Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 12.993
Filter
1.
Life Sci Alliance ; 7(12)2024 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39366759

ABSTRACT

SLMAP3 is a tail-anchored membrane protein that targets subcellular organelles and is believed to regulate Hippo signaling. The global loss of SLMAP3 causes late embryonic lethality in mice, with some embryos exhibiting neural tube defects such as craniorachischisis. We show here that SLMAP3 -/- embryos display reduced length and increased width of neural plates, signifying arrested convergent extension. The expression of planar cell polarity (PCP) components Dvl2/3 and the activity of the downstream targets ROCK2, cofilin, and JNK1/2 were dysregulated in SLMAP3 -/- E12.5 brains. Furthermore, the cytoskeletal proteins (γ-tubulin, actin, and nestin) and apical components (PKCζ and ZO-1) were mislocalized in neural tubes of SLMAP3 -/- embryos, with a subsequent decrease in colocalization of PCP proteins (Fzd6 and pDvl2). However, no changes in PCP or cytoskeleton proteins were found in cultured neuroepithelial cells depleted of SLMAP3, suggesting an essential requirement for SLMAP3 for these processes in vivo for neurulation. The loss of SLMAP3 had no impact on Hippo signaling in SLMAP3 -/- embryos, brains, and neural tubes. Proteomic analysis revealed SLMAP3 in an interactome with cytoskeletal components, including nestin, tropomyosin 4, intermediate filaments, plectin, the PCP protein SCRIB, and STRIPAK members in embryonic brains. These results reveal a crucial role of SLMAP3 in neural tube development by regulating the cytoskeleton organization and PCP pathway.


Subject(s)
Cell Polarity , Cytoskeleton , Mice, Knockout , Neurulation , Animals , Mice , Neurulation/genetics , Neurulation/physiology , Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Cell Polarity/physiology , Signal Transduction , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Brain/metabolism , Brain/embryology , Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism , Neural Tube/metabolism , Neural Tube/embryology , Hippo Signaling Pathway , Female , Nerve Tissue Proteins
2.
Cell Commun Signal ; 22(1): 468, 2024 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39354505

ABSTRACT

Dysregulation of Abelson interactor 1 (ABI1) is associated with various states of disease including developmental defects, pathogen infections, and cancer. ABI1 is an adaptor protein predominantly known to regulate actin cytoskeleton organization processes such as those involved in cell adhesion, migration, and shape determination. Linked to cytoskeleton via vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family (WAVE), and neural-Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP)-associated protein complexes, ABI1 coordinates regulation of various cytoplasmic protein signaling complexes dysregulated in disease states. The roles of ABI1 beyond actin cytoskeleton regulation are much less understood. This comprehensive, protein-centric review describes molecular roles of ABI1 as an adaptor molecule in the context of its dysregulation and associated disease outcomes to better understand disease state-specific protein signaling and affected interconnected biological processes.


Subject(s)
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Homeostasis , Humans , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Animals , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Disease , Signal Transduction
4.
Sci Adv ; 10(36): eadn6858, 2024 Sep 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39241071

ABSTRACT

Migration of endothelial and many other cells requires spatiotemporal regulation of protrusive and contractile cytoskeletal rearrangements that drive local cell shape changes. Unexpectedly, the small GTPase Rho, a crucial regulator of cell movement, has been reported to be active in both local cell protrusions and retractions, raising the question of how Rho activity can coordinate cell migration. Here, we show that Rho activity is absent in local protrusions and active during retractions. During retractions, Rho rapidly activated ezrin-radixin-moesin proteins (ERMs) to increase actin-membrane attachment, and, with a delay, nonmuscle myosin 2 (NM2). Rho activity was excitable, with NM2 acting as a slow negative feedback regulator. Strikingly, inhibition of SLK/LOK kinases, through which Rho activates ERMs, caused elongated cell morphologies, impaired Rho-induced cell contractions, and reverted Rho-induced blebbing. Together, our study demonstrates that Rho activity drives retractions by sequentially enhancing ERM-mediated actin-membrane attachment for force transmission and NM2-dependent contractility.


