Production of an antigenic peptide by insulin-degrading enzyme.

Most antigenic peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules are produced by the proteasome. Here we show that a proteasome-independent peptide derived from the human tumor protein MAGE-A3 is produced directly by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a cytosolic metallopeptidase. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition of tumor cells was reduced after metallopeptidase inhibition or IDE silencing. Separate inhibition of the metallopeptidase and the proteasome impaired degradation of MAGE-A3 proteins, and simultaneous inhibition of both further stabilized MAGE-A3 proteins. These results suggest that MAGE-A3 proteins are degraded along two parallel pathways that involve either the proteasome or IDE and produce different sets of antigenic peptides presented by MHC class I molecules.

Analysis of the processing of seven human tumor antigens by intermediate proteasomes.

We recently described two proteasome subtypes that are intermediate between the standard proteasome and the immunoproteasome. They contain only one (ß5i) or two (ß1i and ß5i) of the three inducible catalytic subunits of the immunoproteasome. They are present in tumor cells and abundant in normal human tissues. We described two tumor antigenic peptides that are uniquely produced by these intermediate proteasomes. In this work, we studied the production by intermediate proteasomes of tumor antigenic peptides known to be produced exclusively by the immunoproteasome (MAGE-A3(114-122), MAGE-C2(42-50), MAGE-C2(336-344)) or the standard proteasome (Melan-A(26-35), tyrosinase(369-377), gp100(209-217)). We observed that intermediate proteasomes efficiently produced the former peptides, but not the latter. Two peptides from the first group were equally produced by both intermediate proteasomes, whereas MAGE-C2(336-344) was only produced by intermediate proteasome ß1i-ß5i. Those results explain the recognition of tumor cells devoid of immunoproteasome by CTL recognizing peptides not produced by the standard proteasome. We also describe a third antigenic peptide that is produced exclusively by an intermediate proteasome: peptide MAGE-C2(191-200) is produced only by intermediate proteasome ß1i-ß5i. Analyzing in vitro digests, we observed that the lack of production by a given proteasome usually results from destruction of the antigenic peptide by internal cleavage. Interestingly, we observed that the immunoproteasome and the intermediate proteasomes fail to cleave between hydrophobic residues, despite a higher chymotrypsin-like activity measured on fluorogenic substrates. Altogether, our results indicate that the repertoire of peptides produced by intermediate proteasomes largely matches the repertoire produced by the immunoproteasome, but also contains additional peptides.

Two abundant proteasome subtypes that uniquely process some antigens presented by HLA class I molecules.

Most antigenic peptides presented by MHC class I molecules result from the degradation of intracellular proteins by the proteasome. In lymphoid tissues and cells exposed to IFNγ, the standard proteasome is replaced by the immunoproteasome, in which all of the standard catalytic subunits ß1, ß2, and ß5 are replaced by their inducible counterparts ß1i, ß2i, and ß5i, which have different cleavage specificities. The immunoproteasome thereby shapes the repertoire of antigenic peptides. The existence of additional forms of proteasomes bearing a mixed assortment of standard and inducible catalytic subunits has been suggested. Using a new set of unique subunit-specific antibodies, we have now isolated, quantified, and characterized human proteasomes that are intermediate between the standard proteasome and the immunoproteasome. They contain only one (ß5i) or two (ß1i and ß5i) of the three inducible catalytic subunits of the immunoproteasome. These intermediate proteasomes represent between one-third and one-half of the proteasome content of human liver, colon, small intestine, and kidney. They are also present in human tumor cells and dendritic cells. We identified two tumor antigens of clinical interest that are processed exclusively either by intermediate proteasomes ß5i (MAGE-A3(271-279)) or by intermediate proteasomes ß1i-ß5i (MAGE-A10(254-262)). The existence of these intermediate proteasomes broadens the repertoire of antigens presented to CD8 T cells and implies that the antigens presented by a given cell depend on their proteasome content.

The Celsr3-Kif2a axis directs neuronal migration in the postnatal brain.

The tangential migration of immature neurons in the postnatal brain involves consecutive migration cycles and depends on constant remodeling of the cell cytoskeleton, particularly in the leading process (LP). Despite the identification of several proteins with permissive and empowering functions, the mechanisms that specify the direction of migration remain largely unknown. Here, we report that planar cell polarity protein Celsr3 orients neuroblasts migration from the subventricular zone (SVZ) to olfactory bulb (OB). In Celsr3-forebrain conditional knockout mice, neuroblasts loose directionality and few can reach the OB. Celsr3-deficient neuroblasts exhibit aberrant branching of LP, de novo LP formation, and decreased growth rate of microtubules (MT). Mechanistically, we show that Celsr3 interacts physically with Kif2a, a MT depolymerizing protein and that conditional inactivation of Kif2a in the forebrain recapitulates the Celsr3 knockout phenotype. Our findings provide evidence that Celsr3 and Kif2a cooperatively specify the directionality of neuroblasts tangential migration in the postnatal brain.

Evidence for a tumoral immune resistance mechanism based on tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

T lymphocytes undergo proliferation arrest when exposed to tryptophan shortage, which can be provoked by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme that is expressed in placenta and catalyzes tryptophan degradation. Here we show that most human tumors constitutively express IDO. We also observed that expression of IDO by immunogenic mouse tumor cells prevents their rejection by preimmunized mice. This effect is accompanied by a lack of accumulation of specific T cells at the tumor site and can be partly reverted by systemic treatment of mice with an inhibitor of IDO, in the absence of noticeable toxicity. These results suggest that the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination of cancer patients might be improved by concomitant administration of an IDO inhibitor.

The cytoplasmic peptidase DPP9 is rate-limiting for degradation of proline-containing peptides.

Protein degradation is an essential process that continuously takes place in all living cells. Regulated degradation of most cellular proteins is initiated by proteasomes, which produce peptides of varying length. These peptides are rapidly cleaved to single amino acids by cytoplasmic peptidases. Proline-containing peptides pose a specific problem due to structural constrains imposed by the pyrrolidine ring that prevents most peptidases from cleavage. Here we show that DPP9, a poorly characterized cytoplasmic prolyl-peptidase, is rate-limiting for destruction of proline-containing substrates both in cell extracts and in intact cells. We identified the first natural substrate for DPP9, the RU1(34-42) antigenic peptide (VPYGSFKHV). RU1(34-42) is degraded in vitro by DPP9, and down-regulation of DPP9 in intact cells results in increased presentation of this antigen. Together our findings demonstrate an important role for DPP9 in peptide turnover and antigen presentation.

Dystroglycan is a scaffold for extracellular axon guidance decisions.

Axon guidance requires interactions between extracellular signaling molecules and transmembrane receptors, but how appropriate context-dependent decisions are coordinated outside the cell remains unclear. Here we show that the transmembrane glycoprotein Dystroglycan interacts with a changing set of environmental cues that regulate the trajectories of extending axons throughout the mammalian brain and spinal cord. Dystroglycan operates primarily as an extracellular scaffold during axon guidance, as it functions non-cell autonomously and does not require signaling through its intracellular domain. We identify the transmembrane receptor Celsr3/Adgrc3 as a binding partner for Dystroglycan, and show that this interaction is critical for specific axon guidance events in vivo. These findings establish Dystroglycan as a multifunctional scaffold that coordinates extracellular matrix proteins, secreted cues, and transmembrane receptors to regulate axon guidance.