Intracellular interaction of collagen-specific stress protein HSP47 with newly synthesized procollagen

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), a collagen-specific stress protein, has been postulated to be a collagen-specific molecular chaperone localized in the ER. We previously demonstrated that HSP47 transiently associated with newly synthesized procollagen in the ER (Nakai, A., M. Satoh, K. Hirayoshi, and K. Nagata. 1992. J. Cell Biol. 117:903-914). In the present work, we examined the location where HSP47 binds to and dissociates from newly synthesized procollagen within the cells, and whether HSP47 associates with nascent single procollagen polypeptide chains and/or with mature triple-helix procollagen. This was accomplished by biochemical coprecipitation with anti-HSP47 and anticollagen antibodies, combined with pulse-label and chase experiments in the presence or absence of various inhibitors for protein secretion, as well as by confocal laser microscopic observation of the cells double stained with both antibodies. We further examined whether the RDEL (Arg-Asp-Glu-Leu) sequence at the COOH terminus of HSP47 can act as an ER-retention signal, as the KDEL sequence does. When the secretion of procollagen was inhibited by the presence of alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl, an iron chelator that inhibits procollagen triple-helix formation, or by the presence of brefeldin A. which inhibits protein transport between the ER and the Golgi apparatus, procollagen was found to be bound to HSP47 during the chase period in the intermediate compartment. In contrast, the dissociation of procollagen chains from HSP47 was not inhibited when procollagen secretion was inhibited by monensin or bafilomycin A1, both of which are known to be inhibitors of post-cis-Golgi transport. These findings suggest that HSP47 and procollagen dissociated between the post-ER and the cis-Golgi compartments. HSP47 was shown to bind to nascent, single- polypeptide chains of newly synthesized procollagen, as well as to the mature triple-helix form of procollagen. HSP47 with the RDEL sequence deleted was secreted out of the cells, which suggests that the RDEL sequence actually acts as an ER-retention signal, as the KDEL sequence does. This secreted HSP47 did not acquire endoglycosidase H resistance. The biological significance of the interaction between HSP47 and procollagen in the central secretory pathway, as well as possible mechanisms for this pathway, will be discussed.     

Enhancement of secretion of human procollagen I in mouse HSP47-expressing insect cells

We previously demonstrated that insect cells were able to synthesize recombinant human procollagen I as triple-helical heterotrimers when transfected with cDNAs of both proalpha1(I) and proalpha2(I) chains. However, most of the heterotrimers were retained within the cells, unlike in the case of mammalian cells [Tomita, M., Kitajima, T., and Yoshizato, K. (1997) J. Biochem. 1061-1069]. In an attempt to improve the secretion of the heterotrimers, we introduced the putative collagen-specific chaperone HSP47 into this insect expression model. Mouse HSP47 produced by the insect cells bound intracellularly to both human proalpha1(I) and proalpha2(I) chains and enhanced the secretion of procollagen I heterotrimers. HSP47 was also coexpressed with either proalpha1(I) chains or proalpha2(I) chains, which showed that it enhanced the secretion of the former but not the latter. This selective effect of HSP47 was similarly observed in the cells treated with inhibitors of procollagen triple helix formation, indicating that HSP47 can also accelerate the secretion of non-helical procollagens. HSP47 did not change the intracellular solubility of proalpha1(I) and proalpha2(I) chains in 1% NP-40, eliminating the possibility that it prevents proalpha chains from aggregating into insoluble forms within the insect cells. We concluded that HSP47 can play a role in the secretion of alpha1(I)-procollagen chains in the insect cell model. The present study also demonstrated the dissimilarity in the mechanism of folding and secretion of the expressed procollagen I between the insect and mammalian cells.     

Involvement of the stress protein HSP47 in procollagen processing in the endoplasmic reticulum

The 47,000-D collagen-binding glycoprotein, heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), is a stress-inducible protein localized in the ER of collagen- secreting cells. The location and collagen-binding activity of this protein led to speculation that HSP47 might participate in collagen processing. Chemical crosslinking studies were used to test this hypothesis both before and after the perturbation of procollagen processing. The association of procollagen with HSP47 was demonstrated using cleavable bifunctional crosslinking reagents. HSP47 and procollagen were shown to be coprecipitated by the treatment of intact cells with anti-HSP47 or with anticollagen antibodies. Furthermore, several proteins residing in the ER were noted to be crosslinked to and coprecipitated with HSP47, suggesting that these ER-resident proteins may form a large complex in the ER. When cells were heat shocked, or when stable triple-helix formation was inhibited by treatment with alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl, coprecipitation of procollagen with HSP47 was increased. This increase was due to the inhibition of procollagen secretion and to the accumulation of procollagen in the ER. Pulse label and chase experiments revealed that coprecipitated procollagen was detectable as long as procollagen was present in the endoplasmic reticulum of alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl-treated cells. Under normal growth conditions, coprecipitated procollagen was observed to decrease after a chase period of 10-15 min, whereas total procollagen decreased only after 20-25 min. In addition, the intracellular association between HSP47 and procollagen was shown to be disrupted by a change in physiological pH, suggesting that the dissociation of procollagen from HSP47 is pH dependent. These findings support a specific role for HSP47 in the intracellular processing of procollagen, and provide evidence of a new category of "molecular chaperones" in terms of its substrate specificity and the dissociation mechanism.     

