A novel fission yeast gene, kms1 +, is required for the formation of meiotic prophase-specific nuclear architecture

In the meiotic prophase nucleus of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, chromosomes are arranged in an oriented manner: telomeres cluster in close proximity to the spindle pole body (SPB), while centromeres form another cluster at some distance from the SPB. We have isolated a mutant, kms1, in which the structure of the meiotic prophase nucleus appears to be distorted. Using specific probes to localize the SPB and telomeres, multiple signals were observed in the mutant nuclei, in contrast to the case in wild-type. Genetic analysis showed that in the mutant, meiotic recombination frequency was reduced to about one-quarter of the wild-type level and meiotic segregation was impaired. This phenotype strongly suggests that the telomere-led rearrangement of chromosomal distribution that normally occurs in the fission yeast meiotic nucleus is an important prerequisite for the efficient pairing of homologous chromosomes. The kms1 mutant was also impaired in karyogamy, suggesting that the kms1 ⁺ gene is involved in SPB function. However, the kms1 ⁺ gene is dispensable for mitotic growth. The predicted amino acid sequence of the gene product shows no significant similarity to known proteins.     

Ceramide kinase promotes Ca2+ signaling near IgG-opsonized targets and enhances phagolysosomal fusion in COS-1 cells

Ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) is a novel bioactive sphingolipid formed by the phosphorylation of ceramide catalyzed by ceramide kinase (CERK). In this study, we evaluated the mechanism by which increased C1P during phagocytosis enhances phagocytosis and phagolysosome formation in COS-1 cells expressing hCERK. Stable transfectants of COS-1 cells expressing FcgammaRIIA or both FcgammaRIIA/hCERK expression vectors were created. Cell fractionation studies demonstrated that hCERK and the transient receptor potential channel (TRPC-1) were enriched in caveolae fractions. Our data establish that both CERK and TRPC-1 localize to the caveolar microdomains during phagocytosis and that CERK also colocalizes with EIgG in FcgammaRIIA/hCERK-bearing COS-1 cells. Using high-speed fluorescence microscopy, FcgammaRIIA/hCERK transfected cells displayed Ca2+ sparks around the phagosome. In contrast, cells expressing FcgammaRIIA under identical conditions displayed little periphagosomal Ca2+ signaling. The enhanced Ca2+ signals were accompanied by enhanced phagolysosome formation. However, the addition of pharmacological reagents that inhibit store-operated channels (SOCs) reduced the phagocytic index and phagolysosomal fusion in hCERK transfected cells. The higher Ca2+ signal observed in hCERK transfected cells as well as the fact that CERK colocalized with EIgG during phagocytosis support our hypothesis that Ca2+ signaling is an important factor for increasing phagocytosis and is regulated by CERK in a manner that involves SOCs/TRPCs.     

Ectodomain shedding of TNF-alpha is enhanced by nardilysin via activation of ADAM proteases

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is released from cells by proteolytic cleavage of a membrane-anchored precursor. The TNF-α-converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17) is the major sheddase for ectodomain shedding of TNF-α. At present, however, it is poorly understood how its catalytic activity is regulated. Here, we show that nardilysin (N-arginine dibasic convertase; NRDc) enhanced TNF-α shedding. In a cell-based shedding assay, expression of NRDc synergistically enhanced TACE-induced TNF-α shedding. A peptide cleavage assay in vitro showed that recombinant NRDc enhances the cleavage of TNF-α induced by TACE. Notably, co-incubation of NRDc completely reversed the inhibitory effect of a physiological concentration of salt on TACE’s activity in vitro. Overexpression of NRDc in TACE-deficient fibroblasts resulted in an increase in the amount of TNF-α released. Co-expression of NRDc with ADAM10 promoted the release compared with the sole expression of ADAM10. These results suggested that NRDc enhances TNF-α shedding through activation of not only TACE but ADAM10. Our results indicate the involvement of NRDc in ectodomain shedding of TNF-α, which may be a novel target for anti-inflammatory therapies.     

