Interaction Of Tubulin Research Articles

RITA, a novel modulator of Notch signalling, acts via nuclear export of RBP-J

The evolutionarily conserved Notch signal transduction pathway regulates fundamental cellular processes during embryonic development and in the adult. Ligand binding induces presenilin-dependent cleavage of the receptor and a subsequent nuclear translocation of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD). In the nucleus, NICD binds to the recombination signal sequence-binding protein J (RBP-J)/CBF-1 transcription factor to induce expression of Notch target genes. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of RBP-J interacting and tubulin associated (RITA) (C12ORF52) as a novel RBP-J/CBF-1-interacting protein. RITA is a highly conserved 36 kDa protein that, most interestingly, binds to tubulin in the cytoplasm and shuttles rapidly between cytoplasm and nucleus. This shuttling RITA exports RBP-J/CBF-1 from the nucleus. Functionally, we show that RITA can reverse a Notch-induced loss of primary neurogenesis in Xenopus laevis. Furthermore, RITA is able to downregulate Notch-mediated transcription. Thus, we propose that RITA acts as a negative modulator of the Notch signalling pathway, controlling the level of nuclear RBP-J/CBF-1, where its amounts are limiting.

New emerging drugs targeting the genomic integrity and replication machinery in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a difficult to treat cancer entity with a high relapse rate. After initial surgery and chemotherapy, only a few options for therapeutic treatment remain in case of cancer recurrence. New treatment options with improved efficacies to circumvent acquired or pre-existing drug resistance are needed. This survey focuses on new prospective drugs for ovarian cancer treatment that either cause direct damage to the nuclear DNA or inhibit chromosome segregation by acting as mitotic spindle inhibitors. Among a plethora of currently tested and proposed new drugs for ovarian cancer treatment, only a few appear to meet the criteria of sufficient and reliable efficacy with tolerable toxicity. These include the naturally occurring DNA-alkylating alkaloid trabectedin, the nitrogen mustard prodrug canfosfamide, and the synthetic kinase inhibitor ON-01910. The latter inhibits mitotic spindle formation without a direct tubulin interaction, avoiding adverse neurotoxic reactions common to the taxanes. Further, epothilones and oxaliplatin, already approved drugs for other cancer entities, show promising activity against ovarian cancer; they are even of interest as a first-line treatment option. Although the current focus and interest of modern cancer drug design tends to be more specific and targeted therapies, including therapeutic antibodies and specific small molecules to inhibit growth-, apoptosis-, and angiogenesis-regulating signalling cascades, the main target for ovarian cancer treatment appears to remain its basic, though uncontrolled working proliferation machinery. This includes the current gold standard for ovarian cancer chemotherapy, carboplatin, and taxanes, as well as the few remaining alternatives, such as topotecan, doxorubicin, and gemcitabine, which all rely on their ability to bind to or to modify the DNA or the chromosome-separating spindle apparatus. Thus, the genomic integrity and replication machinery of ovarian cancer cells prove to represent an established, and obviously still effective target to be tackled for ovarian cancer treatment.

In vitro interaction of tubulin with the photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase γ-subunit

The α and β tubulins compose the microtubule cytoskeleton which is involved in many cellular processes such as vesicular transport. The photoreceptor cells in the retina are neurons specialized for phototransduction. Here we report a novel interaction between tubulin and the photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6) gamma subunit (PDEγ). The specificity and molecular details of the PDEγ:tubulin interaction were analyzed through the experiments of pull down, microtubule co-sedimentation, and NMR spectroscopy. The tubulin-interacting site was identified to be in the PDEγ C-terminal I67-G85 region, and the interaction interface appeared to be distinct from those with the other PDEγ targets in phototransduction. We also observed that PDEγ interacted with tubulin in a GTP-dependent manner. Our findings offer implications for non-phototransduction role(s) of PDEγ in the photoreceptor neurons.

Mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1act/tubulin interaction is an important determinant of mitotic stability in cultured HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells.

