Dual function of a highly conserved bacteriophage tail completion protein essential for bacteriophage infectivity.

Infection of bacteria by phages is a complex multi-step process that includes specific recognition of the host cell, creation of a temporary breach in the host envelope, and ejection of viral DNA into the bacterial cytoplasm. These steps must be perfectly regulated to ensure efficient infection. Here we report the dual function of the tail completion protein gp16.1 of bacteriophage SPP1. First, gp16.1 has an auxiliary role in assembly of the tail interface that binds to the capsid connector. Second, gp16.1 is necessary to ensure correct routing of phage DNA to the bacterial cytoplasm. Viral particles assembled without gp16.1 are indistinguishable from wild-type virions and eject DNA normally in vitro. However, they release their DNA to the extracellular space upon interaction with the host bacterium. The study shows that a highly conserved tail completion protein has distinct functions at two essential steps of the virus life cycle in long-tailed phages.

FOXO1-mediated lipid metabolism maintains mammalian embryos in dormancy.

Mammalian developmental timing is adjustable in vivo by preserving pre-implantation embryos in a dormant state called diapause. Inhibition of the growth regulator mTOR (mTORi) pauses mouse development in vitro, yet how embryonic dormancy is maintained is not known. Here we show that mouse embryos in diapause are sustained by using lipids as primary energy source. In vitro, supplementation of embryos with the metabolite L-carnitine balances lipid consumption, puts the embryos in deeper dormancy and boosts embryo longevity. We identify FOXO1 as an essential regulator of the energy balance in dormant embryos and propose, through meta-analyses of dormant cell signatures, that it may be a common regulator of dormancy across adult tissues. Our results lift a constraint on in vitro embryo survival and suggest that lipid metabolism may be a critical metabolic transition relevant for longevity and stem cell function across tissues.

Free Fatty Acids Induce Lipid Accumulation, Autophagy, and Apoptosis in Human Sebocytes.

BACKGROUND: A disruption of sebocyte differentiation and lipogenesis has fatal consequences and can cause a wide spectrum of skin diseases, from acne vulgaris to sebaceous carcinoma, however, the relevant molecular mechanisms have not been fully clarified. OBJECTIVES: The induction of autophagy and apoptosis in human sebocytes in response to biologically relevant fatty acids was investigated. METHODS: Free fatty acids (arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and palmitoleic acid) and the pan-caspase inhibitor QVD-Oph were added to the supernatant of cultured human SZ95 sebocytes. Individual relevant proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Apoptosis and cell viability were determined, and typical autophagy structures were detected through electron microscopy. To obtain cell growth curves, cell confluence was continuously monitored by real-time cell analysis. RESULTS: Fatty acids induced the development of intracellular lipid droplets with subsequent apoptosis, whereas arachidonic acid caused the most rapid effect. Cleavage products of caspase-3 were only detected in arachidonic acid-induced apoptosis. The high basal apoptotic rate of cultured SZ95 sebocytes was strongly suppressed by QVD-Oph. Fatty acid-induced apoptosis was also markedly inhibited by QVD-Oph, whereas intracellular lipid droplets further accumulated. While cell viability after incubation with linoleic acid, palmitic acid, or palmitoleic acid and QVD-Oph was comparable with that of non-treated controls, arachidonic acid significantly reduced cell viability and cell density despite the concomitant pan-caspase inhibitor treatment. Using electron microscopy, typical autophagy structures were detected, such as autophagosomes and autolysosomes, at the basal level, which became more pronounced after treatment with fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the inflammation-associated mechanisms of lipogenesis and cell death induction in human sebocytes and may help to unveil the effects of fatty acid-rich human nutrition.

A critical period of translational control during brain development at codon resolution.

Translation modulates the timing and amplification of gene expression after transcription. Brain development requires uniquely complex gene expression patterns, but large-scale measurements of translation directly in the prenatal brain are lacking. We measure the reactants, synthesis and products of mRNA translation spanning mouse neocortex neurogenesis, and discover a transient window of dynamic regulation at mid-gestation. Timed translation upregulation of chromatin-binding proteins like Satb2, which is essential for neuronal subtype differentiation, restricts protein expression in neuronal lineages despite broad transcriptional priming in progenitors. In contrast, translation downregulation of ribosomal proteins sharply decreases ribosome biogenesis, coinciding with a major shift in protein synthesis dynamics at mid-gestation. Changing activity of eIF4EBP1, a direct inhibitor of ribosome biogenesis, is concurrent with ribosome downregulation and affects neurogenesis of the Satb2 lineage. Thus, the molecular logic of brain development includes the refinement of transcriptional programs by translation. Modeling of the developmental neocortex translatome is provided as an open-source searchable resource at https://shiny.mdc-berlin.de/cortexomics .

