Dynamics of DNA replication factories in living cells

DNA replication occurs in microscopically visible complexes at discrete sites (replication foci) in the nucleus. These foci consist of DNA associated with replication machineries, i.e., large protein complexes involved in DNA replication. To study the dynamics of these nuclear replication foci in living cells, we fused proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a central component of the replication machinery, with the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Imaging of stable cell lines expressing low levels of GFP-PCNA showed that replication foci are heterogeneous in size and lifetime. Time-lapse studies revealed that replication foci clearly differ from nuclear speckles and coiled bodies as they neither show directional movements, nor do they seem to merge or divide. These four dimensional analyses suggested that replication factories are stably anchored in the nucleus and that changes in the pattern occur through gradual, coordinated, but asynchronous, assembly and disassembly throughout S phase.     

Dynamics of proteasome distribution in living cells.

Proteasomes are proteolytic complexes involved in non-lysosomal degradation which are localized in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The dynamics of proteasomes in living cells is unclear, as is their targeting to proteins destined for degradation. To investigate the intracellular distribution and mobility of proteasomes in vivo, we generated a fusion protein of the proteasome subunit LMP2 and the green fluorescent protein (GFP). The LMP2-GFP chimera was quantitatively incorporated into catalytically active proteasomes. The GFP-tagged proteasomes were located within both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Within these two compartments, proteasomes diffused rapidly, and bleaching experiments demonstrated that proteasomes were transported slowly and unidirectionally from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. During mitosis, when the nuclear envelope has disintegrated, proteasomes diffused rapidly throughout the dividing cell without encountering a selective barrier. Immediately after cell division, the restored nuclear envelope formed a new barrier for the diffusing proteasomes. Thus, proteasomes can be transported unidirectionally over the nuclear membrane, but can also enter the nucleus upon reassembly during cell division. Since proteasomes diffuse rapidly in the cytoplasm and nucleus, they may perform quality control by continuous collision with intracellular proteins, and degrading those proteins that are properly tagged or misfolded.     

Dynamics of inner kinetochore assembly and maintenance in living cells

In neurons, generation and propagation of action potentials requires the precise accumulation of sodium channels at the axonal initial segment (AIS) and in the nodes of Ranvier through ankyrin G scaffolding. We found that the ankyrin-binding motif of Na_v1.2 that determines channel concentration at the AIS depends on a glutamate residue (E1111), but also on several serine residues (S1112, S1124, and S1126). We showed that phosphorylation of these residues by protein kinase CK2 (CK2) regulates Na_v channel interaction with ankyrins. Furthermore, we observed that CK2 is highly enriched at the AIS and the nodes of Ranvier in vivo. An ion channel chimera containing the Na_v1.2 ankyrin-binding motif perturbed endogenous sodium channel accumulation at the AIS, whereas phosphorylation-deficient chimeras did not. Finally, inhibition of CK2 activity reduced sodium channel accumulation at the AIS of neurons. In conclusion, CK2 contributes to sodium channel organization by regulating their interaction with ankyrin G.     

Dynamics of the endoplasmic reticulum in living non-muscle and muscle cells

The dynamic changes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in interphase and mitotic cells was detected by the vital fluorescent dye 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide. Two types of arrays characterize the continuous ER system in the non-muscle PtK2 cell: 1) a lacy network of irregular polygons and 2) long strands of ER that are found aligned along stress fibers. In cross-striated myotubes there was a periodic localization of fluorescence over each I-band corresponding to the positions of the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In contrast to the arrangement in muscle cells, the alignment of the long strands of ER alon stress fibers showed no strict periodicity that could be correlated with the sarcomeric units of the stress fibers. The ER and SR arrays seen in living cells were also detected in fixed cells stained with antibodies directed against proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum and sarcoplasmic reticulum, respectively. Observations of vitally stained PtK2 cells at 1 to 2 minute intervals using low light level video cameras and image processing techniques enabled us to see the polygonal ER units form and undergo changes in their shapes. During cell division, the ER, rhodamine 123-stained mitochondria, and phagocytosed fluorescent beads were excluded from the mitotic spindle while soluble proteins were not. No obvious concentration or alignment of membranes could be found associated with the contractile proteins in the cleavage furrow. After completion of cell division there was a redeployment of the ER network in each daughter cell.     

