Conformation, localization, and integrin binding of talin depend on its interaction with phosphoinositides

Talin is a structural component of focal adhesion sites and is thought to be engaged in multiple protein interactions at the cytoplasmic face of cell/matrix contacts. Talin is a major link between integrin and the actin cytoskeleton and was shown to play an important role in focal adhesion assembly. Consistent with the view that talin must be activated at these sites, we found that phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P(2)) bound to talin in cells in suspension or at early stages of adhesion, respectively. When phosphoinositides were associated with phospholipid bilayer, talin/phosphoinositide association was restricted to PI4,5P(2). This association led to a conformational change of the protein. Moreover, the interaction between integrin and talin was greatly enhanced by PI4,5P(2)-induced talin activation. Finally, sequestration of PI4,5P(2) by a specific pleckstrin homology domain confirms that PI4,5P(2) is necessary for proper membrane localization of talin and that this localization is essential for the maintenance of focal adhesions. Our results support a model in which PI4,5P(2) exposes the integrin-binding site on talin. We propose that PI4,5P(2)-dependent signaling modulates assembly of focal adhesions by regulating integrin-talin complexes. These results demonstrate that activation of the integrin-binding activity of talin requires not only integrin engagement to the extracellular matrix but also the binding of PI4,5P(2) to talin, suggesting a possible role of lipid metabolism in organizing the sequential assembly of focal adhesion components.     

Phosphate number and acyl chain length determine the subcellular location and lateral mobility of phosphoinositides

Phosphoinositides are critical regulators of ion channel and transporter activity. There are multiple isomers of biologically active phosphoinositides in the plasma membrane and the different lipid species are non-randomly distributed. However, the mechanism by which cells impose selectivity and directionality on lipid movements and so generate a non-random lipid distribution remains unclear. In the present study we investigated which structural elements of phosphoinositides are responsible for their subcellular location and movement. We incubated phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PI(4)P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) with short or long acyl chains in CHO and HEK cells. We show that phosphate number and acyl chain length determine cellular location and translocation movement. In CHO cells, PI(4,5)P2 with a long acyl chain was released into the cytosol easily because of a low partition coefficient whereas long chain PI was released more slowly because of a high partition coefficient. In HEK cells, the cellular location and translocation movement of PI were similar to those of PI in CHO cells, whereas those of PI(4,5)P2 were different; some mechanism restricted the translocation movement of PI(4,5)P2, and this is in good agreement with the extremely low lateral diffusion of PI(4,5)P2. In contrast to the dependence on the number of phosphates of the phospholipid head group of long acyl chain analogs, short acyl chain phospholipids easily undergo translocation movement regardless of cell type and number of phosphates in the lipid headgroup.     

Autophosphorylation of type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase regulates its lipid kinase activity

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) have important roles in the production of various phosphoinositides. For type I PIP5Ks (PIP5KI), a broad substrate specificity is known. They phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate most effectively but also phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate (PI(3, 4)P(2)), resulting in the production of phosphatidylinositol (4, 5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P(2)), phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P(2)), and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate. We show here that PIP5KIs have also protein kinase activities. When each isozyme of PIP5KI (PIP5KIalpha, -beta, and -gamma) was subjected to in vitro kinase assay, autophosphorylation occurred. The lipid kinase-negative mutant of PIP5KIalpha (K138A) lost the protein kinase activity, suggesting the same catalytic mechanism for the lipid and the protein kinase activities. PIP5KIbeta expressed in Escherichia coli also retains this protein kinase activity, thus confirming that no co-immunoprecipitated protein kinase is involved. In addition, the autophosphorylation of PIP5KI is markedly enhanced by the addition of PI. No other phosphoinositides such as phosphatidylinositol phosphate, phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, or phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate have such an effect. We also found that the PI-dependent autophosphorylation strongly suppresses the lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI. The lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI was decreased to one-tenth upon PI-dependent autophosphorylation. All these results indicate that the lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI that acts predominantly for PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis is regulated by PI-dependent autophosphorylation in vivo.     

