Class B1 GPCR activation by an intracellular agonist.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) generally accommodate specific ligands in the orthosteric-binding pockets. Ligand binding triggers a receptor allosteric conformational change that leads to the activation of intracellular transducers, G proteins and ß-arrestins. Because these signals often induce adverse effects, the selective activation mechanism for each transducer must be elucidated. Thus, many orthosteric-biased agonists have been developed, and intracellular-biased agonists have recently attracted broad interest. These agonists bind within the receptor intracellular cavity and preferentially tune the specific signalling pathway over other signalling pathways, without allosteric rearrangement of the receptor from the extracellular side1-3. However, only antagonist-bound structures are currently available1,4-6, and there is no evidence to support that biased agonist binding occurs within the intracellular cavity. This limits the comprehension of intracellular-biased agonism and potential drug development. Here we report the cryogenic electron microscopy structure of a complex of Gs and the human parathyroid hormone type 1 receptor (PTH1R) bound to a PTH1R agonist, PCO371. PCO371 binds within an intracellular pocket of PTH1R and directly interacts with Gs. The PCO371-binding mode rearranges the intracellular region towards the active conformation without extracellularly induced allosteric signal propagation. PCO371 stabilizes the significantly outward-bent conformation of transmembrane helix 6, which facilitates binding to G proteins rather than ß-arrestins. Furthermore, PCO371 binds within the highly conserved intracellular pocket, activating 7 out of the 15 class B1 GPCRs. Our study identifies a new and conserved intracellular agonist-binding pocket and provides evidence of a biased signalling mechanism that targets the receptor-transducer interface.

SLC15A4 mediates M1-prone metabolic shifts in macrophages and guards immune cells from metabolic stress.

The amino acid and oligopeptide transporter Solute carrier family 15 member A4 (SLC15A4), which resides in lysosomes and is preferentially expressed in immune cells, plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of lupus and colitis in murine models. Toll-like receptor (TLR)7/9- and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1)-mediated inflammatory responses require SLC15A4 function for regulating the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) or transporting L-Ala-γ-D-Glu-meso-diaminopimelic acid, IL-12: interleukin-12 (Tri-DAP), respectively. Here, we further investigated the mechanism of how SLC15A4 directs inflammatory responses. Proximity-dependent biotin identification revealed glycolysis as highly enriched gene ontology terms. Fluxome analyses in macrophages indicated that SLC15A4 loss causes insufficient biotransformation of pyruvate to the tricarboxylic acid cycle, while increasing glutaminolysis to the cycle. Furthermore, SLC15A4 was required for M1-prone metabolic change and inflammatory IL-12 cytokine productions after TLR9 stimulation. SLC15A4 could be in close proximity to AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mTOR, and SLC15A4 deficiency impaired TLR-mediated AMPK activation. Interestingly, SLC15A4-intact but not SLC15A4-deficient macrophages became resistant to fluctuations in environmental nutrient levels by limiting the use of the glutamine source; thus, SLC15A4 was critical for macrophage's respiratory homeostasis. Our findings reveal a mechanism of metabolic regulation in which an amino acid transporter acts as a gatekeeper that protects immune cells' ability to acquire an M1-prone metabolic phenotype in inflammatory tissues by mitigating metabolic stress.

A non-nucleotide agonist that binds covalently to cysteine residues of STING.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an ER-localized transmembrane protein and the receptor for 2',3'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP), which is a second messenger produced by cGAMP synthase (cGAS), a cytosolic double-stranded DNA sensor. The cGAS-STING pathway plays a critical role in the innate immune response to infection of a variety of DNA pathogens through the induction of the type I interferons. Pharmacological activation of STING is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer, thus the development of potent and selective STING agonists has been pursued. Here we report that mouse STING can be activated by phenylarsine oxide (PAO), a membrane permeable trivalent arsenic compound that preferentially reacts with thiol group of cysteine residue (Cys). The activation of STING with PAO does not require cGAS or cGAMP. Mass spectrometric analysis of the peptides generated by trypsin and chymotrypsin digestion of STING identifies several PAO adducts, suggesting that PAO covalently binds to STING. Screening of STING variants with single Cys to serine residues (Ser) reveals that Cys88 and Cys291 are critical to the response to PAO. STING activation with PAO, as with cGAMP, requires the ER-to-Golgi traffic and palmitoylation of STING. Our results identify a non-nucleotide STING agonist that does not target the cGAMP-binding pocket, and demonstrate that Cys of STING can be a novel target for the development of STING agonist.Key words: STING agonist, cysteine modification, innate immunity, phenylarsine oxide.

