N-WASP has the ability to compensate for the loss of WASP in macrophage podosome formation and chemotaxis

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and its homologue neural-WASP (N-WASP) are nucleation promoting factors that integrate receptor signaling with actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. While hematopoietic cells express both WASP and N-WASP, WASP deficiency results in altered cell morphology, loss of podosomes and defective chemotaxis. It was determined that cells from a mouse derived monocyte/macrophage cell line and primary cells of myeloid lineage expressed approximately 15-fold higher levels of WASP relative to N-WASP. To test whether N-WASP can compensate for the loss of WASP and restore actin cytoskeleton integrity, N-WASP was overexpressed in macrophages, in which endogenous WASP expression was reduced by short hairpin RNA (shWASP cells). Many of the defects associated with the loss of WASP, such as podosome-dependent matrix degradation and chemotaxis were corrected when N-WASP was expressed at equimolar level to that of the wild-type WASP. Furthermore, the ability of N-WASP to partially compensate for the loss of WASP may be physiologically relevant since activated murine WASP-deficient peritoneal macrophages, which show enhanced N-WASP expression, also show an increase in matrix degradation. Our study suggests that expression levels of WASP and N-WASP may influence their roles in actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and shed light to the complex intertwining roles WASP and N-WASP play in macrophages.     

N-WASP coordinates the delivery and F-actin–mediated capture of MT1-MMP at invasive pseudopods

Metastasizing tumor cells use matrix metalloproteases, such as the transmembrane collagenase MT1-MMP, together with actin-based protrusions, to break through extracellular matrix barriers and migrate in dense matrix. Here we show that the actin nucleation–promoting protein N-WASP (Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) is up-regulated in breast cancer, and has a pivotal role in mediating the assembly of elongated pseudopodia that are instrumental in matrix degradation. Although a role for N-WASP in invadopodia was known, we now show how N-WASP regulates invasive protrusion in 3D matrices. In actively invading cells, N-WASP promoted trafficking of MT1-MMP into invasive pseudopodia, primarily from late endosomes, from which it was delivered to the plasma membrane. Upon MT1-MMP’s arrival at the plasma membrane in pseudopodia, N-WASP stabilized MT1-MMP via direct tethering of its cytoplasmic tail to F-actin. Thus, N-WASP is crucial for extension of invasive pseudopods into which MT1-MMP traffics and for providing the correct cytoskeletal framework to couple matrix remodeling with protrusive invasion.     

Cdc42 Regulates Fcγ Receptor-mediated Phagocytosis through the Activation and Phosphorylation of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein (WASP) and Neural-WASP

Cdc42 is a key regulator of the actin cytoskeleton and activator of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP). Although several studies have separately demonstrated the requirement for both Cdc42 and WASP in Fc_γ receptor (Fc_γR)-mediated phagocytosis, their precise roles in the signal cascade leading to engulfment are still unclear. Reduction of endogenous Cdc42 expression by using RNA-mediated interference (short hairpin RNA [shRNA]) severely impaired the phagocytic capacity of RAW/LR5 macrophages, due to defects in phagocytic cup formation, actin assembly, and pseudopod extension. Addition of wiskostatin, a WASP/neural-WASP (N-WASP) inhibitor showed extensive inhibition of phagocytosis, actin assembly, and cell extension identical to the phenotype seen upon reduction of Cdc42 expression. However, using WASP-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages or shRNA of WASP or N-WASP indicated a requirement for both WASP and N-WASP in phagocytosis. Cdc42 was necessary for WASP/N-WASP activation, as determined using a conformation-sensitive antibody against WASP/N-WASP and partial restoration of phagocytosis in Cdc42 reduced cells by expression of a constitutively activated WASP. In addition, Cdc42 was required for proper WASP tyrosine phosphorylation, which was also necessary for phagocytosis. These results indicate that Cdc42 is essential for the activation of WASP and N-WASP, leading to actin assembly and phagocytic cup formation by macrophages during Fc_γR-mediated phagocytosis.     

