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1.
Ruben K. Dagda Salvatore J. Cherra III Scott M. Kulich Anurag Tandon David Park Charleen T. Chu 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(20):13843-13855
Mitochondrial dysregulation is strongly implicated in Parkinson disease.
Mutations in PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) are associated with familial
parkinsonism and neuropsychiatric disorders. Although overexpressed PINK1 is
neuroprotective, less is known about neuronal responses to loss of PINK1
function. We found that stable knockdown of PINK1 induced mitochondrial
fragmentation and autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells, which was reversed by the
reintroduction of an RNA interference (RNAi)-resistant plasmid for PINK1.
Moreover, stable or transient overexpression of wild-type PINK1 increased
mitochondrial interconnectivity and suppressed toxin-induced
autophagy/mitophagy. Mitochondrial oxidant production played an essential role
in triggering mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagy in PINK1 shRNA lines.
Autophagy/mitophagy served a protective role in limiting cell death, and
overexpressing Parkin further enhanced this protective mitophagic response.
The dominant negative Drp1 mutant inhibited both fission and mitophagy in
PINK1-deficient cells. Interestingly, RNAi knockdown of autophagy proteins
Atg7 and LC3/Atg8 also decreased mitochondrial fragmentation without affecting
oxidative stress, suggesting active involvement of autophagy in morphologic
remodeling of mitochondria for clearance. To summarize, loss of PINK1 function
elicits oxidative stress and mitochondrial turnover coordinated by the
autophagic and fission/fusion machineries. Furthermore, PINK1 and Parkin may
cooperate through different mechanisms to maintain mitochondrial
homeostasis.Parkinson disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disease that affects
∼1% of the population worldwide. The causes of sporadic cases are unknown,
although mitochondrial or oxidative toxins such as
1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, 6-hydroxydopamine
(6-OHDA),3 and
rotenone reproduce features of the disease in animal and cell culture models
(1). Abnormalities in
mitochondrial respiration and increased oxidative stress are observed in cells
and tissues from parkinsonian patients
(2,
3), which also exhibit
increased mitochondrial autophagy
(4). Furthermore, mutations in
parkinsonian genes affect oxidative stress response pathways and mitochondrial
homeostasis (5). Thus,
disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis represents a major factor implicated
in the pathogenesis of sporadic and inherited parkinsonian disorders (PD).The PARK6 locus involved in autosomal recessive and early-onset PD
encodes for PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)
(6,
7). PINK1 is a cytosolic and
mitochondrially localized 581-amino acid serine/threonine kinase that
possesses an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence
(6,
8). The primary sequence also
includes a putative transmembrane domain important for orientation of the
PINK1 domain (8), a conserved
kinase domain homologous to calcium calmodulin kinases, and a C-terminal
domain that regulates autophosphorylation activity
(9,
10). Overexpression of
wild-type PINK1, but not its PD-associated mutants, protects against several
toxic insults in neuronal cells
(6,
11,
12). Mitochondrial targeting
is necessary for some (13) but
not all of the neuroprotective effects of PINK1
(14), implicating involvement
of cytoplasmic targets that modulate mitochondrial pathobiology
(8). PINK1 catalytic activity
is necessary for its neuroprotective role, because a kinase-deficient K219M
substitution in the ATP binding pocket of PINK1 abrogates its ability to
protect neurons (14). Although
PINK1 mutations do not seem to impair mitochondrial targeting, PD-associated
mutations differentially destabilize the protein, resulting in loss of
neuroprotective activities
(13,
15).Recent studies indicate that PINK1 and Parkin interact genetically
(3,
16-18)
to prevent oxidative stress
(19,
20) and regulate mitochondrial
morphology (21). Primary cells
derived from PINK1 mutant patients exhibit mitochondrial fragmentation with
disorganized cristae, recapitulated by RNA interference studies in HeLa cells
(3).Mitochondria are degraded by macroautophagy, a process involving
sequestration of cytoplasmic cargo into membranous autophagic vacuoles (AVs)
for delivery to lysosomes (22,
23). Interestingly,
mitochondrial fission accompanies autophagic neurodegeneration elicited by the
PD neurotoxin 6-OHDA (24,
25). Moreover, mitochondrial
fragmentation and increased autophagy are observed in neurodegenerative
diseases including Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases
(4,
26-28).
Although inclusion of mitochondria in autophagosomes was once believed to be a
random process, as observed during starvation, studies involving hypoxia,
mitochondrial damage, apoptotic stimuli, or limiting amounts of aerobic
substrates in facultative anaerobes support the concept of selective
mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy)
(29,
30). In particular,
mitochondrially localized kinases may play an important role in models
involving oxidative mitochondrial injury
(25,
31,
32).Autophagy is involved in the clearance of protein aggregates
(33-35)
and normal regulation of axonal-synaptic morphology
(36). Chronic disruption of
lysosomal function results in accumulation of subtly impaired mitochondria
with decreased calcium buffering capacity
(37), implicating an important
role for autophagy in mitochondrial homeostasis
(37,
38). Recently, Parkin, which
complements the effects of PINK1 deficiency on mitochondrial morphology
(3), was found to promote
autophagy of depolarized mitochondria
(39). Conversely, Beclin
1-independent autophagy/mitophagy contributes to cell death elicited by the PD
toxins 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and 6-OHDA
(25,
28,
31,
32), causing neurite
retraction in cells expressing a PD-linked mutation in leucine-rich repeat
kinase 2 (40). Whereas
properly regulated autophagy plays a homeostatic and neuroprotective role,
excessive or incomplete autophagy creates a condition of “autophagic
stress” that can contribute to neurodegeneration
(28).As mitochondrial fragmentation
(3) and increased mitochondrial
autophagy (4) have been
described in human cells or tissues of PD patients, we investigated whether or
not the engineered loss of PINK1 function could recapitulate these
observations in human neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y). Stable knockdown of endogenous
PINK1 gave rise to mitochondrial fragmentation and increased autophagy and
mitophagy, whereas stable or transient overexpression of PINK1 had the
opposite effect. Autophagy/mitophagy was dependent upon increased
mitochondrial oxidant production and activation of fission. The data indicate
that PINK1 is important for the maintenance of mitochondrial networks,
suggesting that coordinated regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy
limits cell death associated with loss of PINK1 function. 相似文献
2.
3.
4.
Yusuke Takahashi Gennadiy Moiseyev Zsolt Ablonczy Ying Chen Rosalie K. Crouch Jian-xing Ma 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(5):3211-3218
RPE65 is a membrane-associated protein abundantly expressed in the retinal
pigment epithelium, which converts all-trans-retinyl ester to
11-cis-retinol, a key step in the retinoid visual cycle. Although
three cysteine residues (Cys-231, Cys-329, and Cys-330) were identified to be
palmitylated in RPE65, recent studies showed that a triple mutant, with all
three Cys replaced by an alanine residue, was still palmitylated and remained
membrane-associated, suggesting that there are other yet to be identified
palmitylated Cys residues in RPE65. Here we mapped the entire RPE65 using mass
spectrometry analysis and demonstrated that a trypsin-digested RPE65 fragment
(residues 98-118), which contains two Cys residues (Cys-106 and Cys-112), was
singly palmitylated in both native bovine and recombinant human RPE65. To
determine whether Cys-106 or Cys-112 is the palmitylation site, these Cys were
separately replaced by alanine. Mass spectrometry analysis of purified
wild-type RPE65 and C106A and C112A mutants showed that mutation of Cys-106
did not affect the palmitylation status of the fragment 98-118, whereas
mutation of Cys-112 abolished palmitylation in this fragment. Subcellular
fractionation and immunocytochemistry analyses both showed that mutation of
Cys-112 dissociated RPE65 from the membrane, whereas the C106A mutant remained
associated with the membrane. In vitro isomerohydrolase activity
assay showed that C106A has an intact enzymatic activity similar to that of
wtRPE65, whereas C112A lost its enzymatic activity. These results indicate
that the newly identified Cys-112 palmitylation site is essential for the
membrane association and activity of RPE65.Both rod and cone visual pigments in vertebrates require
11-cis-retinal as the chromophore. Isomerization of
11-cis-retinal to all-trans-retinal by a photon triggers the
phototransduction cascade and initiates vision
(1,
2). Recycling of
11-cis-retinal through the retinoid visual cycle is an essential
process for the regeneration of visual pigments and for normal vision
(3,
4). The key step in the visual
cycle is to isomerize all-trans-retinyl ester to
11-cis-retinol in retinal pigment epithelium
(RPE)2
(5,
6). This isomerization process
is known to be catalyzed by an isomerohydrolase in the RPE. Several recent
lines of evidence suggest that RPE65 is the isomerohydrolase in the visual
cycle
(7-9).RPE65 is a microsomal protein, abundantly expressed in the RPE
(10-12).
RPE65 knock-out (Rpe65-/-)
mice showed a lack of 11-cis-retinoids, overaccumulation of
all-trans-retinyl ester, impaired visual function, and early
degeneration of cone photoreceptors
(7-9).
RPE65 is an iron(II)-dependent enzyme, in which an iron is coordinated by four
conserved histidine (His) residues (His-180, -241, -313, and -527) based on
molecular modeling using a crystal structure of apocarotenoid monooxygenase as
a template (8,
13-15).
