Sorting Tubules Regulate Blood-Brain Barrier Transcytosis.

Transcytosis across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulates key processes of the brain, but the intracellular sorting mechanisms that determine successful receptor-mediated transcytosis in brain endothelial cells (BECs) remain unidentified. Here, we used Transferrin receptor-based Brain Shuttle constructs to investigate intracellular transport in BECs, and we uncovered a pathway for the regulation of receptor-mediated transcytosis. By combining live-cell imaging and mathematical modeling in vitro with super-resolution microscopy of the BBB, we show that intracellular tubules promote transcytosis across the BBB. A monovalent construct (sFab) sorted for transcytosis was localized to intracellular tubules, whereas a bivalent construct (dFab) sorted for degradation formed clusters with impaired transport along tubules. Manipulating tubule biogenesis by overexpressing the small GTPase Rab17 increased dFab transport into tubules and induced its transcytosis in BECs. We propose that sorting tubules regulate transcytosis in BECs and may be a general mechanism for receptor-mediated transport across the BBB.

SharpViSu: integrated analysis and segmentation of super-resolution microscopy data.

UNLABELLED: We introduce SharpViSu, an interactive open-source software with a graphical user interface, which allows performing processing steps for localization data in an integrated manner. This includes common features and new tools such as correction of chromatic aberrations, drift correction based on iterative cross-correlation calculations, selection of localization events, reconstruction of 2D and 3D datasets in different representations, estimation of resolution by Fourier ring correlation, clustering analysis based on Voronoi diagrams and Ripley's functions. SharpViSu is optimized to work with eventlist tables exported from most popular localization software. We show applications of these on single and double-labelled super-resolution data. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: SharpViSu is available as open source code and as compiled stand-alone application under https://github.com/andronovl/SharpViSu CONTACT: klaholz@igbmc.fr SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

ClusterViSu, a method for clustering of protein complexes by Voronoi tessellation in super-resolution microscopy.

Super-resolution microscopy (PALM, STORM etc.) provides a plethora of fluorescent signals in dense cellular environments which can be difficult to interpret. Here we describe ClusterViSu, a method for image reconstruction, visualization and quantification of labelled protein clusters, based on Voronoi tessellation of the individual fluorescence events. The general applicability of this clustering approach for the segmentation of super-resolution microscopy data, including for co-localization, is illustrated on a series of important biological objects such as chromatin complexes, RNA polymerase, nuclear pore complexes and microtubules.

In vivo imaging of skeletal muscle in mice highlights muscle defects in a model of myotubular myopathy.

Skeletal muscle structure and function are altered in different myopathies. However, the understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms mainly rely on in vitro and ex vivo investigations in mammalian models. In order to monitor in vivo the intracellular structure of the neuromuscular system in its environment under normal and pathological conditions, we set-up and validated non-invasive imaging of ear and leg muscles in mice. This original approach allows simultaneous imaging of different cellular and intracellular structures such as neuromuscular junctions and sarcomeres, reconstruction of the 3D architecture of the neuromuscular system, and video recording of dynamic events such as spontaneous muscle fiber contraction. Second harmonic generation was combined with vital dyes and fluorescent-coupled molecules. Skin pigmentation, although limiting, did not prevent intravital imaging. Using this versatile toolbox on the Mtm1 knockout mouse, a model for myotubular myopathy which is a severe congenital myopathy in human, we identified several hallmarks of the disease such as defects in fiber size and neuromuscular junction shape. Intravital imaging of the neuromuscular system paves the way for the follow-up of disease progression or/and disease amelioration upon therapeutic tests. It has also the potential to reduce the number of animals needed to reach scientific conclusions.

Optical limiting behavior of carbon nanotubes exposed to infrared laser irradiations studied by the Z-scan technique.