Live-cell assays to identify regulators of ER-to-Golgi trafficking

We applied fluorescence microscopy-based quantitative assays to living cells to identify regulators of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi trafficking and/or Golgi complex maintenance. We first validated an automated procedure to identify factors which influence Golgi-to-ER relocalization of GalT-CFP (β1,4-galactosyltransferase I-cyan fluorescent protein) after brefeldin A (BFA) addition and/or wash-out. We then tested 14 proteins that localize to the ER and/or Golgi complex when overexpressed for a role in ER-to-Golgi trafficking. Nine of them interfered with the rate of BFA-induced redistribution of GalT-CFP from the Golgi complex to the ER, six of them interfered with GalT-CFP redistribution from the ER to a juxtanuclear region (i.e. the Golgi complex) after BFA wash-out and six of them were positive effectors in both assays. Notably, our live-cell approach captures regulator function in ER-to-Golgi trafficking, which was missed in previous fixed cell assays, as well as assigns putative roles for other less characterized proteins. Moreover, we show that our assays can be extended to RNAi and chemical screens.     

The sorting and trafficking of lysosomal proteins

For a long time lysosomes were considered terminal organelles involved in the degradation of different substrates. However, this view is rapidly changing by evidence demonstrating that these organelles and their content display specialized functions in addition to the degradation of substances. Many lysosomal proteins have been implicated in specialized cellular functions and disorders such as antigen processing, targeting of surfactant proteins, and most lysosomal storage disorders. To date, about fifty lysosomal hydrolases have been identified, and the majority of them are targeted to the lysosomes via the mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6P-Rc). However, recent studies on the intracellular trafficking of the non-enzymic lysosomal proteins prosaposin and GM2 activator (GM2AP) demonstrated that they use an alternative receptor termed "sortilin". Existing evidence suggests that some hydrolases traffic to the lysosomes in a mannose 6-phophate-indepentend manner. The possibility that sortilin is implicated in the targeting of some soluble hydrolases, as well as the consequences of this process, is addressed in the present review.     

Polarized sorting and trafficking in epithelial cells

The polarized distribution of proteins and lipids at the surface membrane of epithelial cells results in the formation of an apical and a basolateral domain, which are separated by tight junctions. The generation and maintenance of epithelial polarity require elaborate mechanisms that guarantee correct sorting and vectorial delivery of cargo molecules. This dynamic process involves the interaction of sorting signals with sorting machineries and the formation of transport carriers. Here we review the recent advances in the field of polarized sorting in epithelial cells. We especially highlight the role of lipid rafts in apical sorting.     

Akt phosphorylates Sec24: new clues into the regulation of ER-to-Golgi trafficking

Regulation of protein transport within the early secretory pathway is a relatively unexplored area. Here, we propose a new player in the control of protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi. Akt is an important signaling kinase whose functioning is perturbed in diseases such as cancer and diabetes. We discovered that Akt phosphorylates Sec24, an essential coat protein II (COPII) component involved in mediating cargo selection for ER-to-Golgi trafficking. We discuss how this finding may provide new insights into the regulation of protein transport.     

Palmitoylation controls recycling in lysosomal sorting and trafficking

For the efficient trafficking of lysosomal proteins, the cationic-dependent and -independent mannose 6-phosphate receptors and sortilin must bind cargo in the Golgi apparatus, be packaged into clathrin-coated trafficking vesicles and traffic to the endosomes. Once in the endosomes, the receptors release their cargo into the endosomal lumen and recycle back to the Golgi for another round of trafficking, a process that requires retromer. In this study, we demonstrate that palmitoylation is required for the efficient retrograde trafficking of sortilin, and the cationic-independent mannose 6-phosphate as palmitoylation-deficient receptors remain trapped in the endosomes. Importantly, we also show that palmitoylation is required for receptor interaction with retromer as nonpalmitoylated receptor did not interact with retromer. In addition, we have identified DHHC-15 as the palmitoyltransferase responsible for this modification. In summary, we have shown the functional significance of palmitoylation in lysosomal receptor sorting and trafficking.     

