Intrinsically de-sialylated CD103+ CD8 T cells mediate beneficial anti-glioma immune responses

Background

Cancer vaccines reproducibly cure laboratory animals and reveal encouraging trends in brain tumor (glioma) patients. Identifying parameters governing beneficial vaccine-induced responses may lead to the improvement of glioma immunotherapies. CD103⁺ CD8 T cells dominate post-vaccine responses in human glioma patients for unknown reasons, but may be related to recent thymic emigrant (RTE) status. Importantly, CD8 RTE metrics correlated with beneficial immune responses in vaccinated glioma patients.

Methods

We show by flow cytometry that murine and human CD103⁺ CD8 T cells respond better than their CD103^? counterparts to tumor peptide-MHC I (pMHC I) stimulation in vitro and to tumor antigens on gliomas in vivo.

Results

Glioma responsive T cells from mice and humans both exhibited intrinsic de-sialylation-affecting CD8 beta. Modulation of CD8 T cell sialic acid with neuraminidase and ST3Gal-II revealed de-sialylation was necessary and sufficient for promiscuous binding to and stimulation by tumor pMHC I. Moreover, de-sialylated status was required for adoptive CD8 T cells and lymphocytes to decrease GL26 glioma invasiveness and increase host survival in vivo. Finally, increased tumor ST3Gal-II expression correlated with clinical vaccine failure in a meta-analysis of high-grade glioma patients.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings suggest that de-sialylation of CD8 is required for hyper-responsiveness and beneficial anti-glioma activity by CD8 T cells. Because CD8 de-sialylation can be induced with exogenous enzymes (and appears particularly scarce on human T cells), it represents a promising target for clinical glioma vaccine improvement.     

A novel RGD-independent cel adhesion pathway mediated by fibronectin-bound tissue transglutaminase rescues cells from anoikis

Specific association of tissue transglutaminase (tTG) with matrix fibronectin (FN) results in the formation of an extracellular complex (tTG-FN) with distinct adhesive and pro-survival characteristics. tTG-FN supports RGD-independent cell adhesion of different cell types and the formation of distinctive RhoA-dependent focal adhesions following inhibition of integrin function by competitive RGD peptides and function blocking anti-integrin antibodies alpha5beta1. Association of tTG with its binding site on the 70-kDa amino-terminal FN fragment does not support this cell adhesion process, which seems to involve the entire FN molecule. RGD-independent cell adhesion to tTG-FN does not require transamidating activity, is mediated by the binding of tTG to cell-surface heparan sulfate chains, is dependent on the function of protein kinase Calpha, and leads to activation of the cell survival focal adhesion kinase. The tTG-FN complex can maintain cell viability of tTG-null mouse dermal fibroblasts when apoptosis is induced by inhibition of RGD-dependent adhesion (anoikis), suggesting an extracellular survival role for tTG. We propose a novel RGD-independent cell adhesion mechanism that promotes cell survival when the anti-apoptotic role mediated by RGD-dependent integrin function is reduced as in tissue injury, which is consistent with the externalization and binding of tTG to fibronectin following cell damage/stress.     

Binding of vitronectin-thrombin-antithrombin III complex to human endothelial cells is mediated by the heparin binding site of vitronectin.

The interaction of vitronectin-thrombin-antithrombin III (VN.TAT) complex with endothelial cells (EC) was investigated. Binding was specific and time- and concentration-dependent. Kinetics revealed an apparent dissociation constant of 16 nM and 1.7 x 10(5) binding sites/endothelial cell. The binding determinant of the ternary complex was located on the VN moiety. Since the association of VN to TAT adds its specific properties to the VN.TAT complex, the involvement of the heparin binding domain and the cell attachment site of VN was investigated. Neither addition of RGD peptide nor blocking of the vitronectin receptor with a monoclonal antibody interfered with VN.TAT binding to EC. Addition of heparin, a VN-derived peptide comprising two heparin binding consensus sequences or a monoclonal antibody directed against the heparin binding domain on VN, completely inhibited VN.TAT binding to EC. These results indicate that the interaction is mediated through the heparin binding domain of VN. Digestion of heparan sulfate proteoglycans resulted in a decrease of VN.TAT binding to EC, indicating the involvement of heparin-like structures on the EC surface. Our findings point to an unrecognized mechanism by which VN may act as scavenger in order to enhance the clearance of end products of the clotting system via binding of the ternary VN.TAT complex to the luminal surface of EC.     