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays a major role in neoplastic cell transformation. Using a proteomics approach, we identified alpha tubulin and beta tubulin as proteins that interact with activated MAP/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), a central MAPK regulatory kinase. Confocal analysis revealed spatiotemporal control of MEK1-tubulin colocalization that was most prominent in the mitotic spindle apparatus in variant HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. Peptide arrays identified the critical role of positively charged amino acids R108, R113, R160, and K157 on the surface of MEK1 for tubulin interaction. Overexpression of activated MEK1 caused defects in spindle arrangement, chromosome segregation, and ploidy. In contrast, chromosome polyploidy was reduced in the presence of an activated MEK1 mutant (R108A, R113A) that disrupted interactions with tubulin. Our findings indicate the importance of signaling by activated MEK1-tubulin in spindle organization and chromosomal instability.

Synthesis, antiproliferative activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization by anthracenone-based oxime derivatives

A series of anthracenone-based oxime ethers and -esters were synthesized in order to evaluate their antiproliferative activity. Several investigated compounds displayed strong antiproliferative activity against K562 leukemia cells and proved to be strong inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. In this context, anthracenone-based oxime ethers and -esters are considered to contribute to the development of novel antiproliferative drugs, based on tubulin interaction.

GABA A receptor associated protein (GABARAP) modulates TRPV1 expression and channel function and desensitization

Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV1) transduces noxious chemical and physical stimuli in high-threshold nociceptors. The pivotal role of TRPV1 in the physiopathology of pain transduction has thrust the identification and characterization of interacting partners that modulate its cellular function. Here, we report that TRPV1 associates with gamma-amino butyric acid A-type (GABA(A)) receptor associated protein (GABARAP) in HEK293 cells and in neurons from dorsal root ganglia coexpressing both proteins. At variance with controls, GABARAP augmented TRPV1 expression in cotransfected cells and stimulated surface receptor clustering. Functionally, GABARAP expression attenuated voltage and capsaicin sensitivity of TRPV1 in the presence of extracellular calcium. Furthermore, the presence of the anchor protein GABARAP notably lengthened the kinetics of vanilloid-induced tachyphylaxia. Notably, the presence of GABARAP selectively increased the interaction of tubulin with the C-terminal domain of TRPV1. Disruption of tubulin cytoskeleton with nocodazole reduced capsaicin-evoked currents in cells expressing TRPV1 and GABARAP, without affecting the kinetics of vanilloid-induced desensitization. Taken together, these findings indicate that GABARAP is an important component of the TRPV1 signaling complex that contributes to increase the channel expression, to traffic and cluster it on the plasma membrane, and to modulate its functional activity at the level of channel gating and desensitization.

Genetic malformations of the human frontal lobe.

Interest in genetic malformations of the frontal lobe has grown from the recognition that certain brain malformations have a predilection for the frontal lobes or are more severe in the anterior brain. These malformations can be deleterious, as the frontal lobes in humans are particularly large in comparison with those of other species and play an important role in cognitive developmental functions.

Using VDAC-Tubulin Interaction to Assess VDAC Orientation in the Mitochondrial Membrane

Recently we have found that dimeric αβ-tubulin at nanomolar concentrations induces reversible partial blockage of VDAC channel, reconstituted into a planar lipid membrane (Rostovtseva et al., PNAS 2008). Tubulin induces characteristic, well resolved fast blocking events with the highly voltage-dependent binding parameters. Tubulin interaction with VDAC requires the presence of C-terminal tails (CTT) of tubulin. Tubulin with truncated CTT did not induce reversible blockage typical for intact tubulin. We propose a model in which negatively charged CTT of tubulin penetrates into VDAC pore, reaching through the channel at application from both sides of the membrane and interacting with high affinity with the positively charged channel lumen. We used the VDAC-tubulin specific interaction feature to probe orientation of VDAC in a planar membrane and extrapolate the results to the mitochondria outer membrane. We found that after in vitro phosphorylation by PKA or GSK3β cytosolic kinases the tubulin binding to VDAC (from rat liver mitochondria) becomes highly asymmetrical. When tubulin was added to the cis side of the membrane (side of VDAC addition) kon was more than 10 times higher than with tubulin added to the trans side. Untreated VDAC interacts symmetrically with tubulin. Considering putative PKA and GSK3b phosphorylation sites on the cytosolic loops 3, 5 and 7, we conclude that these loops face cis side in the VDAC reconstitution system. Our preliminary data show that some of the specific antibodies raised against different VDAC peptides, compete with tubulin-VDAC binding when added to the membrane bathing solution and therefore could be employed to probe VDAC orientation and positioning of the loops. Recent VDAC three-dimensional structures are compared with the functional data of VDAC-tubulin binding.