Subject(s)
Actomyosin , Cell Movement , Cell Shape , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Actomyosin/metabolism , Humans , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , rho GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Microfilament Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Actins/metabolism , Animals , Myosin Type II/metabolism
5.
Article in Chinese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39223046

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the potential evidence of active peripheral nerve necrosis when n-hexane produces toxic effects on peripheral nerves. Methods: In May 2023, 36 SPF grade SD male rats with a body weight of 200-220 g were divided into 4 groups with 9 rats in each group and given normal saline and different doses of n-hexane (168, 675, 2 700 mg/kg) by gavage for 6 consecutive weeks (5 days/week). Three rats in each group were killed at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week, respectively. The spinal cord to sciatic nerve tissue was broken and the supernatant was extracted for SDS-PAGE protein isolation. The expression level of Sarm1 protein was analyzed with the ß-Actin color strip of internal reference protein by Western blot. The expression of Sarm1 protein was analyzed by the gray ratio of the two. At the 6th week, the sciatic nerve sections of the each group were observed by light microscope and electron microscope. Results: The number of axons was obviously reduced by light microscopy. According to electron microscope, myelin lesions were mainly local disintegration, deformation, and different thickness. The deformation of axonal surface became smaller. The axons in the nerve bundle membrane showed degeneration and reduction. The gray ratio of Sarm1 protein and internal reference protein bands in each group had no significant change at the second week of exposure, and the ratio of SARM1 protein to internal reference protein bands was 1.47 in the high dose group at the fourth week, and 1.51 and 1.89 in the middle and high dose group at the sixth week, respectively. Conclusion: Waller's degeneration was observed in sciatic neuropathologic manifestations of n-hexane-poisoned rats, and the expression level of Sarm1 protein increased.


Subject(s)
Hexanes , Sciatic Nerve , Animals , Male , Rats , Armadillo Domain Proteins/metabolism , Axons/metabolism , Axons/pathology , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Sarin/toxicity , Sarin/poisoning , Sciatic Nerve/metabolism
6.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 8198, 2024 Sep 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39294118

ABSTRACT

During bacterial cytokinesis, polymers of the bacterial tubulin FtsZ coalesce into the Z ring to orchestrate divisome assembly and septal cell wall synthesis. Previous studies have found that Z ring condensation and stability is critical for successful cell division. However, how FtsZ filaments condense into a Z ring remains enigmatic and whether septal cell wall synthesis can feedback to the Z ring has not been investigated. Here, we show that FtsZ-associated proteins (Zaps) play important roles in Z ring condensation and stability, and discover septal cell wall synthesis as a novel player for Z ring condensation and stabilization in Escherichia coli and Caulobacter crescentus. Moreover, we find that the interaction between the Z ring membrane anchor, FtsA, and components of the septal cell wall synthetic complex are critical for septal cell wall synthesis-mediated Z ring condensation. Altogether, these findings suggest that the divisome is a self-enhancing machine in these two gram-negative bacteria, where the Z ring and the septal cell wall synthetic complex communicate with and reinforce each other to ensure robustness of cell division.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins , Caulobacter crescentus , Cell Wall , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Escherichia coli Proteins , Escherichia coli , Caulobacter crescentus/metabolism , Caulobacter crescentus/genetics , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Escherichia coli/genetics , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Cell Wall/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism , Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics , Cell Division , Cytokinesis
7.
Learn Mem ; 31(8)2024 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39260877