Peanut agglutinin high phenotype of activated CD8+ T cells results from de novo synthesis of CD45 glycans

Following activation in the periphery, murine CD8+ T cells exhibit a characteristic increased binding of peanut agglutinin (PNA), reflecting an increased expression of hyposialylated O-linked glycans (Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha-O-Thr/Ser) on the cell surface. In this report, we show that the majority of the PNA receptors expressed on activated CD8+ T cells are carried by CD45. Other glycoproteins (e.g. CD8) and the glycolipid asialo-GM1 also carry PNA receptors, although to a much lesser extent. Analysis of enzymes involved in the sialylation/de-sialylation pathways showed that generation of PNA receptors in activated CD8+ T cells is not due to up-regulation of endogenous sialidases. Instead, our results indicate that the PNA(high) phenotype results from de novo synthesis of CD45 carrying reduced sialylated core 1 O-glycans.     

Heparin II domain of fibronectin uses alpha4beta1 integrin to control focal adhesion and stress fiber formation, independent of syndecan-4

Co-signaling events between integrins and cell surface proteoglycans play a critical role in the organization of the cytoskeleton and adhesion forces of cells. These processes, which appear to be responsible for maintaining intraocular pressure in the human eye, involve a novel cooperative co-signaling pathway between alpha5beta1 and alpha4beta1 integrins and are independent of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Human trabecular meshwork cells isolated from the eye were plated on type III 7-10 repeats of fibronectin (alpha5beta1 ligand) in the absence or presence of the heparin (Hep) II domain of fibronectin. In the absence of the Hep II domain, cells had a bipolar morphology with few focal adhesions and stress fibers. The addition of the Hep II domain increased cell spreading and the numbers of focal adhesions and stress fibers. Cell spreading and stress fiber formation were not mediated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans because treatment with chlorate, heparinase, or soluble heparin did not prevent Hep II domain-mediated cell spreading. Cell spreading and stress fiber formation were mediated by alpha4beta1 integrin because soluble anti-alpha4 integrin antibodies inhibited Hep II domain-mediated cell spreading and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (alpha4beta1 ligand)-induced cell spreading. This is the first demonstration of the Hep II domain mediating cell spreading and stress fiber formation through alpha4beta1 integrin. This novel pathway demonstrates a cooperative, rather than antagonistic, role between alpha5beta1 and alpha4beta1 integrins and suggests that interactions between the Hep II domain and alpha4beta1 integrin could modulate the strength of cytoskeleton-mediated processes in the trabecular meshwork of the human eye.     

Dual sources of vitronectin in the human lower urinary tract: synthesis by urothelium vs. extravasation from the bloodstream

Vitronectin (VN), secreted into the bloodstream by liver hepatocytes, is known to anchor epithelial cells to basement membranes through interactions with cell surface integrin receptors. We report here that VN is also synthesized by urothelial cells of urothelium in vivo and in vitro. In situ hybridization, dideoxy sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA of urothelial cell mRNA, cDNA, tissue, and protein extracts demonstrated that the VN gene is active in vivo and in vitro. The expression of VN by urothelium is hypothesized to constitute one of several pathways that anchor basal cells to an underlying substratum and explains why urothelial cells adhere to glass and propagate under serum-free conditions. Therefore, two sources of VN in the human urinary bladder are recognized: 1) localized synthesis by urothelial cells and 2) extravasation of liver VN through fenestrated capillaries. When human plasma was fractionated by denaturing heparin affinity chromatography, VN was isolated in a biologically active form that supported rapid spreading of urothelial cells in vitro under serum-free conditions. This activity was inhibited by the matricellular protein SPARC via direct binding of VN to SPARC through a Ca(+2)-dependent mechanism. A novel form of VN, isolated from the same heparin affinity chromatography column and designated as the VN(c) chromatomer, also supported cell spreading but failed to interact with SPARC. Therefore, the steady-state balance among urothelial cells, their extracellular milieu, and matricellular proteins constitutes a principal mechanism by which urothelia are anchored to an underlying substrata in the face of constant bladder cycling.     

