Punctuate Structures Research Articles

A START domain-containing protein is involved in the incorporation of ER-derived fatty acids into chloroplast glycolipids in Marchantia polymorpha

The appropriate regulation of thylakoid lipid synthesis is essential for the function of chloroplasts. In plant cells, membrane lipids synthesized in the ER are utilized as a precursor for the synthesis of chloroplast glycolipids. This pathway is thought to be mediated by the transport of glycerolipids synthesized in the ER into chloroplasts. However, we have little knowledge about the proteins involved in the lipid transfer between these organelles in plant cells. Here we show a protein, STAR2, containing the START (Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-related lipid transfer) domain known to function as a lipid transporter, is involved in the incorporation of ER-derived fatty acids into chloroplast glycolipids in Marchantia polymorpha. We found that STAR2 localizes on the chloroplast envelope membrane as a punctuate structure and is required for the increase of C20 fatty acids, which are synthesized in the ER, in chloroplast glycolipids in response to phosphate deprivation. Our results indicate that STAR2 of M. polymorpha is likely to be involved in the lipid transfer from ER to chloroplast, presumably as a lipid transporter.

83-OR: Pancreatic Exocrine to Endocrine Cell Cross Talk Mediates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Beta-Cell Dysfunction in MODY8

MODY8 (maturity onset diabetes of the young, type 8) is a dominantly inherited monogenic form of diabetes. This disease is associated with frameshift mutations in the carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene expressed by pancreatic acinar tissue. Patients with the mutation develop childhood-onset exocrine pancreas dysfunction followed by diabetes during adulthood. However, it is unclear how CEL mutations cause diabetes in MODY8 patients. In this study, we investigated the potential crosstalk between exocrine acinar cells and endocrine beta cells in vitro. Co-culture of beta cells (EndoC-bH1 beta cells) with donor cells (HEK293 embryonic kidney cells or 266-6 acinar cells) overexpressing mutant or wild type CEL gene in an in vitro transwell system demonstrated transfer of mutant protein from donor cells to beta cells. While both the wild type and mutant CEL proteins were observed to be taken up by the beta cells there was a significantly higher amount of the mutant (11.4±2.3% cells) compared to the wild type protein (1.8±0.7% cells) (n=3, p<0.01 mutant vs. wild type). The mutant protein formed intracellular aggregates represented as punctuate structures within the cytoplasm of beta cells. Culturing beta cells in mutant donor cell-conditioned media for 12 days activated the unfolded protein response, and increased endoplasmic reticulum stress by promoting the gene expression of BiP, spliced XBP1, and caused beta cell secretory dysfunction (insulin stimulation index 16.7 mM/3.3 mM: 1.3±0.1 (mutant) vs. 2.1±0.3 fold (wild type), n=8, p=0.05). Our data indicate a unique crosstalk between pancreatic acinar and beta cells, which adversely affects the latter by increasing ER stress and impairing insulin secretion. This study provides one possible explanation of how a mutant gene expressed specifically in acinar cells causes endocrine cell dysfunction and diabetes in MODY8 patients. Disclosure S. Kahraman: None. D. Diegisser: None. B.B. Johansson: None. A. Molven: None. R. Kulkarni: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01DK67536)

Prolyl Oligopeptidase From Leishmania infantum: Biochemical Characterization and Involvement in Macrophage Infection.

Leishmania infantum is a flagellated protozoan and one of the main causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis. This disease usually affects the human reticuloendothelial system, can cause death and available therapies may lead to serious side effects. Since it is a neglected tropical disease, the incentives for the development of new drugs are insufficient. It is important to know Leishmania virulence factors that contribute most to the disease in order to develop drugs. In the present work, we have produced L. infantum prolyl oligopeptidase (rPOPLi) in Escherichia coli, and investigated its biochemical properties as well as the effect of POP inhibitors on its enzymatic activity and on the inhibition of the macrophage infection by L. infantum. The optimal activity occurred at pH 7.5 and 37°C in the presence of DTT, the latter increased rPOPLi catalytic efficiency 5-fold on the substrate N-Suc-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-AMC. The enzyme was inhibited by TPCK, TLCK and by two POP specific inhibitors, Z-Pro-prolinal (ZPP, IC50 4.2 nM) and S17092 (IC50 3.5 nM). Besides being a cytoplasmic enzyme, POPLi is also found in punctuate structures within the parasite cytoplasm or associated with the parasite plasma membrane in amastigotes and promastigotes, respectively. Interestingly, S17092 and ZPP prevented parasite invasion in murine macrophages, supporting the involvement of POPLi in the invasive process of L. infantum. These data suggest POPLi as a virulence factor that offers potential as a target for designing new antileishmanial drugs.