Alternative splicing of BUD13 determines the severity of a developmental disorder with lipodystrophy and progeroid features.

PURPOSE: In this study we aimed to identify the molecular genetic cause of a progressive multisystem disease with prominent lipodystrophy. METHODS: In total, 5 affected individuals were investigated using exome sequencing. Dermal fibroblasts were characterized using RNA sequencing, proteomics, immunoblotting, immunostaining, and electron microscopy. Subcellular localization and rescue studies were performed. RESULTS: We identified a lipodystrophy phenotype with a typical facial appearance, corneal clouding, achalasia, progressive hearing loss, and variable severity. Although 3 individuals showed stunted growth, intellectual disability, and died within the first decade of life (A1, A2, and A3), 2 are adults with normal intellectual development (A4 and A5). All individuals harbored an identical homozygous nonsense variant affecting the retention and splicing complex component BUD13. The nucleotide substitution caused alternative splicing of BUD13 leading to a stable truncated protein whose expression positively correlated with disease expression and life expectancy. In dermal fibroblasts, we found elevated intron retention, a global reduction of spliceosomal proteins, and nuclei with multiple invaginations, which were more pronounced in A1, A2, and A3. Overexpression of both BUD13 isoforms normalized the nuclear morphology. CONCLUSION: Our results define a hitherto unknown syndrome and show that the alternative splice product converts a loss-of-function into a hypomorphic allele, thereby probably determining the severity of the disease and the survival of affected individuals.

Temporal compartmentalization of viral infection in bacterial cells.

Virus infection causes major rearrangements in the subcellular architecture of eukaryotes, but its impact in prokaryotic cells was much less characterized. Here, we show that infection of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis by bacteriophage SPP1 leads to a hijacking of host replication proteins to assemble hybrid viral-bacterial replisomes for SPP1 genome replication. Their biosynthetic activity doubles the cell total DNA content within 15 min. Replisomes operate at several independent locations within a single viral DNA focus positioned asymmetrically in the cell. This large nucleoprotein complex is a self-contained compartment whose boundaries are delimited neither by a membrane nor by a protein cage. Later during infection, SPP1 procapsids localize at the periphery of the viral DNA compartment for genome packaging. The resulting DNA-filled capsids do not remain associated to the DNA transactions compartment. They bind to phage tails to build infectious particles that are stored in warehouse compartments spatially independent from the viral DNA. Free SPP1 structural proteins are recruited to the dynamic phage-induced compartments following an order that recapitulates the viral particle assembly pathway. These findings show that bacteriophages restructure the crowded host cytoplasm to confine at different cellular locations the sequential processes that are essential for their multiplication.

Estrogens Determine Adherens Junction Organization and E-Cadherin Clustering in Breast Cancer Cells via Amphiregulin.

Estrogens play an important role in the development and progression of human cancers, particularly in breast cancer. Breast cancer progression depends on the malignant destabilization of adherens junctions (AJs) and disruption of tissue integrity. We found that estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) inhibition led to a striking spatial reorganization of AJs and microclustering of E-Cadherin (E-Cad) in the cell membrane of breast cancer cells. This resulted in increased stability of AJs and cell stiffness and a reduction of cell motility. These effects were actomyosin-dependent and reversible by estrogens. Detailed investigations showed that the ERα target gene and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand Amphiregulin (AREG) essentially regulates AJ reorganization and E-Cad microclustering. Our results not only describe a biological mechanism for the organization of AJs and the modulation of mechanical properties of cells but also provide a new perspective on how estrogens and anti-estrogens might influence the formation of breast tumors.

The microfollicle: a model of the human hair follicle for in vitro studies.

