The Snail signaling branch downstream of the TGF-ß/Smad3 pathway mediates Rho activation and subsequent stress fiber formation.

Cancer cells acquire malignant phenotypes through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which is induced by environmental factors or extracellular signaling molecules, including transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß). Among epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated cell responses, cell morphological changes and cell motility are closely associated with remodeling of the actin stress fibers. Here, we examined the TGF-ß signaling pathways leading to these cell responses. Through knockdown experiments in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells, we found that Smad3-mediated induction of Snail, but not that of Slug, is indispensable for morphological changes, stress fiber formation, and enhanced motility in cells stimulated with TGF-ß. Ectopic expression of Snail in SMAD3-knockout cells rescued the defect in morphological changes and stress fiber formation by TGF-ß, indicating that the role of Smad3 in these responses is to upregulate Snail expression. Mechanistically, Snail is required for TGF-ß-induced upregulation of Wnt5b, which in turn activates RhoA and subsequent stress fiber formation in cooperation with phosphoinositide 3-kinase. However, ectopic expression of Snail in SMAD3-knockout cells failed to rescue the defect in cell motility enhancement by TGF-ß, indicating that activation of the Smad3/Snail/Wnt5b axis is indispensable but not sufficient for enhancing cell motility; a Smad3-dependent but Snail-independent pathway to activate Rac1 is additionally required. Therefore, the Smad3-dependent pathway leading to enhanced cell motility has two branches: a Snail-dependent branch to activate RhoA and a Snail-independent branch to activate Rac1. Coordinated activation of these branches, together with activation of non-Smad signaling pathways, mediates enhanced cell motility induced by TGF-ß.

TGF-ß-induced cell motility requires downregulation of ARHGAPs to sustain Rac1 activity.

Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling promotes cancer progression. In particular, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TGF-ß is considered crucial to the malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Here, we report that the EMT-associated cellular responses induced by TGF-ß are mediated by distinct signaling pathways that diverge at Smad3. By expressing chimeric Smad1/Smad3 proteins in SMAD3 knockout A549 cells, we found that the ß4 region in the Smad3 MH1 domain is essential for TGF-ß-induced cell motility, but is not essential for other EMT-associated responses including epithelial marker downregulation. TGF-ß was previously reported to enhance cell motility by activating Rac1 via phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Intriguingly, TGF-ß-dependent signaling mediated by Smad3's ß4 region causes the downregulation of multiple mRNAs that encode GTPase activating proteins that target Rac1 (ARHGAPs), thereby attenuating Rac1 inactivation. Therefore, two independent pathways downstream of TGF-ß type I receptor contribute cooperatively to sustained Rac1 activation, thereby leading to enhanced cell motility.

Dissociation of the AhR/ARNT complex by TGF-ß/Smad signaling represses CYP1A1 gene expression and inhibits benze[a]pyrene-mediated cytotoxicity.

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) catalyzes the metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and is transcriptionally regulated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) complex upon exposure to PAHs. Accordingly, inhibition of CYP1A1 expression reduces production of carcinogens from PAHs. Although transcription of the CYP1A1 gene is known to be repressed by transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), how TGF-ß signaling is involved in the suppression of CYP1A1 gene expression has yet to be clarified. In this study, using mammalian cell lines, along with shRNA-mediated gene silencing, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, and reporter gene and quantitative RT-PCR assays, we found that TGF-ß signaling dissociates the B[a]P-mediated AhR/ARNT heteromeric complex. Among the examined Smads, Smad family member 3 (Smad3) strongly interacted with both AhR and ARNT via its MH2 domain. Moreover, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), which is stabilized upon TGF-ß stimulation, also inhibited AhR/ARNT complex formation in the presence of B[a]P. Thus, TGF-ß signaling negatively regulated the transcription of the CYP1A1 gene in at least two different ways. Of note, TGF-ß abrogated DNA damage in B[a]P-exposed cells. We therefore conclude that TGF-ß may protect cells against carcinogenesis because it inhibits CYP1A1-mediated metabolic activation of PAHs as part of its anti-tumorigenic activities.

A comparative analysis of Smad-responsive motifs identifies multiple regulatory inputs for TGF-ß transcriptional activation.

Smad proteins are transcriptional regulators activated by TGF-ß. They are known to bind to two distinct Smad-responsive motifs, namely the Smad-binding element (SBE) (5'-GTCTAGAC-3') and CAGA motifs (5'-AGCCAGACA-3' or 5'-TGTCTGGCT-3'). However, the mechanisms by which these motifs promote Smad activity are not fully elucidated. In this study, we performed DNA CASTing, binding assays, ChIP sequencing, and quantitative RT-PCR to dissect the details of Smad binding and function of the SBE and CAGA motifs. We observed a preference for Smad3 to bind CAGA motifs and Smad4 to bind SBE, and that either one SBE or a triple-CAGA motif forms a cis-acting functional half-unit for Smad-dependent transcription activation; combining two half-units allows efficient activation. Unexpectedly, the extent of Smad binding did not directly correlate with the abilities of Smad-binding sequences to induce gene expression. We found that Smad proteins are more tolerant of single bp mutations in the context of the CAGA motifs, with any mutation in the SBE disrupting function. CAGA and CAGA-like motifs but not SBE are widely distributed among stimulus-dependent Smad2/3-binding sites in normal murine mammary gland epithelial cells, and the number of CAGA and CAGA-like motifs correlates with fold-induction of target gene expression by TGF-ß. These data, demonstrating Smad responsiveness can be tuned by both sequence and number of repeats, provide a compelling explanation for why CAGA motifs are predominantly used for Smad-dependent transcription activation in vivo.