Decreased autophagy was implicated in the decreased apoptosis during decidualization in early pregnant mice.

Folate deficiency is a major risk factor of birth defects. Mechanistic studies on folate deficiency resulting in birth defects have mainly focused on fetal development. There have been few studies on folate deficiency from the point of view of the mother's uterus. In our previous study, we demonstrated that folate deficiency inhibits apoptosis of decidual cells, thereby restraining decidualization of the endometrium and impairing pregnancy. In this study, we further investigated the potential mechanism by which folate deficiency decreases endometrial apoptosis during decidualization. To investigate whether endometrium autophagy was inhibited under folate deficiency during decidualization, we performed real-time PCR for endometrial LC3 and P62 on day 6 (D6) to D8 of pregnancy in mice, and both were significantly changed compared to non-folate-deficient mice. Western blots showed that LC3-II and P62 were also changed in folate-deficient mice. Compared with control mice, a few punctuate LC3-II structures were detected in the folate deficiency group by immunofluorescence. Transmission electron micrographs of decidual cells on D8 showed that there were no evident autophagosomes in the folate deficiency group. In addition, apoptosis-related protein analysis by western blotting, TUNEL staining and flow cytometry showed that decreased endometrial apoptosis on D8 of pregnancy under folate deficiency was reversed after treatment with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer. ROS measurement showed that the endometrium ROS level was reduced by folate deficiency and that rapamycin reversed this effect on day 8 of pregnancy. All the results suggest that inhibiting endometrial autophagy may be implicated in the decreased endometrial apoptosis under folate deficiency during decidualization.

SlPRA1A/RAB attenuate EIX immune responses via degradation of LeEIX2 pattern recognition receptor

ABSTRACTPattern recognition receptors (PRR) are plasma membrane (PM) proteins that recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), triggering an immune response. PRR are classified as receptor like kinases (RLKs) or receptor like proteins (RLPs). The PM localization of PRRs, which is crucial for their availability to sense MAMPs, depends on their appropriate trafficking through the endomembrane system. Recently, we have identified SlPRA1A, a prenylated RAB acceptor type-1 (PRA1) from S. lycopersicum, as a regulator of RLP-PRR localization and protein levels. SlPRA1A overexpression strongly decreases RLP-PRR protein levels, particularly those of LeEIX2, redirecting it to the vacuole for degradation. Interestingly, SlPRA1A does not affect RLK-PRRs, indicating its activity to be specific to RLP-PRR systems. As PRA1 proteins stabilize RABs on membranes, promoting RABs activity, we aimed to identify a RAB target of SlPRA1A. Screening of a set of A. thaliana RABs revealed that AtRABA1e is able to mimic SlPRA1A activity. Through live cell imaging, we observed that SlPRA1A enhances AtRABA1e localization on SlPRA1A positive punctuated structures. These results indicate that AtRABA1e is a putative target of SlPRA1, and a co-regulator of LeEIX2 trafficking and degradation.

