Functional involvement of TMF/ARA160 in Rab6-dependent retrograde membrane traffic

The small GTPase Rab6 regulates retrograde membrane traffic from endosomes to the Golgi apparatus and from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We examined the role of a Rab6-binding protein, TMF/ARA160 (TATA element modulatory factor/androgen receptor-coactivator of 160 kDa), in this process. High-resolution immunofluorescence imaging revealed that TMF signal surrounded Rab6-positive Golgi structures and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that TMF is concentrated at the budding structures localized at the tips of cisternae. The knockdown of either TMF or Rab6 by RNA interference blocked retrograde transport of endocytosed Shiga toxin from early/recycling endosomes to the trans-Golgi network, causing missorting of the toxin to late endosomes/lysosomes. However, the TMF knockdown caused Rab6-dependent displacement of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-2 (GalNAc-T2), but not beta1,4-galactosyltransferase (GalT), from the Golgi. Analyses using chimeric proteins, in which the cytoplasmic regions of GalNAc-T2 and GalT were exchanged, revealed that the cytoplasmic region of GalNAc-T2 plays a crucial role in its TMF-dependent Golgi retention. These observations suggest critical roles for TMF in two Rab6-dependent retrograde transport processes: one from endosomes to the Golgi and the other from the Golgi to the ER.     

A hydrophobic amino acid cluster inserted into the C-terminus of a recycling cell surface receptor functions as an endosomal sorting signal

Cell surface receptors ubiquitylated after ligand stimulation are internalized and delivered to the lysosomal pathway for degradation. Ubiquitylated receptors are captured by ESCRT protein complexes that sort them to the lysosomal pathway. Hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (Hrs) is a component of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-0 that recognizes ubiquitin attached to receptors, indicating that it functions as a key molecule for ubiquitin-dependent endosomal sorting. In a previous study on interleukin (IL)-2 receptor β (IL-2Rβ) and IL-4 receptor α (IL-4Rα), which are constitutively internalized without ligand stimulation, we revealed that Hrs bound to IL-2Rβ and IL-4Rα in a ubiquitin-independent manner, and identified a hydrophobic amino acid cluster in the cytoplasmic region of IL-2Rβ and IL-4Rα as the Hrs-interacting domain. However, a chimeric receptor containing the hydrophobic amino acid cluster inserted into the C-terminal of IL-2Rα was not delivered to late endosomes, but recycled back to the plasma membrane. In the present study, we explored the functional domain related to endosomal sorting in IL-2Rβ together with the hydrophobic amino acid cluster, and discovered the importance of an approximately 30-amino acid stretch following the C-terminus of the hydrophobic amino acid cluster in IL-2Rβ. Even though the amino acid stretch following the hydrophobic amino acid cluster was composed of arbitrary amino acids, such a stretch was also permissive for the sorting ability, suggesting that the hydrophobic amino acid cluster functions as an endosomal sorting signal. These findings clarify part of the molecular mechanism underlying the ubiquitin-independent endosomal sorting of cytokine receptors that are constitutively internalized without ligand stimulation.     

Tollip and Tom1 form a complex and recruit ubiquitin-conjugated proteins onto early endosomes

Tom1 (target of Myb1) is a protein of unknown function. Tom1 and its relative Tom1L1 have an N-terminal VHS (Vps27p/Hrs/Stam) domain followed by a GAT (GGA and Tom1) domain, both of which are also found in the GGA (Golgi-localizing, gamma-adaptin ear domain homology, ADP-ribosylation factor-binding protein) family of proteins. Although the VHS and GAT domains of GGA proteins bind to transmembrane cargo proteins and the small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor, respectively, the VHS and GAT domains of Tom1 are unable to interact with these proteins. In this study, we show that the GAT domains of Tom1 and Tom1L1 interact with ubiquitin and Tollip (Toll-interacting protein). Ubiquitin bound the GAT domains of Tom1, Tom1L1, and GGA proteins, whereas Tollip interacted specifically with Tom1 and Tom1L1. Ubiquitin and Tollip bound to an overlapping region of the Tom1-GAT domain in a mutually exclusive manner. Tom1 was predominantly cytosolic when expressed in cells. On the other hand, Tollip was localized on early endosomes and recruited Tom1 and ubiquitinated proteins. These observations suggest that Tollip and Tom1 form a complex and regulate endosomal trafficking of ubiquitinated proteins.     