Access to complex in vitro models that recapitulate the unique markers and cell-cell interactions of the hair follicle is rather limited. Creation of scalable, affordable, and relevant in vitro systems which can provide predictive screens of cosmetic ingredients and therapeutic actives for hair health would be highly valued. In this study, we explore the features of the microfollicle, a human hair follicle organoid model based on the spatio-temporally defined co-culture of primary cells. The microfollicle provides a 3D differentiation platform for outer root sheath keratinocytes, dermal papilla fibroblasts, and melanocytes, via epidermal-mesenchymal-neuroectodermal cross-talk. For assay applications, microfollicle cultures were adapted to 96-well plates suitable for medium-throughput testing up to 21 days, and characterized for their spatial and lineage markers. The microfollicles showed hair-specific keratin expression in both early and late stages of cultivation. The gene expression profile of microfollicles was also compared with human clinical biopsy samples in response to the benchmark hair-growth compound, minoxidil. The gene expression changes in microfollicles showed up to 75% overlap with the corresponding gene expression signature observed in the clinical study. Based on our results, the cultivation of the microfollicle appears to be a practical tool for generating testable insights for hair follicle development and offers a complex model for pre-clinical substance testing.

Equid Herpesvirus-1 Exploits the Extracellular Matrix of Mononuclear Cells to Ensure Transport to Target Cells.

Mononuclear cells are the first line of defense against microbial infection. Yet, several viruses have evolved different mechanisms to overcome host defenses to ensure their spread. Here, we show unique mechanisms of how equid herpesvirus-1 manipulates peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to travel further in the body. (1) "PBMC-hitching": at the initial contact, herpesviruses lurk in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of PBMC without entering the cells. The virus exploits the components of the ECM to bind, transport, and then egress to infect other cells. (2) "Intracellular delivery": transendothelial migration is a physiological mechanism where mononuclear cells can transmigrate through the endothelial cells. The virus was intangible and probably did not interfere with such a mechanism where the infected PBMC can probably deliver the virus inside the endothelium. (3) "Classical-fusion": this process is well mastered by herpesviruses due to a set of envelope glycoproteins that facilitate cell-cell fusion and virus spread.

Cell type-dependent differential activation of ERK by oncogenic KRAS in colon cancer and intestinal epithelium.

Oncogenic mutations in KRAS or BRAF are frequent in colorectal cancer and activate the ERK kinase. Here, we find graded ERK phosphorylation correlating with cell differentiation in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids with and without KRAS mutations. Using reporters, single cell transcriptomics and mass cytometry, we observe cell type-specific phosphorylation of ERK in response to transgenic KRASG12V in mouse intestinal organoids, while transgenic BRAFV600E activates ERK in all cells. Quantitative network modelling from perturbation data reveals that activation of ERK is shaped by cell type-specific MEK to ERK feed forward and negative feedback signalling. We identify dual-specificity phosphatases as candidate modulators of ERK in the intestine. Furthermore, we find that oncogenic KRAS, together with ß-Catenin, favours expansion of crypt cells with high ERK activity. Our experiments highlight key differences between oncogenic BRAF and KRAS in colorectal cancer and find unexpected heterogeneity in a signalling pathway with fundamental relevance for cancer therapy.

De Novo Mutations in SLC25A24 Cause a Craniosynostosis Syndrome with Hypertrichosis, Progeroid Appearance, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Gorlin-Chaudhry-Moss syndrome (GCMS) is a dysmorphic syndrome characterized by coronal craniosynostosis and severe midface hypoplasia, body and facial hypertrichosis, microphthalmia, short stature, and short distal phalanges. Variable lipoatrophy and cutis laxa are the basis for a progeroid appearance. Using exome and genome sequencing, we identified the recurrent de novo mutations c.650G>A (p.Arg217His) and c.649C>T (p.Arg217Cys) in SLC25A24 in five unrelated girls diagnosed with GCMS. Two of the girls had pronounced neonatal progeroid features and were initially diagnosed with Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome. SLC25A24 encodes a mitochondrial inner membrane ATP-Mg/Pi carrier. In fibroblasts from affected individuals, the mutated SLC25A24 showed normal stability. In contrast to control cells, the probands' cells showed mitochondrial swelling, which was exacerbated upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The same effect was observed after overexpression of the mutant cDNA. Under normal culture conditions, the mitochondrial membrane potential of the probands' fibroblasts was intact, whereas ATP content in the mitochondrial matrix was lower than that in control cells. However, upon H2O2 exposure, the membrane potential was significantly elevated in cells harboring the mutated SLC25A24. No reduction of mitochondrial DNA copy number was observed. These findings demonstrate that mitochondrial dysfunction with increased sensitivity to oxidative stress is due to the SLC25A24 mutations. Our results suggest that the SLC25A24 mutations induce a gain of pathological function and link mitochondrial ATP-Mg/Pi transport to the development of skeletal and connective tissue.