Dynamics of human DNA topoisomerases IIalpha and IIbeta in living cells

DNA topoisomerase (topo) II catalyses topological genomic changes essential for many DNA metabolic processes. It is also regarded as a structural component of the nuclear matrix in interphase and the mitotic chromosome scaffold. Mammals have two isoforms (alpha and beta) with similar properties in vitro. Here, we investigated their properties in living and proliferating cells, stably expressing biofluorescent chimera of the human isozymes. Topo IIalpha and IIbeta behaved similarly in interphase but differently in mitosis, where only topo IIalpha was chromosome associated to a major part. During interphase, both isozymes joined in nucleolar reassembly and accumulated in nucleoli, which seemed not to involve catalytic DNA turnover because treatment with teniposide (stabilizing covalent catalytic DNA intermediates of topo II) relocated the bulk of the enzymes from the nucleoli to nucleoplasmic granules. Photobleaching revealed that the entire complement of both isozymes was completely mobile and free to exchange between nuclear subcompartments in interphase. In chromosomes, topo IIalpha was also completely mobile and had a uniform distribution. However, hypotonic cell lysis triggered an axial pattern. These observations suggest that topo II is not an immobile, structural component of the chromosomal scaffold or the interphase karyoskeleton, but rather a dynamic interaction partner of such structures.     

Dynamics of receptor/G protein coupling in living cells

The interaction of activated G protein-coupled receptors with G proteins is a key event in signal transduction. Here, using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assay, we measure directly and in living cells the interaction of YFP-labeled alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors with CFP-labeled G proteins. Upon agonist stimulation, a small, concentration-dependent increase in FRET was observed. No specific basal FRET was detected in the absence of agonist. Kinetics of the onset of receptor/G protein interaction were <100 ms and depended on expression levels of Galpha. Simultaneously recorded G protein-regulated inwardly rectifying K(+) channel currents revealed a maximal current response already at agonist concentrations producing submaximal FRET amplitudes. By analyzing FRET signals in the presence of a Galpha mutant, which dissociates more slowly from activated receptors, it was demonstrated that only a fraction of wild-type G proteins interacts with the activated receptor at any time. Our data suggest that alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors and G proteins interact by rapid collision coupling and indicate that there is no significant precoupling between these receptors and G proteins.     

Dynamics of apelin receptor/G protein coupling in living cells

During our research on apelin receptor (APJ) signalling in living cells with BRET and FRET, we demonstrated that apelin-13 stimulation can lead to the activation of Gαi₂ or Gαi₃ through undergoing a molecular rearrangement rather than dissociation in HEK293 cells expressing APJ. Furthermore, Gαo and Gαq also showed involvement in APJ activation through a classical dissociation model. However, both FRET signal and BRET ratio between fluorescent Gαi₁ subunit and Gβγ subunits demonstrated little change after apelin-13 stimulation. These results demonstrated that stimulation of APJ with apelin-13 causes activation of Gαi₂, Gαi₃, Gαo, Gαq; among which Gαi₂, Gαi₃ were activated through a novel rearrangement process. These results provide helpful data for understanding APJ mediated G-protein signalling.     