RPE65 lacks any predicted transmembrane helix and is associated with the
microsomal membrane (11).
Previous studies have shown that membrane association of RPE65 is essential
for its isomerohydrolase activity
(7). However, the structural
basis for its membrane association has not been revealed. An earlier study
showed that three Cys residues (Cys-231, 329 and 330) in RPE65 were
palmitylated, which were suggested to be responsible for its membrane
association (16). However,
triple mutations of all the three Cys residues did not completely dissociate
RPE65 from the membrane (17,
18). Moreover, the triple Cys
mutant remains palmitylated
(17). These results suggested
that either the site of palmitylation responsible for the membrane association
of RPE65 had not yet been identified or other mechanisms, such as hydrophobic
interactions, anchor the protein to cellular membranes
(17,
19).In this study, we used the combination of mass spectrometric analysis and
site-directed mutagenesis to identify the palmitylated site in RPE65.
Moreover, we determined the role of this site in the membrane association and
enzymatic activity of RPE65. 相似文献
5.
Parmil K. Bansal Amanda Nourse Rashid Abdulle Katsumi Kitagawa 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(6):3586-3592
The kinetochore, which consists of DNA sequence elements and structural
proteins, is essential for high-fidelity chromosome transmission during cell
division. In budding yeast, Sgt1 and Hsp90 help assemble the core kinetochore
complex CBF3 by activating the CBF3 components Skp1 and Ctf13. In this study,
we show that Sgt1 forms homodimers by performing in vitro and in
vivo immunoprecipitation and analytical ultracentrifugation analyses.
Analyses of the dimerization of Sgt1 deletion proteins showed that the
Skp1-binding domain (amino acids 1–211) contains the Sgt1
homodimerization domain. Also, the Sgt1 mutant proteins that were unable to
dimerize also did not bind Skp1, suggesting that Sgt1 dimerization is
important for Sgt1-Skp1 binding. Restoring dimerization activity of a
dimerization-deficient sgt1 mutant (sgt1-L31P) by using the
CENP-B (centromere protein-B) dimerization
domain suppressed the temperature sensitivity, the benomyl sensitivity, and
the chromosome missegregation phenotype of sgt1-L31P. These results
strongly suggest that Sgt1 dimerization is required for kinetochore
assembly.Spindle microtubules are coupled to the centromeric region of the
chromosome by a structural protein complex called the kinetochore
(1,
2). The kinetochore is thought
to generate a signal that arrests cells during mitosis when it is not properly
attached to microtubules, thereby preventing aberrant chromosome transmission
to the daughter cells, which can lead to tumorigenesis
(3,
4). The kinetochore of the
budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been characterized
thoroughly, genetically and biochemically; thus, its molecular structure is
the most well detailed to date. More than 70 different proteins comprise the
budding yeast kinetochore, and several of those are conserved in mammals
(2).The budding yeast centromere DNA is a 125-bp region that contains three
conserved regions, CDEI, CDEII, and CDEIII
(5,
6). CDEI is bound by Cbf1
(7–9).
CDEIII (25 bp) is essential for centromere function
(10) and is the site where
CBF3 binds to centromeric DNA. CBF3 contains four proteins: Ndc10, Cep3, Ctf13
(11–18),
and Skp1 (17,
18), all of which are
essential for viability. Mutations in any of the four CBF3 proteins abolish
the ability of CDEIII to bind to CBF3
(19,
20). All of the described
kinetochore proteins, except the CDEI-binding Cbf1, localize to kinetochores
dependent on the CBF3 complex
(2). Therefore, the CBF3
complex is the fundamental structure of the kinetochore, and the mechanism of
CBF3 assembly is of major interest.We previously isolated SGT1, the skp1-4
kinetochore-defective mutant dosage suppressor
(21). Sgt1 and Skp1 activate
Ctf13; thus, they are required for assembly of the CBF3 complex
(21). The molecular chaperone
Hsp90 is also required for the formation of the Skp1-Ctf13 complex
(22). Sgt1 has two highly
conserved motifs that are required for protein-protein interaction, the
tetratricopeptide repeat
(TPR)2
(21) and the CS
(CHORD protein- and Sgt1-specific) motif. We and others
(23–26)
have found that both domains are important for the interaction with Hsp90. The
Sgt1-Hsp90 interaction is required for the assembly of the core kinetochore
complex; this interaction is an initial step in kinetochore assembly
(24,
26,
27) that is conserved between
yeast and humans (28,
29).In this study, we further characterized the molecular mechanism of this
assembly process. We found that Sgt1 forms dimers in vivo, and our
results strongly suggest that Sgt1 dimerization is required for kinetochore
assembly in budding yeast. 相似文献
6.
Luyang Yu Wang Min Yun He Lingfeng Qin Haifeng Zhang Anton M. Bennett Hong Chen 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(20):13481-13488
Previously we have shown that tyrosine 718 of ASK1 when phosphorylated is
critical for SOCS1 binding and SOCS1-mediated degradation of ASK1. However,
the kinase and phosphatase responsible for phosphorylation and
dephosphorylation of ASK1 at Tyr-718 are unknown. In this study, we identified
JAK2 and SHP2 as a Tyr-718-specific kinase and phosphatase, respectively.
Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) induced degradation of ASK1 in normal but not
in SOCS1-KO endothelial cells (EC). IFN-γ-induced tyrosine
phosphorylation of ASK1 at Tyr-718 was blocked by a JAK2-specific inhibitor.
IFN-γ enhanced the association between JAK2 and ASK1, and the ASK1-JAK2
complex was labile and was stabilized by the proteasomal inhibitor MG132.
Furthermore, JAK2, but not JAK1, directly bound to and phosphorylated ASK1 at
Tyr-718, leading to an enhanced association of ASK1 with SOCS1 and subsequent
ASK1 degradation. Next, we showed that overexpression of the SH2-containing
protein-tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) augmented, whereas a
phosphatase-inactive mutant of SHP2 inhibited, TNF-induced ASK1
dephosphorylation. SHP2 associated with ASK1 in response to tumor necrosis
factor in EC. An SHP-2 substrate-trapping mutant formed a complex with
tyrosine-phosphorylated ASK1, suggesting that ASK1 is a direct SHP2 substrate.
Moreover, SHP2 wild type, but not a catalytically inactive mutant, dissociated
SOCS1 from ASK1. IFN-γ-induced ASK1 Tyr(P)-718 was enhanced in mouse EC
deficient in SHP2 (SHP2-KO). In contrast, tumor necrosis factor-induced
dephosphorylation of ASK1 at Tyr(P)-718 and activation of ASK1-JNK signaling,
as well as EC apoptosis, are significantly reduced in SHP2-KO EC. Our data
suggest that JAK2-SOCS1 and SHP2 reciprocally regulate ASK1 phosphorylation
and stability in response to cytokines.Myocardial infarction due to atherosclerosis of coronary arteries remains
the leading cause of death in the United States. It has become clear that
increases in inflammatory mediators represent a common pathogenic mechanism
for atherosclerosis (1). The
vascular cell that normally limits the inflammatory and atherosclerotic
process is the EC.3
Proinflammatory stimuli induce EC dysfunction, which is characterized by an
enhanced sensitivity of vascular cells to proinflammatory and proapoptotic
stimuli. Studies from our laboratory and others have demonstrated that ASK1
(apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1), a member of MAP3K family
(2,
3), is an effector of
inflammation in EC
(4–8).
Almost all inflammatory stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF),
interleukin-1 (IL-1), and reactive oxygen species activate ASK1. Activated
ASK1 subsequently recruits and activates its downstream target MAP2Ks (MKK3/7
and MKK4/7), which in turn activate MAPKs (JNK and p38). Studies from
ASK1-deficient mice have also linked ASK1 to cardiovascular pathogenesis. ASK1
deletion in mice attenuated angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and
remodeling. Neointimal formation due to proliferation of smooth muscle cells
in a cuff injury model is also attenuated by ASK1 deletion in mice
(9,
10).Although the linkage of ASK1 to inflammation is very strong, the mechanism
by which inflammatory stimuli, including TNF, activate ASK1 is not fully
understood. The identification of proteins associated with ASK1 and their
regulation on ASK1 have provided some insights into the mechanism for ASK1
activation. ASK1 is a 170-kDa protein that is composed of an inhibitory
N-terminal domain, an internal kinase domain, and a C-terminal regulatory
domain. One important regulatory mechanism of ASK1 activity is its Ser/Thr
phosphorylation and dephosphorylation by kinases and phosphatases. ASK1 is
basally phosphorylated at Ser-967 by an unidentified kinase, and 14-3-3 binds
to this site and inhibits ASK1 activity
(11,
12). TNF activates ASK1 in
part by dissociating these cellular inhibitors from ASK1
(4,
7). Recently, we have
identified PP2A as a phosphatase in TNF-induced dephosphorylation of ASK1
Ser(P)-967 (13). In addition
to the 14-3-3-binding site, Ser(P)-967, ASK1 is phosphorylated at Ser-83 by
Akt, leading to inhibition of ASK1 activity. In contrast, autophosphorylation
of ASK1 at Thr-838 leads to oligomerization and activation
(14). Phosphorylation of
Thr-845 can be negatively regulated by the phosphatase PP5
(15). Similarly, we found that
the ASK1 autophosphorylation at Thr-813 and Thr-842 also positively regulates
ASK1 signaling (16).In contrast to Ser/Thr phosphorylation, regulation of ASK1 by tyrosine
phosphorylation is less well understood. We have recently shown that ASK1 is
phosphorylated at Tyr-718, and this phosphorylation is critical for the
binding to suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1), a subunit of ubiquitin
ligase responsible for ASK1 degradation
(17). Tyrosine phosphorylation
of ASK1 is up-regulated in response to growth factors and cytokines such as
IFN-γ, whereas this phosphorylation can be down-regulated by TNF
treatment, resulting in ASK1 dissociation from SOCS1. However, the kinase and
phosphatase responsible for phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of ASK1 at
Tyr-718 are not known.The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, JAK2, autophosphorylates in response to
growth factors and cytokines, including IFN-γ. JAK2 then activates
cytokine receptors and other cytoplasmic proteins such as the STATs by
phosphorylating their key tyrosine residue. The JAK/STAT pathway can be
regulated by SH2-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatases such as SHP2
(18–20).