The optical limiting behavior of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) powder in chloroform solution under CO(2) infrared laser irradiations is reported for, to our knowledge, the first time. Here we demonstrate the pure thermal origin of the optical limiting effect in the 160 ns time scale studied. The Z-scan technique appears to be an excellent tool for experimental evaluation of the nonlinear refractive index. An experimental model for the optical limiting behavior of MWCNT suspensions in chloroform is presented. The occurrence of a laser-induced thermal lens through the absorption of energy by the MWCNTs and subsequent heat transfer to the solvent, followed by solvent vapor bubble growth, is the main factor governing the observed drop in transmittance. Pump-probe experiments have been performed to obtain some quantitative estimation of both the rise and decay times of the thermal lensing phenomenon. It was found that the early probe signal decay, tau(1)=149 ns, was of the same order of magnitude as the rise time of the thermal lens, tau(r)=121 ns. When the nonlinear scattering was considered, a total decay time of tau=1.8 micros was obtained. A recovery time for the thermal lens of several tens of milliseconds has been experimentally determined, which is in good accordance with the theoretical value.

Live-cell one- and two-photon uncaging of a far-red emitting acridinone fluorophore.

Total synthesis and photophysical properties of PENB-DDAO, a photoactivatable 1,3-dichloro-9,9-dimethyl-9H-acridin-2(7)-one (DDAO) derivative of a far-red emitting fluorophore, are described. The photoremovable group of the DDAO phenolic function comprises a donor/acceptor biphenyl platform which allows an efficient (> or = 95%) and rapid (< 15 micros time-range) release of the fluorescent signal and displays remarkable two-photon uncaging cross sections (delta(a) x Phi(u) = 3.7 GM at 740 nm). PENB-DDAO is cell permeable as demonstrated by the triggering of cytoplasmic red fluorescent signal in HeLa cells after one-photon irradiation (lambda(exc) around 360 nm) or by the generation of a red fluorescent signal in a delineated area of a single cell after two-photon photoactivation (lambda(exc) = 770 nm).

Purkinje-cell degeneration in prion protein-deficient mice is associated with a cerebellum-specific Doppel protein species signature.

PrP(c) (cellular prion protein) and Doppel are antagonizing proteins, respectively neuroprotective and neurotoxic. Evidence for Doppel neurotoxicity came from PrP(c)-deficient (Prnp(0/0)) mouse lines developing late onset Purkinje-cell degeneration caused by Doppel overexpression in brain. To address the molecular underpinnings of this cell-type specificity, we generated Doppel N-terminal-specific antibodies and started to examine the spatio-temporal expression of Doppel protein species in Ngsk Prnp(0/0) brain. Although Doppel overexpression is ubiquitous, Western analyses of normal and deglycosylated protein extracts revealed cerebellar patterns distinct from the rest of the brain, supporting the idea that neurotoxicity might be linked to a particular Doppel species pattern. Furthermore, our newly raised antibodies allowed the first Doppel immunohistochemical analyses in brain, showing a distribution in Prnp(0/0) cerebellum similar to PrP(c) in wild type.

Binding of human papillomavirus 16 E6 to p53 and E6AP is impaired by monoclonal antibodies directed against the second zinc-binding domain of E6.

The E6 protein of cancer-associated human papillomavirus type 16 (16E6) binds to p53 and, in association with E6AP, promotes its degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The aim of this work was to develop monoclonal antibodies against 16E6 and to test their effect on the binding of 16E6 to p53 and E6AP, and on the degradation of p53. It was shown that an antibody directed against the N terminus of 16E6 inhibited E6AP-dependent binding to p53 and degradation of p53, whereas two different antibodies directed to the second zinc-binding domain of 16E6 reduced 16E6 E6AP-independent binding to p53 and binding to E6AP but not degradation of p53.

The PtdIns3P phosphatase myotubularin is a cytoplasmic protein that also localizes to Rac1-inducible plasma membrane ruffles.

Myotubularin, the phosphatase mutated in X-linked myotubular myopathy, was shown to dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate (PtdIns3P) and was also reported to interact with nuclear transcriptional regulators from the trithorax family. We have characterized a panel of specific antibodies and investigated the subcellular localization of myotubularin. Myotubularin is not detected in the nucleus, and localizes mostly as a dense cytoplasmic network. Overexpression of myotubularin does not detectably affect vesicle trafficking in the mammalian cells investigated, in contrast to previous observations in yeast models. Both mutation of a key aspartate residue of myotubularin and dominant activation of Rac1 GTPase lead to the recruitment of myotubularin to specific plasma membrane domains. Localization to Rac1-induced ruffles is dependent on the presence of a domain highly conserved in the myotubularin family (that we named RID). We thus propose that myotubularin may dephosphorylate a subpool of PtdIns3P (or another related substrate) at the plasma membrane.