Footprint-free human fetal foreskin derived iPSCs: A tool for modeling hepatogenesis associated gene regulatory networks.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are similar to embryonic stem cells and can be generated from somatic cells. We have generated episomal plasmid-based and integration-free iPSCs (E-iPSCs) from human fetal foreskin fibroblast cells (HFF1). We used an E-iPSC-line to model hepatogenesis in vitro. The HLCs were characterized biochemically, i.e. glycogen storage, ICG uptake and release, UREA and bile acid production, as well as CYP3A4 activity. Ultra-structure analysis by electron microscopy revealed the presence of lipid and glycogen storage, tight junctions and bile canaliculi- all typical features of hepatocytes. Furthermore, the transcriptome of undifferentiated E-iPSC, DE, HE and HLCs were compared to that of fetal liver and primary human hepatocytes (PHH). K-means clustering identified 100 clusters which include developmental stage-specific groups of genes, e.g. OCT4 expression at the undifferentiated stage, SOX17 marking the DE stage, DLK and HNF6 the HE stage, HNF4α and Albumin is specific to HLCs, fetal liver and adult liver (PHH) stage. We use E-iPSCs for modeling gene regulatory networks associated with human hepatogenesis and gastrulation in general.

Human iPSC-Derived Neural Progenitors Are an Effective Drug Discovery Model for Neurological mtDNA Disorders.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations frequently cause neurological diseases. Modeling of these defects has been difficult because of the challenges associated with engineering mtDNA. We show here that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) retain the parental mtDNA profile and exhibit a metabolic switch toward oxidative phosphorylation. NPCs derived in this way from patients carrying a deleterious homoplasmic mutation in the mitochondrial gene MT-ATP6 (m.9185T>C) showed defective ATP production and abnormally high mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), plus altered calcium homeostasis, which represents a potential cause of neural impairment. High-content screening of FDA-approved drugs using the MMP phenotype highlighted avanafil, which we found was able to partially rescue the calcium defect in patient NPCs and differentiated neurons. Overall, our results show that iPSC-derived NPCs provide an effective model for drug screening to target mtDNA disorders that affect the nervous system.

Nuclear translocation uncovers the amyloid peptide Aß42 as a regulator of gene transcription.

Although soluble species of the amyloid-ß peptide Aß42 correlate with disease symptoms in Alzheimer disease, little is known about the biological activities of amyloid-ß (Aß). Here, we show that Aß peptides varying in lengths from 38 to 43 amino acids are internalized by cultured neuroblastoma cells and can be found in the nucleus. By three independent methods, we demonstrate direct detection of nuclear Aß42 as follows: (i) biochemical analysis of nuclear fractions; (ii) detection of biotin-labeled Aß in living cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy; and (iii) transmission electron microscopy of Aß in cultured cells, as well as brain tissue of wild-type and transgenic APPPS1 mice (overexpression of amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1 with Swedish and L166P mutations, respectively). Also, this study details a novel role for Aß42 in nuclear signaling, distinct from the amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that Aß42 specifically interacts as a repressor of gene transcription with LRP1 and KAI1 promoters. By quantitative RT-PCR, we confirmed that mRNA levels of the examined candidate genes were exclusively decreased by the potentially neurotoxic Aß42 wild-type peptide. Shorter peptides (Aß38 or Aß40) and other longer peptides (nontoxic Aß42 G33A substitution or Aß43) did not affect mRNA levels. Overall, our data indicate that the nuclear translocation of Aß42 impacts gene regulation, and deleterious effects of Aß42 in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis may be influenced by altering the expression profiles of disease-modifying genes.

Generation and characterization of a Leishmania tarentolae strain for site-directed in vivo biotinylation of recombinant proteins.