SHP2 is ubiquitously expressed and composed of two SH2 domains on the
N-terminal and C-terminal protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) domain. The SH2
domain of SHP2 mediates the association with phosphotyrosine-containing
proteins present on activated receptors as well as on activated JAKs and
STATs; this association triggers activation of the tyrosine phosphatase domain
and subsequent dephosphorylation of substrates. SHP2 signals downstream of
receptor tyrosine kinases and cytokine receptors, and in most cases it serves
to positively transduce signals from these receptors. In other instances SHP2
has been shown to exhibit inhibitory signaling properties by negatively
regulating the JAK-STAT pathway
(19).In this study, we demonstrate that the IFN-γ-activated kinase JAK2
and TNF-activated SHP2 are the tyrosine kinase and phosphatase for Tyr-718 on
ASK1, respectively. The actions of both JAK2 and SHP2 affect protein turnover
of ASK1 and thus regulate ASK1/JNK-dependent proinflammatory and proapoptotic
pathways in EC. 相似文献
7.
Ivano Bertini Marco Fragai Claudio Luchinat Maxime Melikian Efstratios Mylonas Niko Sarti Dmitri I. Svergun 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(19):12821-12828
The presence of extensive reciprocal conformational freedom between the
catalytic and the hemopexin-like domains of full-length matrix
metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is demonstrated by NMR and small angle x-ray
scattering experiments. This finding is discussed in relation to the
essentiality of the hemopexin-like domain for the collagenolytic activity of
MMP-1. The conformational freedom experienced by the present system, having
the shortest linker between the two domains, when compared with similar
findings on MMP-12 and MMP-9 having longer and the longest linker within the
family, respectively, suggests this type of conformational freedom to be a
general property of all MMPs.Matrix metalloproteinases
(MMP)2 are
extracellular hydrolytic enzymes involved in a variety of processes including
connective tissue cleavage and remodeling
(1–3).
All 23 members of the family are able to cleave simple peptides derived from
connective tissue components such as collagen, gelatin, elastin, etc. A subset
of MMPs is able to hydrolyze more resistant polymeric substrates, such as
cross-linked elastin, and partially degraded collagen forms, such as gelatin
and type IV collagens (4).
Intact triple helical type I–III collagen is only attacked by
collagenases MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-13 and by MMP-2 and MMP-14
(5–12).
Although the detailed mechanism of cleavage of single chain peptides by MMP
has been largely elucidated
(13–19),
little is known about the process of hydrolysis of triple helical collagen. In
fact, triple helical collagen cannot be accommodated in the substrate-binding
groove of the catalytic site of MMPs
(9).All MMPs (but MMP-7) in their active form are constituted by a catalytic
domain (CAT) and a hemopexin-like domain (HPX)
(20–22).
The CAT domain contains two zinc ions and one to three calcium ions. One zinc
ion is at the catalytic site and is responsible for the activity, whereas the
other metal ions have structural roles. The isolated CAT domains retain full
catalytic activity toward simple peptides and single chain polymeric
substrates such as elastin, whereas hydrolysis of triple helical collagen also
requires the presence of the HPX domain
(9,
23–25).
It has been shown that the isolated CAT domain regains a small fraction of the
activity of the full-length (FL) protein when high amounts of either
inactivated full-length proteins or isolated HPX domains are added to the
assay solution (9). Finally, it
has been shown that the presence of the HPX domain alone alters the CD
spectrum of triple helical collagen in a way that suggests its partial
unwinding (26,
27). It is tempting to
speculate that full-length collagenases attack collagen by first locally
unwinding the triple helical structure with the help of the HPX domain and
then cleaving the resulting, exposed, single filaments
(9,
28).Until 2007, three-dimensional structures of full-length MMPs had been
reported only for collagenase MMP-1
(29–31)
and gelatinase MMP-2 (32). The
structures of the two proteins are very similar and show a compact arrangement
of the two domains, which are connected by a short linker (14 and 20 amino
acids, respectively). It is difficult to envisage that rigid and compact
molecules of this type can interact with triple helical collagen in a way that
can lead to first unwinding and then cleavage of individual filaments. It has
been recently suggested that such concerted action could occur much more
easily if the two domains could enjoy at least a partial conformational
independence (9). Slight
differences in the reciprocal orientation of the CAT and HPX domains of MMP-1
in the presence (29) and
absence (30,
31) of the prodomain were
indeed taken as a hint that the two domains could experience relative mobility
(29).Two recent solution studies have shown that conformational independence is
indeed occurring in gelatinase MMP-9
(33) and elastase MMP-12
(34), whereas the x-ray
structure of the latter (34)
is only slightly less compact than those of MMP-1
(29–31)
and MMP-2 (32). Among MMPs,
MMP-9 features an exceptionally long linker (68 amino acid)
(33,
35), which in fact constitutes
a small domain by itself (the O-glycosylated domain)
(33), and therefore, this
inspiring observation can hardly be taken as evidence that conformational
freedom is a general characteristic of the two-domain MMPs. MMP-12 features a
much more normal 16-amino acid linker, thereby making more probable a general
functional role for this conformational freedom
(34). However, both MMP-9 and
MMP-12 retain their full catalytic activity against their substrates even when
deprived of the HPX domain (9).
Therefore, the question remains of whether conformational freedom is also a
required characteristic for those MMPs that are only active as full-length
proteins, i.e. collagenases. Interestingly, the three collagenases
(MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-13) have the shortest linker (14 amino acids) among all
MMPs. Demonstrating or negating the presence of conformational freedom in one
of these collagenases would therefore constitute a significant step forward to
formulate mechanistic hypotheses on their collagenolytic activity.Our recent studies on MMP-12 in solution
(34) have shown that a
combination of NMR relaxation studies and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS)
is enough to show the presence and the extent of the relative conformational
freedom of the two domains of MMPs. Here we apply the same strategy to
full-length MMP-1 and show that sizable conformational freedom is indeed
experienced even by this prototypical collagenase, although somewhat less
pronounced than that observed for MMP-12. 相似文献
8.
As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses exploit diverse cellular
signaling machineries, including the mitogen-activated protein-kinase pathway,
during their infections. We have demonstrated previously that the open reading
frame 45 (ORF45) of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus interacts with p90
ribosomal S6 kinases (RSKs) and strongly stimulates their kinase activities
(Kuang, E., Tang, Q., Maul, G. G., and Zhu, F.
(2008) J. Virol. 82
,1838
-1850). Here, we define the
mechanism by which ORF45 activates RSKs. We demonstrated that binding of ORF45
to RSK increases the association of extracellular signal-regulated kinase
(ERK) with RSK, such that ORF45, RSK, and ERK formed high molecular mass
protein complexes. We further demonstrated that the complexes shielded active
pERK and pRSK from dephosphorylation. As a result, the complex-associated RSK
and ERK were activated and sustained at high levels. Finally, we provide
evidence that this mechanism contributes to the sustained activation of ERK
and RSK in Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus lytic replication.The extracellular signal-regulated kinase
(ERK)2
mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway has been implicated
in diverse cellular physiological processes including proliferation, survival,
growth, differentiation, and motility
(1-4)
and is also exploited by a variety of viruses such as Kaposi
sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), human cytomegalovirus, human
immunodeficiency virus, respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis B virus,
coxsackie, vaccinia, coronavirus, and influenza virus
(5-17).
The MAPK kinases relay the extracellular signaling through sequential
phosphorylation to an array of cytoplasmic and nuclear substrates to elicit
specific responses (1,
2,
18). Phosphorylation of MAPK
is reversible. The kinetics of deactivation or duration of signaling dictates
diverse biological outcomes
(19,
20). For example, sustained
but not transient activation of ERK signaling induces the differentiation of
PC12 cells into sympathetic-like neurons and transformation of NIH3T3 cells
(20-22).
During viral infection, a unique biphasic ERK activation has been observed for
some viruses (an early transient activation triggered by viral binding or
entry and a late sustained activation correlated with viral gene expression),
but the responsible viral factors and underlying mechanism for the sustained
ERK activation remain largely unknown
(5,
8,
13,
23).The p90 ribosomal S6 kinases (RSKs) are a family of serine/threonine
kinases that lie at the terminus of the ERK pathway
(1,
24-26).
