ARF6, a component of intercellular bridges, is essential for spermatogenesis in mice.

Male germ cells are connected by intercellular bridges (ICBs) in a syncytium due to incomplete cytokinesis. Syncytium is thought to be important for synchronized germ cell development by interchange of cytoplasmic factors via ICBs. Mammalian ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) is a small GTPase that is involved in many cellular mechanisms including but not limited to regulating cellular structure, motility, vesicle trafficking and cytokinesis. ARF6 localizes to ICBs in spermatogonia and spermatocytes in mice. Here we report that mice with global depletion of ARF6 in adulthood using Ubc-CreERT2 display no observable phenotypes but are male sterile. ARF6-deficient males display a progressive loss of germ cells, including LIN28A-expressing spermatogonia, and ultimately develop Sertoli-cell-only syndrome. Specifically, intercellular bridges are lost in ARF6-deficient testis. Furthermore, germ cell-specific inactivation using the Ddx4-CreERT2 results in the same testicular morphological phenotype, showing the germ cell-intrinsic requirement of ARF6. Therefore, ARF6 is essential for spermatogenesis in mice and this function is conserved from Drosophila to mammals.

ARF6 mediates nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation-induced podocyte cellular dynamics.

ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) is a small GTPase necessary for regulating cellular structure, motility, and vesicle trafficking. In several cellular systems, ARF6 was shown to regulate actin dynamics in coordination with Rac1, a Rho small GTPase. We examined the function of ARF6 in the kidney podocyte because Rac1 was implicated in kidney diseases involving this cell. We found that ARF6 expression was enriched in human podocytes and that it modulated podocyte cytoskeletal dynamics through a functional interaction with nephrin, an intercellular junction protein necessary for podocyte injury-induced signaling requiring activation by tyrosine phosphorylation of its cytoplasmic domain. ARF6 was necessary for nephrin activation-induced ruffling and focal adhesion turnover, possibly by altering Rac1 activity. In podocyte-specific Arf6 (ARF6_PodKO) knockout mice, ARF6 deficiency did not result in a spontaneous kidney developmental phenotype or proteinuria after aging. However, ARF6_PodKO mice exhibited distinct phenotypes in two in vivo glomerular injury models. In the protamine sulfate perfusion model, which induced acute podocyte effacement, ARF6_PodKO mice were protected from podocyte effacement. In the nephrotoxic serum nephritis model, which induced immune-complex mediated injury, ARF6_PodKO mice exhibited aggravated proteinuria. Together, these observations suggest that while ARF6 is necessary for nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation-induced cytoskeletal dynamics in cultured podocytes, ARF6 has pleotropic podocyte roles in vivo, where glomerular injury-specific mechanisms might activate distinct signaling pathways that dictate whether ARF6 activity is beneficial or deleterious for maintaining the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier.

Leucine Zipper-bearing Kinase promotes axon growth in mammalian central nervous system neurons.

Leucine Zipper-bearing Kinase (LZK/MAP3K13) is a member of the mixed lineage kinase family with high sequence identity to Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase (DLK/MAP3K12). While DLK is established as a key regulator of axonal responses to injury, the role of LZK in mammalian neurons is poorly understood. By gain- and loss-of-function analyses in neuronal cultures, we identify LZK as a novel positive regulator of axon growth. LZK signals specifically through MKK4 and JNKs among MAP2Ks and MAPKs respectively in neuronal cells, with JNK activity positively regulating LZK protein levels. Neuronal maturation or activity deprivation activates the LZK-MKK4-JNK pathway. LZK and DLK share commonalities in signaling, regulation, and effects on axon extension. Furthermore, LZK-dependent regulation of DLK protein expression and the lack of additive effects on axon growth upon co-manipulation suggest complex functional interaction and cross-regulation between these two kinases. Together, our data support the possibility for two structurally related MAP3Ks to work in concert to mediate axonal responses to external insult or injury in mammalian CNS neurons.

A reassessment of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in glomerular disease.

It has been suggested that soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR) is a causative circulating factor for and a biomarker of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here we undertook validation of these assumptions in both mouse and human models. Injection of recombinant suPAR in wild-type mice did not induce proteinuria within 24 h. Moreover, a disease phenotype was not seen in an inducible transgenic mouse model that maintained elevated suPAR concentrations for 6 weeks. Plasma and urine suPAR concentrations were evaluated as clinical biomarkers in 241 patients with glomerular disease from the prospective, longitudinal multicenter observational NEPTUNE cohort. The serum suPAR concentration at baseline inversely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the urine suPAR/creatinine ratio positively correlated with the urine protein/creatinine ratio. After adjusting for eGFR and urine protein, neither the serum nor urine suPAR level was an independent predictor of FSGS histopathology. A multivariable mixed-effects model of longitudinal data evaluated the association between the change in serum suPAR concentration from baseline with eGFR. After adjusting for baseline suPAR concentration, age, gender, proteinuria, and time, the change in suPAR from baseline was associated with eGFR, but this association was not different for patients with FSGS as compared with other diagnoses. Thus these results do not support a pathological role for suPAR in FSGS.