ABSTRACT

Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity, a process integral to learning and memory. Arc transcription is induced within a few minutes of stimulation, making it a useful marker for neuronal activity. However, the specific neuronal activity patterns that initiate Arc transcription have remained elusive due to the inability to observe mRNA transcription in live cells in real time. Using a genetically encoded RNA indicator (GERI) mouse model that expresses endogenous Arc mRNA tagged with multiple GFPs, we investigated Arc transcriptional activity in response to various electrical field stimulation patterns. The GERI mouse model was generated by crossing the Arc-PBS knock-in mouse, engineered with binding sites in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of Arc mRNA, and the transgenic mouse expressing the cognate binding protein fused to GFP. In dissociated hippocampal neurons, we found that the pattern of stimulation significantly affects Arc transcription. Specifically, theta-burst stimulation consisting of high-frequency (100 Hz) bursts delivered at 10 Hz frequency induced the highest rate of Arc transcription. Concurrently, the amplitudes of nuclear calcium transients also reached their peak with 10 Hz burst stimulation, indicating a correlation between calcium concentration and transcription. However, our dual-color single-cell imaging revealed that there were no significant differences in calcium amplitudes between Arc-positive and Arc-negative neurons upon 10 Hz burst stimulation, suggesting the involvement of other factors in the induction of Arc transcription. Our live-cell RNA imaging provides a deeper insight into the complex regulation of transcription by activity patterns and calcium signaling pathways.


Subject(s)
Cytoskeletal Proteins , Hippocampus , Nerve Tissue Proteins , Neurons , Transcription, Genetic , Animals , Mice , Calcium/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Electric Stimulation , Hippocampus/metabolism , Hippocampus/physiology , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Transgenic , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Neurons/physiology , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Transcription, Genetic/physiology
8.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(18)2024 Sep 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39337505

ABSTRACT

Glaucoma is chronic optic neuropathy whose pathogenesis has been associated with the altered metabolism of Trabecular Meshwork Cells, which is a cell type involved in the synthesis and remodeling of the trabecular meshwork, the main drainage pathway of the aqueous humor. Starting from previous findings supporting altered ubiquitin signaling, in this study, we investigated the ubiquitin-mediated turnover of myocilin (MYOC/TIGR gene), which is a glycoprotein with a recognized role in glaucoma pathogenesis, in a human Trabecular Meshwork strain cultivated in vitro in the presence of dexamethasone. This is a validated experimental model of steroid-induced glaucoma, and myocilin upregulation by glucocorticoids is a phenotypic marker of Trabecular Meshwork strains. Western blotting and native-gel electrophoresis first uncovered that, in the presence of dexamethasone, myocilin turnover by proteasome particles was slower than in the absence of the drug. Thereafter, co-immunoprecipitation, RT-PCR and gene-silencing studies identified STUB1/CHIP as a candidate E3-ligase of myocilin. In this regard, dexamethasone treatment was found to downregulate STUB1/CHIP levels by likely promoting its proteasome-mediated turnover. Hence, to strengthen the working hypothesis about global alterations of ubiquitin-signaling, the first profiling of TMCs ubiquitylome, in the presence and absence of dexamethasone, was here undertaken by diGLY proteomics. Application of this workflow effectively highlighted a robust dysregulation of key pathways (e.g., phospholipid signaling, ß-catenin, cell cycle regulation) in dexamethasone-treated Trabecular Meshwork Cells, providing an ubiquitin-centered perspective around the effect of glucocorticoids on metabolism and glaucoma pathogenesis.


Subject(s)
Cytoskeletal Proteins , Dexamethasone , Eye Proteins , Glycoproteins , Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex , Trabecular Meshwork , Ubiquitination , Trabecular Meshwork/metabolism , Trabecular Meshwork/drug effects , Trabecular Meshwork/cytology , Humans , Dexamethasone/pharmacology , Glycoproteins/metabolism , Glycoproteins/genetics , Eye Proteins/metabolism , Eye Proteins/genetics , Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Cells, Cultured , Ubiquitin/metabolism , Glaucoma/metabolism , Glaucoma/pathology
9.
Acta Neuropathol Commun ; 12(1): 144, 2024 Sep 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39227882