New EMBO members' review: actin cytoskeleton regulation through modulation of PI(4,5)P(2) rafts

The phosphoinositide lipid PI(4,5)P(2) is now established as a key cofactor in signaling to the actin cytoskeleton and in vesicle trafficking. PI(4,5)P(2) accumulates at membrane rafts and promotes local co-recruitment and activation of specific signaling components at the cell membrane. PI(4,5)P(2) rafts may thus be platforms for local regulation of morphogenetic activity at the cell membrane. Raft PI(4,5)P(2) is regulated by lipid kinases (PI5-kinases) and lipid phosphatases (e.g. synaptojanin). In addition, GAP43-like proteins have recently emerged as a group of PI(4,5)P(2) raft-modulating proteins. These locally abundant proteins accumulate at inner leaflet plasmalemmal rafts where they bind to and co-distribute with PI(4,5)P(2), and promote actin cytoskeleton accumulation and dynamics. In keeping with their proposed role as positive modulators of PI(4,5)P(2) raft function, GAP43-like proteins confer competence for regulated morphogenetic activity on cells that express them. Their function has been investigated extensively in the nervous system, where their expression promotes neurite outgrowth, anatomical plasticity and nerve regeneration. Extrinsic signals and intrinsic factors may thus converge to modulate PI(4,5)P(2) rafts, upstream of regulated activity at the cell surface.     

Identification of key residues in the A-Raf kinase important for phosphoinositide lipid binding specificity

Raf kinases are involved in regulating cellular signal transduction pathways in response to a wide variety of external stimuli. Upstream signals generate activated Ras-GTP, important for the relocalization of Raf kinases to the membrane. Upon full activation, Raf kinases phosphorylate and activate downstream kinase in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The Raf family of kinases has three members, Raf-1, B-Raf, and A-Raf. The ability of Raf-1 and B-Raf to bind phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA) has been show to facilitate Raf membrane associations and regulate Raf kinase activity. We have characterized the lipid binding properties of A-Raf, as well as further characterized those of Raf-1. Both A-Raf and Raf-1 were found to bind to 3-, 4-, and 5-monophosphorylated phosphoinositides [PI(3)P, PI(4)P, and PI(5)P] as well as phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P(2)]. In addition, A-Raf also bound specifically to phosphatidylinositol 4,5- and 3,4-bisphosphates [PI(4,5)P(2) and PI(3,4)P(2)] and to PA. A mutational analysis of A-Raf localized the PI(4,5)P(2) binding site to two basic residues (K50 and R52) within the Ras binding domain. Additionally, an A-Raf mutant lacking the first 199 residues [i.e., the entire conserved region 1 (CR1) domain] bound the same phospholipids as full-length Raf-1. This suggests that a second region of A-Raf between amino acids 200 and 606 was responsible for interactions with the monophosphorylated PIs and PI(3,5)P(2). These results raise the possibility that Raf-1 and A-Raf bind to specific phosphoinositides as a mechanism to localize them to particular membrane microdomains rich in these phospholipids. Moreover, the differences in their lipid binding profiles could contribute to their proposed isoform-specific Raf functions.     

Norepinephrine and endothelin activate diacylglycerol kinases in caveolae/rafts of rat mesenteric arteries: agonist-specific role of PI3-kinase

The phosphatidylinositol (PI) signaling pathway mediates norepinephrine (NE)- and endothelin-1 (ET-1)-stimulated vascular smooth muscle contraction through an inositol-trisphosphate-induced rise in intracellular calcium and diacylglycerol (DG) activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Subsequent activation of DG kinases (DGKs) metabolizes DG to phosphatidic acid (PA), potentially regulating PKC activity. Because precise regulation and spatial restriction of the PI pathway is necessary for specificity, we have investigated whether this occurs within caveolae/rafts, specialized plasma membrane microdomains implicated in vascular smooth muscle contraction. We show that components of the PI signaling cascade-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), PA, and DGK-theta are present in caveolae/rafts prepared from rat mesenteric small arteries. Stimulation with NE or ET-1 induced [(33)P]PIP(2) hydrolysis solely within caveolae/rafts. NE stimulated an increase in DGK activity in caveolae/rafts alone, whereas ET-1 activated DGK in caveolae/rafts and noncaveolae/rafts; however, [(33)P]PA increased in all fractions with both agonists. Previously, we reported that NE activated DGK-theta in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-dependent manner; here, we describe PI3-kinase-dependent DGK activation and [(33)P]PA production in caveolae/rafts in response to NE but not ET-1. Additionally, PKB, a potential activator of DGK-theta, translocated to caveolae/rafts in response to NE but not ET-1, and PI3-kinase inhibition prevented this. Furthermore, PI3-kinase inhibition reduced the sensitivity of contraction to NE but not ET-1. Our study shows that caveolae/rafts are major sites of vasoconstrictor hormone activation of the PI pathway in intact small arteries and suggest a link between lipid signaling events within caveolae/rafts and contraction.     