FilGAP, a GAP for Rac1, down-regulates invadopodia formation in breast cancer cells.

Invadopodia are protrusive structures that mediate the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation required for tumor invasion and metastasis. Rho small GTPases regulate invadopodia formation, but the molecular mechanisms of how Rho small GTPase activities are regulated at the invadopodia remain unclear. Here we have identified FilGAP, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Rac1, as a negative regulator of invadopodia formation in tumor cells. Depletion of FilGAP in breast cancer cells increased ECM degradation and conversely, overexpression of FilGAP decreased it. FilGAP depletion promoted the formation of invadopodia with ECM degradation. In addition, FilGAP depletion and Rac1 overexpression increased the emergence of invadopodia induced by epidermal growth factor, whereas FilGAP overexpression suppressed it. Overexpression of GAP-deficient FilGAP mutant enhanced invadopodia emergence as well as FilGAP depletion. The pleckstrin-homology (PH) domain of FilGAP binds phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P2], which is distributed on membranes of the invadopodia. FilGAP localized to invadopodia in breast cancer cells on the ECM, but FilGAP mutant lacking PI(3,4)P2-binding showed low localization. Similarly, the decrease of PI(3,4)P2 production reduced the FilGAP localization. Our results suggest that FilGAP localizes to invadopodia through its PH domain binding to PI(3,4)P2 and down-regulates invadopodia formation by inactivating Rac1, inhibiting ECM degradation in invasive tumor cells.Key words: invadopodia, breast carcinoma, Rac1, FilGAP, PI(3,4)P2.

Specific association of TBK1 with the trans-Golgi network following STING stimulation.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is essential for the type I interferon response induced by microbial DNA or self-DNA leaked from mitochondria/nuclei. In response to the emergence of such DNAs in the cytosol, STING relocates from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi, and activates TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), a cytosolic kinase essential for the activation of STING-dependent downstream signalling. To understand at which subcellular compartments TBK1 becomes associated with STING, we generated cells stably expressing fluorescent protein-tagged STING (mNeonGreen-STING) and TBK1 (TBK1-mScarletI). We found that after STING stimulation, TBK1 became associated with the trans-Golgi network (TGN), not the other parts of the Golgi. STING variants that constitutively induce the type I interferon response have been identified in patients with autoinflammatory diseases named "STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI)". Even in cells expressing these constitutively active STING variants, TBK1 was found to be associated with TGN, not the other parts of the Golgi. These results suggest that TGN acts as a specific platform where STING associates with and activates TBK1.Key words: the Golgi, membrane traffic, innate immunity, STING.

Predominant localization of phosphatidylserine at the cytoplasmic leaflet of the ER, and its TMEM16K-dependent redistribution.

TMEM16K, a membrane protein carrying 10 transmembrane regions, has phospholipid scramblase activity. TMEM16K is localized to intracellular membranes, but whether it actually scrambles phospholipids inside cells has not been demonstrated, due to technical difficulties in studying intracellular lipid distributions. Here, we developed a freeze-fracture electron microscopy method that enabled us to determine the phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) distribution in the individual leaflets of cellular membranes. Using this method, we found that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of mammalian cells harbored abundant PtdSer in its cytoplasmic leaflet and much less in the luminal leaflet, whereas the outer and inner nuclear membranes (NMs) had equivalent amounts of PtdSer in both leaflets. The ER and NMs of budding yeast also harbored PtdSer in their cytoplasmic leaflet, but asymmetrical distribution in the ER was not observed. Treating mouse embryonic fibroblasts with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 compromised the cytoplasmic leaflet-dominant PtdSer asymmetry in the ER and increased PtdSer in the NMs, especially in the nucleoplasmic leaflet of the inner NM. This Ca2+-induced PtdSer redistribution was not observed in TMEM16K-null fibroblasts, but was recovered in these cells by reexpressing TMEM16K. These results indicate that, similar to the plasma membrane, PtdSer in the ER of mammalian cells is predominantly localized to the cytoplasmic leaflet, and that TMEM16K directly or indirectly mediates Ca2+-dependent phospholipid scrambling in the ER.

Nitro-fatty acids are formed in response to virus infection and are potent inhibitors of STING palmitoylation and signaling.