ABSTRACT

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease leading to motor neuron loss. Currently mutations in > 40 genes have been linked to ALS, but the contribution of many genes and genetic mutations to the ALS pathogenic process remains poorly understood. Therefore, we first performed comparative interactome analyses of five recently discovered ALS-associated proteins (C21ORF2, KIF5A, NEK1, TBK1, and TUBA4A) which highlighted many novel binding partners, and both unique and shared interactors. The analysis further identified C21ORF2 as a strongly connected protein. The role of C21ORF2 in neurons and in the nervous system, and of ALS-associated C21ORF2 variants is largely unknown. Therefore, we combined human iPSC-derived motor neurons with other models and different molecular cell biological approaches to characterize the potential pathogenic effects of C21ORF2 mutations in ALS. First, our data show C21ORF2 expression in ALS-relevant mouse and human neurons, such as spinal and cortical motor neurons. Further, the prominent ALS-associated variant C21ORF2-V58L caused increased apoptosis in mouse neurons and movement defects in zebrafish embryos. iPSC-derived motor neurons from C21ORF2-V58L-ALS patients, but not isogenic controls, show increased apoptosis, and changes in DNA damage response, mitochondria and neuronal excitability. In addition, C21ORF2-V58L induced post-transcriptional downregulation of NEK1, an ALS-associated protein implicated in apoptosis and DDR. In all, our study defines the pathogenic molecular and cellular effects of ALS-associated C21ORF2 mutations and implicates impaired post-transcriptional regulation of NEK1 downstream of mutant C21ORF72 in ALS.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells , Mitochondria , Motor Neurons , NIMA-Related Kinase 1 , Zebrafish , Animals , Humans , Mice , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/metabolism , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/pathology , DNA Damage , DNA Repair/genetics , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondria/pathology , Motor Neurons/metabolism , Motor Neurons/pathology , Mutation , NIMA-Related Kinase 1/genetics , NIMA-Related Kinase 1/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism
10.
Science ; 385(6715): 1366-1375, 2024 Sep 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39298589

ABSTRACT

Faithful chromosome segregation requires biorientation, where the pair of kinetochores on the chromosome establish bipolar microtubule attachment. The integrity of the kinetochore, a macromolecular complex built on centromeric DNA, is required for biorientation, but components sufficient for biorientation remain unknown. Here, we show that tethering the outer kinetochore heterodimer NDC80-NUF2 to the surface of apolar microbeads establishes their biorientation-like state in mouse cells. NDC80-NUF2 microbeads align at the spindle equator and self-correct alignment errors. The alignment is associated with stable bipolar microtubule attachment and is independent of the outer kinetochore proteins SPC24-SPC25, KNL1, the Mis12 complex, inner kinetochore proteins, and Aurora. Larger microbeads align more rapidly, suggesting a size-dependent biorientation mechanism. This study demonstrates a biohybrid kinetochore design for synthetic biorientation of microscale particles in cells.


Subject(s)
Cell Cycle Proteins , Chromosome Segregation , Kinetochores , Microspheres , Microtubule-Associated Proteins , Microtubules , Spindle Apparatus , Animals , Mice , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Kinetochores/metabolism , Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism , Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics , Microtubules/metabolism , Nuclear Proteins/metabolism , Nuclear Proteins/genetics , Spindle Apparatus/metabolism
11.
Int J Biol Macromol ; 279(Pt 2): 135252, 2024 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39222779