Retroviruses human immunodeficiency virus and murine leukemia virus are enriched in phosphoinositides

Retroviruses acquire a lipid envelope during budding from the membrane of their hosts. Therefore, the composition of this envelope can provide important information about the budding process and its location. Here, we present mass spectrometry analysis of the lipid content of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and murine leukemia virus (MLV). The results of this comprehensive survey found that the overall lipid content of these viruses mostly matched that of the plasma membrane, which was considerably different from the total lipid content of the cells. However, several lipids are enriched in comparison to the composition of the plasma membrane: (i) cholesterol, ceramide, and GM3; and (ii) phosphoinositides, phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol. Interestingly, microvesicles, which are similar in size to viruses and are also released from the cell periphery, lack phosphoinositides, suggesting a different budding mechanism/location for these particles than for retroviruses. One phosphoinositide, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P₂], has been implicated in membrane binding by HIV Gag. Consistent with this observation, we found that PI(4,5)P₂ was enriched in HIV-1 and that depleting this molecule in cells reduced HIV-1 budding. Analysis of mutant virions mapped the enrichment of PI(4,5)P₂ to the matrix domain of HIV Gag. Overall, these results suggest that HIV-1 and other retroviruses bud from cholesterol-rich regions of the plasma membrane and exploit matrix/PI(4,5)P₂ interactions for particle release from cells.     

Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) sequesters spin-labeled phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in lipid bilayers

The myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS) may function to sequester phosphoinositides within the plane of the bilayer. To characterize this interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)), a novel spin-labeled derivative, proxyl-PIP(2), was synthesized and characterized. In the presence of molecules known to bind PI(4,5)P(2) the EPR spectrum of this label exhibits an increase in line width because of a decrease in label dynamics, and titration of this probe with neomycin yields the expected 1:1 stoichiometry. Thus, this probe can be used to quantitate the interactions made by the PI(4,5)P(2) head group within the bilayer. In the presence of a peptide comprising the effector domain of MARCKS the EPR spectrum broadens, but the changes in line shape are modulated by both changes in label correlation time and spin-spin interactions. This result indicates that at least some proxyl-PIP(2) are in close proximity when bound to MARCKS and that MARCKS associates with multiple PI(4,5)P(2) molecules. Titration of the proxyl-PIP(2) EPR signal by the MARCKS-derived peptide also suggests that multiple PI(4,5)P(2) molecules interact with MARCKS. Site-directed spin labeling of this peptide shows that the position and conformation of this protein segment at the membrane interface are not altered significantly by binding to PI(4,5)P(2). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that MARCKS functions to sequester multiple PI(4,5)P(2) molecules within the plane of the membrane as a result of interactions that are driven by electrostatic forces.     

Hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides by purified sheep seminal vesicle phospholipase C enzymes

Sheep seminal vesicles contain two immunologically distinct phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes that can hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol (PI) (Hofmann, S.L., and Majerus, P.W. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 6461-6469). One of these enzymes (PLC-I) has been purified to homogeneity; the second (PLC-II) has been purified 2600-fold from a crude extract of seminal vesicles. In the present study we have compared the ability of these purified enzymes to hydrolyze PI, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI-4-P), and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-diphosphate (PI-4,5-P2). Using radiolabeled substrates in small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles of defined composition, the two enzymes were found to hydrolyze all three of the phosphoinositides. Hydrolysis of all three phosphoinositides by both enzymes was stimulated by Ca2+; however, in the presence of EGTA only the polyphosphoinositides were hydrolyzed. The two enzymes displayed substrate affinities in the order PI greater than PI-4-P greater than PI-4,5-P2, and maximum hydrolysis rates in the order PI-4,5-P2 greater than PI-4-P greater than PI. When present in the same vesicles, PI and the polyphosphoinositides competed for a limiting amount of either enzyme. Inclusion of phosphatidylcholine into vesicles containing the phosphoinositides resulted in greater inhibition of PI hydrolysis than polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. When all three phosphoinositides were present in vesicles mimicking the cytoplasmic leaflet of cell membranes, there was preferential hydrolysis of the polyphosphoinositides over PI. We conclude that a single phospholipase C can account for the hydrolysis of all three phosphoinositides seen during agonist-induced stimulation of secretory cells. The cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and phospholipid composition of the membrane, however, may influence the relative rate of hydrolysis of the three phosphoinositides.     

Point mutations in the split PLC-gamma1 PH domain modulate phosphoinositide binding

A number of signaling molecules contain small pleckstrin homology (PH) domains capable of binding phosphoinositides or proteins. Phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma1 has two putative PH domains, an NH(2)-terminal (PH(1)) and a split PH domain (nPH(2) and cPH(2)). We previously reported that the split PH domain of PLC-gamma1 binds to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) (Chang et al., 2002). To identify the amino acid residues responsible for binding with PI(4)P and PI(4,5)P(2), we used site-directed mutagenesis to replace each amino acid in the variable loop-1 (VL-1) region of the PLC-gamma1 nPH(2) domain with alanine (a neutral amino acid). The phosphoinositide-binding affinity of these mutant molecules was analyzed by Dot-blot assay followed by ECL detection. We found that two PLC-gamma1 nPH2 domain mutants, P500A and H503A, showed reduced affinities for phosphoinositide binding. Furthermore, these mutant PLC-gamma1 molecules showed reduced PI(4,5)P(2) hydrolysis. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein system, we showed that both PH(1) and nPH(2) domains are responsible for membrane-targeted translocation of PLC-gamma1 upon serum stimulation. Together, our data reveal that the amino acid residues Pro(500) and His(503) are critical for binding of PLC-gamma1 to one of its substrates, PI(4,5)P(2) in the membrane.     

Compartmentalization of beta-secretase (Asp2) into low-buoyant density, noncaveolar lipid rafts

Recent epidemiological studies show a reduced prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients treated with inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis. Moreover, the cholesterol-transport protein, apolipoprotein E4, and elevated cholesterol are important risk factors for AD. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo studies show that intracellular cholesterol levels can modulate the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to beta-amyloid, the major constituent of senile plaques. Cholesterol plays a crucial role in maintaining lipid rafts in a functional state. Lipid rafts are cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains implicated in signal transduction, protein trafficking, and proteolytic processing. Since APP, beta-amyloid, and the putative gamma-secretase, presenilin-1 (PS-1), have all been found in lipid rafts, we hypothesized that the recently identified beta-secretase, Asp2 (BACE1), might also be present in rafts. Here, we report that recombinant Asp2 expressed in three distinct cell lines is raft associated. Using both detergent and nondetergent methods, Asp2 protein and activity were found in a light membrane raft fraction that also contained other components of the amyloidogenic pathway. Immunoisolation of caveolin-containing vesicles indicated that Asp2 was present in a unique raft population distinct from caveolae. Finally, depletion of raft cholesterol abrogated association of Asp2 with the light membrane fraction. These observations are consistent with the raft localization of APP processing and suggest that the partitioning of Asp2 into lipid rafts may underlie the cholesterol sensitivity of beta-amyloid production.     