The adaptor molecule stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is central to production of type I IFNs in response to infection with DNA viruses and to presence of host DNA in the cytosol. Excessive release of type I IFNs through STING-dependent mechanisms has emerged as a central driver of several interferonopathies, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS), and stimulator of IFN genes-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI). The involvement of STING in these diseases points to an unmet need for the development of agents that inhibit STING signaling. Here, we report that endogenously formed nitro-fatty acids can covalently modify STING by nitro-alkylation. These nitro-alkylations inhibit STING palmitoylation, STING signaling, and subsequently, the release of type I IFN in both human and murine cells. Furthermore, treatment with nitro-fatty acids was sufficient to inhibit production of type I IFN in fibroblasts derived from SAVI patients with a gain-of-function mutation in STING. In conclusion, we have identified nitro-fatty acids as endogenously formed inhibitors of STING signaling and propose for these lipids to be considered in the treatment of STING-dependent inflammatory diseases.

FAM48A mediates compensatory autophagy induced by proteasome impairment.

Maintaining protein homeostasis is central to cell survival. The ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy play pivotal roles in protein quality control through protein degradation. Activities of these degradative pathways are carefully orchestrated, and autophagy is up-regulated during proteasome dysfunction for cellular homeostasis. However, the mechanism by which proteasome impairment induces compensatory autophagy has remained largely elusive. Here, we show that FAM48A mediates autophagy induction during proteasome inhibition. FAM48A is degraded by the proteasome and accumulates in cells by proteasome inhibition. Knockdown of FAM48A led to defective induction of autophagy during proteasome inhibition and accompanied by defective localization of Atg9 on recycling endosomes. Our results indicate that FAM48A is a kind of sensor that is required for compensatory autophagy induction upon proteasome impairment.

SNX9 determines the surface levels of integrin ß1 in vascular endothelial cells: Implication in poor prognosis of human colorectal cancers overexpressing SNX9.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is involved in a variety of diseases including the tumor growth. In response to various angiogenic stimulations, a number of proteins on the surface of vascular endothelial cells are activated to coordinate cell proliferation, migration, and spreading processes to form new blood vessels. Plasma membrane localization of these angiogenic proteins, which include vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and integrins, are warranted by intracellular membrane trafficking. Here, by using a siRNA library, we screened for the sorting nexin family that regulates intracellular trafficking and identified sorting nexin 9 (SNX9) as a novel angiogenic factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). SNX9 was essential for cell spreading on the Matrigel, and tube formation that mimics in vivo angiogenesis in HUVECs. SNX9 depletion significantly delayed the recycling of integrin ß1, an essential adhesion molecule for angiogenesis, and reduced the surface levels of integrin ß1 in HUVECs. Clinically, we showed that SNX9 protein was highly expressed in tumor endothelial cells of human colorectal cancer tissues. High-level expression of SNX9 messenger RNA significantly correlated with poor prognosis of the patients with colorectal cancer. These results suggest that SNX9 is an angiogenic factor and provide a novel target for the development of new antiangiogenic drugs.

Cullin-3/KCTD10 E3 complex is essential for Rac1 activation through RhoB degradation in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer cells.

Rho GTPase Rac1 is a central regulator of F-actin organization and signal transduction to control plasma membrane dynamics and cell proliferation. Dysregulated Rac1 activity is often observed in various cancers including breast cancer and is suggested to be critical for malignancy. Here, we showed that the ubiquitin E3 ligase complex Cullin-3 (CUL3)/KCTD10 is essential for epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-dependent Rac1 activation in HER2-positive breast cancer cells. EGF-induced dorsal membrane ruffle formation and cell proliferation that depends on both Rac1 and HER2 were suppressed in CUL3- or KCTD10-depleted cells. Mechanistically, CUL3/KCTD10 ubiquitinated RhoB for degradation, another Rho GTPase that inhibits Rac1 activation at the plasma membrane by suppressing endosome-to-plasma membrane traffic of Rac1. In HER2-positive breast cancers, high expression of Rac1 mRNA significantly correlated with poor prognosis of the patients. This study shows that this novel molecular axis (CUL3/KCTD10/RhoB) positively regulates the activity of Rac1 in HER2-positive breast cancers, and our findings may lead to new treatment options for HER2- and Rac1-positive breast cancers.

Transport through recycling endosomes requires EHD1 recruitment by a phosphatidylserine translocase.

P4-ATPases translocate aminophospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine (PS), to the cytosolic leaflet of membranes. PS is highly enriched in recycling endosomes (REs) and is essential for endosomal membrane traffic. Here, we show that PS flipping by an RE-localized P4-ATPase is required for the recruitment of the membrane fission protein EHD1. Depletion of ATP8A1 impaired the asymmetric transbilayer distribution of PS in REs, dissociated EHD1 from REs, and generated aberrant endosomal tubules that appear resistant to fission. EHD1 did not show membrane localization in cells defective in PS synthesis. ATP8A2, a tissue-specific ATP8A1 paralogue, is associated with a neurodegenerative disease (CAMRQ). ATP8A2, but not the disease-causative ATP8A2 mutant, rescued the endosomal defects in ATP8A1-depleted cells. Primary neurons from Atp8a2-/- mice showed a reduced level of transferrin receptors at the cell surface compared to Atp8a2+/+ mice. These findings demonstrate the role of P4-ATPase in membrane fission and give insight into the molecular basis of CAMRQ.