RGD-independent cell adhesion to the carboxy-terminal heparin-binding fragment of fibronectin involves heparin-dependent and -independent activities

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix components such as fibronectin has a complex basis, involving multiple determinants on the molecule that react with discrete cell surface macromolecules. Our previous results have demonstrated that normal and transformed cells adhere and spread on a 33-kD heparin binding fragment that originates from the carboxy-terminal end of particular isoforms (A-chains) of human fibronectin. This fragment promotes melanoma adhesion and spreading in an arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-serine (RGDS) independent manner, suggesting that cell adhesion to this region of fibronectin is independent of the typical RGD/integrin-mediated binding. Two synthetic peptides from this region of fibronectin were recently identified that bound [3H]heparin in a solid-phase assay and promoted the adhesion and spreading of melanoma cells (McCarthy, J. B., M. K. Chelberg, D. J. Mickelson, and L. T. Furcht. 1988. Biochemistry. 27:1380-1388). The current studies further define the cell adhesion and heparin binding properties of one of these synthetic peptides. This peptide, termed peptide I, has the sequence YEKPGSP-PREVVPRPRPGV and represents residues 1906-1924 of human plasma fibronectin. In addition to promoting RGD-independent melanoma adhesion and spreading in a concentration-dependent manner, this peptide significantly inhibited cell adhesion to the 33-kD fragment or intact fibronectin. Polyclonal antibodies generated against peptide I also significantly inhibited cell adhesion to the peptide, to the 33-kD fragment, but had minimal effect on melanoma adhesion to fibronectin. Anti-peptide I antibodies also partially inhibited [3H]heparin binding to fibronectin, suggesting that peptide I represents a major heparin binding domain on the intact molecule. The cell adhesion activity of another peptide from the 33-kD fragment, termed CS1 (Humphries, M. J., A. Komoriya, S. K. Akiyama, K. Olden, and K. M. Yamada. 1987. J. Biol. Chem., 262:6886-6892) was contrasted with peptide I. Whereas both peptides promoted RGD-independent cell adhesion, peptide CS1 failed to bind heparin, and exogenous peptide CS1 failed to inhibit peptide I-mediated cell adhesion. The results demonstrate a role for distinct heparin-dependent and -independent cell adhesion determinants on the 33-kD fragment, neither of which are related to the RGD-dependent integrin interaction with fibronectin.     

Vitronectin interaction with glycosaminoglycans. Kinetics, structural determinants, and role in binding to endothelial cells

Vitronectin (VN) is a high affinity heparin-binding protein. The physiological role of this binding has hitherto received little attention, and its molecular determinants are subject to controversy. In this study, we characterized vitronectin interaction with heparin, heparin analogues, bacterial extracts, and cell surface glycosaminoglycans. As assessed by (i) fluorescence assays, (ii) precipitation with heparin-Sepharose beads, or (iii) Western blotting with antibodies against VN(347-361) (the heparin-binding site), we demonstrate an exposure of the VN heparin-binding site in multimeric but not monomeric vitronectin. Through its heparin-binding site, vitronectin also bound other glycosaminoglycans and Staphylococcus aureus extracts. The kinetics of heparin binding to vitronectin were complex. After a fast association phase (tau = 0.3 s), a slow conversion of an unstable to a stable heparin-vitronectin complex (tau = 180 s) occurred. Heparin binding kinetics and transition to a stable complex were mimicked by VN(347-361), demonstrating that this area is the fully functional heparin-binding site of vitronectin. Multimeric vitronectin bound to endothelial cells. This binding was blocked by soluble heparin and was not observed when endothelial cells were pretreated with glycosaminoglycan-removing enzymes. Glycosaminoglycan-dependent interaction of endothelial cells with multimeric vitronectin might be a relevant mechanism for removal of multimeric vitronectin from plasma. Conversion of an unstable to a stable glycosaminoglycan-vitronectin complex is likely to be relevant for association with endothelial cells under flow conditions.     

