNA methylation status, but not to a specific methylation at 5′flanking region of ERα gene.     

Aurora-A Mitotic Kinase Induces Endocrine Resistance through Down-Regulation of ERα Expression in Initially ERα+ Breast Cancer Cells

Development of endocrine resistance during tumor progression represents a major challenge in the management of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positive breast tumors and is an area under intense investigation. Although the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood, many studies point towards the ‘cross-talk’ between ERα and MAPK signaling pathways as a key oncogenic axis responsible for the development of estrogen-independent growth of breast cancer cells that are initially ERα+ and hormone sensitive. In this study we employed a metastatic breast cancer xenograft model harboring constitutive activation of Raf-1 oncogenic signaling to investigate the mechanistic linkage between aberrant MAPK activity and development of endocrine resistance through abrogation of the ERα signaling axis. We demonstrate for the first time the causal role of the Aurora-A mitotic kinase in the development of endocrine resistance through activation of SMAD5 nuclear signaling and down-regulation of ERα expression in initially ERα+ breast cancer cells. This contribution is highly significant for the treatment of endocrine refractory breast carcinomas, because it may lead to the development of novel molecular therapies targeting the Aurora-A/SMAD5 oncogenic axis. We postulate such therapy to result in the selective eradication of endocrine resistant ERα^low/− cancer cells from the bulk tumor with consequent benefits for breast cancer patients.     

Cellular localization of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) and -beta (ERβ) mRNA in the boar testis

Boar testes synthesize high amounts of estrogens which are known to stimulate several male sexual functions in a variety of extragonadal target tissues. Possible effects within the testis depend on the existence of the estrogen receptor subtypes α and β (ERα, ERβ). The precise cellular localization of these subtypes within the testis was, so far, based mainly on protein expression studies using different antibodies in several species including boars shows contradictory results. Therefore, we investigated the ERα and ERβ gene expression using RT-PCR of testis homogenates and RT-PCR after UV-single cell microdissection combined with in-situ hybridization of four fertile boars with an average age of 32 weeks. Both ERα and ERβ mRNA were found in testis homogenates. Using in-situ hybridization and UV-single cell microdissection ERα mRNA was present in type A and type B spermatogonia up to mid-pachytene primary spermatocytes in stage V–VIII and stage I of the seminiferous epithelial cycle, but not in other cells. ERβ mRNA was found only in Sertoli cells. Interstitial Leydig cells revealed neither ERα nor ERβ mRNA. The data suggest a direct impact of estrogen in the boar on Sertoli cell function via ERβ and germ cell formation via ERα.