Metalloproteinase MT1-MMP islets act as memory devices for podosome reemergence

Podosomes are dynamic cell adhesions that are also sites of extracellular matrix degradation, through recruitment of matrix-lytic enzymes, particularly of matrix metalloproteinases. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we show that the membrane-bound metalloproteinase MT1-MMP is enriched not only at podosomes but also at distinct “islets” embedded in the plasma membrane of primary human macrophages. MT1-MMP islets become apparent upon podosome dissolution and persist beyond podosome lifetime. Importantly, the majority of MT1-MMP islets are reused as sites of podosome reemergence. siRNA-mediated knockdown and recomplementation analyses show that islet formation is based on the cytoplasmic tail of MT1-MMP and its ability to bind the subcortical actin cytoskeleton. Collectively, our data reveal a previously unrecognized phase in the podosome life cycle and identify a structural function of MT1-MMP that is independent of its proteolytic activity. MT1-MMP islets thus act as cellular memory devices that enable efficient and localized reformation of podosomes, ensuring coordinated matrix degradation and invasion.     

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein (WASP) by Hck Regulates Macrophage Function

We have shown previously that tyrosine phosphorylation of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) is important for diverse macrophage functions including phagocytosis, chemotaxis, podosome dynamics, and matrix degradation. However, the specific tyrosine kinase mediating WASP phosphorylation is still unclear. Here, we provide evidence that Hck, which is predominantly expressed in leukocytes, can tyrosine phosphorylate WASP and regulates WASP-mediated macrophage functions. We demonstrate that tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP in response to stimulation with CX3CL1 or via Fcγ receptor ligation were severely reduced in Hck^−/− bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) or in RAW/LR5 macrophages in which Hck expression was silenced using RNA-mediated interference (Hck shRNA). Consistent with reduced WASP tyrosine phosphorylation, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and matrix degradation are reduced in Hck^−/− BMMs or Hck shRNA cells. In particular, WASP phosphorylation was primarily mediated by the p61 isoform of Hck. Our studies also show that Hck and WASP are required for passage through a dense three-dimensional matrix and transendothelial migration, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP by Hck may play a role in tissue infiltration of macrophages. Consistent with a role for this pathway in invasion, WASP^−/− BMMs do not invade into tumor spheroids with the same efficiency as WT BMMs and cells expressing phospho-deficient WASP have reduced ability to promote carcinoma cell invasion. Altogether, our results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP by Hck is required for proper macrophage functions.     

Transforming growth factor beta induces rosettes of podosomes in primary aortic endothelial cells

Cytoskeletal rearrangements are central to endothelial cell physiology and are controlled by soluble factors, matrix proteins, cell-cell interactions, and mechanical forces. We previously reported that aortic endothelial cells can rearrange their cytoskeletons into complex actin-based structures called podosomes when a constitutively active mutant of Cdc42 is expressed. We now report that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) promotes podosome formation in primary aortic endothelial cells. TGF-beta-induced podosomes assembled together into large ring- or crescent-shaped structures. Their formation was dependent on protein synthesis and required functional Src, phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase, Cdc42, RhoA, and Smad signaling. MT1-MMP and metalloprotease 9 (MMP9), both upregulated by TGF-beta, were detected at sites of podosome formation, and MT1-MMP was found to be involved in the local degradation of extracellular matrix proteins beneath the podosomes and required for the invasion of collagen gels by endothelial cells. We propose that TGF-beta plays an important role in endothelial cell physiology by inducing the formation of podosomal structures endowed with metalloprotease activity that may contribute to arterial remodeling.     

Expression of WASP and Scar1/WAVE1 actin-associated proteins is differentially modulated during differentiation of HL-60 cells

The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) is a disease associated with mutations in the WAS gene and characterised by developmental defects in haematopoietic cells such as myeloid cells. The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP)-family includes Scar1 and WASP, which are key regulators of actin reorganization in motile cells. To understand the roles of Scar1 and WASP in myeloid cells and their cytoskeletal control in haematopoietic tissues, we have explored their expression during differentiation of the promyeloid cell line HL-60. Undifferentiated HL-60 cells expressed Scar1 and WASP, and differentiation to neutrophils, induced by retinoic acid or non-retinoid agent treatments, led to a decrease in the level of expression of Scar1, whereas WASP expression was unaffected. Differentiation to monocytes/macrophages, induced by phorbol ester treatment, resulted in a decreased expression of both proteins in the adherent mature cells. Vitamin D(3) treatment or cytochalasin D in combination with PMA treatment did not affect WASP expression suggesting that adhesion and cytoskeletal integrity were both essential to regulate WASP expression. Scar1 expression was regulated by differentiation, adhesion, and cytoskeletal integrity. Recently, WASP was found to colocalize with actin in the podosomes. In contrast, we show here that Scar1 did not localize with the podosomes in mature monocytes/macrophages. These observations show for the first time that modulation of Scar1 and WASP expression is a component of the differentiation program of myeloid precursors and indicate that WASP and Scar1 have different roles in mature myeloid cells.     