Heart of the Beat (the Flagellar Beat, that Is)

Heart of the Beat (the Flagellar Beat, that Is)

Study of possible interactions of tubulin, microtubular network, and STOP protein with mitochondria in muscle cells

We studied possible connections of tubulin, microtubular system, and microtubular network stabilizing STOP protein with mitochondria in rat and mouse cardiac and skeletal muscles by confocal microscopy and oxygraphy. Intracellular localization and content of tubulin was found to be muscle type-specific, with high amounts in oxidative muscles, and much lower in glycolytic skeletal muscle. STOP protein localization and content in muscle cells was also muscle type-specific. In isolated heart mitochondria, addition of 1 microM tubulin heterodimer increased apparent K(m) for ADP significantly. Dissociation of microtubular system into free tubulin by colchicine treatment only slightly decreased initially high apparent K(m) for ADP in permeabilized cells, and diffusely distributed free tubulin stayed inside the cells, obviously connected to the intracellular structures. To identify the genes that are specific for oxidative muscle, we developed and applied a method of kindred DNA. The results of sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of isolated cDNA pool common for heart and m. soleus showed that in adult mice the beta-tubulin gene is expressed predominantly in oxidative muscle cells. It is concluded that whereas dimeric tubulin may play a significant role in regulation of mitochondrial outer membrane permeability in the cells in vivo, its organization into microtubular network has a minor significance on that process.

A FAM21-Containing WASH Complex Regulates Retromer-Dependent Sorting

The Arp2/3 complex regulates endocytosis, sorting, and trafficking, yet the Arp2/3-stimulating factors orchestrating these distinct events remain ill defined. WASH (Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein and SCAR Homolog) is an Arp2/3 activator with unknown function that was duplicated during primate evolution. We demonstrate that WASH associates with tubulin and localizes to early endosomal subdomains, which are enriched in Arp2/3, F-actin, and retromer components. Although WASH localized with activated receptors, it was not essential for endocytosis. However, WASH did regulate retromer-mediated retrograde CI-MPR trafficking, which required its association with endosomes, Arp2/3-directed F-actin regulation, and tubulin interaction. Moreover, WASH exists in a multiprotein complex containing FAM21, which links WASH to endosomes and is required for WASH-dependent retromer-mediated sorting. Significantly, without WASH, retromer tubulation was exaggerated, supporting a model wherein WASH links retromer-mediated cargo containing tubules to microtubules for Golgi-directed trafficking and generates F-actin-driven force for tubule scission.