Leishmania tarentolae is a non-human-pathogenic Leishmania species of growing interest in biotechnology, as it is well-suited for the expression of human recombinant proteins. For many applications it is desirable to express recombinant proteins with a tag allowing easy purification and detection. Hence, we adopted a scheme to express recombinant proteins with a His6-tag and, additionally, to site-specifically in vivo biotinylate them for detection. Biotinylation is a relatively rare modification of endogenous proteins that allows easy detection with negligible cross-reactivity. Here, we established a genetically engineered L. tarentolae strain constitutively expressing the codon-optimized biotin-protein ligase from Escherichia coli (BirA). We thoroughly analyzed the strain for functionality using 2-D polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (PAGE), mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We could demonstrate that neither metabolic changes (growth rate) nor structural abnormalities (TEM) occurred. To our knowledge, we show the first 2-D PAGE analyses of L. tarentolae. Our results demonstrate the great benefit of the established L. tarentolae in vivo biotinylation strain for production of dual-tagged recombinant proteins. Additionally, 2-D PAGE and TEM results give insights into the biology of L. tarentolae, helping to better understand Leishmania species. Finally, we envisage that the system is transferable to human-pathogenic species.

LGALS3BP regulates centriole biogenesis and centrosome hypertrophy in cancer cells.

Centrosome morphology and number are frequently deregulated in cancer cells. Here, to identify factors that are functionally relevant for centrosome abnormalities in cancer cells, we established a protein-interaction network around 23 centrosomal and cell-cycle regulatory proteins, selecting the interacting proteins that are deregulated in cancer for further studies. One of these components, LGALS3BP, is a centriole- and basal body-associated protein with a dual role, triggering centrosome hypertrophy when overexpressed and causing accumulation of centriolar substructures when downregulated. The cancer cell line SK-BR-3 that overexpresses LGALS3BP exhibits hypertrophic centrosomes, whereas in seminoma tissues with low expression of LGALS3BP, supernumerary centriole-like structures are present. Centrosome hypertrophy is reversed by depleting LGALS3BP in cells endogenously overexpressing this protein, supporting a direct role in centrosome aberration. We propose that LGALS3BP suppresses assembly of centriolar substructures, and when depleted, causes accumulation of centriolar complexes comprising CPAP, acetylated tubulin and centrin.

FGF inhibition directs BMP4-mediated differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to syncytiotrophoblast.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is known to support differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into mesoderm and extraembryonic lineages, whereas other signaling pathways can largely influence this lineage specification. Here, we set out to reinvestigate the influence of ACTIVIN/NODAL and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathways on the lineage choices made by hESCs during BMP4-driven differentiation. We show that BMP activation, coupled with inhibition of both ACTIVIN/NODAL and FGF signaling, induces differentiation of hESCs, specifically to ßhCG hormone-secreting multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast and does not support induction of embryonic and extraembryonic lineages, extravillous trophoblast, and primitive endoderm. It has been previously reported that FGF2 can switch BMP4-induced hESC differentiation outcome to mesendoderm. Here, we show that FGF inhibition alone, or in combination with either ACTIVIN/NODAL inhibition or BMP activation, supports hESC differentiation to hCG-secreting syncytiotrophoblast. We show that the inhibition of the FGF pathway acts as a key in directing BMP4-mediated hESC differentiation to syncytiotrophoblast.

Mitochondrial-associated cell death mechanisms are reset to an embryonic-like state in aged donor-derived iPS cells harboring chromosomal aberrations.

Somatic cells reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) acquire features of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and thus represent a promising source for cellular therapy of debilitating diseases, such as age-related disorders. However, reprogrammed cell lines have been found to harbor various genomic alterations. In addition, we recently discovered that the mitochondrial DNA of human fibroblasts also undergoes random mutational events upon reprogramming. Aged somatic cells might possess high susceptibility to nuclear and mitochondrial genome instability. Hence, concerns over the oncogenic potential of reprogrammed cells due to the lack of genomic integrity may hinder the applicability of iPSC-based therapies for age-associated conditions. Here, we investigated whether aged reprogrammed cells harboring chromosomal abnormalities show resistance to apoptotic cell death or mitochondrial-associated oxidative stress, both hallmarks of cancer transformation. Four iPSC lines were generated from dermal fibroblasts derived from an 84-year-old woman, representing the oldest human donor so far reprogrammed to pluripotency. Despite the presence of karyotype aberrations, all aged-iPSCs were able to differentiate into neurons, re-establish telomerase activity, and reconfigure mitochondrial ultra-structure and functionality to a hESC-like state. Importantly, aged-iPSCs exhibited high sensitivity to drug-induced apoptosis and low levels of oxidative stress and DNA damage, in a similar fashion as iPSCs derived from young donors and hESCs. Thus, the occurrence of chromosomal abnormalities within aged reprogrammed cells might not be sufficient to over-ride the cellular surveillance machinery and induce malignant transformation through the alteration of mitochondrial-associated cell death. Taken together, we unveiled that cellular reprogramming is capable of reversing aging-related features in somatic cells from a very old subject, despite the presence of genomic alterations. Nevertheless, we believe it will be essential to develop reprogramming protocols capable of safeguarding the integrity of the genome of aged somatic cells, before employing iPSC-based therapy for age-associated disorders.