Sphingolipid trafficking and protein sorting in epithelial cells

Sphingolipids represent a minor, but highly dynamic subclass of lipids in all eukaryotic cells. They are involved in functions that range from structural protection to signal transduction and protein sorting, and participate in lipid raft assembly. In polarized epithelial cells, which display an asymmetric apical and basolateral membrane surface, rafts have been proposed as a sorting principle for apical resident proteins, following their biosynthesis. However, raft-mediated trafficking is ubiquitous in cells. Also, sphingolipids per se, which are strongly enriched in the apical domain, are subject to sorting in polarity development. Next to the trans Golgi network, a subapical compartment called SAC or common endosome appears instrumental in regulating these sorting events.     

Mechanisms of integrin activation and trafficking

Integrin adhesion receptors are essential for the normal function of most multicellular organisms, and defective integrin activation or integrin signaling is associated with an array of pathological conditions. Integrins are regulated by conformational changes, clustering, and trafficking, and regulatory mechanisms differ strongly between individual integrins and between cell types. Whereas integrins in circulating blood cells are activated by an inside-out-induced conformational change that favors high-affinity ligand binding, β1-integrins in adherent cells can be activated by force or clustering. In addition, endocytosis and recycling play an important role in the regulation of integrin turnover and integrin redistribution in adherent cells, especially during dynamic processes such as cell migration and invasion. Integrin trafficking is strongly regulated by their cytoplasmic tails, and the mechanisms are now being identified.     

Prevalence of HSP47 antigen and autoantibodies to HSP47 in the sera of patients with mixed connective tissue disease

The 47-kDa heat shock protein (HSP47) is an endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone that assists in the maturation of collagen molecules and whose expression is known to be upregulated in lesions of fibrotic diseases. We examined the levels of HSP47 protein and autoantibodies to HSP47 in the sera of patients with rheumatic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sj?gren's syndrome, and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analysis. Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were assessed as an example of non-autoimmune fibrotic disease. HSP47 antigen and autoantibody levels are significantly elevated in the sera of the rheumatic autoimmune disease patients, but not in the sera of the IPF patients. The sera of the MCTD patients showed particularly high levels of HSP47 antigen relative to healthy controls (1.99+/-0.22 vs 0.41+/-0.07 ng/ml). Autoantibodies to HSP47 were also in high levels in the sera of MCTD patients. These results suggest that simultaneous occurrence of systemic inflammation and upregulation of HSP47 caused leakage of HSP47 from fibrotic lesions into the peripheral blood, and the leaked antigen induced high titer of autoantibodies to HSP47. The high levels of HSP47 antigen and autoantibody may be useful blood markers of MCTD.     

Mechanisms of HSP72 release

Currently two mechanisms are recognized by which heat shock proteins (HSP) are released from cells; a passive release mechanism, including necrotic cell death, severe blunt trauma, surgery and following infection with lytic viruses, and an active release mechanism which involves the non classical protein release pathway. HSPs are released both as free HSP and within exosomes. This review covers recent findings on the mechanism by which stress induces the release of HSP72 into the circulation and the biological significance of circulating HSP72 to host defense against disease.     

Differential beta-arrestin trafficking and endosomal sorting of somatostatin receptor subtypes

The physiological responses of somatostatin are mediated by five different G protein-coupled receptors. Although agonist-induced endocytosis of the various somatostatin receptor subtypes (sst(1)-sst(5)) has been studied in detail, little is known about their postendocytic trafficking. Here we show that somatostatin receptors profoundly differ in patterns of beta-arrestin mobilization and endosomal sorting. The beta-arrestin-dependent trafficking of the sst(2A) somatostatin receptor resembled that of a class B receptor in that upon receptor activation, beta-arrestin and the receptor formed stable complexes and internalized together into the same endocytic vesicles. This pattern was dependent on GRK2 (G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2)-mediated phosphorylation of a cluster of phosphate acceptor sites within the cytoplasmic tail of the sst(2A) receptor. Unlike other class B receptors, however, the sst(2A) receptor was rapidly resensitized and recycled to the plasma membrane. The beta-arrestin mobilization of the sst(3) and the sst(5) somatostatin receptors resembled that of a class A receptor in that upon receptor activation, beta-arrestin and the receptor formed relatively unstable complexes that dissociated at or near the plasma membrane. Consequently, beta-arrestin was excluded from sst(3)-containing vesicles. Unlike other class A receptors, a large proportion of sst(3) receptors was subject to ubiquitin-dependent lysosomal degradation and did not rapidly recycle to the plasma membrane. The sst(4) somatostatin receptor is unique in that it did not exhibit agonist-dependent receptor phosphorylation and beta-arrestin recruitment. Together, these findings may provide important clues about the regulation of receptor responsiveness during long-term administration of somatostatin analogs.     

