Nras loss induces metastatic conversion of Rb1-deficient neuroendocrine thyroid tumor.

Mutations in the gene encoding the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor predispose humans and mice to tumor development. Here we have assessed the effect of Nras loss on tumor development in Rb1 heterozygous mice. Loss of one or two Nras alleles is shown to significantly reduce the severity of pituitary tumors arising in Rb1(+/-) animals by enhancing their differentiation. By contrast, C-cell thyroid adenomas occurring in Rb1(+/-) mice progress to metastatic medullary carcinomas after loss of Nras. In Rb1(+/-)Nras(+/-) animals, distant medullary thyroid carcinoma metastases are associated with loss of the remaining wild-type Nras allele. Loss of Nras in Rb1-deficient C cells results in elevated Ras homolog family A (RhoA) activity, and this is causally linked to the invasiveness and metastatic behavior of these cells. These findings suggest that the loss of the proto-oncogene Nras in certain cellular contexts can promote malignant tumor progression.

Disruption of LGI1-linked synaptic complex causes abnormal synaptic transmission and epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a devastating and poorly understood disease. Mutations in a secreted neuronal protein, leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1), were reported in patients with an inherited form of human epilepsy, autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features (ADPEAF). Here, we report an essential role of LGI1 as an antiepileptogenic ligand. We find that loss of LGI1 in mice (LGI1(-/-)) causes lethal epilepsy, which is specifically rescued by the neuronal expression of LGI1 transgene, but not LGI3. Moreover, heterozygous mice for the LGI1 mutation (LGI1(+/-)) show lowered seizure thresholds. Extracellularly secreted LGI1 links two epilepsy-related receptors, ADAM22 and ADAM23, in the brain and organizes a transsynaptic protein complex that includes presynaptic potassium channels and postsynaptic AMPA receptor scaffolds. A lack of LGI1 disrupts this synaptic protein connection and selectively reduces AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. Thus, LGI1 may serve as a major determinant of brain excitation, and the LGI1 gene-targeted mouse provides a good model for human epilepsy.

A novel method of identifying genetic mutations using an electrochemical DNA array.

We describe the development of a new type of DNA array chip that utilizes electrochemical reactions and a novel method of simultaneously identifying multiple genetic mutations on an array chip. The electrochemical array (ECA) uses a threading intercalator specific to double-stranded nucleotides, ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND), as the indicator. ECA does not require target labeling, and the equipment is simple, durable and less expensive. The simultaneous multiple mutation detection (SMMD) system using an ECA chip and FND utilizes an enzyme to simultaneously distinguish several genetic mutations such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), insertion, deletion, translocation and short tandem repeat. We examined this SMMD system using an ECA chip, by detecting seven different mutations on the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene for 50 patients in a blind test. It turned out that all the results obtained were concordant with the sequencing results, demonstrating that this system is a powerful tool for clinical applications.

Chronic fluoxetine treatment reduces parvalbumin expression and perineuronal nets in gamma-aminobutyric acidergic interneurons of the frontal cortex in adult mice.

BACKGROUND: The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (FLX) is widely used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, but cellular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effect of FLX remain largely unknown. The generally accepted effect of chronic FLX treatment is increased adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. It was recently demonstrated that FLX treatments can reverse the established neuronal maturation of granule cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and of gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) interneurons in the basolateral amygdala. However, it is not clear whether this dematuration effect of FLX occurs in other brain regions. Thus, in this study, we used immunohistological analysis to assess the effect of FLX treatment on GABAergic interneurons in the medial frontal cortex (mFC) and reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN). RESULTS: Immunofluorescence analysis for perineuronal nets (PNNs), which is a marker of neuronal maturation, and for parvalbumin, calretinin, and somatostatin, which are markers for specific GABAergic interneuron type, showed lower number of parvalbumin-positive (+) cells and PNN+/parvalbumin+ cells in the mFC of FLX-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. However, FLX treatment had no effect on the number of cells expressing calretinin and somatostatin in the mFC. In the RTN, the number of PNN+ cells and parvalbumin+ cells was unaltered by FLX treatments. Furthermore, the number of total GABA+ cells and apoptotic cells in the mFC was similar between vehicle- and FLX-treated mice, suggesting that FLX treatment did not induce cell death in this region. Rather, our findings suggest that the decreased number of parvalbumin+ cells in the mFC was due to a decreased expression of parvalbumin proteins in the interneurons. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that FLX decreases the levels of parvalbumin, a mature marker of fast-spiking interneurons, and PNNs in parvalbumin+ interneurons in the mFC, suggesting that FLX treatment induces a dematuration of this type of neurons. Induction of a juvenile-like state in fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons in these regions might be involved in the therapeutic mechanism of this antidepressant drug and/or some of its adverse effects.

Identification of G protein alpha subunit-palmitoylating enzyme.

The heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunit (Galpha) is targeted to the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane through reversible lipid palmitoylation and relays signals from G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to its effectors. By screening 23 DHHC motif (Asp-His-His-Cys) palmitoyl acyl-transferases, we identified DHHC3 and DHHC7 as Galpha palmitoylating enzymes. DHHC3 and DHHC7 robustly palmitoylated Galpha(q), Galpha(s), and Galpha(i2) in HEK293T cells. Knockdown of DHHC3 and DHHC7 decreased Galpha(q/11) palmitoylation and relocalized it from the plasma membrane into the cytoplasm. Photoconversion analysis revealed that Galpha(q) rapidly shuttles between the plasma membrane and the Golgi apparatus, where DHHC3 specifically localizes. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching studies showed that DHHC3 and DHHC7 are necessary for this continuous Galpha(q) shuttling. Furthermore, DHHC3 and DHHC7 knockdown blocked the alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor/Galpha(q/11)-mediated signaling pathway. Together, our findings revealed that DHHC3 and DHHC7 regulate GPCR-mediated signal transduction by controlling Galpha localization to the plasma membrane.

Dynamic protein palmitoylation in cellular signaling.

Protein S-palmitoylation, the most common lipid modification with the 16-carbon fatty acid palmitate, provides an important mechanism for regulating protein trafficking and function. The unique reversibility of protein palmitoylation allows proteins to rapidly shuttle between intracellular membrane compartments. Importantly, this palmitate cycling can be regulated by some physiological stimuli, contributing to cellular homeostasis and plasticity. Although the enzyme responsible for protein palmitoylation had been long elusive, DHHC family proteins, conserved from plants to mammals, have recently emerged as palmitoyl acyl transferases. Integrated approaches including advanced proteomics, live-cell imaging, and molecular genetics are beginning to clarify the molecular machinery for palmitoylation reaction in diverse aspects of cellular functions.

Mobile DHHC palmitoylating enzyme mediates activity-sensitive synaptic targeting of PSD-95.

Protein palmitoylation is the most common posttranslational lipid modification; its reversibility mediates protein shuttling between intracellular compartments. A large family of DHHC (Asp-His-His-Cys) proteins has emerged as protein palmitoyl acyltransferases (PATs). However, mechanisms that regulate these PATs in a physiological context remain unknown. In this study, we efficiently monitored the dynamic palmitate cycling on synaptic scaffold PSD-95. We found that blocking synaptic activity rapidly induces PSD-95 palmitoylation and mediates synaptic clustering of PSD-95 and associated AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid)-type glutamate receptors. A dendritically localized DHHC2 but not the Golgi-resident DHHC3 mediates this activity-sensitive palmitoylation. Upon activity blockade, DHHC2 translocates to the postsynaptic density to transduce this effect. These data demonstrate that individual DHHC members are differentially regulated and that dynamic recruitment of protein palmitoylation machinery enables compartmentalized regulation of protein trafficking in response to extracellular signals.

Systematic screening for palmitoyl transferase activity of the DHHC protein family in mammalian cells.

Posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination and lipid modifications, provide proteins with additional functions and regulation beyond genomic information. Palmitoylation is a reversible lipid modification with palmitic acid that plays critical roles in protein trafficking and function. However, the enzymes that mediate palmitoyl acyl transferase (PAT) have been elusive. Recent genetic analysis in yeast revealed that members of cysteine-rich DHHC domain containing proteins (DHHC proteins) mediate palmitoylation. In mammalian genomes, 23 DHHC proteins are predicted raising the possibility of a large family of PAT enzymes. Here, we describe a systematic method to examine which of the DHHC family members is responsible for palmitoylation of a substrate.

Epilepsy-related ligand/receptor complex LGI1 and ADAM22 regulate synaptic transmission.

Abnormally synchronized synaptic transmission in the brain causes epilepsy. Most inherited forms of epilepsy result from mutations in ion channels. However, one form of epilepsy, autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features (ADPEAF), is characterized by mutations in a secreted neuronal protein, LGI1. We show that ADAM22, a transmembrane protein that when mutated itself causes seizure, serves as a receptor for LGI1. LGI1 enhances AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in hippocampal slices. The mutated form of LGI1 fails to bind to ADAM22. ADAM22 is anchored to the postsynaptic density by cytoskeletal scaffolds containing stargazin. These studies in rat brain indicate possible avenues for understanding human epilepsy.