Determinants of molecular specificity in phosphoinositide regulation. Phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is the endogenous lipid regulating TRPV1

Once thought of as simply an oily barrier that maintains cellular integrity, lipids are now known to play an active role in a large variety of cellular processes. Phosphoinositides are of particular interest because of their remarkable ability to affect many signaling pathways. Ion channels and transporters are an important target of phosphoinositide signaling, but identification of the specific phosphoinositides involved has proven elusive. TRPV1 is a good example; although phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) can potently regulate its activation, we show that phosphatidylinositol (4)-phosphate (PI(4)P) and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P(3)) can as well. To determine the identity of the endogenous phosphoinositide regulating TRPV1, we applied recombinant pleckstrin homology domains to inside-out excised patches. Although a PI(4,5)P(2)-specific pleckstrin homology domain inhibited TRPV1, a PI(3,4,5)P(3)-specific pleckstrin homology domain had no effect. Simultaneous confocal imaging and electrophysiological recording of whole cells expressing a rapamycin-inducible lipid phosphatase also demonstrates that depletion of PI(4,5)P(2) inhibits capsaicin-activated TRPV1 current; the PI(4)P generated by the phosphatases was not sufficient to support TRPV1 function. We conclude that PI(4,5)P(2), and not other phosphoinositides or other lipids, is the endogenous phosphoinositide regulating TRPV1 channels.     

Structural requirements of membrane phospholipids for M-type potassium channel activation and binding

M-channels are voltage-gated potassium channels that regulate cell excitability. They are heterotetrameric assemblies of Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 subunits. Their opening requires the presence of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)). However, the specificity of PI(4,5)P(2) as a binding and activating ligand is unknown. Here, we tested the ability of different phosphoinositides and lipid phosphates to activate or bind to M-channel proteins. Activation of functional channels was measured in membrane patches isolated from cells coexpressing Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 subunits. Channels were activated to similar extents (maximum open probability of ～0.8 at 0 mV) by 0.1-300 μM dioctanoyl homologs of the three endogenous phosphoinositides, PI(4)P, PI(4,5)P(2), and PI(3,4,5)P(3), with sensitivity increasing with increasing numbers of phosphates. Non-acylated inositol phosphates had no effect up to 100 μM. Channels were also activated with increasing efficacy by 1-300 μM concentrations of the monoacyl monophosphates fingolimod phosphate, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and lysophosphatidic acid but not by phosphate-free fingolimod or sphingosine or by phosphate-masked phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylglycerol. An overlay assay confirmed that a fusion protein containing the full-length C terminus of Kv7.2 could bind to a broad range of phosphoinositides and phospholipids. A mutated Kv7.2 C-terminal construct with reduced sensitivity to PI(4,5)P showed significantly less binding to most polyphosphoinositides. We concluded that M-channels bind to, and are activated by, a wide range of lipid phosphates, with a minimum requirement for an acyl chain and a phosphate headgroup. In this, they more closely resemble inwardly rectifying Kir6.2 potassium channels than the more PI(4,5)P(2)-specific Kir2 channels. Notwithstanding, the data also support the view that the main endogenous activator of M-channels is PI(4,5)P(2).     

Mammalian phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins: emerging roles in signal transduction and vesicular traffic.

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITP) are abundant cytosolic proteins found in all mammalian cells. Two cytosolic isoforms of 35 and 36 kDa (PITP alpha and PITP beta) have been identified which share 77% identity. These proteins are characterized by having a single phospholipid binding site which exhibits dual headgroup specificity. The preferred lipid that can occupy the site can be either phosphatidylinositol (PI) or phosphatidylcholine (PC). In addition, PITP beta can also bind sphingomyelin. A second characteristic of these proteins is the ability to transfer PI and PC (or SM) from one membrane compartment to another in vitro. The function of PITP in mammalian cells has been examined mainly using reconstitution studies utilizing semi-intact cells or cell-free systems. From such analyses, a requirement for PITP has been identified in phospholipase C-mediated phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) hydrolysis, in phosphoinositide 3-kinase catalyzed PIP3 generation, in regulated exocytosis, in the biogenesis of secretory granules and vesicles and in intra-golgi transport. Studies aimed at elucidating the mechanism of action of PITP in each of these seemingly disparate processes have yielded a singular theme: the activity of PITP stems from its ability to transfer PI from its site of synthesis to sites of cellular activity. This function was predicted from its in vitro characteristics. The second feature of PITP that was not predicted is the ability to stimulate the local synthesis of several phosphorylated forms of PI including PI(4)P, PI(4,5)P2, PI(3)P, PI(3,4,5)P3 by presenting PI to the lipid kinases involved in phosphoinositide synthesis. We conclude that PITP contributes in multiple aspects of cell biology ranging from signal transduction to membrane trafficking events where a central role for phosphoinositides is recognized either as a substrate or as an intact lipid signalling molecule.     