Src-dependent phosphorylation of membrane type I matrix metalloproteinase on cytoplasmic tyrosine 573: role in endothelial and tumor cell migration

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a transmembrane MMP that plays important roles in migratory processes underlying tumor invasion and angiogenesis. In addition to its matrix degrading activity, MT1-MMP also contains a short cytoplasmic domain whose involvement in cell locomotion seems important but remains poorly understood. In this study, we show that MT1-MMP is phosphorylated on the unique tyrosine residue located within this cytoplasmic sequence (Tyr(573)) and that this phosphorylation requires the kinase Src. Using phosphospecific antibodies recognizing MT1-MMP phosphorylated on Tyr(573), we observed that tyrosine phosphorylation of the enzyme is rapidly induced upon stimulation of tumor and endothelial cells with the platelet-derived chemoattractant sphingosine-1-phosphate, suggesting a role in migration triggered by this lysophospholipid. Accordingly, overexpression of a nonphosphorylable MT1-MMP mutant (Y573F) blocked sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced migration of Human umbilical vein endothelial cells and HT-1080 (human fibrosarcoma) cells and failed to stimulate migration of cells lacking the enzyme (bovine aortic endothelial cells). Altogether, these findings strongly suggest that the Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of MT1-MMP plays a key role in cell migration and further emphasize the importance of the cytoplasmic domain of the enzyme in this process.     

The Novel Adaptor Protein Tks4 (SH3PXD2B) Is Required for Functional Podosome Formation

Metastatic cancer cells have the ability to both degrade and migrate through the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invasiveness can be correlated with the presence of dynamic actin-rich membrane structures called podosomes or invadopodia. We showed previously that the adaptor protein tyrosine kinase substrate with five Src homology 3 domains (Tks5)/Fish is required for podosome/invadopodia formation, degradation of ECM, and cancer cell invasion in vivo and in vitro. Here, we describe Tks4, a novel protein that is closely related to Tks5. This protein contains an amino-terminal Phox homology domain, four SH3 domains, and several proline-rich motifs. In Src-transformed fibroblasts, Tks4 is tyrosine phosphorylated and predominantly localized to rosettes of podosomes. We used both short hairpin RNA knockdown and mouse embryo fibroblasts lacking Tks4 to investigate its role in podosome formation. We found that lack of Tks4 resulted in incomplete podosome formation and inhibited ECM degradation. Both phenotypes were rescued by reintroduction of Tks4, whereas only podosome formation, but not ECM degradation, was rescued by overexpression of Tks5. The tyrosine phosphorylation sites of Tks4 were required for efficient rescue. Furthermore, in the absence of Tks4, membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) was not recruited to the incomplete podosomes. These findings suggest that Tks4 and Tks5 have overlapping, but not identical, functions, and implicate Tks4 in MT1-MMP recruitment and ECM degradation.     

Secretion of active membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-14) into extracellular space in microvesicular exosomes

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP14) is an efficient extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading enzyme that plays important roles in tissue homeostasis and cell invasion. Like a number of type I membrane proteins, MT1-MMP can be internalized from the cell surface through early and recycling endosomes to late endosomes, and recycled to the plasma membrane. Late endosomes participate in the biogenesis of small (30-100 nm) vesicles, exosomes, which redirect plasma membrane proteins for extracellular secretion. We hypothesized that some of the endosomal MT1-MMP could be directed to exosomes for extracellular release. Using cultured human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) and melanoma (G361) cells we provide evidence that both the full-length 60 kDa and the proteolytically processed 43 kDa forms of MT1-MMP are secreted in exosomes. The isolated exosomes were identified by their vesicular structure in electron microscopy and by exosomal marker proteins CD9 and tumor susceptibility gene (TSG101). Furthermore, exosomes contained beta1-integrin (CD29). The exosomes were able to activate pro-MMP-2 and degrade type 1 collagen and gelatin, suggesting that the exosomal MT1-MMP was functionally active. The targeting of MT1-MMP in exosomes represents a novel mechanism for cancer cells to secrete membrane type metalloproteolytic activity into the extracellular space.     