In mammals, four isoforms are known, RSK1 to RSK4. Each one has two
catalytically functional kinase domains, the N-terminal kinase domain (NTKD)
and C-terminal kinase domain (CTKD) as well as a linker region between the
two. The NTKD is responsible for phosphorylation of exogenous substrates, and
the CTKD and linker region regulate RSK activation
(1,
24,
25). In quiescent cells ERK
binds to the docking site in the C terminus of RSK
(27-29).
Upon mitogen stimulation, ERK is activated by its upstream MAPK/ERK kinase
(MEK). The active ERK phosphorylates Thr-359/Ser-363 of RSK in the linker
region (amino acid numbers refer to human RSK1) and Thr-573 in the CTKD
activation loop. The activated CTKD then phosphorylates Ser-380 in the linker
region, creating a docking site for 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein
kinase-1. The 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 phosphorylates
Ser-221 of RSK in the activation loop and activates the NTKD. The activated
NTKD autophosphorylates the serine residue near the ERK docking site, causing
a transient dissociation of active ERK from RSK
(25,
26,
28). The stimulation of
quiescent cells by a mitogen such as epidermal growth factor or a phorbol
ester such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) usually
results in a transient RSK activation that lasts less than 30 min. RSKs have
been implicated in regulating cell survival, growth, and proliferation.
Mutation or aberrant expression of RSK has been implicated in several human
diseases including Coffin-Lowry syndrome and prostate and breast cancers
(1,
24,
25,
30-32).KSHV is a human DNA tumor virus etiologically linked to Kaposi sarcoma,
primary effusion lymphoma, and a subset of multicentric Castleman disease
(33,
34). Infection and
reactivation of KSHV activate multiple MAPK pathways
(6,
12,
35). Noticeably, the ERK/RSK
activation is sustained late during KSHV primary infection and reactivation
from latency (5,
6,
12,
23), but the mechanism of the
sustained ERK/RSK activation is unclear. Recently, we demonstrated that ORF45,
an immediate early and also virion tegument protein of KSHV, interacts with
RSK1 and RSK2 and strongly stimulates their kinase activities
(23). We also demonstrated
that the activation of RSK plays an essential role in KSHV lytic replication
(23). In the present study we
determined the mechanism of ORF45-induced sustained ERK/RSK activation. We
found that ORF45 increases the association of RSK with ERK and protects them
from dephosphorylation, causing sustained activation of both ERK and RSK. 相似文献
9.
Ivana I. Knezevic Sanda A. Predescu Radu F. Neamu Matvey S. Gorovoy Nebojsa M. Knezevic Cordus Easington Asrar B. Malik Dan N. Predescu 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(8):5381-5394
It is known that platelet-activating factor (PAF) induces severe
endothelial barrier leakiness, but the signaling mechanisms remain unclear.
Here, using a wide range of biochemical and morphological approaches applied
in both mouse models and cultured endothelial cells, we addressed the
mechanisms of PAF-induced disruption of interendothelial junctions (IEJs) and
of increased endothelial permeability. The formation of interendothelial gaps
filled with filopodia and lamellipodia is the cellular event responsible for
the disruption of endothelial barrier. We observed that PAF ligation of its
receptor induced the activation of the Rho GTPase Rac1. Following PAF
exposure, both Rac1 and its guanine nucleotide exchange factor Tiam1 were
found associated with a membrane fraction from which they
co-immunoprecipitated with PAF receptor. In the same time frame with
Tiam1-Rac1 translocation, the junctional proteins ZO-1 and VE-cadherin were
relocated from the IEJs, and formation of numerous interendothelial gaps was
recorded. Notably, the response was independent of myosin light chain
phosphorylation and thus distinct from other mediators, such as histamine and
thrombin. The changes in actin status are driven by the PAF-induced localized
actin polymerization as a consequence of Rac1 translocation and activation.
Tiam1 was required for the activation of Rac1, actin polymerization,
relocation of junctional associated proteins, and disruption of IEJs. Thus,
PAF-induced IEJ disruption and increased endothelial permeability requires the
activation of a Tiam1-Rac1 signaling module, suggesting a novel therapeutic
target against increased vascular permeability associated with inflammatory
diseases.The endothelial barrier is made up of endothelial cells
(ECs)4 connected to
each other by interendothelial junctions (IEJs) consisting of protein
complexes organized as tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs). In
addition, the focal adhesion complex located at the basal plasma membrane
enables firm contact of ECs with the underlying basement membrane and also
contributes to the barrier function
(1-3).
The glycocalyx, the endothelial monolayer, and the basement membrane all
together constitute the vascular barrier.The structural integrity of the ECs along with their proper functionality
are the two most important factors controlling the tightness of the
endothelial barrier. Changes affecting these factors cause loss of barrier
restrictiveness and leakiness. Therefore, defining and understanding the
cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling these processes is of paramount
importance. Increased width of IEJs in response to permeability-increasing
mediators (4) regulates the
magnitude of transendothelial exchange of fluid and solutes. Disruption of
IEJs and the resultant barrier leakiness contribute to the genesis of diverse
pathological conditions, such as inflammation
(5), metastasis
(6,
7), and uncontrolled
angiogenesis (8,
9).Accumulated evidence demonstrated that IEJs changes are responsible for
increased or decreased vascular permeability, and the generally accepted
mechanism responsible for them was the myosin light chain (MLC)-mediated
contraction of ECs (5,
10). However, published
evidence showed that an increase in vascular permeability could be obtained
without a direct involvement of any contractile mechanism
(11-16).The main component of the vascular barrier, the ECs, has more than 10% of
their total protein represented by actin
(17), which under
physiological salt concentrations subsists as monomers (G-actin) and assembled
into filaments (F-actin). A large number of actin-interacting proteins may
modulate the assembly, disassembly, and organization of G-actin and of actin
filaments within a given cell type. Similar to the complexity of
actin-interacting proteins found in other cell types, the ECs utilize their
actin binding proteins to stabilize the endothelial monolayer in order to
efficiently function as a selective barrier
(11). In undisturbed ECs, the
actin microfilaments are organized as different networks with distinctive
functional and morphological characteristics: the peripheral filaments also
known as peripheral dense band (PDB), the cytoplasmic fibers identified as
stress fibers (SF), and the actin from the membrane cytoskeleton
(18). The peripheral web,
localized immediately under the membrane, is associated with (i) the luminal
plasmalemma (on the apical side), (ii) the IEJ complexes on the lateral
surfaces, and (iii) the focal adhesion complexes on the abluminal side (the
basal part) of polarized ECs. The SF reside inside the endothelial cytoplasm
and are believed to be directly connected with the plasmalemma proper on the
luminal as well as on the abluminal side of the cell. As described, the
endothelial actin cytoskeleton (specifically the SF) seems to be a stable
structure helping the cells to remain flat under flow
(19). It is also established
that the actin fibers participate in correct localization of different
junctional complexes while keeping them in place
(20). However, it was
suggested that the dynamic equilibrium between F- and G-actin might modulate
the tightness of endothelial barrier in response to different challenges
(13).Mediators effective at nanomolar concentrations or less that disrupt the
endothelial barrier and increase vascular permeability include C2 toxin of
Clostridium botulinum, vascular permeability factor, better known as
vascular endothelial growth factor, and PAF
(21). C2 toxin increases
endothelial permeability by ribosylating monomeric G-actin at Arg-177
(22). This results in the
impairment of actin polymerization
(23), followed by rounding of
ECs (16) and the disruption of
junctional integrity. Vascular permeability factor was shown to open IEJs by
redistribution of junctional proteins
(24,
25) and by interfering with
the equilibrium of actin pools
(26). PAF
(1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocoline), a naturally
synthesized phospholipid is active at 10-10 m or less
(27). PAF is synthesized by
and acts on a variety of cell types, including platelets
(28), neutrophils
(29), monocytes
(30), and ECs
(31). PAF-mediated activation
of ECs induced cell migration
(32), angiogenesis
(7), and vascular
hyperpermeability (33)
secondary to disassembly of IEJs
(34). The effects of PAF on
the endothelium are initiated through a G protein-coupled receptor (PAF-R)
localized at the plasmalemma, in a large endosomal compartment inside the cell
(34), and also in the nuclear
membrane (35). In ECs, PAF-R
was shown to signal through Gαq and downstream activation of
phospholipase C isozymes (PLCβ3 and PLCγ1),
and via cSrc (32,
36). Studies have shown that
PAF challenge induced endothelial actin cytoskeletal rearrangement
(37) and marked vascular
leakiness (38); however, the
signaling pathways have not been elucidated.Therefore, in the present study, we carried out a systematic analysis of
PAF-induced morphological and biochemical changes of endothelial barrier
in vivo and in cultured ECs. We found that the opening of endothelial
barrier and the increased vascular leakiness induced by PAF are the result of
a shift in actin pools without involvement of EC contraction, followed by a
redistribution of tight junctional associated protein ZO-1 and adherens
junctional protein VE-cadherin. 相似文献
10.