The role of TOG domains in microtubule plus end dynamics

The XMAP215 (Xenopus microtubule-associated protein 215) and CLASP [CLIP-170 (cytoskeletal linker protein 170) associated protein] microtubule plus end tracking families play central roles in the regulation of interphase microtubule dynamics and the proper formation of mitotic spindle architecture and flux. XMAP215 members comprise N-terminally-arrayed hexa-HEAT (huntingtin, elongation factor 3, the PR65/A subunit of protein phosphatase 2A and the lipid kinase Tor) repeats known as TOG (tumour overexpressed gene) domains. Higher eukaryotic XMAP215 members are monomeric and have five TOG domains. Yeast counterparts are dimeric and have two TOG domains. Structure determination of the TOG domain reveals that the six HEAT repeats are aligned to form an oblong scaffold. The TOG domain face composed of intra-HEAT loops forms a contiguous, conserved tubulin-binding surface. Nested within the conserved intra-HEAT loop 1 is an invariant, signature, surface-exposed tryptophan residue that is a prime determinant in the TOG domain-tubulin interaction. The arrayed organization of TOG domains is critical for the processive mechanism of XMAP215, indicative that multiple tubulin/microtubule-binding sites are required for plus end tracking activity. The CLASP family has been annotated as containing a single N-terminal TOG domain. Using XMAP215 TOG domain structure determinants as a metric to analyse CLASP sequence, it is anticipated that CLASP contains two additional cryptic TOGL (TOG-like) domains. The presence of additional TOGL domains implicates CLASP as an ancient XMAP215 relative that uses a similar, multi-TOG-based mechanism to processively track microtubule ends.

Structural and biological characterization of the tubulin interaction with dinitroanilines

Characteristics of the interaction of dinitroaniline compounds with tubulin molecules have an extremely high selectivity: these substances efficiently bind to the tubulins of both plant and protozoan origins and practically do not interact with any animal and fungal tubulins despite a very high similarity between the corresponding sequences. This work summarizes and comprehensively analyzes the specific structural features and mechanisms of these interactions, in particular, the patterns of the structure and arrangement of dinitroaniline binding sites on the surface of different tubulin subunits and tubulins of various origins. Dinitroaniline binding sites are localized to the surface of longitudinal contacts between tubulin subunits and contain diamine amino acid residues (lysine or arginine), which bind the nitrile group of dinitroanilines. The localizations of these sites on the surface of identical subunits of different origins (for example, α-tubulins of plants and protozoans) coincide; however, the location of these binding sites on the surfaces of tubulin α- and β-subunits is different. The characterized sites can also be potential binding sites for other antimicrotubule compounds, in particular, cyanoacrylates.

Regulation of callose synthase activity in situ in alamethicin-permeabilized Arabidopsis and tobacco suspension cells.

BackgroundThe cell wall component callose is mainly synthesized at certain developmental stages and after wounding or pathogen attack. Callose synthases are membrane-bound enzymes that have been relatively well characterized in vitro using isolated membrane fractions or purified enzyme. However, little is known about their functional properties in situ, under conditions when the cell wall is intact. To allow in situ investigations of the regulation of callose synthesis, cell suspensions of Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0), and tobacco (BY-2), were permeabilized with the channel-forming peptide alamethicin.ResultsNucleic acid-binding dyes and marker enzymes demonstrated alamethicin permeabilization of plasma membrane, mitochondria and plastids, also allowing callose synthase measurements. In the presence of alamethicin, Ca2+ addition was required for callose synthase activity, and the activity was further stimulated by Mg2+ Cells pretreated with oryzalin to destabilize the microtubules prior to alamethicin permeabilization showed significantly lower callose synthase activity as compared to non-treated cells. As judged by aniline blue staining, the callose formed was deposited both at the cell walls joining adjacent cells and at discrete punctate locations earlier described as half plasmodesmata on the outer walls. This pattern was unaffected by oryzalin pretreatment, showing a quantitative rather than a qualitative effect of polymerized tubulin on callose synthase activity. No callose was deposited unless alamethicin, Ca2+ and UDP-glucose were present. Tubulin and callose synthase were furthermore part of the same plasma membrane protein complex, as judged by two-dimensional blue native SDS-PAGE.ConclusionAlamethicin permeabilization allowed determination of callose synthase regulation and tubulin interaction in the natural crowded cellular environment and under conditions where contacts between the cell wall, the plasma membrane and cytoskeletal macromolecules remained. The results also suggest that alamethicin permeabilization induces a defense response mimicking the natural physical separation of cells (for example when intercellulars are formed), during which plasmodesmata are transiently left open.