Modulation of adhesion,spreading and cytoskeleton organization of 3T3 fibroblasts by sulfonic groups present on polymer surfaces

The early phase of 3T3 fibroblast interaction with sulfonated styrene copolymer surfaces, of two sulfonic group densities and thus of differing wettability, was studied. The sulfonic groups present on copolymer surfaces affected the behaviour of cells, i.e. they stimulated cell adhesion, activated cell spreading and influenced cytoskeleton reorganization. The relative number of adhering cells correlated, while the number of spreading cells inversely correlated, with the surface density of sulfonic groups. Cell shape and the pattern of distribution of F-actin, alpha-actinin and vinculin in the interacting cells also depend on the surface density of sulfonic groups. On surfaces of high sulfonic group density, highly polarized cells were observed with F-actin bundles. On surfaces of low sulfonic group density, the cells spread with a square-like morphology with F-actin organized in stress fibres. In contrast, the cells spread poorly on nonsulfonated surfaces and cell adhesion was unaffected by surface wettability. The contribution of alpha(5)beta(1), alpha(4), and beta(5)integrins to the cell interaction with fibronectin (FN) and vitronectin (VN) adsorbed from serum-containing medium on polymer surfaces was examined. Our results suggest that surface sulfonic groups influence the conformation of FN and VN adsorbed on polymer surfaces and, in turn, determine the integrins that are involved in cell adhesion.     

Mapping of binding sites for heparin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and plasminogen to vitronectin's heparin-binding region reveals a novel vitronectin-dependent feedback mechanism for the control of plasmin formation.

Vitronectin (VN) has been implicated as a major matrix-associated regulator component of plasminogen activation by serving as a potent stabilizing cofactor of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). The direct binding of heparin, plasminogen as well as PAI-1 in its latent and active form to immobilized VN was studied in the absence or presence of competitors. Monoclonal antibodies against the carboxyl-terminal portion of VN inhibited both PAI-1 and plasminogen binding, whereas heparin, heparan sulfate with a high degree of sulfation, or dextran sulfate interfered with PAI-1 binding (KD = 20 nM) only. Utilizing synthetic peptides encompassing overlapping sequences of the heparin-binding domain of VN, adjacent heparin and PAI-1-binding sites were localized within the sequence 348-370 of VN. Although a number of other serine protease inhibitors which do not form binary complexes with VN contain a reactive-site Ser at their P1'-position, a reactive-site P1' mutant of PAI-1 (Met----Ser) showed comparable if not increased binding to VN. Binding of Lys-plasminogen and active-site-blocked plasmin was at least 10-fold higher in affinity (KD = 85-100 nM) compared to Glu-plasminogen (KD approximately 1 microM) and could be inhibited by lysine analogs but not by glycosaminoglycans or PAI-1, indicating that heteropolar plasmin(ogen) binding of VN occurs to an adjacent segment upstream to the heparin and PAI-1-binding sites. This contention was further supported in binding studies with plasmin-modified VN which lost both heparin and PAI-1 binding but exhibited 2-3-fold higher capacity to bind plasminogen. The essential plasmin(ogen)-binding site was mapped by ligand blot analysis to the carboxyl-terminal portion of proteolytically trimmed VN (M(r) = 61,000). Moreover, treatment of the extracellular matrix of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with plasmin resulted in partial degradation of matrix-associated VN and concomitant release of PAI-1, but increased the ability of the matrix by about 2-fold to bind plasminogen. These results are indicative of differential interactions of VN with components of the plasminogen activation system, whereby plasmin itself may provoke the switch of VN from an anti-fibrinolytic into a pro-fibrinolytic cofactor. This process reflects a novel role for the adhesive protein and its degradation product(s) in the possible feedback regulation of localized plasmin formation at extracellular sites.     

Highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans augment the cross-linking of vitronectin by guinea pig liver transglutaminase. Functional studies of the cross-linked vitronectin multimers.

Vitronectin (VN) is an adhesive glycoprotein with roles in the complement, coagulation, and immune systems. Many of the functions of VN are mediated by a glycosaminoglycan binding site, near its carboxyl-terminal end. In this paper, we show that the highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, and fucoidan effectively augment [14C]putrescine incorporation into VN and cross-linking of VN into high molecular multimers by guinea pig liver transglutaminase (TG). Other GAGs including heparin, low molecular weight heparin, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and the nonsulfated dextrans were ineffective in accelerating these reactions. Dextran sulfate of average molecular mass 500 kDa was more effective than dextran sulfate of average molecular mass 5 kDa, supporting a template mechanism of action of the GAGs, in which VN molecules align on the GAG in a conformation suitable for cross-linking. The VN multimers catalyzed by TG retained functional activity in binding [3H]heparin, platelets, and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1). [3H]Heparin bound selectively to the 65-kDa monomeric band of VN and to the multimers derived from this band. PAI-1, however, bound equally to both the 75- and 65-kDa monomeric forms of VN, suggesting that the PAI-1 binding site on VN is distinct from the GAG binding site. The interaction of GAGs with the TG-catalyzed cross-linking of VN may facilitate studies of VN structure-function relationships.     

Schwann cell adhesion to a novel heparan sulfate binding site in the N-terminal domain of alpha 4 type V collagen is mediated by syndecan-3.

Previously we reported that type V collagen synthesized by Schwann cells inhibits the outgrowth of axons from rat embryo dorsal root ganglion neurons but promotes Schwann cell migration (Chernousov, M. A., Stahl, R. C., and Carey, D. J. (2001) J. Neurosci. 21, 6125-6135). Analysis of Schwann cell adhesion and spreading on dishes coated with various type V collagen domains revealed that Schwann cells adhered effectively only to the non-collagenous N-terminal domain (NTD) of the alpha4(V) collagen chain. Schwann cell adhesion to alpha4(V)-NTD induced actin cytoskeleton assembly, tyrosine phosphorylation, and activation of the Erk1/Erk2 protein kinases. Adhesion to alpha4(V)-NTD is cell type-specific because rat fibroblasts failed to adhere to dishes coated with this polypeptide. Schwann cell adhesion and spreading on alpha4(V)-NTD was strongly inhibited by soluble heparin (IC(50) approximately 30 ng/ml) but not by chondroitin sulfate. Analysis of the heparin binding activities of a series of recombinant alpha4(V)-NTD fragments and deletion mutants identified a highly basic region (not present in other type V collagen NTD) as the site responsible for high affinity heparin binding. Schwann cells adhered poorly to dishes coated with alpha4(V)-NTD that lacked the heparin binding site and failed to spread or assemble organized actin-cytoskeletal structures. Soluble alpha4(V)-NTD polypeptide that contained the heparin binding site inhibited spreading of Schwann cells on dishes coated with alpha4(V)-NTD. Affinity chromatography of Schwann cell detergent extracts on a column of immobilized alpha4(V)-NTD resulted in the isolation of syndecan-3, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Together, these results suggest that Schwann cells bind to collagen type V via syndecan-3-dependent binding to a novel high affinity heparin binding site in the alpha4(V)-NTD.     