Requirement for a complex of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) with WASP interacting protein in podosome formation in macrophages

Chemotactic migration of macrophages is critical for the recruitment of leukocytes to inflamed tissues. Macrophages use a specialized adhesive structure called a podosome to migrate. Podosome formation requires the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP), which is a product of the gene defective in an X-linked inherited immunodeficiency disorder, the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Macrophages from WASP-deficient Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome patients lack podosomes, resulting in defective chemotactic migration. However, the molecular basis for podosome formation is not fully understood. I have shown that the WASP interacting protein (WIP), a binding partner of WASP, plays an important role in podosome formation in macrophages. I showed that WASP bound WIP to form a complex at podosomes and that the knockdown of WIP impairs podosome formation. When WASP binding to WIP was blocked, podosome formation was also impaired. When WASP expression was reduced by small interfering RNA transfection, the amount of the complex of WASP with WIP decreased, resulting in reduced podosome formation. Podosomes were restored by reconstitution of the WASP-WIP complex in WASP knockdown cells. These results indicate that the WASP-WIP complex is required for podosome formation in macrophages. When podosome formation was reduced by blocking WASP binding to WIP, transendothelial migration of macrophages, the most crucial process in macrophage trafficking, was impaired. These results suggest that a complex of WASP with WIP plays a critical role in podosome formation, thereby mediating efficient transendothelial migration of macrophages.     

Invadopodia and matrix degradation, a new property of prostate cancer cells during migration and invasion

The present study demonstrated that invadopodia are associated with invasion by degradation of matrix in prostate cancer cells PC3. To find out the presence of invadopodia in PC3 cells, we performed a few comparative analyses with osteoclasts, which utilize podosomes for migration. Our investigations indeed demonstrated that invadopodia are comparable to podosomes in the localization of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP)/matrix metalloproteinase-9 and the degradation of matrix. Invadopodia are different from podosomes in the localization of actin/vinculin, distribution during migration, and the mode of degradation of extracellular matrix. Invadopodia enable polarized invasion of PC3 cells into the gelatin matrix in a time-dependent manner. Gelatin degradation was confined within the periphery of the cell. Osteoclasts demonstrated directional migration with extensive degradation of matrix underneath and around the osteoclasts. A pathway of degradation of matrix representing a migratory track was observed due to the rearrangement of podosomes as rosettes or clusters at the leading edge. Reducing the matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels by RNA interference inhibited the degradation of matrix but not the formation of podosomes or invadopodia. Competition experiments with TAT-fused WASP peptides suggest that actin polymerization and formation of invadopodia involve the WASP-Arp2/3 complex pathway. Moreover, PC3 cells overexpressing osteopontin (OPN) displayed an increase in the number of invadopodia and gelatinolytic activity as compared with PC3 cells and PC3 cells expressing mutant OPN in integrin-binding domain and null for OPN. Thus, we conclude that OPN/integrin alphavbeta3 signaling participates in the process of migration and invasion of PC3 cells through regulating processes essential for the formation and function of invadopodia.     

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) ubiquitination at Lys581 increases cellular invasion through type I collagen

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP/MMP14) is a zinc-dependent type I transmembrane metalloproteinase playing pivotal roles in the regulation of pericellular proteolysis and cellular migration. Elevated expression levels of MT1-MMP have been demonstrated to correlate with a poor prognosis in cancer. MT1-MMP has a short intracellular domain (ICD) that has been shown to play important roles in cellular migration and invasion, although these ICD-mediated mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we report that MT1-MMP is mono-ubiquitinated at its unique lysine residue (Lys(581)) within the ICD. Our data suggest that this post-translational modification is involved in MT1-MMP trafficking as well as in modulating cellular invasion through type I collagen matrices. By using an MT1-MMP Y573A mutant or the Src family inhibitor PP2, we observed that the previously described Src-dependent MT1-MMP phosphorylation is a prerequisite for ubiquitination. Taken together, these findings show for the first time an additional post-translational modification of MT1-MMP that regulates its trafficking and cellular invasion, which further emphasizes the key role of the MT1-MMP ICD.     

