Ubiquitylation-dependent negative regulation of WASp is essential for actin cytoskeleton dynamics

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) is a key regulator of actin dynamics during cell motility and adhesion, and mutations in its gene are responsible for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). Here, we demonstrate that WASp is ubiquitylated following T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) activation. WASp phosphorylation at tyrosine 291 results in recruitment of the E3 ligase Cbl-b, which, together with c-Cbl, carries out WASp ubiquitylation. Lysine residues 76 and 81, located at the WASp WH1 domain, which contains the vast majority of WASp gene mutations, serve as the ubiquitylation sites. Disruption of WASp ubiquitylation causes WASp accumulation and alters actin dynamics and the formation of actin-dependent structures. Our data suggest that regulated degradation of activated WASp might be an efficient strategy by which the duration and localization of actin rearrangement and the intensity of T-cell activation are controlled.     

WASp triggers mechanosensitive actin patches to facilitate immune cell migration in dense tissues

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Crystal structure of an archaeal actin homolog

Prokaryotic homologs of the eukaryotic structural protein actin, such as MreB and ParM, have been implicated in determination of bacterial cell shape, and in the segregation of genomic and plasmid DNA. In contrast to these bacterial actin homologs, little is known about the archaeal counterparts. As a first step, we expressed a predicted actin homolog of the thermophilic archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum, Ta0583, and determined its crystal structure at 2.1A resolution. Ta0583 is expressed as a soluble protein in T.acidophilum and is an active ATPase at physiological temperature. In vitro, Ta0583 forms sheets with spacings resembling the crystal lattice, indicating an inherent propensity to form filamentous structures. The fold of Ta0583 contains the core structure of actin and clearly belongs to the actin/Hsp70 superfamily of ATPases. Ta0583 is approximately equidistant from actin and MreB on the structural level, and combines features from both eubacterial actin homologs, MreB and ParM. The structure of Ta0583 co-crystallized with ADP indicates that the nucleotide binds at the interface between the subdomains of Ta0583 in a manner similar to that of actin. However, the conformation of the nucleotide observed in complex with Ta0583 clearly differs from that in complex with actin, but closely resembles the conformation of ParM-bound nucleotide. On the basis of sequence and structural homology, we suggest that Ta0583 derives from a ParM-like actin homolog that was once encoded by a plasmid and was transferred into a common ancestor of Thermoplasma and Ferroplasma. Intriguingly, both genera are characterized by the lack of a cell wall, and therefore Ta0583 could have a function in cellular organization.     

Rab5 regulates motility of early endosomes on microtubules

The small GTPase Rab5 regulates membrane docking and fusion in the early endocytic pathway. Here we reveal a new role for Rab5 in the regulation of endosome interactions with the microtubule network. Using Rab5 fused to green fluorescent protein we show that Rab5-positive endosomes move on microtubules in vivo. In vitro, Rab5 stimulates both association of early endosomes with microtubules and early-endosome motility towards the minus ends of microtubules. Moreover, similarly to endosome membrane docking and fusion, Rab5-dependent endosome movement depends on the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase hVPS34. Thus, Rab5 functionally links regulation of membrane transport, motility and intracellular distribution of early endosomes.     

Divalent cation-, nucleotide-, and polymerization-dependent changes in the conformation of subdomain 2 of actin.

Conformational changes in subdomain 2 of actin were investigated using fluorescence probes dansyl cadaverine (DC) or dansyl ethylenediamine (DED) covalently attached to Gln41. Examination of changes in the fluorescence emission spectra as a function of time during Ca2+/Mg2+ and ATP/ADP exchange at the high-affinity site for divalent cation-nucleotide complex in G-actin confirmed a profound influence of the type of nucleotide but failed to detect a significant cation-dependent difference in the environment of Gln41. No significant difference between Ca- and Mg-actin was also seen in the magnitude of the fluorescence changes resulting from the polymerization of these two actin forms. Evidence is presented that earlier reported cation-dependent differences in the conformation of the loop 38-52 may be related to time-dependent changes in the conformation of subdomain 2 in DED- or DC-labeled G-actin, accelerated by substitution of Mg2+ for Ca2+ in CaATP-G-actin and, in particular, by conversion of MgATP- into MgADP-G-actin. These spontaneous changes are associated with a denaturation-driven release of the bound nucleotide that is promoted by two effects of DED or DC labeling: lowered affinity of actin for nucleotide and acceleration of ATP hydrolysis on MgATP-G-actin that converts it into a less stable MgADP form. Evidence is presented that the changes in the environment of Gln41 accompanying actin polymerization result in part from the release of Pi after the hydrolysis of ATP on the polymer. A similarity of this change to that accompanying replacement of the bound ATP with ADP in G-actin is discussed.     

