Prefoldin plays a role as a clearance factor in preventing proteasome inhibitor-induced protein aggregation.

Prefoldin is a molecular chaperone composed of six subunits, PFD1-6, and prevents misfolding of newly synthesized nascent polypeptides. Although it is predicted that prefoldin, like other chaperones, modulates protein aggregation, the precise function of prefoldin against protein aggregation under physiological conditions has never been elucidated. In this study, we first established an anti-prefoldin monoclonal antibody that recognizes the prefoldin complex but not its subunits. Using this antibody, it was found that prefoldin was localized in the cytoplasm with dots in co-localization with polyubiquitinated proteins and that the number and strength of dots were increased in cells that had been treated with lactacystin, a proteasome inhibitor, and thapsigargin, an inducer of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Knockdown of prefoldin increased the level of SDS-insoluble ubiquitinated protein and reduced cell viability in lactacystin and thapsigargin-treated cells. Opposite results were obtained in prefoldin-overexpressed cells. It has been reported that mice harboring a missense mutation L110R of MM-1α/PFD5 exhibit neurodegeneration in the cerebellum. Although the prefoldin complex containing L110R MM-1α was properly formed in vitro and in cells derived from L110R MM-1α mice, the levels of ubiquitinated proteins and cytotoxicity were higher in L110R MM-1α cells than in wild-type cells under normal conditions and were increased by lactacystin and thapsigargin treatment, and growth of L110R MM-1α cells was attenuated. Furthermore, the polyubiquitinated protein aggregation level was increased in the brains of L110R MM-1α mice. These results suggest that prefoldin plays a role in quality control against protein aggregation and that dysfunction of prefoldin is one of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases.

Prefoldin protects neuronal cells from polyglutamine toxicity by preventing aggregation formation.

Huntington disease is caused by cell death after the expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts longer than ∼40 repeats encoded by exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Prefoldin is a molecular chaperone composed of six subunits, PFD1-6, and prevents misfolding of newly synthesized nascent polypeptides. In this study, we found that knockdown of PFD2 and PFD5 disrupted prefoldin formation in HTT-expressing cells, resulting in accumulation of aggregates of a pathogenic form of HTT and in induction of cell death. Dead cells, however, did not contain inclusions of HTT, and analysis by a fluorescence correlation spectroscopy indicated that knockdown of PFD2 and PFD5 also increased the size of soluble oligomers of pathogenic HTT in cells. In vitro single molecule observation demonstrated that prefoldin suppressed HTT aggregation at the small oligomer (dimer to tetramer) stage. These results indicate that prefoldin inhibits elongation of large oligomers of pathogenic Htt, thereby inhibiting subsequent inclusion formation, and suggest that soluble oligomers of polyQ-expanded HTT are more toxic than are inclusion to cells.

Prefoldin subunits are protected from ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated degradation by forming complex with other constituent subunits.

The molecular chaperone prefoldin (PFD) is a complex comprised of six different subunits, PFD1-PFD6, and delivers newly synthesized unfolded proteins to cytosolic chaperonin TRiC/CCT to facilitate the folding of proteins. PFD subunits also have functions different from the function of the PFD complex. We previously identified MM-1α/PFD5 as a novel c-Myc-binding protein and found that MM-1α suppresses transformation activity of c-Myc. However, it remains unclear how cells regulate protein levels of individual subunits and what mechanisms alter the ratio of their activities between subunits and their complex. In this study, we found that knockdown of one subunit decreased protein levels of other subunits and that transfection of five subunits other than MM-1α into cells increased the level of endogenous MM-1α. We also found that treatment of cells with MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, increased the level of transfected/overexpressed MM-1α but not that of endogenous MM-1α, indicating that overexpressed MM-1α, but not endogenous MM-1α, was degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Experiments using other PFD subunits showed that the UPS degraded a monomer of PFD subunits, though extents of degradation varied among subunits. Furthermore, the level of one subunit was increased after co-transfection with the respective subunit, indicating that there are specific combinations between subunits to be stabilized. These results suggest mutual regulation of protein levels among PFD subunits and show how individual subunits form the PFD complex without degradation.

111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide exhibits higher tumor accumulation and lower renal radioactivity than 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide.