Differential regulation of WASP and N-WASP by Cdc42, Rac1, Nck, and PI(4,5)P2

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and neural WASP (N-WASP) are key players in regulating actin cytoskeleton via the Arp2/3 complex. It has been widely reported that the WASP proteins are activated by Rho family small GTPase Cdc42 and that Rac1 acts through SCAR/WAVE proteins. However, a systematic study of the specificity of different GTPases for different Arp2/3 activators has not been conducted. In this study, we have expressed, purified, and characterized completely soluble, highly active, and autoinhibited full-length human WASP and N-WASP from mammalian cells. We show a novel N-WASP activation by Rho family small GTPase Rac1. This GTPase exclusively stimulates N-WASP and has no effects on WASP. Rac1 is a significantly more potent N-WASP activator than Cdc42. In contrast, Cdc42 is a more effective activator of WASP than N-WASP. Lipid vesicles containing PIP2 significantly improve actin nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex and N-WASP in the presence of Rac1 or Cdc42. PIP2 vesicles have no effect on WASP activity alone. Moreover, the inhibition of WASP-stimulated actin nucleation in the presence of Cdc42 and PIP2 vesicles has been observed. We found that adaptor proteins Nck1 or Nck2 are the most potent WASP and N-WASP activators with distinct effects on the WASP family members. Our in vitro data demonstrates differential regulation of full-length WASP and N-WASP by cellular activators that highlights fundamental differences of response at the protein-protein level.     