Concerning the dynamic instability of actin homolog ParM

Apoptosis is a highly conserved procedure of cell death and occurs under various stimuli, including oxidative stress. A small heat shock protein, alphaB-crystallin, is found to process resistance to apoptosis in some cells and tissues. But the mechanisms under this protective role are not fully understood. In the present study, we reported the early protective role of alphaB-crystallin against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in mice myogenic C(2)C(12) cells. alphaB-Crystallin interacted with p53, a proapoptotic protein, during cell apoptosis and such protein interaction mainly occurred in the cytoplasm of the cells, suggesting that the interaction of alphaB-crystallin with p53 might prevent the translocation of p53 from cytoplasm to mitochondria. Hence, this study provides a hint that alphaB-crystallin affects on p53 mitochondrial translocation during oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.     

An accelerated state of myosin-based actin motility

We use an in vitro motility assay to determine the biochemical basis for a hypermotile state of myosin-based actin sliding. It is widely assumed that the sole biochemical determinant of actin-sliding velocities, V, is actin-myosin detachment kinetics (1/tauon), yet we recently reported that, above a critical ATP concentration of approximately 100 microM, V exceeds the detachment limit by more than 2-fold. To determine the biochemical basis for this hypermotile state, we measure the effects of ATP and inorganic phosphate, Pi, on V and observe that at low [ATP] V decreases as ln [Pi], whereas above 100 microM ATP the hypermotile V is independent of Pi. The ln [Pi] dependence of V at low [ATP] is consistent with a macroscopic model of muscle shortening, similar to Hill's contractile component, which predicts that V varies linearly with an internal force (Hill's active state) that drives actin movement against the viscous drag of myosin heads strongly bound to actin (Hill's dashpot). At high [ATP], we suggest that the hypermotile V is caused by shear thinning of the resistive population of strongly bound myosin heads. Our data and analysis indicate that, in addition to contributions from tauon and myosin's step size, d, V is influenced by the biochemistry of myosin's working step as well as resistive properties of actin and myosin.     

Computer-assisted tracking of actin filament motility.

In vitro motility assays, in which fluorescently labeled actin filaments are propelled by myosin molecules adhered to a glass coverslip, require that actin filament velocity be determined. We have developed a computer-assisted filament tracking system that reduced the analysis time, minimized investigator bias, and provided greater accuracy in locating actin filaments in video images. The tracking routine successfully tracked filaments under experimental conditions where filament density, size, and extent of photobleaching varied dramatically. Videotaped images of actin filament motility were digitized and processed to enhance filament image contrast relative to background. Once processed, filament images were cross correlated between frames and a filament path was determined. The changes in filament centroid or center position between video frames were then used to calculate filament velocity. The tracking routine performance was evaluated and the sources of noise that contributed to errors in velocity were identified and quantified. Errors originated in algorithms for filament centroid determination and in the choice of sampling interval between video frames. With knowledge of these error sources, the investigator can maximize the accuracy of the velocity calculation through access to user-definable computer program parameters.     

Differential regulation of AQP2 trafficking in endosomes by microtubules and actin filaments

Vasopressin-induced trafficking of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channels in kidney collecting duct cells is critical to regulate the urine concentration. To better understand the mechanism of subcellular trafficking of AQP2, we examined MDCK cells expressing AQP2 as a model. We first performed double-immunolabeling of AQP2 with endosomal marker proteins, and showed that AQP2 is stored at a Rab11-positive subapical compartment. After the translocation to the plasma membrane, AQP2 was endocytosed to EEA1-positive early endosomes, and then transferred back to the original Rab11-positive compartment. When Rab11 was depleted by RNA interference, retention of AQP2 at the subapical storage compartment was impaired. We next examined the role of cytoskeleton in the AQP2 trafficking and localization. By the treatment with microtubule-disrupting agent such as nocodazole or colcemid, the distribution of AQP2 storage compartment was altered. The disruption of actin filaments with cytochalasin D or latrunculin B induced the accumulation of AQP2 in EEA1-positive early endosomes. Altogether, our data suggest that Rab11 and microtubules maintain the proper distribution of the subapical AQP2 storage compartment, and actin filaments regulate the trafficking of AQP2 from early endosomes to the storage compartment.     