Maid is a negative regulator of transforming growth factor-ß-induced cell migration.

Maternal Id-like molecule (Maid) is a dominant negative helix-loop-helix protein that has been implicated in regulating gene expression as well as cell-cycle progression. Overexpressed Maid was previously shown to inhibit certain cellular responses induced by transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), such as TGF-ß-induced cytostasis and cell motility, but not epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The role of endogenous Maid in regulating TGF-ß signalling, however, has not been elucidated. We have found evidence that endogenous Maid negatively regulates TGF-ß-induced cell motility. Maid knockdown enhanced TGF-ß-induced cell motility as measured by chamber migration and wound healing assays but did not affect cell motility induced by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4. Endogenous Maid does not appear to be involved in regulating TGF-ß-induced cytostasis, resistance to apoptosis or EMT. Notably, Maid expression was induced in the delayed phase (later than 24 h) after TGF-ß stimulation whereas the expression of two other negative feedback regulators, Smad7 and SnoN, was induced as early as 1 h after stimulation. These findings indicate that Maid is a unique negative feedback regulator of TGF-ß signalling in its mode of action as well as the timing of its induction.

Epithelial splicing regulatory proteins 1 (ESRP1) and 2 (ESRP2) suppress cancer cell motility via different mechanisms.

ESRP1 (epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1) and ESRP2 regulate alternative splicing events associated with epithelial phenotypes of cells, and both are down-regulated during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. However, little is known about their expression and functions during carcinogenesis. In this study, we found that expression of both ESRP1 and ESRP2 is plastic: during oral squamous cell carcinogenesis, these proteins are up-regulated relative to their levels in normal epithelium but down-regulated in invasive fronts. Importantly, ESRP1 and ESRP2 are re-expressed in the lymph nodes, where carcinoma cells metastasize and colonize. In head and neck carcinoma cell lines, ESRP1 and ESRP2 suppress cancer cell motility through distinct mechanisms: knockdown of ESRP1 affects the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton through induction of Rac1b, whereas knockdown of ESRP2 attenuates cell-cell adhesion through increased expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated transcription factors. Down-regulation of ESRP1 and ESRP2 is thus closely associated with a motile phenotype of cancer cells.

Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1) is a Smad cofactor involved in cell motility induced by transforming growth factor-ß.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß plays crucial roles in embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis by eliciting various cellular responses in target cells. TGF-ß signaling is principally mediated through receptor-activated Smad proteins, which regulate expression of target genes in cooperation with other DNA-binding transcription factors (Smad cofactors). In this study, we found that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Olig1 is a Smad cofactor involved in TGF-ß-induced cell motility. Knockdown of Olig1 attenuated TGF-ß-induced cell motility in chamber migration and wound healing assays. In contrast, Olig1 knockdown had no effect on bone morphogenetic protein-induced cell motility, TGF-ß-induced cytostasis, or epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, we observed that cooperation of Smad2/3 with Olig1 is regulated by a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans-isomerase, Pin1. TGF-ß-induced cell motility, induction of Olig1-regulated genes, and physical interaction between Smad2/3 and Olig1 were all inhibited after knockdown of Pin1, indicating a novel mode of regulation of Smad signaling. We also found that Olig1 interacts with the L3 loop of Smad3. Using a synthetic peptide corresponding to the L3 loop of Smad3, we succeeded in selectively inhibiting TGF-ß-induced cell motility. These findings may lead to a new strategy for selective regulation of TGF-ß-induced cellular responses.

PSK2 coordinates glucose metabolism and utilization to maintain ultradian clock-coupled respiratory oscillation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast.

Ultradian clock-coupled respiratory oscillation (UCRO) in an aerobic continuous culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288C is principally regulated by control of certain redox reactions of energy metabolism. It is also modulated by the metabolism of storage carbohydrates during adaptation to environmental change. However, the mechanism of cell sensing and response to environmental nutrients in UCRO is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of PSK2 kinase in UCRO in yeast. S. cerevisiae in culture showed oscillation in PSK2 mRNA levels with a definite phase relationship to the respiratory oscillation. Furthermore, inactivation of Psk2 by gene disruption severely affected UCRO and its decline to undetectable levels within 2days. In addition, the extracellular and intracellular glucose concentrations of PSK2 deletion mutants in culture were higher and lower, respectively, than those of the wild type. PSK2 mutant cells showed no alteration in redox state. Furthermore, the levels of storage carbohydrates such as glycogen and trehalose fluctuated in PSK2 mutants with attenuated amplitudes comparable to those in the wild type. The results indicated that PSK2 kinase is important for the uptake of glucose and regulation of storage-carbohydrate synthesis and hence the maintenance of an unperturbed continuously oscillating state.