Human cytomegalovirus infection-induced autophagy was associated with the biological behavioral changes of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)

In this study, we investigated the enacted role of autophagy in biological behavioral changes of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). It was found that in HCMV-infected cells, the number of punctuate structures increased from 24 h to 48 h p.i. while decreased at 60 h p.i. by GFP-LC3 tranfecting, Monodansylcadaverine (MDC), acridine orange (AO) staining, which suggested that autophagy was induced at early stage, but it was inhibited at later stage in responding to HCMV infection. By real-time qPCR assay, it was revealed that mTOR autophagy pathway inhibitor rapamycin could promote HCMV proliferation in HUVEC cells. After the treatment of autophagy promoting agent, autophagy inhibitor, and mTOR signaling pathway inhibitor in HCMV-infected HUVECs showed similar results to the above findings by Western Blotting assay. Moreover, invasion assay showed that HCMV infection promoted HUVEC cell migration, and ELISA assay showed that HCMV infection increased the expression of adhesion molecules of HUVEC cells. In conclusion, HCMV infection induced autophagy in a time-dependent manner in HUVECs with the involvement of mTOR signaling pathway. The autophagy of HUVEC may enhance its cell invasiveness and the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Thus, HCMV infection-induced autophagy was associated with the biological behavioral changes of HUVECs.

Mechanism of the cathode current collector on cell performance in a solid oxide fuel cell stack

Abstract In this work, we report a new design of the contact layer to investigate the significance and mechanism for the cathodic current collection. The single cells in a stack are covered with Ag paste on the cathode side, which exhibit slightly higher power density than that of the cell partially covered with Ag paste. The Ag paste is applied as a current-collecting layer on the cathode side at the corresponding position in contact with the punctuate structure of the interconnect. The difference in power densities between the two single cells is due to the in-plane electron transfer on the cathode surface. When the structure of the interconnect is changed from a convex punctuate structure to liner strips, the cell performance is governed by both gas flow rate and in-plane electron transfer; however, the latter plays a more important role than the gas flow rate. An appropriate arrangement of current collection at the cathode side is necessary to improve current collection and thus the cell performance inside the SOFC stack.

Stress-Activated Degradation of Sphingolipids Regulates Mitochondrial Function and Cell Death in Yeast.

Sphingolipids are regulators of mitochondria-mediated cell death in higher eukaryotes. Here, we investigate how changes in sphingolipid metabolism and downstream intermediates of sphingosine impinge on mitochondrial function. We found in yeast that within the sphingolipid degradation pathway, the production via Dpl1p and degradation via Hfd1p of hexadecenal are critical for mitochondrial function and cell death. Genetic interventions, which favor hexadecenal accumulation, diminish oxygen consumption rates and increase reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial fragmentation and vice versa. The location of the hexadecenal-degrading enzyme Hfd1p in punctuate structures all along the mitochondrial network depends on a functional ERMES (endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria encounter structure) complex, indicating that modulation of hexadecenal levels at specific ER-mitochondria contact sites might be an important trigger of cell death. This is further supported by the finding that externally added hexadecenal or the absence of Hfd1p enhances cell death caused by ectopic expression of the human Bax protein. Finally, the induction of the sphingolipid degradation pathway upon stress is controlled by the Hog1p MAP kinase. Therefore, the stress-regulated modulation of sphingolipid degradation might be a conserved way to induce cell death in eukaryotic organisms.

NS1 of H7N9 Influenza A Virus Induces NO-Mediated Cellular Senescence in Neuro2a Cells

Background/Aims: The novel avian H7N9 influenza A virus has been detected in brain tissues and associated with central nervous system (CNS) symptoms in infected human and mice. Roles of its virulence factor, NS1 protein in influenza virus infected neuron has yet to be explored. Methods: Nitric oxide (NO) release and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in H7N9/NS1-expressed Neuro2a cells were detected by Griess test and western blotting. Cell proliferation rate of H7N9/NS1-expressing cells was recorded by Cell Counting Kit-8. Effects of H7N9/NS1 on cellular senescence were investigated by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, immunofluorescent staining of phosphorylated heterochromatin protein 1γ (pHP1γ) and qPCR analysis of IL-6 and IL-8. Results: H7N9/NS1 in Neuro2a cells and primary cultured mouse cortical neurons increased the expression of iNOS and boosted NO release. Neuro2a cells constitutively expressing NS1 displayed a reduced proliferative ability, enhanced SA-β-gal staining, increased level of IL-6 and IL-8 and a typical punctuate structure of pHP1γ in nuclei. In addition, p38 MAPK was elevated in NS1-expressing Neuro2a cells. Reduced iNOS expression and subdued cellular senescence effect was found in p38 MAPK inhibitor-treated NS1-expressing Neuro2a cells. Conclusion: Our results suggest that H7N9/NS1 protein increases the iNOS expression and NO release in Neuro2a cells, which can induce cell growth arrest and cellular senescence.