Katrine M. Andersen Louise Madsen S?ren Prag Anders H. Johnsen Colin A. Semple Klavs B. Hendil Rasmus Hartmann-Petersen 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(22):15246-15254
The 26 S proteasome is a large proteolytic machine, which degrades most
intracellular proteins. We found that thioredoxin, Txnl1/TRP32, binds to
Rpn11, a subunit of the regulatory complex of the human 26 S proteasome. Txnl1
is abundant, metabolically stable, and widely expressed and is present in the
cytoplasm and nucleus. Txnl1 has thioredoxin activity with a redox potential
of about-250 mV. Mutant Txnl1 with one active site cysteine replaced by serine
formed disulfide bonds to eEF1A1, a substrate-recruiting factor of the 26 S
proteasome. eEF1A1 is therefore a likely physiological substrate. In response
to knockdown of Txnl1, ubiquitin-protein conjugates were moderately
stabilized. Hence, Txnl1 is the first example of a direct connection between
protein reduction and proteolysis, two major intracellular protein quality
control mechanisms.Degradation of proteins in eukaryotic cells plays a pivotal role in the
regulation of several important processes, including cell division, antigen
presentation, and signal transduction
(1). Most intracellular
proteins are degraded by the 26 S proteasome, a 2.5-MDa protease complex
composed of more than 30 different subunits
(2).To become degraded, proteins are typically first conjugated to a chain of
ubiquitin moieties. This reaction is catalyzed by ubiquitin ligases. The
ubiquitin chains lend the proteins affinity for the 26 S proteasome
(3). For efficient degradation,
certain ubiquitylated proteins are shuttled to the 26 S proteasome by
substrate recruiting factors, such as Rad23, Dsk2, and eEF1A
(4,
5).The 26 S proteasome is composed of two stable subcomplexes, the
proteolytically active 20 S core and 19 S regulatory complexes, which bind to
one or both ends of the cylindrical 20 S core particle
(6). The regulatory complexes
first recognize the ubiquitylated substrates
(3), before the substrates are
deubiquitylated (7,
8), unfolded
(9,
10), and translocated into the
20 S particle for degradation.Although the 26 S proteasome has been known for more than 20 years
(11), novel subunits and
cofactors have been described recently
(12,
13). Here we report another
novel proteasome-associated protein, Txnl1 (thioredoxin-like protein 1), that
associates directly with the proteasome subunit Rpn11. Txnl1 exhibits
thioredoxin activity and targets eEF1A1 in vivo. Previous reports
have shown that eEF1A1 transfers misfolded nascent proteins from the ribosome
to the 26 S proteasome for degradation
(5,
14,
15). Accordingly,
ubiquitin-protein conjugates were stabilized upon knockdown of Txnl1
expression. Txnl1 therefore directly links protein reduction and proteolysis,
two major intracellular protein quality control mechanisms. 相似文献
11.
Kuen-Feng Chen Pei-Yen Yeh Chiun Hsu Chih-Hung Hsu Yen-Shen Lu Hsing-Pang Hsieh Pei-Jer Chen Ann-Lii Cheng 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(17):11121-11133
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive
human malignancies. Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-related
apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising anti-tumor agent. However,
many HCC cells show resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In this study, we
showed that bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, overcame TRAIL resistance in
HCC cells, including Huh-7, Hep3B, and Sk-Hep1. The combination of bortezomib
and TRAIL restored the sensitivity of HCC cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
Comparing the molecular change in HCC cells treated with these agents, we
found that down-regulation of phospho-Akt (P-Akt) played a key role in
mediating TRAIL sensitization of bortezomib. The first evidence was that
bortezomib down-regulated P-Akt in a dose- and time-dependent manner in
TRAIL-treated HCC cells. Second, , a PI3K inhibitor, also sensitized
resistant HCC cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Third, knocking down Akt1 by
small interference RNA also enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Huh-7 cells.
Finally, ectopic expression of mutant Akt (constitutive active) in HCC cells
abolished TRAIL sensitization effect of bortezomib. Moreover, okadaic acid, a
protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibitor, reversed down-regulation of P-Akt in
bortezomib-treated cells, and PP2A knockdown by small interference RNA also
reduced apoptosis induced by the combination of TRAIL and bortezomib,
indicating that PP2A may be important in mediating the effect of bortezomib on
TRAIL sensitization. Together, bortezomib overcame TRAIL resistance at
clinically achievable concentrations in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and
this effect is mediated at least partly via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt
pathway.Hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC) LY2940022 is currently
the fifth most common solid tumor worldwide and the fourth leading cause of
cancer-related death. To date, surgery is still the only curative treatment
but is only feasible in a small portion of patients
(1). Drug treatment is the
major therapy for patients with advanced stage disease. Unfortunately, the
response rate to traditional chemotherapy for HCC patients is unsatisfactory
(1). Novel pharmacological
therapy is urgently needed for patients with advanced HCC. In this regard, the
approval of sorafenib might open a new era of molecularly targeted therapy in
the treatment of HCC patients.Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a
type II transmembrane protein and a member of the TNF family, is a promising
anti-tumor agent under clinical investigation
(2). TRAIL functions by
engaging its receptors expressed on the surface of target cells. Five
receptors specific for TRAIL have been identified, including DR4/TRAIL-R1,
DR5/TRAIL-R2, DcR1, DcR2, and osteoprotegerin. Among TRAIL receptors, only DR4
and DR5 contain an effective death domain that is essential to formation of
death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), a critical step for TRAIL-induced
apoptosis. Notably, the trimerization of the death domains recruits an adaptor
molecule, Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD), which subsequently
recruits and activates caspase-8. In type I cells, activation of caspase-8 is
sufficient to activate caspase-3 to induce apoptosis; however, in another type
of cells (type II), the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway is essential for
apoptosis characterized by cleavage of Bid and release of cytochrome
c from mitochondria, which subsequently activates caspase-9 and
caspase-3 (3).Although TRAIL induces apoptosis in malignant cells but sparing normal
cells, some tumor cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Mechanisms
responsible for the resistance include receptors and intracellular resistance.
Although the cell surface expression of DR4 or DR5 is absolutely required for
TRAIL-induced apoptosis, tumor cells expressing these death receptors are not
always sensitive to TRAIL due to intracellular mechanisms. For example, the
cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), a homologue to caspase-8 but
without protease activity, has been linked to TRAIL resistance in several
studies (4,
5). In addition, inactivation
of Bax, a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, resulted in resistance to TRAIL
in MMR-deficient tumors (6,
7), and reintroduction of Bax
into Bax-deficient cells restored TRAIL sensitivity
(8), indicating that the Bcl-2
family plays a critical role in intracellular mechanisms for resistance of
TRAIL.Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor approved clinically for multiple myeloma
and mantle cell lymphoma, has been investigated intensively for many types of
cancer (9). Accumulating
studies indicate that the combination of bortezomib and TRAIL overcomes the
resistance to TRAIL in various types of cancer, including acute myeloid
leukemia (4), lymphoma
(10–13),
prostate
(14–17),
colon (15,
18,
19), bladder
(14,
16), renal cell carcinoma
(20), thyroid
(21), ovary
(22), non-small cell lung
(23,
24), sarcoma
(25), and HCC
(26,
27). Molecular targets
responsible for the sensitizing effect of bortezomib on TRAIL-induced cell
death include DR4 (14,
27), DR5
(14,
20,
22–23,
28), c-FLIP
(4,
11,
21–23,
29), NF-κB
(12,
24,
30), p21
(16,
21,
25), and p27
(25). In addition, Bcl-2
family also plays a role in the combinational effect of bortezomib and TRAIL,
including Bcl-2 (10,
21), Bax
(13,
22), Bak
(27), Bcl-xL
(21), Bik
(18), and Bim
(15).Recently, we have reported that Akt signaling is a major molecular
determinant in bortezomib-induced apoptosis in HCC cells
(31). In this study, we
demonstrated that bortezomib overcame TRAIL resistance in HCC cells through
inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway. 相似文献
12.
13.