Slit diaphragm protein Neph1 and its signaling: a novel therapeutic target for protection of podocytes against glomerular injury.

Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells that are critical components of the glomerular filtration barrier, and their dysfunction leads to proteinuria and renal failure. Therefore, preserving podocyte function is therapeutically significant. In this study, we identified Neph1 signaling as a therapeutic target that upon inhibition prevented podocyte damage from a glomerular injury-inducing agent puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). To specifically inhibit Neph1 signaling, we used a protein transduction approach, where the cytoplasmic domain of Neph1 (Neph1CD) tagged with a protein transduction domain trans-activator of transcription was transduced in cultured podocytes prior to treatment with PAN. The PAN-induced Neph1 phosphorylation was significantly reduced in Neph1CD-transduced cells; in addition, these cells were resistant to PAN-induced cytoskeletal damage. The biochemical analysis using subfractionation studies showed that unlike control cells Neph1 was retained in the lipid raft fractions in the transduced cells following treatment with PAN, indicating that transduction of Neph1CD in podocytes prevented PAN-induced mislocalization of Neph1. In accordance, the immunofluorescence analysis further suggested that Neph1CD-transduced cells had increased ability to retain endogenous Neph1 at the membrane in response to PAN-induced injury. Similar results were obtained when angiotensin was used as an injury-inducing agent. Consistent with these observations, maintaining high levels of Neph1 at the membrane using a podocyte cell line overexpressing chimeric Neph1 increased the ability of podocytes to resist PAN-induced injury and PAN-induced albumin leakage. Using a zebrafish in vivo PAN and adriamycin injury models, we further demonstrated the ability of transduced Neph1CD to preserve glomerular function. Collectively, these results support the conclusion that inhibiting Neph1 signaling is therapeutically significant in preventing podocyte damage from glomerular injury.

Solution structure analysis of cytoplasmic domain of podocyte protein Neph1 using small/wide angle x-ray scattering (SWAXS).

Neph1 is present in podocytes, where it plays a critical role in maintaining the filtration function of the glomerulus, in part through signaling events mediated by its cytoplasmic domain that are involved in actin cytoskeleton organization. To understand the function of this protein, a detailed knowledge of the structure of the Neph1 cytoplasmic domain (Neph1-CD) is required. In this study, the solution structure of this domain was determined by small/wide angle x-ray scattering (SWAXS). Analysis of Neph1-CD by SWAXS suggested that this protein adopts a global shape with a radius of gyration and a maximum linear dimension of 21.3 and 70 Å, respectively. These parameters and the data from circular dichroism experiments were used to construct a structural model of this protein. The His-ZO-1-PDZ1 (first PDZ domain of zonula occludens) domain that binds Neph1-CD was also analyzed by SWAXS, to confirm that it adopts a global structure similar to its crystal structure. We used the SWAXS intensity profile, the structural model of Neph1-CD, and the crystal structure of ZO-1-PDZ1 to construct a structural model of the Neph1-CD·ZO-1-PDZ1 complex. Mapping of the intermolecular interactions suggested that in addition to the C-terminal residues Thr-His-Val, residues Lys-761 and Tyr-762 in Neph1 are also critical for stabilizing the complex. Estimated intensity values from the SWAXS data and in vivo and in vitro pull-down experiments demonstrated loss of binding to ZO-1 when these residues were individually mutated to alanines. Our findings present a structural model that provides novel insights into the molecular structure and function of Neph1-CD.

The unfolded protein response sensor IRE1alpha is required at 2 distinct steps in B cell lymphopoiesis.

B lymphocyte differentiation is coordinated with the induction of high-level Ig secretion and expansion of the secretory pathway. Upon accumulation of unfolded proteins in the lumen of the ER, cells activate an intracellular signaling pathway termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). Two major proximal sensors of the UPR are inositol-requiring enzyme 1alpha (IRE1alpha), an ER transmembrane protein kinase/endoribonuclease, and ER-resident eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha) kinase (PERK). To elucidate whether the UPR plays an important role in lymphopoiesis, we carried out reconstitution of recombinase-activating gene 2-deficient (rag2-/-) mice with hematopoietic cells defective in either IRE1alpha- or PERK-mediated signaling. IRE1alpha-deficient (ire1alpha-/-) HSCs can proliferate and give rise to pro-B cells that home to bone marrow. However, IRE1alpha, but not its catalytic activities, is required for Ig gene rearrangement and production of B cell receptors (BCRs). Analysis of rag2-/- mice transplanted with IRE1alpha trans-dominant-negative bone marrow cells demonstrated an additional requirement for IRE1alpha in B lymphopoiesis: both the IRE1alpha kinase and RNase catalytic activities are required to splice the mRNA encoding X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) for terminal differentiation of mature B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells. Furthermore, UPR-mediated translational control through eIF2alpha phosphorylation is not required for B lymphocyte maturation and/or plasma cell differentiation. These results suggest specific requirements of the IRE1alpha-mediated UPR subpathway in the early and late stages of B lymphopoiesis.