Aging-related changes and topology of adhesion responses sensitive to cycloheximide on collagen substrata by human dermal fibroblasts

Human dermal fibroblasts (both papillary and reticular) were tested during in vivo or in vitro aging for their responses on collagen and/or fibronectin (FN) substrata, as well as on topologically mixed substrata. Cycloheximide treatments were used to evaluate whether receptors to these matrix molecules, mediating F-actin reorganization into stress fibers, are altered during aging processes. Late-passage (but not mid-passage) papillary and reticular cells from both an elderly male and a newborn infant spread effectively on collagen +/- FN but failed to generate stress fibers after lengthy pretreatment of cells with cycloheximide. In contrast, treatment with cycloheximide only when cells were reattaching was not inhibitory. None of the treatments had any effect on stress fiber formation of cells on FN-only substrata, demonstrating that drug sensitivity was specific for collagen responses. The inhibition could be reversed by rinsing cycloheximide out of cultures and could be prevented by prior growth of cells in ascorbate-supplemented medium to stimulate production/maturation of collagen and possibly collagen-specific receptors. Adjacent regions of coverslips were adsorbed with collagen and a proteolytic fragment of plasma FN lacking the collagen-binding domain but retaining other binding domains; cells bridging the interface were of special interest. When fragment F155 containing both the RGDS cell-binding and the heparin II-binding domains was tested in this paradigm, cells generated stress fibers continuous from the collagen-facing side into the F155-facing side of the same cell, consistent with the compatability of both collagen and FN receptors in generating the same stress fiber. However, F110 lacking the heparin II domain was incapable of facilitating stress fiber formation; fibers formed effectively on the collagen side and terminated abruptly at the collagen:F110 interface. These experiments demonstrate stringent regulation of where stress fibers begin, span, and terminate in the cytoplasm by matrix receptors at the cell's undersurface and establish that there are alterations of collagen-specific receptors as a consequence of in vitro aging, but not of in vivo aging, in both papillary and reticular human dermal fibroblasts.     

Requirement for Rho in Integrin Signalling

Overnight culture of Swiss 3T3 cells in serum-free medium leads to loss of focal adhesions and associated actin stress fibres, although the cells remain well spread. The small GTP-binding protein Rho is required for the formation of stress fibres and focal adhesions induced by growth factors such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in serum-starved Swiss 3T3 cells, and for the LPA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of several focal adhesion proteins. Plating of cells on extracellular matrix proteins also stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the formation of stress fibres and focal adhesions in the absence of added growth factors. These responses were inhibited in cells scrape-loaded with the Rho inhibitor C3 transferase. Focal adhesion and stress fibre formation was also triggered by addition of a peptide GRGDS, which is recognised by a number of integrins and is contained within the cell binding domain of a variety of extracellular matrix proteins. The activity of the GRGDS peptide was blocked by microinjecting cells with C3 transferase, suggesting that peptide binding to integrins stimulates a Rho-dependent assembly of focal adhesions. These experiments indicate that Rho is involved in signalling downstream of integrins.     

Requirement for Rho in Integrin Signalling

Overnight culture of Swiss 3T3 cells in serum-free medium leads to loss of focal adhesions and associated actin stress fibres, although the cells remain well spread. The small GTP-binding protein Rho is required for the formation of stress fibres and focal adhesions induced by growth factors such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in serum-starved Swiss 3T3 cells, and for the LPA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of several focal adhesion proteins. Plating of cells on extracellular matrix proteins also stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the formation of stress fibres and focal adhesions in the absence of added growth factors. These responses were inhibited in cells scrape-loaded with the Rho inhibitor C3 transferase. Focal adhesion and stress fibre formation was also triggered by addition of a peptide GRGDS, which is recognised by a number of integrins and is contained within the cell binding domain of a variety of extracellular matrix proteins. The activity of the GRGDS peptide was blocked by microinjecting cells with C3 transferase, suggesting that peptide binding to integrins stimulates a Rho-dependent assembly of focal adhesions. These experiments indicate that Rho is involved in signalling downstream of integrins.     