Development of a Series of Practical Fluorescent Chemical Tools To Measure pH Values in Living Samples.

In biological systems, the pH in intracellular organelles or tissues is strictly regulated, and differences of pH are deeply related to key biological events such as protein degradation, intracellular trafficking, renal failure, and cancer. Ratiometric fluorescence imaging is useful for determination of precise pH values, but existing fluorescence probes have substantial limitations, such as inappropriate p Ka for imaging in the physiological pH range, inadequate photobleaching resistance, and insufficiently long excitation and emission wavelengths. Here we report a versatile scaffold for ratiometric fluorescence pH probes, based on asymmetric rhodamine. To demonstrate its usefulness for biological applications, we employed it to develop two probes. (1) SiRpH5 has suitable p Ka and water solubility for imaging in acidic intracellular compartments; by using transferrin tagged with SiRpH5, we achieved time-lapse imaging of pH in endocytic compartments during protein trafficking for the first time. (2) Me-pEPPR is a near-infrared (NIR) probe; by using dextrin tagged with Me-pEPPR, we were able to image extracellular pH of renal tubules and tumors in situ. These chemical tools should be useful for studying the influence of intra- and extracellular pH on biological processes, as well as for in vivo imaging.

The binding of TBK1 to STING requires exocytic membrane traffic from the ER.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is essential for the type I interferon and pro-inflammatory responses against DNA pathogens. In response to the presence of cytosolic DNA, STING translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi, and activates TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), a cytosolic kinase that is essential for the activation of STING-dependent downstream signalling. The organelles where TBK1 binds to STING remain unknown. Here we show that TBK1 binds to STING at the Golgi, not at the ER. Treatment with brefeldin A, an agent to block ER-to-Golgi traffic, or knockdown of Sar1, a small GTPase that regulates coat protein complex II (COP-II)-mediated ER-to-Golgi traffic, inhibited the binding of TBK1 to STING. Endogenous TBK1 was recruited to the Golgi when STING was transported to the Golgi, as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy. STING variants that constitutively induce the type I interferon response were found in patients with autoinflammatory diseases. Even these disease-causative STING variants could not bind to TBK1 when the STING variants were trapped in the ER. These results demonstrate that the Golgi is an organelle at which STING recruits and activates TBK1 for triggering the STING-dependent type I interferon response.

Transport of the cholera toxin B-subunit from recycling endosomes to the Golgi requires clathrin and AP-1.

The retrograde pathway is defined by the transport of proteins and lipids from the plasma membrane through endosomes to the Golgi complex, and is essential for a variety of cellular activities. Recycling endosomes are important sorting stations for some retrograde cargo. SMAP2, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Arf1 with a putative clathrin-binding domain, has previously been shown to participate in the retrograde transport of the cholera toxin B-subunit (CTxB) from recycling endosomes. Here, we found that clathrin, a vesicle coat protein, and clathrin adaptor protein complex 1 (AP-1) were present at recycling endosomes and were needed for the retrograde transport of CTxB from recycling endosomes to the Golgi, but not from the plasma membrane to recycling endosomes. SMAP2 immunoprecipitated clathrin and AP-1 through a putative clathrin-binding domain and a CALM-binding domain, and SMAP2 mutants that did not interact with clathrin or AP-1 could not localize to recycling endosomes. Moreover, knockdown of Arf1 suppressed the retrograde transport of CTxB from recycling endosomes to the Golgi. These findings suggest that retrograde transport is mediated by clathrin-coated vesicles from recycling endosomes and that the role of the coat proteins is in the recruitment of Arf GAP to transport vesicles.

Phosphatidic acid induces EHD3-containing membrane tubulation and is required for receptor recycling.

EHD3 is localized on the tubular structures of early endosomes, and it regulates their trafficking pathway. However, the regulatory mechanism of EHD3-containing tubular structures remains poorly understood. An in vitro liposome co-sedimentation assay revealed that EHD3 interacted with phosphatidic acid through its helical domain and this interaction induced liposomal tubulations. Additionally, inhibiting phosphatidic acid synthesis with diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor or lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase inhibitor significantly reduced the number of EHD3-containing tubules and impaired their trafficking from early endosomes. These results suggest that EHD3 and phosphatidic acid cooperatively regulate membrane deformation and trafficking from early endosomes.