INTRODUCTION: 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide scintigraphy is an important method of detecting neuroendocrine tumors. We previously reported that a new derivative of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide, 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide, accomplished the reduction of prolonged renal accumulation of radioactivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tumor accumulation of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide in vitro and in vivo by comparing it with 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide. METHODS: The tumor accumulation of this octreotide derivative was determined by measuring its uptake using cultured AR42J cells in vitro and biodistribution studies in vivo. The distribution of the radiotracer and the extent of somatostatin receptor-specific uptake in the tumor were estimated by a counting method using AR42J tumor-bearing mice. The radioactive metabolite species in the tumor and kidney were identified by HPLC analyses at 3 and 24h post-injection of the 111In-DTPA-conjugated peptide. RESULTS: In both cases, in vitro and in vivo, the tumor radioactivity levels of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide were approximately 2-4 times higher than those of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide. On in vitro cellular uptake inhibition and radioreceptor assay, 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide exhibited a binding affinity to somatostatin receptor highly similar to that of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide. As the additional cellular uptake of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide was significantly lower at low temperature than at 37°C, it was considered that a cellular uptake pathway is involved in energy-dependent endocytotic processes. In the radiometabolite analysis of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide, 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-Asp-OH was a major metabolite in the tumor at 24h post-injection. CONCLUSION: 111In-DTPA-d-Phe-1-Asp0-d-Phe1-octreotide exhibited higher tumor accumulation and persistence of tumor radioactivity than 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide. We reasoned that this higher tumor accumulation would not be based on the receptor affinity but on a receptor-mediated endocytotic process involved in temperature-dependent cellular uptake. The present study demonstrated the great potential of the pharmaceutical development of a new radiolabeled peptide with high tumor accumulation and low renal radioactivity by the chemical modification of 111In-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide.

A novel nucleolar protein, PAPA-1, induces growth arrest as a result of cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase.

We have identified a novel nucleolar protein, PAP-1-associated protein-1 (PAPA-1), after screening the interacting proteins with Pim-1-associated protein-1 (PAP-1), a protein that is a phosphorylation target of Pim-1 kinase. PAPA-1 comprises 345 amino acids with a basic amino-acid cluster. PAPA-1 was found to be localized in the nucleolus in transfected HeLa cells, and the lysine/histidine cluster was essential for nucleolar localization of PAPA-1. PAPA-1 protein and mRNA expression decreased upon serum restimulation of starvation-synchronized cells, which displayed maximum level of PAPA-1 expression at G0 and early G1 phase of the cell cycle. Ectopic expression of PAPA-1 induced growth suppression of cells, and the effect was dependent on its nucleolar localization in established HeLa cell lines that inducibly express PAPA-1 or its deletion mutant under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter. Furthermore, when PAPA-1-inducible HeLa cells were synchronized by thymidine, colcemid or mimosine, and then PAPA-1 was expressed, the proportion of cells at the G1 phase was obviously increased. These results suggest that PAPA-1 induces growth and cell cycle arrests at the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Transcriptional activation of the cholecystokinin gene by DJ-1 through interaction of DJ-1 with RREB1 and the effect of DJ-1 on the cholecystokinin level in mice.

DJ-1 is an oncogene and also causative gene for familial Parkinson's disease. DJ-1 has multiple functions, including transcriptional regulation. DJ-1 acts as a coactivator that binds to various transcription factors, resulting in stimulation or repression of the expression of their target genes. In this study, we found that the cholecystokinin (CCK) gene is a transcriptional target gene for DJ-1. CCK is a peptide hormone and plays roles in contraction of the gallbladder and in promotion of secretion of pancreatic fluid. CCK is co-localized with dopamine in the substantia nigra to regulate release of dopamine. Reduced expression of CCK mRNA was observed in DJ-1-knockdown cells. The Ras-responsive element (RRE) and Sp1 site were essential for promoter activity, and DJ-1 stimulated promoter activity by binding to RRE-binding protein 1 (RREBP1). The complex of DJ-1 with RREB1 but not with Sp1 bound to the RRE. Furthermore, the reduced CCK level in the serum from DJ-1-knockout mice compared to that from wild-type mice was observed. This is the first report showing that DJ-1 participates in peptide hormone synthesis.

Rabring7 degrades c-Myc through complex formation with MM-1.

