GRIN1 Regulates ��-Opioid Receptor Activities by Tethering the Receptor and G Protein in the Lipid Raft

The lipid raft location of μ-opioid receptor (MOR) determines the receptor activities. However, the manner in which MOR is anchored within the lipid rafts is undetermined. Using the targeted proteomic approach and mass spectrometry analyses, we have identified GRIN1 (G protein-regulated inducer of neurite outgrowth 1) can tether MOR with the G protein α-subunit and subsequently regulate the receptor distribution within the lipid rafts. Glutathione S-transferase fusion pulldown and receptor mutational analyses indicate that GRIN1-MOR interaction involves a receptor sequence ²⁶⁷GSKEK²⁷¹ within the MOR third intracellular loop that is not involved in Gα interaction. The GRIN1 domains involved in MOR interaction are also distinct from those involved in Gα interaction. Pertussis toxin pretreatment reduced the amount of GRIN1 co-immunoprecipitated with MOR but not the amount with Gα. Furthermore, overexpression of GRIN1 significantly enhanced the amount of MOR in lipid raft and the receptor signaling magnitude as measured by Src kinase activation. Such increase in MOR signaling was demonstrated further by determining the GRIN1-dependent pertussis toxin-sensitive neurite outgrowth. In contrast to minimal neurite outgrowth induced by etorphine in control neuroblastoma N2A cells, overexpression of GRIN1 resulted in the increase in etorphine- and non-morphine-induced neurite outgrowth in these cells. Knocking down endogenous GRIN1 by small interfering RNA attenuated the agonist-induced neurite outgrowth. Disrupting lipid raft by methyl-β-cyclodextrin also blocked neurite outgrowth. Hence, by tethering Gα with MOR, GRIN1 stabilizes the receptor within the lipid rafts and potentiates the receptor signaling in the neurite outgrowth processes.     

Ubiquitin-associated Domain-containing Ubiquitin Regulatory X (UBX) Protein UBXN1 Is a Negative Regulator of Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) Signaling

Excessive nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation should be precisely controlled as it contributes to multiple immune and inflammatory diseases. However, the negative regulatory mechanisms of NF-κB activation still need to be elucidated. Various types of polyubiquitin chains have proved to be involved in the process of NF-κB activation. Many negative regulators linked to ubiquitination, such as A20 and CYLD, inhibit IκB kinase activation in the NF-κB signaling pathway. To find new NF-κB signaling regulators linked to ubiquitination, we used a small scale siRNA library against 51 ubiquitin-associated domain-containing proteins and screened out UBXN1, which contained both ubiquitin-associated and ubiquitin regulatory X (UBX) domains as a negative regulator of TNFα-triggered NF-κB activation. Overexpression of UBXN1 inhibited TNFα-triggered NF-κB activation, although knockdown of UBXN1 had the opposite effect. UBX domain-containing proteins usually act as valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97 cofactors. However, knockdown of VCP/p97 barely affected UBXN1-mediated NF-κB inhibition. At the same time, we found that UBXN1 interacted with cellular inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (cIAPs), E3 ubiquitin ligases of RIP1 in the TNFα receptor complex. UBXN1 competitively bound to cIAP1, blocked cIAP1 recruitment to TNFR1, and sequentially inhibited RIP1 polyubiquitination in response to TNFα. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that UBXN1 is an important negative regulator of the TNFα-triggered NF-κB signaling pathway by mediating cIAP recruitment independent of VCP/p97.     

Interaction of Estrogen Receptor Associated Protein (ERAP) 140 with ER β Decreases but its Expression Increases in Aging Mouse Cerebral Cortex

Following binding to cognate ligand, estrogen receptor (ER) β interacts with specific responsive elements of the target genes and recruits a host of nuclear proteins for hormone dependent gene regulation. However, it is poorly known which proteins interact with ER β in mouse brain and whether their interaction and expression change with age. In this report, we have used his-tag mouse ER β for interaction with nuclear proteins of cerebral cortex of young (6 ± 1 weeks), adult (25 ± 2 weeks), and old (70 ± 5 weeks) female mice. We have identified estrogen receptor-associated protein (ERAP) 140 as one of the interacting proteins and studied its interaction by pull down immunoblotting, far-Western blotting and immunoprecipitation, and expression by western blotting. The data show that ERAP 140 interacts with ER β and its interaction decreases but its expression increases with age in mouse cerebral cortex, suggesting its role in estrogen-mediated brain functions during aging.     

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators Suppress Hif1α Protein Accumulation in Mouse Osteoclasts

Anti-bone resorptive drugs such as bisphosphonates, the anti-RANKL antibody (denosumab), or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been developed to treat osteoporosis. Mechanisms underlying activity of bisphosphonates or denosumab in this context are understood, while it is less clear how SERMs like tamoxifen, raloxifene, or bazedoxifene inhibit bone resorption. Recently, accumulation of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (Hif1α) in osteoclasts was shown to be suppressed by estrogen in normal cells. In addition, osteoclast activation and decreased bone mass seen in estrogen-deficient conditions was found to require Hif1α. Here, we used western blot analysis of cultured osteoclast precursor cells to show that tamoxifen, raloxifene, or bazedoxifene all suppress Hif1α protein accumulation. The effects of each SERM on osteoclast differentiation differed in vitro. Our results suggest that interventions such as the SERMs evaluated here could be useful to inhibit Hif1α and osteoclast activity under estrogen-deficient conditions.     

Estrogen Receptor (ER)-α36 Is Involved in Estrogen- and Tamoxifen-Induced Neuroprotective Effects in Ischemic Stroke Models

The neuroprotection by estrogen (E2) and tamoxifen is well documented in experimental stroke models; however, the exact mechanism is unclear. A membrane-based estrogen receptor, ER-α36, has been identified. Postmenopausal-levels of E2 act through ER-α36 to induce osteoclast apoptosis due to a prolonged activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) signaling. We hypothesized that ER-α36 may play a role in the neuroprotective activities of estrogen and tamoxifen. Here, we studied ER-α36 expression in the brain, as well as its neuroprotective effects against oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in PC12 cells. We found that ER-α36 was expressed in both rat and human brain. In addition, OGD-induced cell death was prevented by l nmol/L 17β-estradiol (E2β). E2β activates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in PC12 cells under basal and OGD conditions by interacting with ER-α36 and also induces ER-α36 expression. Low-dose of tamoxifen up-regulated ER-α36 expression and enhanced neuronal survival in an ovariectomized ischemic stroke model. Furthermore, low-dose of tamoxifen enhanced neuroprotective effects by modulating activates or suppress ER-α36. Our results thus demonstrated that ER-α36 is involved in neuroprotective activities mediated by both estrogen and tamoxifen.