The activation of exocytotic sites by the formation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate microdomains at syntaxin clusters

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is a minor component of the lipid bilayer but plays an important role in various cellular functions, including exocytosis and endocytosis. Recently, PI(4,5)P2 was shown to form microdomains in the plasma membrane. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the spatial organization of PI(4,5)P2 microdomains and exocytotic machineries in clonal rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Both PI(4,5)P2 and syntaxin, a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor protein essential for exocytosis, exhibited punctate clusters in isolated plasma membranes. The number of PI(4,5)P2 microdomains colocalizing with syntaxin clusters and large dense core vesicles (LDCVs) was decreased after catecholamine release. Alternatively, the expression of type I phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5KI) increased the number of PI(4,5)P2 microdomains at syntaxin clusters with docked LDCVs and enhanced exocytotic activity, possibly by increasing the number of release sites. About half of the PI(4,5)P2 microdomains were not colocalized with Thy-1, a specific marker of lipid rafts, and the colocalization of transfected PIP5KI with syntaxin clusters was observed. These results suggest that the formation of PI(4,5)P2 microdomains at syntaxin clusters with docked LDCVs is essential for Ca2+-dependent exocytosis.     

Maintenance of hormone-sensitive phosphoinositide pools in the plasma membrane requires phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIalpha

Type III phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4-kinases (PI4Ks) have been previously shown to support plasma membrane phosphoinositide synthesis during phospholipase C activation and Ca²⁺ signaling. Here, we use biochemical and imaging tools to monitor phosphoinositide changes in the plasma membrane in combination with pharmacological and genetic approaches to determine which of the type III PI4Ks (α or β) is responsible for supplying phosphoinositides during agonist-induced Ca²⁺ signaling. Using inhibitors that discriminate between the α- and β-isoforms of type III PI4Ks, PI4KIIIα was found indispensable for the production of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P), phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P₂], and Ca²⁺ signaling in angiotensin II (AngII)-stimulated cells. Down-regulation of either the type II or type III PI4K enzymes by small interfering RNA (siRNA) had small but significant effects on basal PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P₂ levels in ³²P-labeled cells, but only PI4KIIIα down-regulation caused a slight impairment of PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P₂ resynthesis in AngII-stimulated cells. None of the PI4K siRNA treatments had a measurable effect on AngII-induced Ca²⁺ signaling. These results indicate that a small fraction of the cellular PI4K activity is sufficient to maintain plasma membrane phosphoinositide pools, and they demonstrate the value of the pharmacological approach in revealing the pivotal role of PI4KIIIα enzyme in maintaining plasma membrane phosphoinositides.     

Association of active gamma-secretase complex with lipid rafts

Cholesterol has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear, several studies have provided evidence for the involvement of cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in the production of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta), the major component of amyloid deposits in AD. In this regard, the gamma-secretase complex is responsible for the final cleavage event in the processing of beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP), resulting in Abeta generation. The gamma-secretase complex is a multiprotein complex composed of presenilin, nicastrin (NCT), APH-1, and PEN-2. Recent reports have suggested that gamma-secretase activity is predominantly localized in lipid rafts, and presenilin and NCT have been reported to be localized in lipid rafts. In this study, various biochemical methods, including coimmunoprecipitation, in vitro gamma-secretase assay, and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD) treatment, are employed to demonstrate that all four components of the active endogenous gamma-secretase complex, including APH-1 and PEN-2, are associated with lipid rafts in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). Treatment with statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-reductase inhibitors, significantly decreased the association of the gamma-secretase complex with lipid rafts without affecting the distribution of flotillin-1. This effect was partially abrogated by the addition of geranylgeraniol. These results suggest that both cholesterol and protein isoprenylation influence the active gamma-secretase complex association with lipid rafts.     