Dynamics of beta2-adrenergic receptor-ligand complexes on living cells

The agonist-induced dynamic regulation of the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)-AR) on living cells was examined by means of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) using a fluorescence-labeled arterenol derivative (Alexa-NA) in hippocampal neurons and in alveolar epithelial type II cell line A549. Alexa-NA specifically bound to the beta(2)-AR of neurons with a K(D) value of 1.29 +/- 0.31 nM and of A549 cells with a K(D) of 5.98 +/- 1.62 nM. The receptor density equaled 4.5 +/- 0.9 microm(-2) in neurons (rho(N)) and 19.9 +/- 2.0 microm(-2) in A549 cells (rho(A549)). Kinetic experiments revealed comparable on-rate constants in both cell types (k(on) = 0.49 +/- 0.03 s(-1) nM(-1) in neurons and k(on) = 0.12 +/- 0.02 s(-1) nM(-1) in A549 cells). In addition to the free ligand diffusing with a D(free) of (2.11 +/- 0.04) x 10(-6) cm(2)/s, in both cell types receptor-ligand complexes with two distinct diffusion coefficients, D(bound1) (fast lateral mobility) and D(bound2) (hindered mobility), were observed [D(bound1) = (5.23 +/- 0.64) x 10(-8) cm(2)/s and D(bound2) = (6.05 +/- 0.23) x 10(-10) cm(2)/s for neurons, and D(bound1) = (2.88 +/- 1.72) x 10(-8) cm(2)/s and D(bound2) = (1.01 +/- 0.46) x 10(-9) cm(2)/s for A549 cells]. Fast lateral mobility of the receptor-ligand complex was detected immediately after addition of the ligand, whereas hindered mobility (D(bound2)) was observed after a delay of 5 min in neurons (up to 38% of total binding) and of 15-20 min in A549 cells (up to 40% of total binding). Thus, the receptor-ligand complexes with low mobility were formed during receptor regulation. Consistently, stimulation of receptor internalization using the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin shifted the ratio of receptor-ligand complexes toward D(bound2). Intracellular FCS measurements and immunocytochemical studies confirmed the appearance of endocytosed receptor-ligand complexes in the cytoplasm subjacent to the plasma membrane after stimulation with the agonist terbutaline (1 microM). This regulatory receptor internalization was blocked after preincubation with propranolol and with a cholesterol-complexing saponin alpha-hederin.     

Dynamics of intracellular movement and nucleocytoplasmic recycling of the ligand-activated androgen receptor in living cells

An expression construct containing the cDNA encoding a modified aequorea green fluorescent protein (GFP) ligated to the 5'-end of the rat androgen receptor (AR) cDNA (GFP-AR) was used to study the intracellular dynamics of the receptor movement in living cells. In three different cell lines, ie. PC3, HeLa, and COS1, unliganded GFP-AR was seen mostly in the cytoplasm and rapidly (within 15-60 min) moved to the nuclear compartment after androgen treatment. Upon androgen withdrawal, the labeled AR migrated back to the cytoplasmic compartment and maintained its ability to reenter the nucleus on subsequent exposure to androgen. Under the condition of inhibited protein synthesis by cycloheximide (50 microg/ml), at least four rounds of receptor recycling after androgen treatment and withdrawal were recorded. Two nonandrogenic hormones, 17beta-estradiol and progesterone at higher concentrations (10(-7)/10(-6) M), were able to both transactivate the AR-responsive promoter and translocate the GFP-AR into the nucleus. Similarly, antiandrogenic ligands, cyproterone acetate and casodex, were also capable of translocating the cytoplasmic AR into the nucleus albeit at a slower rate than the androgen 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). All AR ligands with transactivation potential, including the mixed agonist/antagonist cyproterone acetate, caused translocation of the GFP-AR into a subnuclear compartment indicated by its punctate intranuclear distribution. However, translocation caused by casodex, a pure antagonist, resulted in a homogeneous nuclear distribution. Subsequent exposure of the casodex-treated cell to DHT rapidly (15-30 min) altered the homogeneous to punctate distribution of the already translocated nuclear AR. When transported into the nucleus either by casodex or by DHT, GFP-AR was resistant to 2 M NaCl extraction, indicating that the homogeneously distributed AR is also associated with the nuclear matrix. Taken together, these results demonstrate that AR requires ligand activation for its nuclear translocation where occupancy by only agonists and partial agonists can direct it to a potentially functional subnuclear location and that one receptor molecule can undertake multiple rounds of hormonal signaling; this indicates that ligand dissociation/inactivation rather than receptor degradation may play a critical role in terminating hormone action.     

Dynamics of gap junctions observed in living cells with connexin43-GFP chimeric protein

To study the aggregation of cell-to-cell channels into gap junctions at individual cell-cell contacts, we transfected cells with an expression vector for a chimeric protein composed of the cell-to-cell channel protein connexin43 and a green fluorescent protein. The chimeric channel protein was visualized in the fluorescence microscope and was found to form gap junctions at the cell-cell contacts just like wild-type connexin43. Cells expressing the chimeric protein had functional cell-to-cell channels. Using timelapse videomicroscopy on live cells we observed individual gap junctions over long periods and recorded the time course of aggregation of the chimeric channel protein into gap junctions at newly formed cell-cell contacts. We found that individual small gap junctions were very dynamic, moving about or becoming assembled and disassembled in the course of minutes. Larger gap junctions were more stable than small punctate ones. In control condition, stable new gap junctions were not formed during observation times of 30 min or longer. But at elevated levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, the chimeric channel protein began aggregating at new junctions 5-10 minutes after cell-cell contact and continued to concentrate there for at least one hour. Also already established junctions grew in size. The fluorescent chimeric channel protein will be an excellent tool to investigate the regulation of trafficking of connexin from and to the membrane and the mechanism of connexin channel aggregation into gap junctions.     