Proactive for invasion: Reuse of matrix metalloproteinase for structural memory

Migratory cells translocate membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) to podosomes or invadosomes to break extracellular matrix barriers. In this issue, El Azzouzi et al. (2016. J. Cell. Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201510043) describe an unexpected function for the MT1-MMP cytoplasmic domain in imprinting spatial memory for podosome reformation via assembly in membrane islets.Invasion of most normal and cancer cells across basement membranes and collagen-rich interstitial tissues involves degradation of the ECM by membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP/MMP14; Willis et al., 2013). To fulfill this activity, MT1-MMP is transported to podosomes, the specialized ECM-degrading membrane protrusions found in highly migratory cells such as activated macrophages, osteoclasts, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells (Murphy and Courtneidge, 2011). In cancer cells, MT1-MMP is transported to ECM-degrading invasive structures called invadopodia (Poincloux et al., 2009). Both these membrane protrusions, collectively called invadosomes, are composed of an actin-rich core surrounded by scaffold and adhesion proteins, and numerous mechanisms of invadosome assembly, maturation, and dynamics have been identified (Poincloux et al., 2009; Murphy and Courtneidge, 2011). MT1-MMP activity is regulated at multiple levels to achieve targeted ECM degradation, cell surface protein processing, and protease activation (Sato et al., 1994; Osenkowski et al., 2004; Sugiyama et al., 2013; Willis et al., 2013; Itoh, 2015). Potential regulatory functions of MT1-MMP toward the cytoskeleton have, however, remained unclear. In this issue, El Azzouzi et al. describe an unexpected and novel function for MT1-MMP that goes beyond its traditional proteolytic activity: they show that MT1-MMP accumulates in membrane islets that provide macrophages with spatial information, or memory, in sites of podosome dissolution so as to enable efficient podosome reassembly.El Azzouzi et al. (2016) first used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and a pH-sensitive version of MT1-MMP devised to fluoresce only when the MT1-MMP ectodomain is exposed to the extracellular environment’s pH. With this approach, they show that, on the ventral surface of cultured human macrophages, MT1-MMP is localized at two different membrane compartments: underneath the podosome core, as previously suggested based on matrix degradation and colocalization with podosome markers, and in distinct islets devoid of other podosome components, CD44, or integrin-mediated adhesion to the ECM (Fig. 1; Osiak et al., 2005). MT1-MMP islets were dependent on intact cortical actin, but became more apparent and persisted after podosome disruption by pharmacological perturbation of key components of podosome assembly and maturation, such as integrin adhesion, Src kinase activity, and the Arp2/3 complex essential for actin nucleation and branched actin cytoskeleton. Podosomes often reemerge at sites of previous podosome localization, and El Azzouzi et al. (2016) hypothesized that MT1-MMP islets might mark sites of podosome formation. They treated cells with an Arp2/3 inhibitor to disrupt podosomes and induce the appearance of MT1-MMP membrane clusters, and used time-lapse imaging to track what happens upon washout and podosome reformation. Interestingly, they show that these novel MT1-MMP structures serve as remarkably immobile cell membrane anchors capable of rerecruiting the podosomal actin cores/scaffolds to the same islets.Open in a separate windowFigure 1.MT1-MMP islets as memory sites for podosome reformation. Migratory cells translocate MT1-MMP (red) to podosomes or invadosomes to degrade the ECM (green fibers). These membrane structures are composed of an actin-rich core (brown) surrounded by adhesion and scaffold proteins (beige) such as integrins (blue). El Azzouzi et al. (2016) show a function for MT1-MMP accumulation in membrane ”islets” (1), where they imprint spatial memory for podosome reemergence after podosome disassembly (2). Unlike dynamic mature podosomes (3), MT1-MMP assembles in stable islets via anchorage to cortical actin. Future work in the fields of inflammation, cancer, and angiogenesis will need to address the nature of the cytoskeletal dynamics mediating islet formation, the involvement of microtubules in islet formation, the exact islet protein composition, and the relevance of these memory sites to 2D or 3D environments and to other cell types beyond macrophages, including endothelial cells and invasive cancer cells.Further, by expressing mutant MT1-MMP proteins in cells silenced for the endogenous proteinase and using a podosome reformation assay (based on pharmacological dissolution of podosomes via Src inhibition, followed by podosome reformation after washout), El Azzouzi et al. (2016) pinpointed the region of MT1-MMP critical for islet formation, the LLY-sequence in its cytoplasmic domain. Moreover, when attached to the membrane by the MT1-MMP transmembrane domain, the 20–amino acid cytoplasmic tail appeared necessary and sufficient to form the islets. Considering the LLY sequence–dependent actin-binding ability of MT1-MMP (Yu et al., 2012) coupled with the observed necessity of cortical actin for islet appearance and podosome reformation, the direct interaction with unbranched cortical actin was suggested by the authors as a likely decisive mechanism for the remarkable MT1-MMP islet stabilization in podosome-free areas, although a possible indirect interaction was not ruled out. Actin binding through the MT1-MMP cytosolic tail was likewise suggested as a potential means for podosome rerecruitment by MT1-MMP memory islets.Although cortical actin is instrumental for the emergence of the spatially and temporally stable MT1-MMP islets upon podosome dissolution in macrophages and direct actin–MT1-MMP interaction has been proven in vitro and suggested as a means for retaining MT1-MMP in invadopodia, a Src-regulated interaction between MT1-MMP’s cytoplasmic domain and the actin-binding scaffold protein palladin has also been shown to regulate MT1-MMP targeting into invadopodia (Yu et al., 2012; von Nandelstadh et al., 2014). Moreover, the LLY sequence in MT1-MMP’s cytoplasmic tail harbors a Src substrate sequence and mediates an interaction between MT1-MMP and AP-2 that is important for MT1-MMP internalization and dynamics in cell migration and invasion (Uekita et al., 