Inhibition by pertussis toxin of fibroblast growth factor-stimulated hexose transport in Swiss 3T3 cells

Addition of fibroblast growth factor to quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 cells stimulated the membrane transport of 2-deoxyglucose. Treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (islet-activating protein) inhibited fibroblast growth factor-stimulated hexose transport. 5'-Guanylyl imidodiphosphate (p[NH]ppG), a non hydrolyzable analogue of GTP, increased the number of hexose carriers in the plasma membrane of saponin-permeabilized cells. These results suggest that guanine nucleotide binding protein may be involved in the regulation of hexose transport system by fibroblast growth factor in Swiss 3T3 cells.     

Focal Adhesion and Stress Fiber Formation Is Regulated by Tyrosine Phosphatase Activity

Tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins plays an important role in the regulation of focal adhesions and stress fiber organization. In the present study we examined the role of tyrosine phosphatases in this process using p125FAK and paxillin as substrates. We show that tyrosine phosphatase activity in Swiss 3T3 cells was markedly increased when actin stress fibers were disassembled by cell detachment from the substratum, by serum starvation, or by cytochalasin D treatment. This activity was blocked by phenylarsine oxide, an inhibitor of a specific class of tyrosine phosphatases characterized by two vicinal thiol groups in the active site. Phenylarsine oxide treatment of serum-starved cells induced increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK and paxillin in a dose-dependent manner and induced assembly of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers, showing that inhibition of one or more phenylarsine oxide-sensitive tyrosine phosphatases is a sufficient stimulus for triggering focal adhesion and actin stress fiber formation in adherent cells.     

The COOH terminus of Rho-kinase negatively regulates rho-kinase activity.

Rho-kinase is implicated in the phosphorylation of myosin light chain downstream of Rho, which is thought to induce smooth muscle contraction and stress fiber formation in non-muscle cells. Here, we examined the mode of action of inhibitors of Rho-kinase. The chemical compounds such as HA1077 and Y-32885 inhibited not only the Rho-kinase activity but also the activity of protein kinase N, one of the targets of Rho, but had less of an effect on the activity of myotonic dystrophy kinase-related Cdc42-binding kinase beta (MRCKbeta). The COOH-terminal portion of Rho-kinase containing Rho-binding (RB) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains (RB/PH (TT)), in which point mutations were introduced to abolish the Rho binding activity, interacted with Rho-kinase and thereby inhibited the Rho-kinase activity, whereas RB/PH (TT) had no effect on the activity of protein kinase N or MRCKbeta, suggesting that the COOH-terminal region of Rho-kinase is a possible negative regulatory region of Rho-kinase. The expression of RB/PH (TT) specifically blocked the stress fiber and focal adhesion formation induced by the active form of Rho or Rho-kinase in NIH 3T3 cells, but not that induced by the active form of MRCKbeta or myosin light chain. Thus, RB/PH (TT) appears to specifically inhibit Rho-kinase in vivo.     

Mammalian homolog of the yeast cyclase associated protein, CAP/Srv2p, regulates actin filament assembly

Control of cell shape and motility requires rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. One cytoskeletal protein that may regulate actin dynamics is CAP (cyclase associated protein; CAP/Srv2p; ASP-56). CAP was first isolated from yeast as an adenylyl cyclase associated protein required for RAS regulation of cAMP signaling. In addition, CAP also regulates the actin cytoskeleton primarily through an actin monomer binding activity. CAP homologs are found in many eukaryotes, including mammals where they also bind actin, but little is known about their biological function. We, therefore, designed experiments to address CAP1 regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. CAP1 localized to membrane ruffles and actin stress fibers in fixed cells of various types. To address localization in living cells, we constructed GFP-CAP1 fusion proteins and found that fusion proteins lacking the actin-binding region localized like the wild type protein. We also performed microinjection studies with affinity-purified anti-CAP1 antibodies in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and found that the antibodies attenuated serum stimulation of stress fibers. Finally, CAP1 purified from platelets through a monoclonal antibody affinity purification step stimulated the formation of stress fiber-like filaments when it was microinjected into serum-starved Swiss 3T3 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that CAP1 promotes assembly of the actin cytoskeleton.