ABSTRACT

The bacterial cell division protein FtsZ has been considered a potential therapeutic target due to its rapid treadmilling that induces cellular wall construction in bacteria. The current study discovered a novel antimicrobial compound, silibinin, a natural flavonolignan and its impact on the recombinant S. aureus FtsZ (SaFtsZ). Silibinin inhibited S. aureus Newman growth in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 and MIC values for silibinin were 75 µM and 200 µM, respectively. It had no cytotoxicity against HEK293 cells in vitro. Silibinin also enlarged the bacterial cell morphology by ∼40 folds and showed antibiofilm property. It perturbed the S. aureus membrane potential both at IC50 conc. and at MIC conc. Further, it inhibited both the polymerization and GTPase activity of SaFtsZ. It did not inhibit tubulin assembly, a eukaryotic FtsZ homolog. A fluorescence quenching study yielded the Kd value for SaFtsZ-Silibinin interaction and binding stoichiometry 0.857 ± 0.188 µM and 1:1, respectively. Both in silico study and competition assay indicated that silibinin binds at the GTP binding site on SaFtsZ. The Ki value for the silibinin-mediated inhibition of SaFtsZ was 8.8 µM. Therefore, these findings have comprehensively shown the antimicrobial behavior of silibinin on S. aureus Newman cells targeting SaFtsZ.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Bacterial Proteins , Biofilms , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Silybin , Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Biofilms/drug effects , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Humans , Silybin/pharmacology , Silybin/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , HEK293 Cells , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Cell Division/drug effects , Molecular Docking Simulation
12.
CNS Neurosci Ther ; 30(8): e14695, 2024 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39107945

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex pathophysiological process, and increasing attention has been paid to the important role of post-synaptic density (PSD) proteins, such as glutamate receptors. Our previous study showed that a PSD protein Arc/Arg3.1 (Arc) regulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and neuronal necroptosis in traumatic injury in vitro. AIM: In this study, we investigated the expression, regulation and biological function of Arc in both in vivo and in vitro experimental TBI models. RESULTS: Traumatic neuronal injury (TNI) induced a temporal upregulation of Arc in cortical neurons, while TBI resulted in sustained increase in Arc expression up to 24 h in rats. The increased expression of Arc was mediated by the activity of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), but not dependent on the intracellular calcium (Ca2+) release. By using inhibitors and antagonists, we found that TNI regulates Arc expression via Gq protein and protein turnover. In addition, overexpression of Arc protects against TBI-induced neuronal injury and motor dysfunction both in vivo and in vitro, whereas the long-term cognitive function was not altered. To determine the role of Arc in mGluR5-induced protection, lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection was performed to knockdown Arc expression. The mGluR5 agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG)-induced protection against TBI was partially prevented by Arc knockdown. Furthermore, the CHPG-induced attenuation of Ca2+ influx after TNI was dependent on Arc activation and followed regulation of AMPAR subunits. The results of Co-IP and Ca2+ imaging showed that the Arc-Homer1 interaction contributes to the CHPG-induced regulation of intracellular Ca2+ release. CONCLUSION: In summary, the present data indicate that the mGluR5-mediated Arc activation is a protective mechanism that attenuates neurotoxicity following TBI through the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ hemostasis. The AMPAR-associated Ca2+ influx and ER Ca2+ release induced by Homer1-IP3R pathway might be involved in this protection.


Subject(s)
Brain Injuries, Traumatic , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Homer Scaffolding Proteins , Nerve Tissue Proteins , Neurons , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5 , Animals , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/pathology , Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5/metabolism , Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5/antagonists & inhibitors , Male , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/biosynthesis , Rats , Homer Scaffolding Proteins/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Neurons/drug effects , Disease Models, Animal , Cells, Cultured , Cerebral Cortex/metabolism , Calcium/metabolism , Glycine/analogs & derivatives , Phenylacetates
13.
Genes Brain Behav ; 23(4): e12910, 2024 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39164860