Tatsuhiro Sato Akio Nakashima Lea Guo Fuyuhiko Tamanoi 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(19):12783-12791
Rheb G-protein plays critical roles in the TSC/Rheb/mTOR signaling pathway
by activating mTORC1. The activation of mTORC1 by Rheb can be faithfully
reproduced in vitro by using mTORC1 immunoprecipitated by the use of
anti-raptor antibody from mammalian cells starved for nutrients. The low
in vitro kinase activity against 4E-BP1 of this mTORC1 preparation is
dramatically increased by the addition of recombinant Rheb. On the other hand,
the addition of Rheb does not activate mTORC2 immunoprecipitated from
mammalian cells by the use of anti-rictor antibody. The activation of mTORC1
is specific to Rheb, because other G-proteins such as KRas, RalA/B, and Cdc42
did not activate mTORC1. Both Rheb1 and Rheb2 activate mTORC1. In addition,
the activation is dependent on the presence of bound GTP. We also find that
the effector domain of Rheb is required for the mTORC1 activation. FKBP38, a
recently proposed mediator of Rheb action, appears not to be involved in the
Rheb-dependent activation of mTORC1 in vitro, because the preparation
of mTORC1 that is devoid of FKBP38 is still activated by Rheb. The addition of
Rheb results in a significant increase of binding of the substrate protein
4E-BP1 to mTORC1. PRAS40, a TOR signaling (TOS) motif-containing protein that
competes with the binding of 4EBP1 to mTORC1, inhibits Rheb-induced activation
of mTORC1. A preparation of mTORC1 that is devoid of raptor is not activated
by Rheb. Rheb does not induce autophosphorylation of mTOR. These results
suggest that Rheb induces alteration in the binding of 4E-BP1 with mTORC1 to
regulate mTORC1 activation.Rheb defines a unique member of the Ras superfamily G-proteins
(1). We have shown that Rheb
proteins are conserved and are found from yeast to human
(2). Although yeast and fruit
fly have one Rheb, mouse and human have two Rheb proteins termed Rheb1 (or
simply Rheb) and Rheb2 (RhebL1)
(2). Structurally, these
proteins contain G1-G5 boxes, short stretches of amino acids that define the
function of the Ras superfamily G-proteins including guanine nucleotide
binding (1,
3,
4). Rheb proteins have a
conserved arginine at residue 15 that corresponds to residue 12 of Ras
(1). The effector domain
required for the binding with downstream effectors encompasses the G2 box and
its adjacent sequences (1,
5). Structural analysis by
x-ray crystallography further shows that the effector domain is exposed to
solvent, is located close to the phosphates of GTP especially at residues
35–38, and undergoes conformational change during GTP/GDP exchange
(6). In addition, all Rheb
proteins end with the CAAX (C is cysteine, A is an aliphatic amino
acid, and X is the C-terminal amino acid) motif that signals
farnesylation. In fact, we as well as others have shown that these proteins
are farnesylated
(7–9).Rheb plays critical roles in the TSC/Rheb/mTOR signaling, a signaling
pathway that plays central roles in regulating protein synthesis and growth in
response to nutrient, energy, and growth conditions
(10–14).
Rheb is down-regulated by a TSC1·TSC2 complex that acts as a
GTPase-activating protein for Rheb
(15–19).
Recent studies established that the GAP domain of TSC2 defines the functional
domain for the down-regulation of Rheb
(20). Mutations in the
Tsc1 or Tsc2 gene lead to tuberous sclerosis whose symptoms
include the appearance of benign tumors called hamartomas at different parts
of the body as well as neurological symptoms
(21,
22). Overexpression of Rheb
results in constitutive activation of mTOR even in the absence of nutrients
(15,
16). Two mTOR complexes,
mTORC1 and mTORC2, have been identified
(23,
24). Whereas mTORC1 is
involved in protein synthesis activation mediated by S6K and 4EBP1, mTORC2 is
involved in the phosphorylation of Akt in response to insulin. It has been
suggested that Rheb is involved in the activation of mTORC1 but not mTORC2
(25).Although Rheb is clearly involved in the activation of mTOR, the mechanism
of activation has not been established. We as well as others have suggested a
model that involves the interaction of Rheb with the TOR complex
(26–28).
Rheb activation of mTOR kinase activity using immunoprecipitated mTORC1 was
reported (29). Rheb has been
shown to interact with mTOR
(27,
30), and this may involve
direct interaction of Rheb with the kinase domain of mTOR
(27). However, this Rheb/mTOR
interaction is a weak interaction and is not dependent on the presence of GTP
bound to Rheb (27,
28). Recently, a different
model proposing that FKBP38 (FK506-binding protein
38) mediates the activation of
mTORC1 by Rheb was proposed
(31,
32). In this model, FKBP38
binds mTOR and negatively regulates mTOR activity, and this negative
regulation is blocked by the binding of Rheb to FKBP38. However, recent
reports dispute this idea
(33).To further characterize Rheb activation of mTOR, we have utilized an in
vitro system that reproduces activation of mTORC1 by the addition of
recombinant Rheb. We used mTORC1 immunoprecipitated from nutrient-starved
cells using anti-raptor antibody and have shown that its kinase activity
against 4E-BP1 is dramatically increased by the addition of recombinant Rheb.
Importantly, the activation of mTORC1 is specific to Rheb and is dependent on
the presence of bound GTP as well as an intact effector domain. FKBP38 is not
detected in our preparation and further investigation suggests that FKBP38 is
not an essential component for the activation of mTORC1 by Rheb. Our study
revealed that Rheb enhances the binding of a substrate 4E-BP1 with mTORC1
rather than increasing the kinase activity of mTOR. 相似文献
14.
15.
Sophie Pattingre Chantal Bauvy St��phane Carpentier Thierry Levade Beth Levine Patrice Codogno 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(5):2719-2728
Macroautophagy is a vacuolar lysosomal catabolic pathway that is stimulated
during periods of nutrient starvation to preserve cell integrity. Ceramide is
a bioactive sphingolipid associated with a large range of cell processes. Here
we show that short-chain ceramides (C2-ceramide and
C6-ceramide) and stimulation of the de novo ceramide
synthesis by tamoxifen induce the dissociation of the complex formed between
the autophagy protein Beclin 1 and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. This
dissociation is required for macroautophagy to be induced either in response
to ceramide or to starvation. Three potential phosphorylation sites,
Thr69, Ser70, and Ser87, located in the
non-structural N-terminal loop of Bcl-2, play major roles in the dissociation
of Bcl-2 from Beclin 1. We further show that activation of c-Jun N-terminal
protein kinase 1 by ceramide is required both to phosphorylate Bcl-2 and to
stimulate macroautophagy. These findings reveal a new aspect of sphingolipid
signaling in up-regulating a major cell process involved in cell adaptation to
stress.Macroautophagy (referred to below as “autophagy”) is a
vacuolar, lysosomal degradation pathway for cytoplasmic constituents that is
conserved in eukaryotic cells
(1–3).
Autophagy is initiated by the formation of a multimembrane-bound autophagosome
that engulfs cytoplasmic proteins and organelles. The last stage in the
process results in fusion with the lysosomal compartments, where the
autophagic cargo undergoes degradation. Basal autophagy is important in
controlling the quality of the cytoplasm by removing damaged organelles and
protein aggregates. Inhibition of basal autophagy in the brain is deleterious,
and leads to neurodegeneration in mouse models
(4,
5). Stimulation of autophagy
during periods of nutrient starvation is a physiological response present at
birth and has been shown to provide energy in various tissues of newborn pups
(6). In cultured cells,
starvation-induced autophagy is an autonomous cell survival mechanism, which
provides nutrients to maintain a metabolic rate and level of ATP compatible
with cell survival (7). In
addition, starvation-induced autophagy blocks the induction of apoptosis
(8). In other contexts, such as
drug treatment and a hypoxic environment, autophagy has also been shown to be
cytoprotective in cancer cells
(9,
10). However, autophagy is
also part of cell death pathways in certain situations
(11). Autophagy can be a
player in apoptosis-independent type-2 cell death (type-1 cell death is
apoptosis), also known as autophagic cell death. This situation has been shown
to occur when the apoptotic machinery is crippled in mammalian cells
(12,
13). Autophagy can also be
part of the apoptotic program, for instance in tumor necrosis
factor-α-induced cell death when NF-κB is inhibited
(14), or in human
immunodeficiency virus envelope-mediated cell death in bystander naive CD4 T
cells (15). Moreover autophagy
has recently been shown to be required for the externalization of
phosphatidylserine, the eat-me signal for phagocytic cells, at the surface of
apoptotic cells (16).The complex relationship between autophagy and apoptosis reflects the
intertwined regulation of these processes
(17,
18). Many signaling pathways
involved in the regulation of autophagy also regulate apoptosis. This
intertwining has recently been shown to occur at the level of the molecular
machinery of autophagy. In fact the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 has been
shown to inhibit starvation-induced autophagy by interacting with the
autophagy protein Beclin 1
(19). Beclin 1 is one of the
Atg proteins conserved from yeast to humans (it is the mammalian orthologue of
yeast Atg6) and is involved in autophagosome formation
(20). Beclin 1 is a platform
protein that interacts with several different partners, including hVps34
(class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase), which is responsible for the
synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. The production of this lipid is
important for events associated with the nucleation of the isolation membrane
before it elongates and closes to form autophagosomes in response to other Atg
proteins, including the Atg12 and
LC32
(microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 is the mammalian orthologue of
the yeast Atg8) ubiquitin-like conjugation systems
(3,
21). Various partners
associated with the Beclin 1 complex modulate the activity of hVps34. For
instance, Bcl-2 inhibits the activity of this enzyme, whereas UVRAG, Ambra-1,
and Bif-1 all up-regulate it
(22,
23).In view of the intertwining between autophagy and apoptosis, it is
noteworthy that Beclin 1 belongs to the BH3-only family of proteins
(24–26).
However, and unlike most of the proteins in this family, Beclin 1 is not able
to trigger apoptosis when its expression is forced in cells
(27). A BH3-mimetic drug,
ABT-737, is able to dissociate the Beclin 1-Bcl-2 complex, and to trigger
autophagy by mirroring the effect of starvation
(25).The sphingolipids constitute a family of bioactive lipids
(28–32)
of which several members, such as ceramide and sphingosine 1-phosphate, are
signaling molecules. These molecules constitute a “sphingolipid
rheostat” that determines the fate of the cell, because in many settings
ceramide is pro-apoptotic and sphingosine 1-phosphate mitigates this apoptotic
effect (31,
32). However, ceramide is also
engaged in a wide variety of other cell processes, such as the formation of
exosomes (33),
differentiation, cell proliferation, and senescence
(34). Recently we showed that
both ceramide and sphingosine 1-phosphate are able to stimulate autophagy
(35,
36). It has also been shown
that ceramide triggers autophagy in a large panel of mammalian cells
(37–39).