Functional stabilization of Kv1.5 protein by Hsp70 in mammalian cell lines

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms for regulations of cardiac Kv1.5 channel expression. We particularly focused on the role of heat shock proteins (Hsps). We tested the effects of Hsps on the stability of Kv1.5 channels using biochemical and electrophysiological techniques: co-expression of Kv1.5 and Hsp family proteins in mammalian cell lines, followed by Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, pulse-chase analysis, immunofluorescence and whole-cell patch clamp. Hsp70 and heat shock factor 1 increased the expression of Kv1.5 protein in HeLa and COS7 cells, whereas either Hsp40, 27 or 90 did not. Hsp70 prolonged the half-life of Kv1.5 protein. Hsp70 was co-immunoprecipitated and co-localized with Kv1.5-FLAG. Hsp70 significantly increased the immunoreactivity of Kv1.5 in the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and on the cell membrane. Hsp70 enhanced Kv1.5 current of transfected cells, which was abolished by pretreatment with brefeldin A or colchicine. Thus, Hsp70, but not other Hsps, stabilizes functional Kv1.5 protein.     

ORFeome cloning and global analysis of protein localization in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Cloning of the entire set of an organism's protein-coding open reading frames (ORFs), or 'ORFeome', is a means of connecting the genome to downstream 'omics' applications. Here we report a proteome-scale study of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe based on cloning of the ORFeome. Taking advantage of a recombination-based cloning system, we obtained 4,910 ORFs in a form that is readily usable in various analyses. First, we evaluated ORF prediction in the fission yeast genome project by expressing each ORF tagged at the 3' terminus. Next, we determined the localization of 4,431 proteins, corresponding to approximately 90% of the fission yeast proteome, by tagging each ORF with the yellow fluorescent protein. Furthermore, using leptomycin B, an inhibitor of the nuclear export protein Crm1, we identified 285 proteins whose localization is regulated by Crm1.     

Ect2 and MgcRacGAP regulate the activation and function of Cdc42 in mitosis

Although Rho regulates cytokinesis, little was known about the functions in mitosis of Cdc42 and Rac. We recently suggested that Cdc42 works in metaphase by regulating bi-orient attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores. We now confirm the role of Cdc42 by RNA interference and identify the mechanisms for activation and down-regulation of Cdc42. Using a pull-down assay, we found that the level of GTP-Cdc42 elevates in metaphase, whereas the level of GTP-Rac does not change significantly in mitosis. Overexpression of dominant-negative mutants of Ect2 and MgcRacGAP, a Rho GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor and GTPase activating protein, respectively, or depletion of Ect2 by RNA interference suppresses this change of GTP-Cdc42 in mitosis. Depletion of Ect2 also impairs microtubule attachment to kinetochores and causes prometaphase delay and abnormal chromosomal segregation, as does depletion of Cdc42 or expression of the Ect2 and MgcRacGAP mutants. These results suggest that Ect2 and MgcRacGAP regulate the activation and function of Cdc42 in mitosis.     

A type II collagen mutation also results in oto-spondylo-megaepiphyseal dysplasia

Oto-spondylo-megaepiphyseal dysplasia (OSMED) is a skeletal dysplasia characterized by severe sensorineural hearing loss, enlarged epiphyses and early onset of osteoarthritis. COL11A2 has been reported as a causative gene for OSMED. We have identified a novel COL2A1 mutation at a splice-acceptor site within intron 10 (c.709–2A>G) in an OSMED patient. This mutation caused the skipping of exon 11, and of exons 11 and 13. These exon-skipping events are presumed to cause an in-frame deletion of the triple helical region of the COL2A1 product. Thus, our findings highlight the genetic heterogeneity of OSMED and extend the phenotypic spectrum of type II collagenopathy, as well as confirming the overlap between type II and type XI collagenopathies.