Early endosomes motility in filamentous fungi: How and why they move

Elongate hyphae of filamentous fungi grow predominantly at their tips, whereas organelles are positioned in the subapical parts of the cell. Organelle positioning and long-distance intracellular communication involves active, energy-dependent transport along microtubules (MTs). This is mediated by specialized molecular motors, named kinesins and dynein, which utilize ATP hydrolysis to “walk” along the tubulin polymers. Work in the basidiomycete Ustilago maydis and the ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans has shown that early endosomes (EEs) are one of the major cargos of MT-dependent motors in fungi. EEs are part of the early endocytic pathway, and their motility behavior and the underlying transport machinery is well understood. However, the physiological role of constant bi-directional EE motility remains elusive. Recent reports, conducted in the corn smut fungus U. maydis, have provided novel insights into the cellular function of EE motility. They show that EE motility is crucial for the distribution of the protein synthesis machinery, and also that EEs transmit signals during plant infection that trigger the production of fungal effector proteins, required for successful invasion into host plants.     

A function for filamentous alpha-smooth muscle actin: retardation of motility in fibroblasts

Actins are known to comprise six mammalian isoforms of which beta- and gamma-nonmuscle actins are present in all cells, whereas alpha-smooth muscle (alpha-sm) actin is normally restricted to cells of the smooth muscle lineages. alpha-Sm actin has been found also to be expressed transiently in certain nonmuscle cells, in particular fibroblasts, which are referred to as myofibroblasts. The functional significance of alpha-sm actin in fibroblasts is unknown. However, myofibroblasts appear to play a prominent role in stromal reaction in breast cancer, at the site of wound repair, and in fibrotic reactions. Here, we show that the presence of alpha-sm actin is a signal for retardation of migratory behavior in fibroblasts. Comparison in a migration assay of fibroblast cell strains with and without alpha-sm actin revealed migratory restraint in alpha-sm actin-positive fibroblasts. Electroporation of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1A4, which recognizes specifically the NH2-terminal Ac-EEED sequence of alpha-sm actin, significantly increased the frequency of migrating cells over that obtained with an unrelated antibody or a mAb against beta-actin. Time- lapse video microscopy revealed migratory rates of 4.8 and 3.0 microns/h, respectively. To knock out the alpha-sm actin protein, several antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (ODNs) were tested. One of these, 3'UTI, which is complementary to a highly evolutionary conserved 3' untranslated (3'UT) sequence of alpha-sm actin mRNA, was found to block alpha-sm actin synthesis completely without affecting the synthesis of any other proteins as analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Targeting by antisense 3'UTI significantly increased motility compared with the corresponding sense ODN. alpha-Sm actin inhibition also led to the formation of less prominent focal adhesions as revealed by immunofluorescence staining against vinculin, talin, and beta1-integrin. We propose that an important function of filamentous alpha-sm actin is to immobilize the cells.     

Glioblastoma motility occurs in the absence of actin polymer

In fibroblasts and keratocytes, motility is actin dependent, while microtubules play a secondary role, providing directional guidance. We demonstrate here that the motility of glioblastoma cells is exceptional, in that it occurs in cells depleted of assembled actin. Cells display persistent motility in the presence of actin inhibitors at concentrations sufficient to fully disassemble actin. Such actin independent motility is characterized by the extension of cell protrusions containing abundant microtubule polymers. Strikingly, glioblastoma cells exhibit no motility in the presence of microtubule inhibitors, at concentrations that disassemble labile microtubule polymers. In accord with an unconventional mode of motility, glioblastoma cells have some unusual requirements for the Rho GTPases. While Rac1 is required for lamellipodial protrusions in fibroblasts, expression of dominant negative Rac1 does not suppress glioblastoma migration. Other GTPase mutants are largely without unique effect, except dominant positive Rac1-Q61L, and rapidly cycling Rac1-F28L, which substantially suppress glioblastoma motility. We conclude that glioblastoma cells display an unprecedented mode of intrinsic motility that can occur in the absence of actin polymer, and that appears to require polymerized microtubules.