However, elucidation of the mechanism by which ceramide stimulates autophagy
is still in its infancy. We have previously demonstrated that ceramide induces
autophagy in breast and colon cancer cells by inhibiting the Class I
phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate/mTOR signaling pathway, which plays a central
role in inhibiting autophagy
(36). Inhibition of mTOR is
another hallmark of starvation-induced autophagy
(17). This finding led us to
investigate the effect of ceramide on the Beclin 1-Bcl-2 complex. The results
presented here show that ceramide is more potent than starvation in
dissociating the Beclin 1-Bcl-2 complex (see Ref.
40). This dissociation is
dependent on three phosphorylation sites (Thr69, Ser70,
and Ser87) located in a non-structural loop of Bcl-2. Ceramide
induces the c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1-dependent phosphorylation of Bcl-2.
Expression of a dominant negative form of JNK1 blocks Bcl-2 phosphorylation,
and thus the induction of autophagy by ceramide. These findings help to
explain how autophagy is regulated by a major lipid second messenger. 相似文献
16.
S��bastien Thomas Brigitte Ritter David Verbich Claire Sanson Lyne Bourbonni��re R. Anne McKinney Peter S. McPherson 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(18):12410-12419
Intersectin-short (intersectin-s) is a multimodule scaffolding protein
functioning in constitutive and regulated forms of endocytosis in non-neuronal
cells and in synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling at the neuromuscular junction of
Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. In vertebrates,
alternative splicing generates a second isoform, intersectin-long
(intersectin-l), that contains additional modular domains providing a guanine
nucleotide exchange factor activity for Cdc42. In mammals, intersectin-s is
expressed in multiple tissues and cells, including glia, but excluded from
neurons, whereas intersectin-l is a neuron-specific isoform. Thus,
intersectin-I may regulate multiple forms of endocytosis in mammalian neurons,
including SV endocytosis. We now report, however, that intersectin-l is
localized to somatodendritic regions of cultured hippocampal neurons, with
some juxtanuclear accumulation, but is excluded from synaptophysin-labeled
axon terminals. Consistently, intersectin-l knockdown (KD) does not affect SV
recycling. Instead intersectin-l co-localizes with clathrin heavy chain and
adaptor protein 2 in the somatodendritic region of neurons, and its KD reduces
the rate of transferrin endocytosis. The protein also co-localizes with
F-actin at dendritic spines, and intersectin-l KD disrupts spine maturation
during development. Our data indicate that intersectin-l is indeed an
important regulator of constitutive endocytosis and neuronal development but
that it is not a prominent player in the regulated endocytosis of SVs.Clathrin-mediated endocytosis
(CME)4 is a
major mechanism by which cells take up nutrients, control the surface levels
of multiple proteins, including ion channels and transporters, and regulate
the coupling of signaling receptors to downstream signaling cascades
(1-5).
In neurons, CME takes on additional specialized roles; it is an important
process regulating synaptic vesicle (SV) availability through endocytosis and
recycling of SV membranes (6,
7), it shapes synaptic
plasticity
(8-10),
and it is crucial in maintaining synaptic membranes and membrane structure
(11).Numerous endocytic accessory proteins participate in CME, interacting with
each other and with core components of the endocytic machinery such as
clathrin heavy chain (CHC) and adaptor protein-2 (AP-2) through specific
modules and peptide motifs
(12). One such module is the
Eps15 homology domain that binds to proteins bearing NPF motifs
(13,
14). Another is the Src
homology 3 (SH3) domain, which binds to proline-rich domains in protein
partners (15). Intersectin is
a multimodule scaffolding protein that interacts with a wide range of
proteins, including several involved in CME
(16). Intersectin has two
N-terminal Eps15 homology domains that are responsible for binding to epsin,
SCAMP1, and numb
(17-19),
a central coil-coiled domain that interacts with Eps15 and SNAP-23 and -25
(17,
20,
21), and five SH3 domains in
its C-terminal region that interact with multiple proline-rich domain
proteins, including synaptojanin, dynamin, N-WASP, CdGAP, and mSOS
(16,
22-25).
The rich binding capability of intersectin has linked it to various functions
from CME (17,
26,
27) and signaling
(22,
28,
29) to mitogenesis
(30,
31) and regulation of the
actin cytoskeleton (23).Intersectin functions in SV recycling at the neuromuscular junction of
Drosophila and C. elegans where it acts as a scaffold,
regulating the synaptic levels of endocytic accessory proteins
(21,
32-34).
In vertebrates, the intersectin gene is subject to alternative splicing, and a
longer isoform (intersectin-l) is generated that is expressed exclusively in
neurons (26,
28,
35,
36). This isoform has all the
binding modules of its short (intersectin-s) counterpart but also has
additional domains: a DH and a PH domain that provide guanine nucleotide
exchange factor (GEF) activity specific for Cdc42
(23,
37) and a C2 domain at the C
terminus. Through its GEF activity and binding to actin regulatory proteins,
including N-WASP, intersectin-l has been implicated in actin regulation and
the development of dendritic spines
(19,
23,
24). In addition, because the
rest of the binding modules are shared between intersectin-s and -l, it is
generally thought that the two intersectin isoforms have the same endocytic
functions. In particular, given the well defined role for the invertebrate
orthologs of intersectin-s in SV endocytosis, it is thought that intersectin-l
performs this role in mammalian neurons, which lack intersectin-s. Defining
the complement of intersectin functional activities in mammalian neurons is
particularly relevant given that the protein is involved in the
pathophysiology of Down syndrome (DS). Specifically, the intersectin gene is
localized on chromosome 21q22.2 and is overexpressed in DS brains
(38). Interestingly,
alterations in endosomal pathways are a hallmark of DS neurons and neurons
from the partial trisomy 16 mouse, Ts65Dn, a model for DS
(39,
40). Thus, an endocytic
trafficking defect may contribute to the DS disease process.Here, the functional roles of intersectin-l were studied in cultured
hippocampal neurons. We find that intersectin-l is localized to the
somatodendritic regions of neurons, where it co-localizes with CHC and AP-2
and regulates the uptake of transferrin. Intersectin-l also co-localizes with
actin at dendritic spines and disrupting intersectin-l function alters
dendritic spine development. In contrast, intersectin-l is absent from
presynaptic terminals and has little or no role in SV recycling. 相似文献
17.
18.
19.
Andrés Norambuena Claudia Metz Lucas Vicu?a Antonia Silva Evelyn Pardo Claudia Oyanadel Loreto Massardo Alfonso González Andrea Soza 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(19):12670-12679
Galectins have been implicated in T cell homeostasis playing complementary
pro-apoptotic roles. Here we show that galectin-8 (Gal-8) is a potent
pro-apoptotic agent in Jurkat T cells inducing a complex phospholipase
D/phosphatidic acid signaling pathway that has not been reported for any
galectin before. Gal-8 increases phosphatidic signaling, which enhances the
activity of both ERK1/2 and type 4 phosphodiesterases (PDE4), with a
subsequent decrease in basal protein kinase A activity. Strikingly, rolipram
inhibition of PDE4 decreases ERK1/2 activity. Thus Gal-8-induced PDE4
activation releases a negative influence of cAMP/protein kinase A on ERK1/2.
The resulting strong ERK1/2 activation leads to expression of the death factor
Fas ligand and caspase-mediated apoptosis. Several conditions that decrease
ERK1/2 activity also decrease apoptosis, such as anti-Fas ligand blocking
antibodies. In addition, experiments with freshly isolated human peripheral
blood mononuclear cells, previously stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28,
show that Gal-8 is pro-apoptotic on activated T cells, most likely on a
subpopulation of them. Anti-Gal-8 autoantibodies from patients with systemic
lupus erythematosus block the apoptotic effect of Gal-8. These results
implicate Gal-8 as a novel T cell suppressive factor, which can be
counterbalanced by function-blocking autoantibodies in autoimmunity.Glycan-binding proteins of the galectin family have been increasingly
studied as regulators of the immune response and potential therapeutic agents
for autoimmune disorders (1).
To date, 15 galectins have been identified and classified according with the
structural organization of their distinctive monomeric or dimeric carbohydrate
recognition domain for β-galactosides
(2,
3). Galectins are secreted by
unconventional mechanisms and once outside the cells bind to and cross-link
multiple glycoconjugates both at the cell surface and at the extracellular
matrix, modulating processes as diverse as cell adhesion, migration,
proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis
(4–10).
Several galectins have been involved in T cell homeostasis because of their
capability to kill thymocytes, activated T cells, and T cell lines
(11–16).