Dynamics of protein binding to telomeres in living cells: implications for telomere structure and function

Telomeric proteins have an essential role in the regulation of the length of the telomeric DNA tract and in protection against end-to-end chromosome fusion. Telomere organization and how individual proteins are involved in different telomere functions in living cells is largely unknown. By using green fluorescent protein tagging and photobleaching, we investigated in vivo interactions of human telomeric DNA-binding proteins with telomeric DNA. Our results show that telomeric proteins interact with telomeres in a complex dynamic fashion: TRF2, which has a dual role in chromosome end protection and telomere length homeostasis, resides at telomeres in two distinct pools. One fraction ( approximately 73%) has binding dynamics similar to TRF1 (residence time of approximately 44 s). Interestingly, the other fraction of TRF2 binds with similar dynamics as the putative end-protecting factor hPOT1 (residence time of approximately 11 min). Our data support a dynamic model of telomeres in which chromosome end-protection and telomere length homeostasis are governed by differential binding of telomeric proteins to telomeric DNA.     

Dynamics and calcium sensitivity of the Ca2+/myristoyl switch protein hippocalcin in living cells

Hippocalcin is a neuronal calcium sensor protein that possesses a Ca2+/myristoyl switch allowing it to translocate to membranes. Translocation of hippocalcin in response to increased cytosolic [Ca2+] was examined in HeLa cells expressing hippocalcin-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) to determine the dynamics and Ca2+ affinity of the Ca2+/myristoyl switch in living cells. Ca2+-free hippocalcin was freely diffusible, as shown by photobleaching and use of a photoactivable GFP construct. The translocation was dependent on binding of Ca2+ by EF-hands 2 and 3. Using photolysis of NP-EGTA, the maximal kinetics of translocation was determined (t1/2 = 0.9 s), and this was consistent with a diffusion driven process. Low intensity photolysis of NP-EGTA produced a slow [Ca2+] ramp and revealed that translocation of hippocalcin-EYFP initiated at around 180 nM and was half maximal at 290 nM. Histamine induced a reversible translocation of hippocalcin-EYFP. The data show that hippocalcin is a sensitive Ca2+ sensor capable of responding to increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration over the narrow dynamic range of 200-800 nM free Ca2+.     

Dynamics of the interaction between the insulin receptor and protein tyrosine-phosphatase 1B in living cells

The dynamics of the interaction of the insulin receptor with a substrate-trapping mutant of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) were monitored in living human embryonic kidney cells using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Insulin dose-dependently stimulates this interaction, which could be followed in real time for more than 30 minutes. The effect of insulin on the BRET signal could be detected at early time-points (30 seconds), suggesting that in intact cells the tyrosine-kinase activity of the insulin receptor is tightly controlled by PTP1B. Interestingly, the basal (insulin-independent) interaction of the insulin receptor with PTP1B was much weaker with a soluble form of the tyrosine-phosphatase than with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeted form. Inhibition of insulin-receptor processing using tunicamycin suggests that the basal interaction occurs during insulin-receptor biosynthesis in the ER. Therefore, localization of PTP1B in this compartment might be important for the regulation of insulin receptors during their biosynthesis.     