Nck-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 and regulation of cell survival during endoplasmic reticulum stress.

In response to stress, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signaling machinery triggers the inhibition of protein synthesis and up-regulation of genes whose products are involved in protein folding, cell cycle exit, and/or apoptosis. We demonstrate that the misfolding agents azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Azc) and tunicamycin initiate signaling from the ER, resulting in the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase, p44(MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (ERK-1), and p38(MAPK) through IRE1alpha-dependent mechanisms. To characterize the ER proximal signaling events involved, immuno-isolated ER membranes from rat fibroblasts treated with ER stress inducers were used to reconstitute the activation of the stress-activated protein kinase/mitogen-activate protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in vitro. This allowed us to demonstrate a role for the SH2/SH3 domain containing adaptor Nck in ERK-1 activation after Azc treatment. We also show both in vitro and in vivo that under basal conditions ER-associated Nck represses ERK-1 activation and that upon ER stress this pool of Nck dissociates from the ER membrane to allow ERK-1 activation. Moreover, under the same conditions, Nck-null cells elicit a stronger ERK-1 activation in response to Azc stress, thus, correlating with an enhanced survival phenotype. These data delineate a novel mechanism for the regulation of ER stress signaling to the MAPK pathway and demonstrate a critical role for Nck in ER stress and cell survival.

Recruitment of JNK to JIP1 and JNK-dependent JIP1 phosphorylation regulates JNK module dynamics and activation.

JIP1 is a scaffold protein that assembles and facilitates the activation of the mixed lineage kinase-dependent JNK module. Results of earlier work led us to propose a model for JIP1-JNK complex regulation that predicts that under basal conditions, JIP1 maintains DLK in a monomeric, unphosphorylated, and catalytically inactive state. Upon appropriate module stimulation, JNK-JIP1 binding affinity increases and DLK-JIP1 affinity decreases. Dissociation of DLK from JIP1 results in subsequent DLK oligomerization, autophosphorylation, and ultimately module activation. Our previous published results suggested the hypothesis that recruitment of JNK to JIP1 and phosphorylation of JIP1 by JNK is prerequisite for activation of the JNK module (Nihalani, D., Meyer, D., Pajni, S., and Holzman, L. B. (2001) EMBO J. 20, 3447-3458). The present study corroborated this hypothesis by demonstrating that JNK binding to JIP1 is necessary for stimulus-induced dissociation of DLK from JIP1, for DLK oligomerization, and for JNK activation. After mapping JNK-dependent JIP1 phosphorylation sites and testing their functional significance, it was observed that phosphorylation by JNK of JIP1 on Thr-103 and not other phosphorylated JIP1 residues is necessary for the regulation of DLK association with JIP1, DLK activation, and subsequent module activation. A refined model of JIP1-JNK module regulation is presented in which JNK phosphorylation of JIP1 is necessary prior to module activation.

The protein kinase/endoribonuclease IRE1alpha that signals the unfolded protein response has a luminal N-terminal ligand-independent dimerization domain.

In response to accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), cells activate an intracellular signal transduction pathway called the unfolded protein response (UPR). IRE and PERK are the two type-I ER transmembrane protein kinase receptors that signal the UPR. The N-terminal luminal domains (NLDs) of IRE1 and PERK sense ER stress conditions by a common mechanism and transmit the signal to regulate the cytoplasmic domains of these receptors. To provide an experimental system amenable to detailed biochemical and structural analysis to elucidate the mechanism of ER-transmembrane signaling mechanism mediated by the NLD, we overexpressed the soluble luminal domain of human IRE1alpha in COS-1 cells by transient DNA transfection. Here we report the expression, purification, and characterization of the soluble NLD. The biological function of the NLD was confirmed by its ability to associate with itself and to interact with both the membrane-bound full-length IRE1alpha receptor and the ER chaperone BiP. Functional and spectral studies suggested that the highly conserved N-linked glycosylation site is not required for proper protein folding and self-association. Interestingly, we demonstrated that the NLD forms stable dimers linked by intermolecular disulfide bridges. Our data support that the luminal domain represents a novel ligand-independent dimerization domain.