Pro-apoptotic galectins might contribute to shape the T cell repertoire in the
thymus by negative selection, restrict the immune response by eliminating
activated T cells at the periphery
(1), and help cancer cells to
escape the immune system by eliminating cancer-infiltrating T cells
(17). They have also a
promising therapeutic potential to eliminate abnormally activated T cells and
inflammatory cells (1). Studies
on the mostly explored galectins, Gal-1, -3, and -9
(14,
15,
18–20),
as well as in Gal-2 (13),
suggest immunosuppressive complementary roles inducing different pathways to
apoptosis. Galectin-8
(Gal-8)4 is one of the
most widely expressed galectins in human tissues
(21,
22) and cancerous cells
(23,
24). Depending on the cell
context and mode of presentation, either as soluble stimulus or extracellular
matrix, Gal-8 can promote cell adhesion, spreading, growth, and apoptosis
(6,
7,
9,
10,
22,
25). Its role has been mostly
studied in relation to tumor malignancy
(23,
24). However, there is some
evidence regarding a role for Gal-8 in T cell homeostasis and autoimmune or
inflammatory disorders. For instance, the intrathymic expression and
pro-apoptotic effect of Gal-8 upon CD4highCD8high
thymocytes suggest a role for Gal-8 in shaping the T cell repertoire
(16). Gal-8 could also
modulate the inflammatory function of neutrophils
(26), Moreover Gal-8-blocking
agents have been detected in chronic autoimmune disorders
(10,
27,
28). In rheumatoid arthritis,
Gal-8 has an anti-inflammatory action, promoting apoptosis of synovial fluid
cells, but can be counteracted by a specific rheumatoid version of CD44
(CD44vRA) (27). In systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE), a prototypic autoimmune disease, we recently
described function-blocking autoantibodies against Gal-8
(10,
28). Thus it is important to
define the role of Gal-8 and the influence of anti-Gal-8 autoantibodies in
immune cells.In Jurkat T cells, we previously reported that Gal-8 interacts with
specific integrins, such as α1β1, α3β1, and
α5β1 but not α4β1, and as a matrix protein promotes cell
adhesion and asymmetric spreading through activation of the extracellular
signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)
(10). These early effects
occur within 5–30 min. However, ERK1/2 signaling supports long term
processes such as T cell survival or death, depending on the moment of the
immune response. During T cell activation, ERK1/2 contributes to enhance the
expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) required for T cell clonal expansion
(29). It also supports T cell
survival against pro-apoptotic Fas ligand (FasL) produced by themselves and by
other previously activated T cells
(30,
31). Later on, ERK1/2 is
required for activation-induced cell death, which controls the extension of
the immune response by eliminating recently activated and restimulated T cells
(32,
33). In activation-induced
cell death, ERK1/2 signaling contributes to enhance the expression of FasL and
its receptor Fas/CD95 (32,
33), which constitute a
preponderant pro-apoptotic system in T cells
(34). Here, we ask whether
Gal-8 is able to modulate the intensity of ERK1/2 signaling enough to
participate in long term processes involved in T cell homeostasis.The functional integration of ERK1/2 and PKA signaling
(35) deserves special
attention. cAMP/PKA signaling plays an immunosuppressive role in T cells
(36) and is altered in SLE
(37). Phosphodiesterases
(PDEs) that degrade cAMP release the immunosuppressive action of cAMP/PKA
during T cell activation (38,
39). PKA has been described to
control the activity of ERK1/2 either positively or negatively in different
cells and processes (35). A
little explored integration among ERK1/2 and PKA occurs via phosphatidic acid
(PA) and PDE signaling. Several stimuli activate phospholipase D (PLD) that
hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine into PA and choline. Such PLD-generated PA
plays roles in signaling interacting with a variety of targeting proteins that
bear PA-binding domains (40).
In this way PA recruits Raf-1 to the plasma membrane
(41). It is also converted by
phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (PAP) activity into diacylglycerol (DAG),
which among other functions, recruits and activates the GTPase Ras
(42). Both Ras and Raf-1 are
upstream elements of the ERK1/2 activation pathway
(43). In addition, PA binds to
and activates PDEs of the type 4 subfamily (PDE4s) leading to decreased cAMP
levels and PKA down-regulation
(44). The regulation and role
of PA-mediated control of ERK1/2 and PKA remain relatively unknown in T cell
homeostasis, because it is also unknown whether galectins stimulate the PLD/PA
pathway.Here we found that Gal-8 induces apoptosis in Jurkat T cells by triggering
cross-talk between PKA and ERK1/2 pathways mediated by PLD-generated PA. Our
results for the first time show that a galectin increases the PA levels,
down-regulates the cAMP/PKA system by enhancing rolipram-sensitive PDE
activity, and induces an ERK1/2-dependent expression of the pro-apoptotic
factor FasL. The enhanced PDE activity induced by Gal-8 is required for the
activation of ERK1/2 that finally leads to apoptosis. Gal-8 also induces
apoptosis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), especially after
activating T cells with anti-CD3/CD28. Therefore, Gal-8 shares with other
galectins the property of killing activated T cells contributing to the T cell
homeostasis. The pathway involves a particularly integrated signaling context,
engaging PLD/PA, cAMP/PKA, and ERK1/2, which so far has not been reported for
galectins. The pro-apoptotic function of Gal-8 also seems to be unique in its
susceptibility to inhibition by anti-Gal-8 autoantibodies. 相似文献
20.
Yuusuke Maruyama Toshihiko Ogura Kazuhiro Mio Kenta Kato Takeshi Kaneko Shigeki Kiyonaka Yasuo Mori Chikara Sato 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2009,284(20):13676-13685
The Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channel is a
principal regulator of intracellular Ca2+ rise, which conducts
various biological functions, including immune responses. This channel,
involved in store-operated Ca2+ influx, is believed to be composed
of at least two major components. Orai1 has a putative channel pore and
locates in the plasma membrane, and STIM1 is a sensor for luminal
Ca2+ store depletion in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Here we
have purified the FLAG-fused Orai1 protein, determined its tetrameric
stoichiometry, and reconstructed its three-dimensional structure at 21-Å
resolution from 3681 automatically selected particle images, taken with an
electron microscope. This first structural depiction of a member of the Orai
family shows an elongated teardrop-shape 150Å in height and 95Å in
width. Antibody decoration and volume estimation from the amino acid sequence
indicate that the widest transmembrane domain is located between the round
extracellular domain and the tapered cytoplasmic domain. The cytoplasmic
length of 100Å is sufficient for direct association with STIM1. Orifices
close to the extracellular and intracellular membrane surfaces of Orai1 seem
to connect outside the molecule to large internal cavities.Ca2+ is an intracellular second messenger that plays important
roles in various physiological functions such as immune response, muscle
contraction, neurotransmitter release, and cell proliferation. Intracellular
Ca2+ is mainly stored in the endoplasmic reticulum
(ER).2 This ER system
is distributed through the cytoplasm from around the nucleus to the cell
periphery close to the plasma membrane. In non-excitable cells, the ER
releases Ca2+ through the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate
(IP3) receptor channel in response to various signals, and the
Ca2+ store is depleted. Depletion of Ca2+ then induces
Ca2+ influx from outside the cell to help in refilling the
Ca2+ stores and to continue Ca2+ rise for several
minutes in the cytoplasm (1,
2). This Ca2+ influx
was first proposed by Putney
(3) and was named
store-operated Ca2+ influx. In the immune system, store-operated
Ca2+ influx is mainly mediated by the Ca2+
release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) current, which is a highly
Ca2+-selective inwardly rectified current with low conductance
(4,
5). Pathologically, the loss of
CRAC current in T cells causes severe combined immunodeficiency
(6) where many Ca2+
signal-dependent gene expressions, including cytokines, are interrupted
(7). Therefore, CRAC current is
necessary for T cell functions.Recently, Orai1 (also called CRACM1) and STIM1 have been physiologically
characterized as essential components of the CRAC channel
(8–12).
They are separately located in the plasma membrane and in the ER membrane;
co-expression of these proteins presents heterologous CRAC-like currents in
various types of cells (10,
13–15).
Both of them are shown to be expressed ubiquitously in various tissues
(16–18).
STIM1 senses Ca2+ depletion in the ER through its EF hand motif
(19) and transmits a signal to
Orai1 in the plasma membrane. Although Orai1 is proposed as a regulatory
component for some transient receptor potential canonical channels
(20,
21), it is believed from the
mutation analyses to be the pore-forming subunit of the CRAC channel
(8,
22–24).
In the steady state, both Orai1 and STIM1 molecules are dispersed in each
membrane. When store depletion occurs, STIM1 proteins gather into clusters to
form puncta in the ER membrane near the plasma membrane
(11,
19). These clusters then
trigger the clustering of Orai1 in the plasma membrane sites opposite the
puncta (25,
26), and CRAC channels are
activated (27).Orai1 has two homologous genes, Orai2 and Orai3
(8). They form the Orai family
and have in common the four transmembrane (TM) segments with relatively large
N and C termini. These termini are demonstrated to be in the cytoplasm,
because both N- and C-terminally introduced tags are immunologically detected
only in the membrane-permeabilized cells
(8,
9). The subunit stoichiometry
of Orai1 is as yet controversial: it is believed to be an oligomer, presumably
a dimer or tetramer even in the steady state
(16,
28–30).Despite the accumulation of biochemical and electrophysiological data,
structural information about Orai1 is limited due to difficulties in
purification and crystallization. In this study, we have purified Orai1 in its
tetrameric form and have reconstructed the three-dimensional structure from
negatively stained electron microscopic (EM) images. 相似文献