Multicolour imaging of post-Golgi sorting and trafficking in live cells

The biogenesis and maintenance of asymmetry is crucial to many cellular functions including absorption and secretion, signalling, development and morphogenesis. Here we have directly visualized the segregation and trafficking of apical (glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol-anchored) and basolateral (vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein) cargo in living cells using multicolour imaging of green fluorescent protein variants. Apical and basolateral cargo segregate progressively into large domains in Golgi/trans-Golgi network structures, exclude resident proteins, and exit in separate transport containers. These remain distinct and do not merge with endocytic structures suggesting that lateral segregation in the trans-Golgi network is the primary sorting event. Fusion with the plasma membrane was detected by total internal reflection microscopy and reveals differences between apical and basolateral carriers as well as new 'hot spots' for exocytosis.     

Lipid trafficking and sorting: how cholesterol is filling gaps

Recent research has highlighted a role for cholesterol homeostasis in the regulation of trafficking and sorting of sphingolipids. This sorting may dictate the nature of the acyl chain species of phospholipids in the plasma membrane which, in turn, may govern the selective partitioning of these lipids into lateral domains. Recently, several proteins have been identified that play a role in the flow and sorting of all major lipid classes.     

Mechanisms of COPII vesicle formation and protein sorting

The evolutionarily conserved coat protein complex II (COPII) generates transport vesicles that mediate protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). COPII coat is responsible for direct capture of cargo proteins and for the physical deformation of the ER membrane that drives the COPII vesicle formation. In addition to coat proteins, recent data have indicated that the Ras-like small GTPase Sar1 plays multiple roles, such as COPII coat recruitment, cargo sorting, and completion of the final fission. In the present review, we summarize current knowledge of COPII-mediated vesicle formation from the ER, as well as highlighting non-canonical roles of COPII components.     

Interfering with interferon receptor sorting and trafficking: impact on signaling

Interferons (IFNs) and their receptors (IFN-Rs) play fundamental roles in a multitude of biological functions. Many articles and reviews emphasize that the JAK/STAT machinery is obligatory for relay of the information transmitted by IFNs after binding to their cognate receptors at the plasma membrane. In contrast, very few studies have addressed the endocytosis and the intracellular trafficking of IFN-Rs, the immediate step following IFN binding. However, recent findings have shed light on the importance of IFN-R sorting and trafficking in the control of IFN signaling. Thus, IFN-Rs can be included in the growing family of signaling receptors for which regulation of biological activity critically involves endocytosis and trafficking.     

Specific recognition of the collagen triple helix by chaperone HSP47. II. The HSP47-binding structural motif in collagens and related proteins

The endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperone heat-shock protein 47 (HSP47) plays an essential role in procollagen biosynthesis. The function of HSP47 relies on its specific interaction with correctly folded triple-helical regions comprised of Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats, and Arg residues at Yaa positions have been shown to be important for this interaction. The amino acid at the Yaa position (Yaa(-3)) in the N-terminal-adjoining triplet containing the critical Arg (defined as Arg(0)) was also suggested to be directly recognized by HSP47 (Koide, T., Asada, S., Takahara, Y., Nishikawa, Y., Nagata, K., and Kitagawa, K. (2006) J. Biol. Chem. 281, 3432-3438). Based on this finding, we examined the relationship between the structure of Yaa(-3) and HSP47 binding using synthetic collagenous peptides. The results obtained indicated that the structure of Yaa(-3) determined the binding affinity for HSP47. Maximal binding was observed when Yaa(-3) was Thr. Moreover, the required relative spatial arrangement of these key residues in the triple helix was analyzed by taking advantage of heterotrimeric collagen-model peptides, each of which contains one Thr(-3) and one Arg(0). The results revealed that HSP47 recognizes the Yaa(-3) and Arg(0) residues only when they are on the same peptide strand. Taken together, the data obtained led us to define the HSP47-binding structural epitope in the collagen triple helix and also define the HSP47-binding motif in the primary structure. A motif search against human protein database predicted candidate clients for this molecular chaperone. The search result indicated that not all collagen family proteins require the chaperoning by HSP47.