We have reported that a novel c-Myc-binding protein, MM-1, repressed E-box-dependent transcription and transforming activities of c-Myc and that a mutation of A157R in MM-1, which is often observed in patients with leukemia or lymphoma, abrogated all of the repressive activities of MM-1 toward c-Myc, indicating that MM-1 is a novel tumor suppressor. MM-1 also binds to the ubiquitin-proteasome system, leading to degradation of c-Myc. In this study, we identified Rabring7, a Rab7-binding and RING finger-containing protein, as an MM-1-binding protein, and we found that Rabring7 mono-ubiquitinated MM-1 in the cytoplasm without degradation of MM-1. Rabring7 was also found to bind to c-Myc and to ubiquitinate c-Myc in a threonine 58-dependent manner. When c-Myc was co-transfected with MM-1 and Rabring7, c-Myc was degraded. Furthermore, it was found that c-Myc was stabilized in MM-1-knockdown cells even when Rabring7 was transfected and that Rabring7 was bound to and co-localized with MM-1 and c-Myc after MM-1 and Rabring7 had been translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. These results suggest that Rabring7 stimulates c-Myc degradation via mono-ubiquitination of MM-1.

DJ-1, an oncogene and causative gene for familial Parkinson's disease, is essential for SV40 transformation in mouse fibroblasts through up-regulation of c-Myc.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a tumor virus and its early gene product large T-antigen (LT) is responsible for the transforming activity of SV40. Parkinson's disease causative gene DJ-1 is also a ras-dependent oncogene, but the mechanism of its oncogene function is still not known. In this study, we found that there were no transformed foci when fibroblasts from DJ-1-knockout mice were transfected with LT. We also found that DJ-1 directly bound to LT and that the expression level of c-Myc in transformed cells was parallel to that of DJ-1. These findings indicate that DJ-1 is essential for SV40 transformation.

Oxidation of DJ-1-dependent cell transformation through direct binding of DJ-1 to PTEN.

DJ-1 is an oncogene and also a causative gene for a familial form of Parkinson's disease. DJ-1 has multiple functions, including anti-oxidative stress reaction and cysteine 106 (C106) of DJ-1 is an essential amino acid for DJ-1 to exert its function. While increased expression and secretion of DJ-1 into serum in patients with various cancers and regulation of p53 and PTEN by DJ-1 have been reported, the molecular mechanism underlying oncogenicity of DJ-1 is poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the function of DJ-1 in the PI3'K signaling pathway under an oxidative stress condition, focusing on the interaction of DJ-1 with PTEN. We found that both wild-type (wt) and C106S-DJ-1, a substitution mutant of DJ-1, directly bound to PTEN and inhibited PTEN phosphatase activity but that C106S-DJ-1 more strongly inhibited the activity than did wt-DJ-1. When NIH3T3 cells were treated with H2O2, oxidation of C106 of wt-DJ-1 occurred, accompanied by increased binding of wt-DJ-1 to PTEN, decreased PTEN activity and increased phosphorylation of AKT. C106S-DJ-1 transformed cells more strongly than did wt-DJ-1 and the transforming activity of DJ-1 was enhanced by H2O2 treatment of cells in which increased binding of DJ-1 to PTEN and decreased PTEN activity were observed. Furthermore, TOF-MS analysis of the oxidative status of C106 suggested that DJ-1 activity requires the presence of the reduced form of C106, which accounts for >50% of the total form. These results suggest that the oxidative status of DJ-1 regulates PTEN activity, leading to cell proliferation and transformation.

Negative regulation of the Wnt signal by MM-1 through inhibiting expression of the wnt4 gene.

We have reported that a novel c-Myc-binding protein, MM-1, repressed the E-box-dependent transcription activity of c-Myc through TIF1beta/KAP1, a transcriptional corepressor, and that the c-fms gene was a target gene involved in this pathway. We have also reported that a mutation of A157R in MM-1, which is often observed in patients with leukemia or lymphoma, abrogated all of the repressive activities of MM-1 toward c-Myc, indicating that MM-1 is a novel tumor suppressor. In this study, to further identify target genes of MM-1, DNA microarray analysis was carried out by comparing expression levels of genes in MM-1 knockdown and parental cells, and the wnt4 gene, a member of the Wnt-beta-catenin pathway, was identified as a target gene of MM-1. Increased expression level of the wnt4 gene, accumulation and translocation of beta-catenin to the cytoplasm and nucleus, and upregulation of TCF/Lef-1, a target protein of the Wnt-beta-catenin pathway, were found in MM-1 knockdown cells. Reporter assays using various deletion constructs of the wnt4 gene promoter showed that MM-1 recognized the region spanning -286 to -229 from a transcription start site, and MM-1 complex was found to bind to this region by chromatin immunoprecipitation and gel mobility shift assays. Furthermore, it was found that Egr-1 and MM-1 were bound to this region and that both proteins mutually down-regulate promoter activity of the wnt4 gene. Since the c-myc gene is the target gene of the Wnt-beta-catenin pathway, these findings suggest that MM-1 inhibits c-Myc by a dual mechanism.