Sequential breakdown of 3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides is essential for the completion of macropinocytosis.

Macropinocytosis is a highly conserved endocytic process by which extracellular fluid and solutes are internalized into cells. Macropinocytosis starts with the formation of membrane ruffles at the plasma membrane and ends with their closure. The transient and sequential emergence of phosphoinositides PI(3,4,5)P3 and PI(3,4)P2 in the membrane ruffles is essential for macropinocytosis. By making use of information in the Caenorhabditis elegans mutants defective in fluid-phase endocytosis, we found that mammalian phosphoinositide phosphatase MTMR6 that dephosphorylates PI(3)P to PI, and its binding partner MTMR9, are required for macropinocytosis. INPP4B, which dephosphorylates PI(3,4)P2 to PI(3)P, was also found to be essential for macropinocytosis. These phosphatases operate after the formation of membrane ruffles to complete macropinocytosis. Finally, we showed that KCa3.1, a Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel that is activated by PI(3)P, is required for macropinocytosis. We propose that the sequential breakdown of PI(3,4,5)P3 → PI(3,4)P2 → PI(3)P → PI controls macropinocytosis through specific effectors of the intermediate phosphoinositides.

Lipid compartmentalization in the endosome system.

Lipids play an essential role in the structure of the endosomal membranes as well as in their dynamic rearrangement during the transport of internalized cargoes along the endocytic pathway. In this review, we discuss the function of endosomal lipids mainly in mammalian cells, focusing on two well-known components of the lipid rafts, sphingomyelin and cholesterol, as well as on three anionic phospholipids, phosphatidylserine, polyphosphoinositides and the atypical phospholipid, bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate/lysobisphosphatidic acid. We detail the structure, metabolism, distribution and role of these lipids in the endosome system as well as their importance in pathological conditions where modification of the endosomal membrane flow can lead to various diseases such as lipid-storage diseases, myopathies and neuropathies.

Visualization of the heterogeneous membrane distribution of sphingomyelin associated with cytokinesis, cell polarity, and sphingolipidosis.

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a major sphingolipid in mammalian cells and is reported to form specific lipid domains together with cholesterol. However, methods to examine the membrane distribution of SM are limited. We demonstrated in model membranes that fluorescent protein conjugates of 2 specific SM-binding toxins, lysenin (Lys) and equinatoxin II (EqtII), recognize different membrane distributions of SM; Lys exclusively binds clustered SM, whereas EqtII preferentially binds dispersed SM. Freeze-fracture immunoelectron microscopy showed that clustered but not dispersed SM formed lipid domains on the cell surface. Glycolipids and the membrane concentration of SM affect the SM distribution pattern on the plasma membrane. Using derivatives of Lys and EqtII as SM distribution-sensitive probes, we revealed the exclusive accumulation of SM clusters in the midbody at the time of cytokinesis. Interestingly, apical membranes of differentiated epithelial cells exhibited dispersed SM distribution, whereas SM was clustered in basolateral membranes. Clustered but not dispersed SM was absent from the cell surface of acid sphingomyelinase-deficient Niemann-Pick type A cells. These data suggest that both the SM content and membrane distribution are crucial for pathophysiological events bringing therapeutic perspective in the role of SM membrane distribution.

Ag/FeCo/Ag core/shell/shell magnetic nanoparticles with plasmonic imaging capability.

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have been used to separate various species such as bacteria, cells, and proteins. In this study, we synthesized Ag/FeCo/Ag core/shell/shell NPs designed for magnetic separation of subcellular components like intracellular vesicles. A benefit of these NPs is that their silver metal content allows plasmon scattering to be used as a tool to observe detection by the NPs easily and semipermanently. Therefore, these NPs are considered a potential alternative to existing fluorescent probes like dye molecules and colloidal quantum dots. In addition, the Ag core inside the NPs suppresses the oxidation of FeCo because of electron transfer from the Ag core to the FeCo shell, even though FeCo is typically susceptible to oxidation. The surfaces of the Ag/FeCo/Ag NPs were functionalized with ε-poly-L-lysine-based hydrophilic polymers to make them water-soluble and biocompatible. The imaging capability of the polymer-functionalized NPs induced by plasmon scattering from the Ag core was investigated. The response of the NPs to a magnetic field using liposomes as platforms and applying a magnetic field during observation by confocal laser scanning microscopy was assessed. The results of the magnetophoresis experiments of liposomes allowed us to calculate the magnetic force to which each liposome was subjected.