Importance of polarisome proteins in reorganization of actin cytoskeleton at low pH in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The actin cytoskeleton of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be altered rapidly in response to external cues. We reported previously that S. cerevisiae responds to low-pH stress by transiently depolarizing its actin cytoskeleton, and that this step requires a mitogen-activated protein kinase, high osmolarity glycerol 1 (Hog1p). This study further investigated the components involved in this actin reorganization at pH 3.0. Gene deletions on the Sln1p branch of the HOG pathway completely blocked actin depolarization, suggesting that Hog1p activation depends mainly on the osmosensor Sln1p. The protein-synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide did not influence the time course of actin depolarization, suggesting that the depolarization is a direct effect of the HOG pathway. Deletion of the scaffolding protein, Spa2p, or the Spa2p-interacting protein Pea2p, markedly inhibited the depolarization, and further deletion of the formin protein, Bni1p, notably delayed actin repolarization. Our results suggest the involvement of polarisome proteins, such as Spa2p, Pea2p and Bni1p, but not Bud6p, in Hog1p-dependent reorganization of the yeast actin cytoskeleton at low pH.

Human trehalase is a stress responsive protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Three trehalases ATH1, NTH1, and NTH2 have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ATH1, and NTH1 hydrolyze trehalose to glucose to provide energy and assist in recovery from stress. Human trehalase (TREH) is expressed in the intestine and kidney and probably hydrolyzes ingested trehalose in the intestine and acts as marker of renal tubular damage in kidney. Since trehalose is not present in circulation or kidney tubules, its renal effect suggests it has other yet unidentified actions. Here we examined the function of human trehalase in budding yeast. We constructed three yeast trehalase mutants (NTH1Delta, NTH2Delta, and ATH1Delta) and then transformed TREH into these mutants. NTH1Delta did not grow on media containing trehalose as the carbon source, and TREH did not rectify NTH1Delta dysfunction and also did not grow on trehalose medium, suggesting that TREH is not responsible for utilization of exogenous trehalose in yeast. In experiments involving exposure to heat, osmotic and oxidative stresses, NTH1Delta showed no recovery. Interestingly, ATH1Delta-TREH showed high sensitivity to all three stressors. ATH1Delta and NTH2Delta showed very low neutral trehalase activity and NTH1Delta did not show any neutral trehalase activity, and trehalose concentrations were higher. Increased neutral trehalase activity (equivalent to the wild type), reduction of trehalose content and brisk sensitivity to stressors were noted in TREH-ATH1Delta strain, but not in TREH-NTH1Delta or -NTH2Delta. Our results suggest that TREH acts as a stress-response protein in the kidney rather than involved in utilization of exogenous trehalose.

Low pH facilitates uptake of proteins by cells through a non-endocytic pathway.

We previously noted that bovine apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II) had a bactericidal effect causing morphological changes in the cytoplasm. To determine whether and how apoA-II and apoA-I, which have acidic isoelectric points (pIs), enter cells, we determined the rates of uptake of FITC-labeled proteins by fibroblast cells and found that they entered cells more easily at low pH than at neutral pH under conditions where endocytosis was inhibited. The enhanced uptake of proteins at low pH was also observed for other proteins examined regardless of the molecular weight (M(r)) or pI in a time-dependent manner, although the efficiency of uptake varied among the proteins. Furthermore, a pH gradient was shown to be the main driving force for the translocation. As cells were viable above pH 4 for 2 h at 4 degrees C and internalized beta-galactosidase was active under these conditions, we suggest that this procedure is applicable to the injection of proteins into cells without the use of an apparatus such as a microinjector.

Structure-activity analysis of an antimicrobial peptide derived from bovine apolipoprotein A-II.

We previously showed that bovine apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II) has antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli in PBS, and its C-terminal residues 49-76 are responsible for the activity using synthetic peptides. In order to understand the structural requirements of peptide 49-76 for the antimicrobial activity, the N- or C-terminus was truncated and then the charged (Lys or Asp) or Ser residues were replaced by Ala. Deletion of the first or last three amino acids and replacement of Lys-54/55 or 71/72 by Ala caused a substantial decreases in alpha-helical content in 50% TFE, showing the possible presence of helices in N- and C-terminal regions, respectively. The anti-Escherichia coli activity of the peptide correlated with its liposome-binding activity. Replacement of Lys-54/55 or 71/72 by Ala resulted in an almost complete loss of anti-E. coli activity with a substantial decrease in liposome-binding activity. Moreover, deletion of the last three amino acids caused a reduction to 1/17 of the original anti-E. coli activity with a moderate decrease in liposome-binding activity. In contrast, replacement of Ser-65/66, Asp-59, or Asp-69 by Ala hardly affected the anti-E. coli activity. These findings suggest that Lys-54/55 and Lys-71/72 on the putative helices are critical for antimicrobial activity, and the C-terminal 3 amino acids are important for the structural integrity of the C-terminal region for effective antimicrobial activity.