Governing Respiration: Tubulin's C-Terminus Interaction with VDAC

Mitochondria have long been known to localize within and move along the tubulin-microtubule network. It was shown that tubulin binds to isolated mitochondria with high-affinity and specifically associates with the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). We found that nanomolar concentrations of dimeric tubulin vastly increase VDAC sensitivity to voltage allowing for VDAC blockage at low transmembrane potentials. Tubulin interaction with VDAC requires the presence of anionic C-terminal tails (CTT) on the intact protein. Tubulin with proteolytically cleaved CTTs does not block the channel. Actin, also an acidic protein but lacking CTTs, does not induce VDAC blockage. Two synthetic peptides with the sequences of mammalian α and β brain tubulin CTT do not induce detectable channel closure up to micromolar concentrations. These results suggest a completely new role for dimeric tubulin and its charged CTT. We propose a model for tubulin-VDAC channel interaction in which the tubulin CTT penetrates into the channel lumen, potentially reaching through the channel and interacting with a positively charged domain of VDAC. We found that tubulin/VDAC interaction is greatly dependent on the state of VDAC phosphorylation. Remarkably, phosphorylated VDAC is more than an order of magnitude more sensitive to tubulin-induced closure than dephosphorylated VDAC.Tubulin addition to isolated mitochondria increases Km for ADP and lowers oxygen consumption, most likely by restricting flux of ADP through VDAC. Thus interaction of tubulin CTT with VDAC blocks nucleotide passage into and out of mitochondria, thereby regulating oxidative phosphorylation. Examination of the evolution of CTT sequences in mitochondria-containing cells reveals high conservation of charge and length of the tails. Considering the known conservation of VDAC folding pattern throughout mitochondria-containing eukaryotes, we propose that this interaction is widespread and ancient.

Novel aspects of the submembraneous microtubule cytoskeleton

Around 35 years ago, several laboratories reported the presence of cytoskeletal proteins in biochemically enriched membrane fractions. It was quickly confirmed that actin and interacting proteins localize to submembranous regions, spurring an interest in their role and organization there. By contrast, evidence for the presence of microtubules at the membrane was contradictory and often criticized as a preparational artefact. Retrospectively, this can mostly be attributed to the use of an inappropriate model system, namely the erythrocyte membrane, which is mostly void of tubulin. However, direct and specific adsorption of tubulin on artificially prepared liposomes and the in vitro interaction of the tubulin–colchicine complex with brain microsomal membrane were shown. Reconstitution of ciliary membrane with attached tubulin then became possible and membranes were found to act as microtubule nucleation centres. Further biochemical studies indicated that a-tubulin could act as an integral membrane protein. Nonetheless, doubts about the interaction of tubulin with membrane were maintained for a long time. Recent advances in imaging techniques and increasing cell biological data have changed this notion fundamentally. The presence of tubulin and several microtubule-associated proteins in membranous structures has been demonstrated. This led to the prediction of novel functions for the microtubule cytoskeleton in submembranous domains and to the concept of ‘membrane-tubulin’. Microtubules interact directly with numerous proteins at the membrane and form scaffolds. These include proteins as diverse as ion channels, receptors, ion pumps and others. Such interactions lead, among other effects, to the sequestration of protein complexes at the plasma membrane to form, for example, signalplex. Membrane-tubulins play a critical role in cell division, in the positioning of complexes within the lipid bilayer and the proper positioning of intracellular organelles. A large number of questions remain to be addressed. How dynamic is membrane-bound tubulin? What is the true biochemical nature of tubulin at the membrane? Does tubulin reside at the membrane as monomeric, dimeric or short oligomeric units? What determines the specific submembranous localization of tubulin? And last, but not least, what is the influence of microtubule on the functionality of the nearby (trans)-membrane proteins? This minireview series summarizes evidence that, like actin, the microtubule cytoskeleton is part of several functional complexes at the membrane. Roychowdhury and Rasenick give an overview of membrane-bound heterotrimeric G proteins and their interaction with the microtubule cytoskeleton. They also describe the ramifications of such cross-talk for cellular function. Arce et al. describe the importance of microtubules in the context of molecular ion pumps such as the Na,KATPase. In particular, they emphasize how these pumps are regulated by a subset of specifically modified tubulin, namely acetylated tubulin. Chen et al. focus on how interactions between polycystin 2 and the cytoskeleton are linked with disease. And lastly, Goswami and Hucho summarize the physical and functional interplay of TRP channels with the cytoskeleton. This minireview series aims thereby to shed light on a rapidly growing and exciting novel subcellular domain, the membranous microtubule cytoskeleton.