ABSTRACT

Repeated cocaine use produces adaptations in brain function that contribute to long-lasting behaviors associated with cocaine use disorder (CUD). In rodents, the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) can regulate glutamatergic synaptic transmission, and cocaine regulates Arc expression and subcellular localization in multiple brain regions, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc)-a brain region linked to CUD-related behavior. We show here that repeated, non-contingent cocaine administration in global Arc KO male mice produced a dramatic hypersensitization of cocaine locomotor responses and drug experience-dependent sensitization of conditioned place preference (CPP). In contrast to the global Arc KO mice, viral-mediated reduction of Arc in the adult male, but not female, NAc (shArcNAc) reduced both CPP and cocaine-induced locomotor activity, but without altering basal miniature or evoked glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Interestingly, cell type-specific knockdown of Arc in D1 dopamine receptor-expressing NAc neurons reduced cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization, but not cocaine CPP; whereas, Arc knockdown in D2 dopamine receptor-expressing NAc neurons reduced cocaine CPP, but not cocaine-induced locomotion. Taken together, our findings reveal that global, developmental loss of Arc produces hypersensitized cocaine responses; however, these effects cannot be explained by Arc's function in the adult mouse NAc since Arc is required in a cell type- and sex-specific manner to support cocaine-context associations and locomotor responses.


Subject(s)
Cocaine , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Nerve Tissue Proteins , Nucleus Accumbens , Animals , Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism , Nucleus Accumbens/drug effects , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Male , Mice , Female , Cocaine/pharmacology , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Receptors, Dopamine D1/metabolism , Receptors, Dopamine D1/genetics , Locomotion/drug effects , Cocaine-Related Disorders/metabolism , Cocaine-Related Disorders/genetics , Cocaine-Related Disorders/physiopathology , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Neurons/metabolism , Neurons/drug effects , Synaptic Transmission
14.
J Cell Biol ; 223(11)2024 Nov 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39172125

ABSTRACT

Membrane remodeling drives a broad spectrum of cellular functions, and it is regulated through mechanical forces exerted on the membrane by cytoplasmic complexes. Here, we investigate how actin filaments dynamically tune their structure to control the active transfer of membranes between cellular compartments with distinct compositions and biophysical properties. Using intravital subcellular microscopy in live rodents we show that a lattice composed of linear filaments stabilizes the granule membrane after fusion with the plasma membrane and a network of branched filaments linked to the membranes by Ezrin, a regulator of membrane tension, initiates and drives to completion the integration step. Our results highlight how the actin cytoskeleton tunes its structure to adapt to dynamic changes in the biophysical properties of membranes.


Subject(s)
Actin Cytoskeleton , Actins , Cell Membrane , Animals , Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Actins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Rats , Mice , Membrane Fusion
15.
Commun Biol ; 7(1): 944, 2024 Aug 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39098885

ABSTRACT

Depression is a prevalent and intricate mental disorder. The involvement of small RNA molecules, such as microRNAs in the pathogenesis and neuronal mechanisms underlying the depression have been documented. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of microRNA-143-3p (miR-143-3p) in the process of fear memory and pathogenesis of ischemia; however, the relationship between miR-143-3p and depression remains poorly understood. Here we utilized two kinds of mouse models to investigate the role of miR-143-3p in the pathogenesis of depression. Our findings reveal that the expression of miR-143-3p is upregulated in the ventral hippocampus (VH) of mice subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS) or acute Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Inhibiting the expression of miR-143-3p in the VH effectively alleviates depressive-like behaviors in CRS and LPS-treated mice. Furthermore, we identify Lasp1 as one of the downstream target genes regulated by miR-143-3p. The miR-143-3p/Lasp1 axis primarily affects the occurrence of depressive-like behaviors in mice by modulating synapse numbers in the VH. Finally, miR-143-3p/Lasp1-induced F-actin change is responsible for the synaptic number variations in the VH. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of microRNA-mediated depression pathogenesis and provides novel prospects for developing therapeutic approaches for this intractable mood disorder.


