A bidirectional antagonism between aPKC and Yurt regulates epithelial cell polarity

During epithelial cell polarization, Yurt (Yrt) is initially confined to the lateral membrane and supports the stability of this membrane domain by repressing the Crumbs-containing apical machinery. At late stages of embryogenesis, the apical recruitment of Yrt restricts the size of the apical membrane. However, the molecular basis sustaining the spatiotemporal dynamics of Yrt remains undefined. In this paper, we report that atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) phosphorylates Yrt to prevent its premature apical localization. A nonphosphorylatable version of Yrt dominantly dismantles the apical domain, showing that its aPKC-mediated exclusion is crucial for epithelial cell polarity. In return, Yrt counteracts aPKC functions to prevent apicalization of the plasma membrane. The ability of Yrt to bind and restrain aPKC signaling is central for its role in polarity, as removal of the aPKC binding site neutralizes Yrt activity. Thus, Yrt and aPKC are involved in a reciprocal antagonistic regulatory loop that contributes to segregation of distinct and mutually exclusive membrane domains in epithelial cells.     

A novel Netrin-1–sensitive mechanism promotes local SNARE-mediated exocytosis during axon branching

Developmental axon branching dramatically increases synaptic capacity and neuronal surface area. Netrin-1 promotes branching and synaptogenesis, but the mechanism by which Netrin-1 stimulates plasma membrane expansion is unknown. We demonstrate that SNARE-mediated exocytosis is a prerequisite for axon branching and identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM9 as a critical catalytic link between Netrin-1 and exocytic SNARE machinery in murine cortical neurons. TRIM9 ligase activity promotes SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion and axon branching in a Netrin-dependent manner. We identified a direct interaction between TRIM9 and the Netrin-1 receptor DCC as well as a Netrin-1–sensitive interaction between TRIM9 and the SNARE component SNAP25. The interaction with SNAP25 negatively regulates SNARE-mediated exocytosis and axon branching in the absence of Netrin-1. Deletion of TRIM9 elevated exocytosis in vitro and increased axon branching in vitro and in vivo. Our data provide a novel model for the spatial regulation of axon branching by Netrin-1, in which localized plasma membrane expansion occurs via TRIM9-dependent regulation of SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion.     

New data on mollusks from the Miocene (Tarkhanian-Chokrakian) of northern Sinop Province,Turkey

An insufficiently known bivalve and gastropod assemblage from the Early-Middle Miocene (Tarkhanian-Chokrakian) of northern Sinop Province (Turkey), is analyzed. Environments of the assemblage are reconstructed for the Chokrakian as subtidal, with prevailing lime and sandy bottom and good aeration, and partially well vegetated. Impoverishment of the mollusk biocoenose in this part of the marine basin (only 18 bivalve and 22 gastropod species recorded) compared to other areas, including the closest regions, Bulgaria on the west and Georgia on the east, is emphasized. The relatively low diversity of the fauna is probably connected not only with insufficient collecting, but with special hydrological conditions. A special aspect of the fauna is highlighted by the presence of the bivalve Circomphalus foliaceolamellosus subplicatus (Orb.), which is rare in the Chokrakian.     

A validated model of passive skeletal muscle to predict force and intramuscular pressure

The passive properties of skeletal muscle are often overlooked in muscle studies, yet they play a key role in tissue function in vivo. Studies analyzing and modeling muscle passive properties, while not uncommon, have never investigated the role of fluid content within the tissue. Additionally, intramuscular pressure (IMP) has been shown to correlate with muscle force in vivo and could be used to predict muscle force in the clinic. In this study, a novel model of skeletal muscle was developed and validated to predict both muscle stress and IMP under passive conditions for the New Zealand White Rabbit tibialis anterior. This model is the first to include fluid content within the tissue and uses whole muscle geometry. A nonlinear optimization scheme was highly effective at fitting model stress output to experimental stress data (normalized mean square error or NMSE fit value of 0.993) and validation showed very good agreement to experimental data (NMSE fit values of 0.955 and 0.860 for IMP and stress, respectively). While future work to include muscle activation would broaden the physiological application of this model, the passive implementation could be used to guide surgeries where passive muscle is stretched.     

Secondary biochemical and morphological consequences in lysosomal storage diseases

More than 50 hereditary lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are currently described. Most of these disorders are due to a deficiency of certain hydrolases/glycosidases and subsequent accumulation of nonhydrolyzable carbohydrate-containing compounds in lysosomes. Such accumulation causing hypertrophy of the lysosomal compartment is a characteristic feature of affected cells in LSDs. The investigation of biochemical and cellular parameters is of particular interest for understanding “life” of lysosomes in the normal state and in LSDs. This review highlights the wide spectrum of biochemical and morphological changes during developing LSDs that are extremely critical for many metabolic processes inside the various cells and tissues of affected persons. The data presented will help establish new complex strategies for metabolic correction of LSDs.