The senescence-related mitochondrial/oxidative stress pathway is repressed in human induced pluripotent stem cells.

The ability of stem cells to propagate indefinitely is believed to occur via the fine modulation of pathways commonly involved in cellular senescence, including the telomerase, the p53, and the mitochondrial/oxidative stress pathways. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a novel stem cell population obtained from somatic cells through forced expression of a set of genes normally expressed in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). These reprogrammed cells acquire self-renewal properties and appear almost undistinguishable from ESCs in terms of morphology, gene expression, and differentiation potential. Accordingly, iPSCs exhibit alterations of the senescence-related telomerase and p53 signaling pathways. However, although treatments with antioxidants have been recently shown to enhance cellular reprogramming, detailed information regarding the state of the mitochondrial/oxidative stress pathway in iPSCs is still lacking. Mitochondria undergo specific changes during organismal development and aging. Thus, addressing whether somatic mitochondria within iPSCs acquire ESC-like features or retain the phenotype of the parental cell is an unanswered but relevant question. Herein, we demonstrate that somatic mitochondria within human iPSCs revert to an immature ESC-like state with respect to organelle morphology and distribution, expression of nuclear factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, content of mitochondrial DNA, intracellular ATP level, oxidative damage, and lactate generation. Upon differentiation, mitochondria within iPSCs and ESCs exhibited analogous maturation and anaerobic-to-aerobic metabolic modifications. Overall, the data highlight that human iPSCs and ESCs, although not identical, share similar mitochondrial properties and suggest that cellular reprogramming can modulate the mitochondrial/oxidative stress pathway, thus inducing a rejuvenated state capable of escaping cellular senescence.

Molecular mechanisms involved in the angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas signaling pathway in cardiomyocytes.

Recently there has been growing evidence suggesting that beneficial effects of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] in the heart are mediated by its receptor Mas. However, the signaling pathways involved in these effects in cardiomyocytes are unknown. Here, we investigated the involvement of the Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis in NO generation and Ca(2+) handling in adult ventricular myocytes using a combination of molecular biology, intracellular Ca(2+) imaging, and confocal microscopy. Acute Ang-(1-7) treatment (10 nmol/L) leads to NO production and activates endothelial NO synthase and Akt in cardiomyocytes. Ang-(1-7)-dependent NO raise was abolished by pretreatment with A-779 (1 micromol/L). To confirm that Ang-(1-7) action is mediated by Mas, we used cardiomyocytes isolated from Mas-deficient mice. In Mas-deficient cardiomyocytes, Ang-(1-7) failed to increase NO levels. Moreover, Mas-ablation was accompanied by significant alterations in the proteins involved in the regulation of endothelial NO synthase activity, indicating that endothelial NO synthase and its binding partners are important effectors of the Mas-mediated pathway in cardiomyocytes. We then investigated the role of the Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis on Ca(2+) signaling. Cardiomyocytes treated with 10 nmol/L of Ang-(1-7) did not show changes in Ca(2+)-transient parameters such as peak Ca(2+) transients and kinetics of decay. Nevertheless, cardiomyocytes from Mas-deficient mice presented reduced peak and slower [Ca(2+)](i) transients when compared with wild-type cardiomyocytes. Lower Ca(2+) ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum expression levels accompanied the reduced Ca(2+) transient in Mas-deficient cardiomyocytes. Therefore, chronic Mas-deficiency leads to impaired Ca(2+) handling in cardiomyocytes. Collectively, these observations reveal a key role for the Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis as a modulator of cardiomyocyte function.