Subject(s)
Cytoskeletal Proteins , Depression , Hippocampus , MicroRNAs , Animals , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Hippocampus/metabolism , Mice , Depression/metabolism , Depression/genetics , Male , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , LIM Domain Proteins/genetics , LIM Domain Proteins/metabolism , Behavior, Animal , Disease Models, Animal , Stress, Psychological/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation
16.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 81(1): 353, 2024 Aug 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39154297

ABSTRACT

The morphology of dendritic spines, the postsynaptic compartment of most excitatory synapses, decisively modulates the function of neuronal circuits as also evident from human brain disorders associated with altered spine density or morphology. Actin filaments (F-actin) form the backbone of spines, and a number of actin-binding proteins (ABP) have been implicated in shaping the cytoskeleton in mature spines. Instead, only little is known about the mechanisms that control the reorganization from unbranched F-actin of immature spines to the complex, highly branched cytoskeleton of mature spines. Here, we demonstrate impaired spine maturation in hippocampal neurons upon genetic inactivation of cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1) and CAP2, but not of CAP1 or CAP2 alone. We found a similar spine maturation defect upon overactivation of inverted formin 2 (INF2), a nucleator of unbranched F-actin with hitherto unknown synaptic function. While INF2 overactivation failed in altering spine density or morphology in CAP-deficient neurons, INF2 inactivation largely rescued their spine defects. From our data we conclude that CAPs inhibit INF2 to induce spine maturation. Since we previously showed that CAPs promote cofilin1-mediated cytoskeletal remodeling in mature spines, we identified them as a molecular switch that control transition from filopodia-like to mature spines.


Subject(s)
Cytoskeletal Proteins , Dendritic Spines , Formins , Hippocampus , Microfilament Proteins , Dendritic Spines/metabolism , Animals , Mice , Formins/metabolism , Formins/genetics , Microfilament Proteins/metabolism , Microfilament Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Hippocampus/metabolism , Hippocampus/cytology , Cells, Cultured , Neurons/metabolism , Actins/metabolism , Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Mice, Knockout , Humans , Carrier Proteins
17.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 7019, 2024 Aug 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39147774

ABSTRACT

The SP/KLF family of transcription factors harbour three C-terminal C2H2 zinc fingers interspersed by two linkers which confers DNA-binding to a 9-10 bp motif. Mutations in KLF1, the founding member of the family, are common. Missense mutations in linker two result in a mild phenotype. However, when co-inherited with loss-of-function mutations, they result in severe non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia. We generate a mouse model of this disease by crossing Klf1+/- mice with Klf1H350R/+ mice that harbour a missense mutation in linker-2. Klf1H350R/- mice exhibit severe hemolysis without thalassemia. RNA-seq demonstrate loss of expression of genes encoding transmembrane and cytoskeletal proteins, but not globins. ChIP-seq show no change in DNA-binding specificity, but a global reduction in affinity, which is confirmed using recombinant proteins and in vitro binding assays. This study provides new insights into how linker mutations in zinc finger transcription factors result in different phenotypes to those caused by loss-of-function mutations.


Subject(s)
Hemolysis , Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors , Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/metabolism , Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics , Animals , Mice , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Mutation, Missense , Humans , Anemia, Hemolytic/genetics , Anemia, Hemolytic/metabolism , Mice, Knockout , Disease Models, Animal , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Male , Zinc Fingers , Female , Mutation
18.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 6824, 2024 Aug 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39122694

ABSTRACT

MICAL proteins represent a unique family of actin regulators crucial for synapse development, membrane trafficking, and cytokinesis. Unlike classical actin regulators, MICALs catalyze the oxidation of specific residues within actin filaments to induce robust filament disassembly. The potent activity of MICALs requires tight control to prevent extensive damage to actin cytoskeleton. However, the molecular mechanism governing MICALs' activity regulation remains elusive. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of MICAL1 in the autoinhibited state, unveiling a head-to-tail interaction that allosterically blocks enzymatic activity. The structure also reveals the assembly of C-terminal domains via a tripartite interdomain interaction, stabilizing the inhibitory conformation of the RBD. Our structural, biochemical, and cellular analyses elucidate a multi-step mechanism to relieve MICAL1 autoinhibition in response to the dual-binding of two Rab effectors, revealing its intricate activity regulation mechanisms. Furthermore, our mutagenesis study of MICAL3 suggests the conserved autoinhibition and relief mechanisms among MICALs.