Phosphoinositides function asymmetrically for membrane fusion, promoting tethering and 3Q-SNARE subcomplex assembly

Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) are essential for rapid SNARE-dependent fusion of yeast vacuoles and other organelles. These phosphoinositides also regulate the fusion of reconstituted proteoliposomes. The reconstituted reaction allows separate analysis of phosphoinositide-responsive subreactions: fusion with SNAREs alone, with the addition of the HOPS tethering factor, and with the further addition of the SNARE complex disassembly chaperones Sec17p and Sec18p. Using assays of membrane tethering, trans-SNARE pairing, and lipid mixing, we found that PI(3)P and PI(4,5)P(2) have distinct functions that are asymmetric with respect to R-SNARE (Nyv1p) and the 3Q-SNAREs (Vam3p, Vti1p, and Vam7p). Fusion reactions with the Q-SNAREs and R-SNARE on separate membranes showed that PI(3)P has two distinct functions. PI(3)P on Q-SNARE proteoliposomes promoted Vam7p binding and association with the other two Q-SNAREs. PI(3)P on R-SNARE proteoliposomes was recognized by the PX domain of Vam7p on Q-SNARE proteoliposomes to promote tethering, although this function could be supplanted by the tethering activity of HOPS. PI(4,5)P(2) stimulated fusion when it was on R-SNARE proteoliposomes, apposed to Q-SNARE proteoliposomes bearing PI(3)P. These functions are essential for the phosphoinositide-dependent synergy between HOPS and Sec17p/Sec18p in promoting rapid fusion.     

The phosphatidylinositol‐transfer protein Nir2 binds phosphatidic acid and positively regulates phosphoinositide signalling

Phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphoinositides are metabolically interconverted lipid second messengers that have central roles in many growth factor (GF)‐stimulated signalling pathways. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms that coordinate their production and downstream signalling. Here we show that the phosphatidylinositol (PI)‐transfer protein Nir2 translocates from the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane in response to GF stimulation. This translocation is triggered by PA formation and is mediated by its C‐terminal region that binds PA in vitro. We further show that depletion of Nir2 substantially reduces the PI(4,5)P2 levels at the plasma membrane and concomitantly GF‐stimulated PI(3,4,5)P3 production. Finally, we show that Nir2 positively regulates the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. We propose that Nir2 through its PA‐binding capability and PI‐transfer activity can couple PA to phosphoinositide signalling, and possibly coordinates their local lipid metabolism and downstream signalling.     

Membrane position of a basic aromatic peptide that sequesters phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate determined by site-directed spin labeling and high-resolution NMR

The membrane interactions and position of a positively charged and highly aromatic peptide derived from a secretory carrier membrane protein (SCAMP) are examined using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and several biochemical methods. This peptide (SCAMP-E) is shown to bind to membranes containing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, PI(4,5)P2, and sequester PI(4,5)P2 within the plane of the membrane. Site-directed spin labeling of the SCAMP-E peptide indicates that the position and structure of membrane bound SCAMP-E are not altered by the presence of PI(4,5)P2, and that the peptide backbone is positioned within the lipid interface below the level of the lipid phosphates. A second approach using high-resolution NMR was used to generate a model for SCAMP-E bound to bicelles. This approach combined oxygen enhancements of nuclear relaxation with a computational method to dock the SCAMP-E peptide at the lipid interface. The model for SCAMP generated by NMR is consistent with the results of site-directed spin labeling and places the peptide backbone in the bilayer interfacial region and the aromatic side chains within the lipid hydrocarbon region. The charged side chains of SCAMP-E lie well within the interface with two arginine residues lying deeper than a plane defined by the position of the lipid phosphates. These data suggest that SCAMP-E interacts with PI(4,5)P2 through an electrostatic mechanism that does not involve specific lipid-peptide contacts. This interaction may be facilitated by the position of the positively charged side chains on SCAMP-E within a low-dielectric region of the bilayer interface.