CIR, a corepressor of CBF1, binds to PAP-1 and effects alternative splicing.

We have reported that PAP-1, a product of a causative gene for autosomal retinitis pigmentosa, plays a role in splicing. In this study, CIR, a protein originally identified as a CBF1-interacting protein and reported to act as a transcriptional corepressor, was identified as a PAP-1 binding protein and its function as a splicing factor was investigated. In addition to a basic lysine and acidic serine-rich (BA) domain and a zinc knuckle-like motif, CIR has an arginine/serine dipeptide repeat (RS) domain in its C terminal region. The RS domain has been reported to be present in the superfamily of SR proteins, which are involved in splicing reactions. We generated CIR mutants with deletions of each BA and RS domain and studied their subcellular localizations and interactions with PAP-1 and other SR proteins, including SC35, SF2/ASF, and U2AF35. CIR was found to interact with U2AF35 through the BA domain, with SC35 and SF2/ASF through the RS domain, and with PAP-1 outside the BA domain in vivo and in vitro. CIR was found to be colocalized with SC35 and PAP-1 in nuclear speckles. Then the effect of CIR on splicing was investigated using the E1a minigene as a reporter in HeLa cells. Ectopic expression of CIR with the E1a minigene changed the ratio of spliced isoforms of E1a that were produced by alternative selection of 5'-splice sites. These results indicate that CIR is a member of the family of SR-related proteins and that CIR plays a role in splicing regulation.

Association of PAP-1 and Prp3p, the products of causative genes of dominant retinitis pigmentosa, in the tri-snRNP complex.

PAP-1 has been identified by us as a Pim-1-binding protein and has recently been implicated as the defective gene in RP9, one type of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). We have then shown that PAP-1 plays a role in pre-mRNA splicing. Because four causative genes for adRP, including PAP-1, Prp31, Prp8, and Prp3, encode proteins that function as splicing factors or splicing-modulating factors, we investigated the interaction of PAP-1 with Prp3p and Prp31p in this study. The results showed that PAP-1 interacted with Prp3p but not Prp31p in human cells and yeast, and that the basic region of PAP-1 and the C-terminal region of Prp3p, regions beside spots found in adRP mutations, were needed for binding. Furthermore, both Prp3p and a part of PAP-1 were found to be components of the U4/U6.U5-tri-snRNP complex, one form of the spliceosome, in Ba/F3 and K562 cells by analysis of sucrose density gradients, suggesting that PAP-1 is weakly associated with the spliceosome. These results also suggest that splicing factors implicated in adRP contribute alone or mutually to proper splicing in the retina and that loss of their functions leads to onset of adRP.

PAP-1, the mutated gene underlying the RP9 form of dominant retinitis pigmentosa, is a splicing factor.

PAP-1 is an in vitro phosphorylation target of the Pim-1 oncogene. Although PAP-1 binds to Pim-1, it is not a substrate for phosphorylation by Pim-1 in vivo. PAP-1 has recently been implicated as the defective gene in RP9, one type of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). However, RP9 is a rare disease and only two missense mutations have been described, so the report of a link between PAP-1 and RP9 was tentative. The precise cellular role of PAP-1 was also unknown at that time. We now report that PAP-1 localizes in nuclear speckles containing the splicing factor SC35 and interacts directly with another splicing factor, U2AF35. Furthermore, we used in vitro and in vivo splicing assays to show that PAP-1 has an activity, which alters the pattern of pre-mRNA splicing and that this activity is dependent on the phosphorylation state of PAP-1. We used the same splicing assay to examine the activities of two mutant forms of PAP-1 found in RP9 patients. The results showed that while one of the mutations, H137L, had no effect on splicing activity compared with that of wild-type PAP-1, the other, D170G, resulted in both a defect in splicing activity and a decreased proportion of phosphorylated PAP-1. The D170G mutation may therefore cause RP by altering splicing of retinal genes through a decrease in PAP-1 phosphorylation. These results demonstrate that PAP-1 has a role in pre-mRNA splicing and, given that three other splicing factors have been implicated in adRP, this finding provides compelling further evidence that PAP-1 is indeed the RP9 gene.