Molecular behavior in living mitotic cells of human centromere heterochromatin protein HPLalpha ectopically expressed as a fusion to red fluorescent protein

We constructed stable mammalian cell lines in which human heterochromatin protein HP1alpha and kinetochore protein CENP-A were differentially expressed as fusions to red (RFP-HP1) and green fluorescent proteins (GFP-CENP-A). Heterochromatin localization of RFP-HP1 was clearly shown in mouse and Indian muntjac cells. By preparing mitotic chromosome spreads, the inner centromere localization of RFP-HP1 was observed in human and Indian muntjac cells. To characterize its molecular behavior in living mitotic cells, time-lapse images of RFP-HP1 were obtained by computer-assisted image analyzing system, mainly with mouse cells. In G2 phase, a significant portion of RFP-HP1 diffused homogeneously in the nucleus and further dispersed into the cytoplasm soon after the nuclear membrane breakdown, while some remained in the centromeric region. Simultaneous observations with GFP-CENP-A in human cells showed that RFP-HP1 was located just between the sister kinetochores and then aligned to the spindle midzone. With the onset of anaphase, once it was released from there, it moved to the centromeres of segregating chromosomes or returned to the spindle equator. As cytokinesis proceeded, HP1alpha was predominantly found in the newly formed daughter nuclei and again displayed a heterochromatin-like distribution. These results suggested that, although the majority of HP1alpha diffuses into the cytoplasm, some populations are retained in the centromeric region and involved in the association and segregation of sister kinetochores during mitosis.     

Dynamics of PTH-induced disassembly of Npt2a/NHERF-1 complexes in living OK cells

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) inhibits the reabsorption of phosphate in the renal proximal tubule by disrupting the binding of the sodium-dependent phosphate transporter 2A (Npt2a) to the adapter protein sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor-1 (NHERF-1), a process initiated by activation of protein kinase C (PKC). To gain additional insights into the dynamic sequence of events, the time course of these responses was studied in living opossum kidney (OK) cells. Using a FRET-based biosensor, we found that PTH activated intracellular PKC within seconds to minutes. In cells expressing GFP-Npt2a and mCherry-NHERF, PTH did not affect the relative abundance of NHERF-1 but there was a significant and time-dependent decrease in the Npt2a/NHERF-1 ratio. The half-time to maximal dissociation was 15 to 20 min. By contrast, PTH had no effect on the fluorescence ratio for GFP-ezrin compared with mCherry-NHERF-1 at the apical surface. These experiments establish that PTH treatment of proximal tubule OK cells leads to rapid activation of PKC with the subsequent dissociation of Npt2a/NHERF-1 complexes. The association of NHERF-1 with Ezrin and their localization at the apical membrane, however, was unperturbed by PTH, thereby enabling the rapid recruitment and membrane reinsertion of Npt2a and other NHERF-1 targets on termination of the hormone response.     

Dynamics of CaCdc10, a septin of Candida albicans, in living cells and during infection.

The morphogenetic program in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, including the dimorphic transition, is an interesting field of study, not only because it is absent in the commonly used model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but because of the close relationship between hyphal development and virulence of C. albicans. We studied one of the most important aspects of fungal morphogenesis--the septin ring--in C. albicans. By using a fusion construct to green fluorescent protein (GFP), the subcellular localization and dynamics of C. albicans Cdc10 in the different morphologies that this fungus is able to adopt was identified. The localization features reached were contrasted and compared with the results obtained from Candida cells directly extracted from an animal infection model under environmental conditions as similar as possible to the physiological conditions encountered by C. albicans during host infection.     

Histone acetylation and heterochromatin content of cultured Peromyscus cells

In order to explore the relationship between unacetylated arginine-rich histones and condensed chromatin structure, the extent of histone acetylation was examined in cultured cell lines derived from three species of deer mice. These species differ considerably in their genomic content of heterochromatin but contain essentially the same euchromatin content. Cells of Peromyscus eremicus, containing 34–36% more constitutive heterochromatin than Peromyscus boylii or Peromyscus crinitus cells were found to contain 28–35% more unacetylated histone H4, 22–29% more unacetylated histone H3, and 18–22% more unacetylated histone H2B. This relationship between unacetylated histones and heterochromatin content was further explored by inducing hyperacetylation of P. eremicus and P. boylii histones through treatment of cells with 15 mM sodium butyrate for 24 h. It was found that the percentages of unacetylated histones H3 and H4 remaining after butyrate treatment were proportional to the amount of constitutive heterochromatin in the genome. These data support the concept that a small core of histones in constitutive heterochromatin is inaccessible to acetylation. It was also found that the acetylated state of isolated histones was sensitive to the method of histone extraction. Thus concern must be given to preparative procedures when studying histone acetylation in order to minimize these acetate losses.