Subject(s)
Actins , Cryoelectron Microscopy , Mixed Function Oxygenases , Humans , Actins/metabolism , Mixed Function Oxygenases/metabolism , Mixed Function Oxygenases/chemistry , Microfilament Proteins/metabolism , Microfilament Proteins/genetics , Microfilament Proteins/chemistry , Protein Binding , Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Models, Molecular , rab GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism , rab GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/chemistry , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Protein Domains , Calponins
19.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 19522, 2024 08 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39174599

ABSTRACT

Individuals with the Autism Susceptibility Candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene disruptions exhibit symptoms such as intellectual disability, microcephaly, growth retardation, and distinct skeletal and facial differences. The role of AUTS2 in neurodevelopment has been investigated using animal and embryonic stem cell models. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of how AUTS2 influences neurodevelopment, particularly in humans, are not thoroughly understood. Our study employed a 3D human cerebral organoid culture system, in combination with genetic, genomic, cellular, and molecular approaches, to investigate how AUTS2 impacts neurodevelopment through cellular signaling pathways. We used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create AUTS2-deficient human embryonic stem cells and then generated cerebral organoids with these cells. Our transcriptomic analyses revealed that the absence of AUTS2 in cerebral organoids reduces the populations of cells committed to the neuronal lineage, resulting in an overabundance of cells with a transcription profile resembling that of choroid plexus (ChP) cells. Intriguingly, we found that AUTS2 negatively regulates the WNT/ß-catenin signaling pathway, evidenced by its overactivation in AUTS2-deficient cerebral organoids and in luciferase reporter cells lacking AUTS2. Importantly, treating the AUTS2-deficient cerebral organoids with a WNT inhibitor reversed the overexpression of ChP genes and increased the downregulated neuronal gene expression. This study offers new insights into the role of AUTS2 in neurodevelopment and suggests potential targeted therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.


Subject(s)
Cell Differentiation , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Neurons , Organoids , Transcription Factors , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Humans , Organoids/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Transcription Factors/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , CRISPR-Cas Systems , beta Catenin/metabolism , beta Catenin/genetics , Human Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism , Brain/metabolism , Brain/pathology
20.
Commun Biol ; 7(1): 1032, 2024 Aug 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39174690

ABSTRACT

Glutamate is involved in fundamental functions, including neuronal plasticity and memory. Astrocytes are integral elements involved in synaptic function, and the GLT-1 transporter possesses a critical role in glutamate uptake. Here, we study the role of GLT-1, specifically located in astrocytes, in the consolidation, expression, reconsolidation and persistence of spatial object recognition memory in rats. Administration of dihydrokainic acid (DHK), a selective GLT-1 inhibitor, into the dorsal hippocampus around a weak training which only induces short-term memory, promotes long-term memory formation. This promotion is prevented by hippocampal administration of protein-synthesis translation inhibitor, blockade of Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) translation or Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) action, which are plasticity related proteins necessary for memory consolidation. However, DHK around a strong training, which induces long-term memory, does not affect memory consolidation. Administration of DHK before the test session impairs the expression of long-term memory, and this effect is dependent of Arc translation. Furthermore, DHK impairs reconsolidation if applied before a reactivation session, and this effect is independent of Arc translation. These findings reveal specific consequences on spatial memory stages developed under hippocampal GLT-1 blockade, shedding light on the intricate molecular mechanisms, governed in part for the action of glia.


Subject(s)
Astrocytes , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Cytoskeletal Proteins , Glutamic Acid , Hippocampus , Spatial Memory , Animals , Hippocampus/drug effects , Hippocampus/metabolism , Hippocampus/physiology , Astrocytes/drug effects , Astrocytes/metabolism , Spatial Memory/drug effects , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Male , Rats , Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Glutamic Acid/metabolism , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Nerve Tissue Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2/metabolism , Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2/antagonists & inhibitors , Rats, Wistar , Kainic Acid/pharmacology , Kainic Acid/analogs & derivatives , Memory Consolidation/drug effects
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL