PICK1 interacts with PACSIN to regulate AMPA receptor internalization and cerebellar long-term depression.

The dynamic trafficking of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) into and out of synapses is crucial for synaptic transmission, plasticity, learning, and memory. The protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1) directly interacts with GluA2/3 subunits of the AMPARs. Although the role of PICK1 in regulating AMPAR trafficking and multiple forms of synaptic plasticity is known, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Here, we report a unique interaction between PICK1 and all three members of the protein kinase C and casein kinase II substrate in neurons (PACSIN) family and show that they form a complex with AMPARs. Our results reveal that knockdown of the neuronal-specific protein, PACSIN1, leads to a significant reduction in AMPAR internalization following the activation of NMDA receptors in hippocampal neurons. The interaction between PICK1 and PACSIN1 is regulated by PACSIN1 phosphorylation within the variable region and is required for AMPAR endocytosis. Similarly, the binding of PICK1 to the ubiquitously expressed PACSIN2 is also regulated by the homologous phosphorylation sites within the PACSIN2-variable region. Genetic deletion of PACSIN2, which is highly expressed in Purkinje cells, eliminates cerebellar long-term depression. This deficit can be fully rescued by overexpressing wild-type PACSIN2, but not by a PACSIN2 phosphomimetic mutant, which does not bind PICK1 efficiently. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the interaction of PICK1 and PACSIN is required for the activity-dependent internalization of AMPARs and for the expression of long-term depression in the cerebellum.

Building a better dynasore: the dyngo compounds potently inhibit dynamin and endocytosis.

Dynamin GTPase activity increases when it oligomerizes either into helices in the presence of lipid templates or into rings in the presence of SH3 domain proteins. Dynasore is a dynamin inhibitor of moderate potency (IC50 ~ 15 µM in vitro). We show that dynasore binds stoichiometrically to detergents used for in vitro drug screening, drastically reducing its potency (IC50 = 479 µM) and research tool utility. We synthesized a focused set of dihydroxyl and trihydroxyl dynasore analogs called the Dyngo™ compounds, five of which had improved potency, reduced detergent binding and reduced cytotoxicity, conferred by changes in the position and/or number of hydroxyl substituents. The Dyngo compound 4a was the most potent compound, exhibiting a 37-fold improvement in potency over dynasore for liposome-stimulated helical dynamin activity. In contrast, while dynasore about equally inhibited dynamin assembled in its helical or ring states, 4a and 6a exhibited >36-fold reduced activity against rings, suggesting that they can discriminate between helical or ring oligomerization states. 4a and 6a inhibited dynamin-dependent endocytosis of transferrin in multiple cell types (IC50 of 5.7 and 5.8 µM, respectively), at least sixfold more potently than dynasore, but had no effect on dynamin-independent endocytosis of cholera toxin. 4a also reduced synaptic vesicle endocytosis and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis in cultured neurons and synaptosomes. Overall, 4a and 6a are improved and versatile helical dynamin and endocytosis inhibitors in terms of potency, non-specific binding and cytotoxicity. The data further suggest that the ring oligomerization state of dynamin is not required for clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Phosphorylation of syndapin I F-BAR domain at two helix-capping motifs regulates membrane tubulation.

Syndapin I (PACSIN 1) is a synaptically enriched membrane tubulating protein that plays important roles in activity-dependent bulk endocytosis and neuronal morphogenesis. While syndapin I is an in vitro phosphoprotein, it is not known to be phosphorylated in neurons. Here, we report the identification of two phosphorylation sites, S76 and T181, of syndapin I from nerve terminals. Both residues are located at the N-terminal helix-capping motifs (N-Cap) of different α-helices in the F-BAR domain, important for F-BAR homodimer curvature and dimer-dimer filament assembly, respectively. Phospho-mimetic mutations of these residues regulate lipid-binding and tubulation both in vitro and in cells. Neither phosphosite regulated syndapin I function in activity-dependent bulk endocytosis. Rather, T181 phosphorylation was developmentally regulated and inhibited syndapin I function in neuronal morphogenesis. This suggests a novel mechanism for phosphorylation control of an F-BAR function through the regulation of α-helix interactions and stability within the folded F-BAR domain.

Phosphorylation of dynamin II at serine-764 is associated with cytokinesis.

Calcineurin is a phosphatase that is activated at the last known stage of mitosis, abscission. Among its many substrates, it dephosphorylates dynamin II during cytokinesis at the midbody of dividing cells. However, dynamin II has several cellular roles including clathrin-mediated endocytosis, centrosome cohesion and cytokinesis. It is not known whether dynamin II phosphorylation plays a role in any of these functions nor have the phosphosites involved in cytokinesis been directly identified. We now report that dynamin II from rat lung is phosphorylated to a low stoichiometry on a single major site, Ser-764, in the proline-rich domain. Phosphorylation on Ser-764 also occurred in asynchronously growing HeLa cells and was greatly increased upon mitotic entry. Tryptic phospho-peptides isolated by TiO(2) chromatography revealed only a single phosphosite in mitotic cells. Mitotic phosphorylation was abolished by roscovitine, suggesting the mitotic kinase is cyclin-dependent kinase 1. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 phosphorylated full length dynamin II and Glutathione-S-Transferase-tagged-dynamin II-proline-rich domain in vitro, and mutation of Ser-764 to alanine reduced proline-rich domain phosphorylation by 80%, supporting that there is only a single major phosphosite. Ser-764 phosphorylation did not affect clathrin-mediated endocytosis or bulk endocytosis using penetratin-based phospho-deficient or phospho-mimetic peptides or following siRNA depletion/rescue experiments. Phospho-dynamin II was enriched at the mitotic centrosome, but this targeting was unaffected by the phospho-deficient or phospho-mimetic peptides. In contrast, the phospho-mimetic peptide displaced endogenous dynamin II, but not calcineurin, from the midbody and induced cytokinesis failure. Therefore, phosphorylation of dynamin II primarily occurs on a single site that regulates cytokinesis downstream of calcineurin, rather than regulating endocytosis or centrosome function.

Prodrugs of the Archetypal Dynamin Inhibitor Bis-T-22.

The Bis-T series of compounds comprise some of the most potent inhibitors of dynamin GTPase activity yet reported, e. g., (2E,2'E)-N,N'-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(2-cyano-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acrylamide) (2), Bis-T-22. The catechol moieties are believed to limit cell permeability, rendering these compounds largely inactive in cells. To solve this problem, a prodrug strategy was envisaged and eight ester analogues were synthesised. The shortest and bulkiest esters (acetate and butyl/tert-butyl) were found to be insoluble under physiological conditions, whilst the remaining five were soluble and stable under these conditions. These five were analysed for plasma stability and half-lives ranged from ∼2.3 min (propionic ester 4), increasing with size and bulk, to greater than 24 hr (dimethyl carbamate 10). Similar profiles where observed with the rate of formation of Bis-T-22 with half-lives ranging from ∼25 mins (propionic ester 4). Propionic ester 4 was chosen to undergo further testing and was found to inhibit endocytosis in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 ∼8 µM, suggesting this compound is able to effectively cross the cell membrane where it is rapidly hydrolysed to the desired Bis-T-22 parent compound.

Human C5aR knock-in mice facilitate the production and assessment of anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibodies.

Complement component C5a binds C5a receptor (C5aR) and facilitates leukocyte chemotaxis and release of inflammatory mediators. We used neutrophils from human C5aR knock-in mice, in which the mouse C5aR coding region was replaced with that of human C5aR, to immunize wild-type mice and to generate high-affinity antagonist monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to human C5aR. These mAbs blocked neutrophil migration to C5a in vitro and, at low doses, both prevented and reversed inflammatory arthritis in the murine K/BxN model. Of approximately 40 mAbs generated to C5aR, all potent inhibitors recognized a small region of the second extracellular loop that seems to be critical for regulation of receptor activity. Human C5aR knock-in mice not only facilitated production of high-affinity mAbs against an important human therapeutic target but were also useful in preclinical validation of the potency of these antagonists. This strategy should be applicable to other important mAb therapeutics.

Myristyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and octadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide are surface-active small molecule dynamin inhibitors that block endocytosis mediated by dynamin I or dynamin II.

Dynamin is a GTPase enzyme involved in membrane constriction and fission during endocytosis. Phospholipid binding via its pleckstrin homology domain maximally stimulates dynamin activity. We developed a series of surface-active small-molecule inhibitors, such as myristyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (MiTMAB) and octadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (OcTMAB), and we now show MiTMAB targets the dynamin-phospholipid interaction. MiTMAB inhibited dynamin GTPase activity, with a Ki of 940 +/- 25 nM. It potently inhibited receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) of transferrin or epidermal growth factor (EGF) in a range of cells without blocking EGF binding, receptor number, or autophosphorylation. RME inhibition was rapidly reversed after washout. The rank order of potency for a variety of MiTMAB analogs on RME matched the rank order for dynamin inhibition, suggesting dynamin recruitment to the membrane is a primary cellular target. MiTMAB also inhibited synaptic vesicle endocytosis in rat brain nerve terminals (synaptosomes) without inducing depolarization or morphological defects. Therefore, the drug rapidly and reversibly blocks multiple forms of endocytosis with no acute cellular damage. The unique mechanism of action of MiTMAB provides an important tool to better understand dynamin-mediated membrane trafficking events in a variety of cells.

Rapid purification of native dynamin I and colorimetric GTPase assay.

Dynamin I is a large GTPase enzyme required in membrane constriction and fission during multiple forms of endocytosis. The first method described here is for the rapid purification of native dynamin from peripheral membrane extracts of sheep brain using ammonium sulfate precipitation and affinity purification on recombinant SH3 domains. The method greatly enriches for dynamin I at high purity and allows for large-scale biochemical and functional studies. The second method is a nonradioactive, high-throughput colorimetric GTPase assay for dynamin activity. The approach is based on terminating incubations with EDTA and the use of malachite green for high-sensitivity detection of inorganic phosphate release. The two methods will facilitate high-throughput screens for potential dynamin inhibitors or activators.

Small molecule inhibitors of dynamin I GTPase activity: development of dimeric tyrphostins.

Dynamin I is a GTPase enzyme required for endocytosis and is an excellent target for the design of potential endocytosis inhibitors. Screening of a library of tyrphostins, in our laboratory, against the GTPase activity of dynamin I gave rise to a microM potent lead, 2-cyano-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)thioacrylamide (1, IC50 70 microM). Our initial investigations suggested that only the dimeric form of 1 displayed dynamin I GTPase inhibitory activity. Subsequent synthetic iterations were based on dimeric analogues and afforded a number of small molecules, low microM potent, inhibitors of dynamin I GTPase, in particular, symmetrical analogues with a minimum of two free phenolic -OHs: catechol-acrylamide (9) (IC50= 5.1 +/- 0.6 microM), its 3,4,5-trihydroxy congener (10) (IC50= 1.7 +/- 0.2 microM), and the corresponding 3-methyl ether (11) (IC50= 9 +/- 3 microM). Increasing the length of the central alkyl spacer from ethyl to propyl (22-24) afforded essentially identical activity with IC50's of 1.7 +/- 0.2, 1.7 +/- 0.2, and 5 +/- 1 microM, respectively. No decrease in activity was noted until the introduction of a hexyl spacer. Our studies highlight the requirement for two free amido NHs with neither the mono-N-methyl (86) nor the bis-N-methyl (87) analogues inhibiting dynamin I GTPase. A similar effect was noted for the removal of the nitrile moieties. However, modest potency was observed with the corresponding ester analogues of 9-11: ethyl ester (90), propyl ester (91), and butyl ester (92), with IC50's of 42 +/- 3, 38 +/- 2, and 61 +/- 2 microM, respectively. Our studies reveal the most potent and promising dynamin I GTPase inhibitor in this series as (22), which is also known as BisT.

Syndapin--a membrane remodelling and endocytic F-BAR protein.

Syndapin [also called PACSIN (protein kinase C and casein kinase II interacting protein)] is an Fes-CIP4 homology Bin-amphiphysin-Rvs161/167 (F-BAR) and Src-homology 3 domain-containing protein. Three genes give rise to three main isoforms in mammalian cells. They each function in different endocytic and vesicle trafficking pathways and provide critical links between the cytoskeletal network in different cellular processes, such as neuronal morphogenesis and cell migration. The membrane remodelling activity of syndapin via its F-BAR domain and its interaction partners, such as dynamin and neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein binding to its Src-homology 3 domain, are important with respect to its function. Its various partner proteins provide insights into its mechanism of action, as well as its differential roles in these cellular processes. Signalling pathways leading to the regulation of syndapin function by phosphorylation are now contributing to our understanding of the broader functions of this family of proteins.

Pyrimidyn compounds: dual-action small molecule pyrimidine-based dynamin inhibitors.

Dynamin is required for clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). Its GTPase activity is stimulated by phospholipid binding to its PH domain, which induces helical oligomerization. We have designed a series of novel pyrimidine-based "Pyrimidyn" compounds that inhibit the lipid-stimulated GTPase activity of full length dynamin I and II with similar potency. The most potent analogue, Pyrimidyn 7, has an IC50 of 1.1 µM for dynamin I and 1.8 µM for dynamin II, making it among the most potent dynamin inhibitors identified to date. We investigated the mechanism of action of the Pyrimidyn compounds in detail by examining the kinetics of Pyrimidyn 7 inhibition of dynamin. The compound competitively inhibits both GTP and phospholipid interactions with dynamin I. While both mechanisms of action have been previously observed separately, this is the first inhibitor series to incorporate both and thereby to target two distinct domains of dynamin. Pyrimidyn 6 and 7 reversibly inhibit CME of both transferrin and EGF in a number of non-neuronal cell lines as well as inhibiting synaptic vesicle endocytosis (SVE) in nerve terminals. Therefore, Pyrimidyn compounds block endocytosis by directly competing with GTP and lipid binding to dynamin, limiting both the recruitment of dynamin to membranes and its activation. This dual mode of action provides an important new tool for molecular dissection of dynamin's role in endocytosis.

Inhibition of dynamin mediated endocytosis by the dynoles--synthesis and functional activity of a family of indoles.

Screening identified two bisindolylmaleimides as 100 microM inhibitors of the GTPase activity of dynamin I. Focused library approaches allowed development of indole-based dynamin inhibitors called dynoles. 100-Fold in vitro enhancement of potency was noted with the best inhibitor, 2-cyano-3-(1-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)-N-octylacrylamide (dynole 34-2), a 1.3 +/- 0.3 microM dynamin I inhibitor. Dynole 34-2 potently inhibited receptor mediated endocytosis (RME) internalization of Texas red-transferrin. The rank order of potency for a variety of dynole analogues on RME in U2OS cells matched their rank order for dynamin inhibition, suggesting that the mechanism of inhibition is via dynamin. Dynoles are the most active dynamin I inhibitors reported for in vitro or RME evaluations. Dynole 34-2 is 15-fold more active than dynasore against dynamin I and 6-fold more active against dynamin mediated RME (IC(50) approximately 15 microM; RME IC(50) approximately 80 microM). The dynoles represent a new series of tools to better probe endocytosis and dynamin-mediated trafficking events in a variety of cells.

Long chain amines and long chain ammonium salts as novel inhibitors of dynamin GTPase activity.

We examined a number of ligands with the view of inhibiting the GTPase activity of dynamin. Dynamin contains a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain that interacts with lipids. We report a series of simple lipid-like molecules that display moderate inhibitory activity. Inhibitory activity is linked to chain length and quaternarization of the terminal amine. A change in the counterion, Cl versus Br or I, had little effect on potency. However, introduction of a hydrophobic collar proximal to the charged site was beneficial to dynamin GTPase inhibitory action. The most potent compound was myristoyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (MTMAB, IC(50) 3.15 microM).