2001; Nyalendo et al., 2007). Intriguingly, El Azzouzi et al. (2016) did not find evidence of involvement of dynamin-dependent membrane trafficking events in the ability of MT1-MMP islets to function as memory sites. However, their results after treatment with the microtubule inhibitor nocodazole indicated that although the islets themselves remained intact, podosome reappearance was mislocalized, suggesting that microtubules contribute by as yet undefined mechanisms to the ability of MT1-MMP islets to provide spatial memory and to facilitate podosome reassembly. Therefore, further identification of drivers and specific regulatory mechanisms of the actin–MT1-MMP interaction dynamics in podosomes, of the stable actin–MT1-MMP interaction and structures in podosome-free areas, and of microtubule-dependent podosome reassembly will be of interest.A striking observation of this study is that MT1-MMP islets do not display degradative activity in matrix degradation assays. In addition, inhibition of the proteolytic activity of MT1-MMP through pharmacological agents or via an inactivating mutation did not impact islet appearance or podosome reemergence at sites of MT1-MMP clustering. Overall, on the extracellular side of the plasma membrane, the apparent lack of contact and degradation of the ECM as well as the relatively minor impact of the N-terminal MT1-MMP ectodomain on islet formation and podosome reemergence are peculiar features of the MT1-MMP islets. However, El Azzouzi et al. (2016) show evidence for somewhat impaired islet formation in cells expressing an MT1-MMP mutant lacking the entire ectodomain, and they demonstrate that endogenous MT1-MMP must be silenced for the LLY MT1-MMP mutant to disrupt islet localization. Based on these results, the authors suggest the possible influence of MT1-MMP oligomerization and of MT1-MMP–ECM binding on islet recruitment and stabilization. Nevertheless, these observations altogether indicate that the adhesive and degradative activities of MT1-MMP memory islets toward the ECM are minor and, intriguingly, do not influence the structure or function of these islets as currently characterized in 2D cultures.Furthermore, the aforementioned results raise questions about the possible contribution of the different molecular forms of MT1-MMP (e.g., cleaved or uncleaved and inhibitor bound or not) to the stabilization and podosome reassembly function of MT1-MMP islets. In cells and conditions in which MT1-MMP activity is high, MT1-MMP turnover is typically fast via autocatalytic cleavage or shedding of the N-terminal catalytic domain (Lehti et al., 1998; Yana and Weiss, 2000; Itoh et al., 2001; Osenkowski et al., 2004). After interaction with inhibitors such as tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, active endocytosed MT1-MMP may dissociate from the bound inhibitor to be recycled to the plasma membrane (Jiang et al., 2001; Remacle et al., 2003). However, in the absence of interaction with a protease inhibitor or collagen/matrix substrate, MT1-MMP oligomerization facilitates MT1-MMP turnover via autocatalytic inactivating cleavage (Itoh et al., 2001; Lehti et al., 2002; Osenkowski et al., 2004). In the current study, El Azzouzi et al. (2016) used MT1-MMP proteins with a pH sensor inserted N-terminally to the transmembrane domain, so that the probe is located extracellularly on the surface-exposed protease. The fluorescence signal from these constructs is not expected to be affected by proteolytic processing or shedding of the catalytic domain, so it is unclear whether the MT1-MMP proteins clustered in islets are cleaved or not. However, FRAP results showed that the turnover of MT1-MMP molecules within the islets is relatively slow. It thus remains to be clarified if and how the proteolytically active or possibly processed or protease inhibitor–bound inactive forms of MT1-MMP are stabilized in these MT1-MMP islets.As posodomes are highly dynamic protrusions, their rapid turnover implicates a constant disassembly at the rear and formation at the front of migrating macrophages. Assembly and dissassembly are known to depend on Arp2/3-mediated actin nucleation and fission of preexisting podosomes, respectively (Linder et al., 2000). Both of these mechanisms may contribute to podosome reassembly at MT1-MMP memory sites. Considering that these islets are laterally immobile and overall stable in at least unpolarized cells, it is unclear how migrating cells coordinate their actin and microtubule cytoskeletons for podosome reassembly at the front using islets formed upon podosome dissolution at the rear of the cell (Fig. 1). Moreover, the structural and functional features of MT1-MMP islets in the scenario of 3D cell–ECM microenvironments is intriguing and will need to be investigated at high resolution, as cytoskeletal dynamics, cell polarity, and matrix stiffness greatly differ in 3D tissues and matrices from the simple 2D setting of cultured cells, and all are known to influence cell behavior. Although the transient nature of these MT1-MMP islets in bridging podosome disassembly and reassembly exemplifies and reflects the efficiency of podosome reusage, probing the protein composition of these islets as well as the dynamics of podosome reassembly will likely be challenging. Future studies comparing MT1-MMP state, dynamics, reuse, and turnover in different types of invadosomes, islets, and other subcellular compartments will be instrumental to better understand how cells integrate the different types of MT1-MMP membrane structures and cell–ECM communication with other cellular signals and with drivers of cytoskeletal dynamics.The identification of the molecular mechanisms of structural and functional podosome memory are not only relevant to the fields of macrophage biology and inflammation but also more broadly to those of tissue invasion and matrix remodeling. For instance, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and cancer cells are also known to target MT1-MMP to podosomes or related invadosomes. Examining MT1-MMP memory in such specialized subcellular compartments will be interesting beyond the podosome field, as the podosome counterparts in cancer cells may display and use MT1-MMP or other metalloproteinases in a similar manner. By shedding light on the mechanisms of dynamic protrusion formation and function, this paper not only opens new avenues of investigation into the cellular structures marking protrusion sites as “memory devices” but also brings about a new concept to the fields of cell invasion, angiogenesis, and cancer.     

Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) is the specific ligand for Shigella VirG among the WASP family and determines the host cell type allowing actin-based spreading

Shigella , the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, is capable of directing its movement within host cells by forming an actin comet tail. The VirG (IcsA) pro-tein expressed at one pole of the bacterium recruits neural Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP), a member of the WASP family, which in turn stimulates actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization. As all the WASP family proteins induce actin polymerization by recruiting Arp2/3 complex, we investigated their involvement in Shigella motility. Here, we show that VirG binds to N-WASP but not to the other WASP family proteins. Using a series of chimeras obtained by swapping N-WASP and WASP domains, we demonstrated that the specificity of VirG to interact with N-WASP lies in the N-terminal region containing the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and calmodulin-binding IQ motif of N-WASP. A conformational change in N-WASP was important for the VirG–N-WASP interaction, as elimination of the C-terminal acidic region, which is responsible for the intramolecular interaction with the central basic region of N-WASP, affected the specific binding to VirG. We observed that, in haematopoietic cells such as macrophages, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) and platelets, WASP was predominantly expressed, whereas the expression of N-WASP was greatly suppressed. Indeed, unlike Listeria , Shigella was unable to move in macrophages at all, although the movement was restored as N-WASP was expressed ectopically. Thus, our findings demonstrate that N-WASP is a specific ligand of VirG, which determines the host cell type allowing actin-based spreading of Shigella .     

The kinesin KIF9 and reggie/flotillin proteins regulate matrix degradation by macrophage podosomes

Podosomes are actin-based matrix contacts in a variety of cell types, most notably monocytic cells, and are characterized by their ability to lyse extracellular matrix material. Besides their dependence on actin regulation, podosomes are also influenced by microtubules and microtubule-dependent transport processes. Here we describe a novel role for KIF9, a previously little-characterized member of the kinesin motor family, in the regulation of podosomes in primary human macrophages. We find that small interfering RNA (siRNA)/short-hairpin RNA-induced knockdown of KIF9 significantly affects both numbers and matrix degradation of podosomes. Overexpression and microinjection experiments reveal that the unique C-terminal region of KIF9 is crucial for these effects, presumably through binding of specific interactors. Indeed, we further identify reggie-1/flotillin-2, a signaling mediator between intracellular vesicles and the cell periphery, as an interactor of the KIF9 C-terminus. Reggie-1 dynamically colocalizes with KIF9 in living cells, and, consistent with KIF9-mediated effects, siRNA-induced knockdown of reggies/flotillins significantly impairs matrix degradation by podosomes. In sum, we identify the kinesin KIF9 and reggie/flotillin proteins as novel regulators of macrophage podosomes and show that their interaction is critical for the matrix-degrading ability of these structures.     

WASP-interacting protein (WIP): working in polymerisation and much more

The migration of cells and the movement of some intracellular pathogens, such as Shigella and Vaccinia, are dependent on the actin-based cytoskeleton. Many proteins are involved in regulating the dynamics of the actin-based microfilaments within cells and, among them, WASP and N-WASP have a significant role in the regulation of actin polymerisation. The activity and stability of WASP is regulated by its cellular partner WASP-interacting protein (WIP) during the formation of actin-rich structures, including the immune synapse, filopodia, lamellipodia, stress fibres and podosomes. Here, we review the role of WIP in regulating WASP function by stabilising WASP and shuttling WASP to areas of actin assembly in addition to reviewing the WASP-independent functions of WIP.