GAT (GGA and Tom1) domain responsible for ubiquitin binding and ubiquitination

GGAs (Golgi-localizing, gamma-adaptin ear domain homology, ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-binding proteins) are a family of monomeric adaptor proteins involved in membrane trafficking from the trans-Golgi network to endosomes. The GAT (GGA and Tom1) domains of GGAs have previously been shown to interact with GTP-bound ARF and to be crucial for membrane recruitment of GGAs. Here we show that the C-terminal subdomain of the GAT domain, which is distinct from the N-terminal GAT subdomain responsible for ARF binding, can bind ubiquitin. The binding is mediated by interactions between residues on one side of the alpha3 helix of the GAT domain and those on the so-called Ile-44 surface patch of ubiquitin. The binding of the GAT domain to ubiquitin can be enhanced by the presence of a GTP-bound form of ARF. Furthermore, GGA itself is ubiquitinated in a manner dependent on the GAT-ubiquitin interaction. These results delineate the molecular basis for the interaction between ubiquitin and GAT and suggest that GGA-mediated trafficking is regulated by the ubiquitin system as endosomal trafficking mediated by other ubiquitin-binding proteins.     

In vivo and in vitro synergistic antitumor effect of interleukin-2-cultured tumor-bearer spleen cells and immune fresh spleen cells

Summary The synergistic antitumor effect of interleukin-2(IL-2)-cultured tumor-bearer spleen cells (cultured lymphocytes) and immune fresh spleen cells was examined. Tumor-bearer cultured lymphocytes were obtained by culturing BALB/c spleen cells from syngeneic MOPC104E-tumor-bearing mice for 11 days with crude IL-2 and a soluble tumor extract. These cultured lymphocytes had weak antitumor activity when transferred i.p. into tumor-bearing mice that had been inoculated i.p. with 10⁵ tumor cells 5 days previously. Immune fresh spleen cells, obtained from mice in complete remission after the treatment with cyclophosphamide, also had weak antitumor activity when transferred at the same schedule. The cultured cells and the fresh cells, mixed together before transfer, significantly augmented the therapeutic effect. At least 1×10⁷ tumor-bearer cultured lymphocytes and 4×10⁷ immune cells were needed for the synergistic effect. A tumor-specific combination was needed for both cultured and fresh cells. The effective subpopulation of tumor-bearer cultured lymphocytes was a cytotoxic one from an Lyt2⁺ precursor, and that of the immune fresh spleen cells was noncytotoxic, Lytl⁺ and Lyt2⁺ T-cells.A similar synergistic effect was also observed during in vitro coculture of tumor-bearer and immune cells. Cytotoxicity, as assessed by the ⁵¹Cr-release test, of tumor-bearer IL-2-cultured lymphocytes was maintained most effectively after 3 or 4 days of culture without IL-2 when the lymphocytes were cocultured with immune fresh spleen cells and tumor cells.     

Sucrose phosphorylases catalyze transglycosylation reactions on carboxylic acid compounds

Two sucrose phosphorylases were employed for glycosylation of carboxylic acid compounds. Streptococcus mutans sucrose phosphorylase showed remarkable transglycosylating activity, especially under acidic conditions. Leuconostoc mesenteroides sucrose phosphorylase exhibited very weak transglycosylating activity. Three main products were detected from the reaction mixture using benzoic acid and sucrose as an acceptor and a donor molecule, respectively. These compounds were identified as 1-O-benzoyl α-d-glucopyranoside, 2-O-benzoyl α-d-glucopyranose, and 2-O-benzoyl β-d-glucopyranose by 1D-and 2D-NMR analyses of the isolated products and their acetylated products. Time-course analyses proved that 1-O-benzoyl α-d-glucopyranoside was initially produced by the transglycosylation reaction of the enzyme. 2-O-Benzoyl α-d-glucopyranose and 2-O-benzoyl β-d-glucopyranose were produced from 1-O-benzoyl α-d-glucopyranoside by intramolecular acyl migration reaction. S. mutans sucrose phosphorylase showed broad acceptor-specificity. This sucrose phosphorylase catalyzed transglycosylation to various carboxylic compounds such as short-chain fatty acids, hydroxy acids, dicarboxylic acids, and phenolic carboxylic acids. 1-O-Acetyl α-d-glucopyranoside was also enzymatically synthesized by transglucosylation reaction of the enzyme. The sensory test of acetic acid and the glucosides revealed that the sour taste of acetic acid glucosides was significantly lower than that of acetic acid.     

Tooth regeneration from newly established cell lines from a molar tooth germ epithelium

In order to investigate tooth development, several cell lines of the dental epithelium and ectomesenchyme have been established. However, no attempt has been reported to regenerate teeth with cell lines. Here, we have established several clonal cell lines of the dental epithelium from a p53-deficient fetal mouse. They expressed specific markers of the dental epithelium such as ameloblastin and amelogenin. A new method has been developed to bioengineer tooth germs with dental epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Reconstructed tooth germs with cell lines and fetal mesenchymal cells were implanted under kidney capsule. The germs regenerated teeth with well-calcified structures as seen in natural tooth. Germs without the cell lines developed bone. This is the first success to regenerate teeth with dental epithelial cell lines. They are useful models in vitro for investigation of mechanisms in morphogenesis and of cell lineage in differentiation, and for clinical application for tooth regeneration.