NMR assignment of PN2-3, a tubulin interaction subdomain of the CPAP protein

We report the NMR assignment of the PN2-3 subdomain of the CPAP protein. It has been previously shown that this motif interacts with tubulin, inhibits microtubule nucleation from the centrosome and depolymerizes taxol-stabilized microtubules.

Microtubule dynamics regulated by stathmin

Microtubules perform a variety of functions which lead to the complex regulation of intracellular transport and cell division. However, the regulation of microtubule growth is not clearly known. Based on a recent experimental finding, we explore the possibility of spatial regulation of microtubule growth by stathmin–tubulin interaction gradients. Computer simulation of the model with stathmin–tubulin interaction gradients gave regulated growth as seen in experiments. In future, the stathmin–tubulin interaction gradients can be made dynamic and its impact on the microtubule growth can be explored.

2-[(1-Methylpropyl)dithio]-1H-imidazole inhibits tubulin polymerization through cysteine oxidation

2-[(1-methylpropyl)dithio]-1H-imidazole (IV-2) is a known inhibitor of the thioredoxin system. It causes the oxidation of cysteine residues from both thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin, with only the latter leading to irreversible inhibition of protein function. Although IV-2 is considered to be the first specific inhibitor of thioredoxin to undergo evaluation in cancer patients (under the name PX-12), it is unclear whether the oxidative ability of IV-2 is limited to proteins of the thioredoxin family. The current study investigated the specificity of IV-2 by examining its interaction with tubulin, a protein in which cysteine oxidation causes loss of polymerization competence. The cellular effects of IV-2 were examined in MCF-7 breast cancer and endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). Immunocytochemistry revealed a loss of microtubule structure with Western blot analysis confirming that treated cells contained a higher proportion of unpolymerized tubulin. Cell-free tubulin polymerization assays showed a dose-dependent inhibition of tubulin polymerization and depolymerization of preformed microtubules, confirming a direct interaction between IV-2 and tubulin. Further investigation of the tubulin interaction, through analysis of sulfhydryl reactivity and disulfide bond formation, suggested that IV-2 acts through the oxidation of cysteines in tubulin. Biochemical assays indicated that the oxidative properties of IV-2 are not limited to thioredoxin and tubulin, as cysteine-dependent proteases were also inhibited. Breast cancer cells with thioredoxin silenced by short interfering RNA remained sensitive to IV-2, albeit at higher antiproliferative GI50 values than in cells with normal thioredoxin function. These findings show that modulation of targets other than thioredoxin contribute to the effects of IV-2 on proliferating cells.

Differential colchicine-binding across eukaryotic families: The role of highly conserved Pro268β and Ala248β residues in animal tubulin

Colchicine–tubulin interaction, responsible for the disruption of microtubule formation, has immense pharmacological importance but is poorly understood in terms of its biological significance. The interaction is characterized by a marked higher affinity of colchicine for animal tubulins compared to tubulins from plants, fungi and protists. From an analysis of tubulin sequences and colchicine–tubulin crystal structure, we propose that Pro268β and Ala248β (270β and 250β in the crystal structure 1SA0) in animal tubulin are crucial for the observed differential binding. We also suggest that mediated by the binding of endogenous molecules to the colchicine-binding site, microtubule assembly in eukaryotes may be modulated in a family specific manner.