The Na+ /H+ antiporter Nhx1 controls vacuolar fusion indispensible for life cycles in vitro and in vivo in a fungal insect pathogen.

The sole Na+ /H+ antiporter Nhx1 has been generally unexplored in filamentous fungi. We characterized Nhx1 in the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. An eGFP-tagged Nhx1 fusion accumulated in small punctuate structures, presumably endosomal and trans-Golgi network compartments, between septum and tubular vacuole of each wild-type cell stained with a vacuole-specific dye. Deletion of nhx1 resulted in significant acidification and severe fusion defect in vacuoles, which were fragmented and distinct from large or tubular wild-type vacuoles. The deletion also caused a drastic reduction in aerial conidiation or submerged blastospore production and more severe defect in vegetative growth than in conidial germination. The Δnhx1 mutant became more sensitive to high osmolarity, heat shock and several metal ions during growth but its conidia showed increased UV-B tolerance. Intriguingly, Δnhx1 was unable to infect a model insect through cuticle penetration or intrahaemocoel injection because it produced much less biomass and cuticle-degrading enzymes in a minimal broth and failed to form blastospores in the insect haemolymph. All changes were completely or largely restored by targeted nhx1 complementation. Our results provide novel insight into an indispensability of Nhx1 for not only vacuolar fusion but also life cycles in vitro and in vivo in B. bassiana.

Electrochemical and Mechanical Properties of a Newly Designed Anode Supported SOFC

In an SOFC stack, the interface between the cathode and the interconnect plays an important role on the measured performance of a single cell. A contact between cathode/interconnect and cathode/current collecting cathode was designed to investigate mechanism of cathodic current collector on cell performance. The cell covered with Ag paste on the cathode side exhibits slightly higher power density than that of the cell partially covered with Ag paste. The Ag paste was applied on the cathode side at the corresponding position in contact with the punctuate structure of the interconnect as current-collecting layer. The difference in power densities between the two unit cells was mainly due to the electron transverse transfer on the cathode surface. When the structure of the interconnect was changed from a convex punctuate structure to contentious liner strips. It is found that the cell performance is driven by both gas flow and electron transverse transfer. The effect of electron transverse transfer on cell performance was more significant than that of gas flow rate. The cumulative effect of the transverse electron cannot be neglected. Furthermore, we will report a newly cell structure, so-called “hollow symmetric anode-supported planar solid oxide fuel cell”. The cell remains flat before and after reduction. The pressure of anti-failure load was about 20 times larger than that of conventional anode supported substrates. Meantime, its performance is nearly identical as that of the traditional anode-supported cell. The designed cell can be scaled easily and is cost effective.

GBNV encoded movement protein (NSm) remodels ER network via C-terminal coiled coil domain

Plant viruses exploit the host machinery for targeting the viral genome–movement protein complex to plasmodesmata (PD). The mechanism by which the non-structural protein m (NSm) of Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) is targeted to PD was investigated using Agrobacterium mediated transient expression of NSm and its fusion proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana. GFP:NSm formed punctuate structures that colocalized with mCherry:plasmodesmata localized protein 1a (PDLP 1a) confirming that GBNV NSm localizes to PD. Unlike in other movement proteins, the C-terminal coiled coil domain of GBNV NSm was shown to be involved in the localization of NSm to PD, as deletion of this domain resulted in the cytoplasmic localization of NSm. Treatment with Brefeldin A demonstrated the role of ER in targeting GFP NSm to PD. Furthermore, mCherry:NSm co-localized with ER–GFP (endoplasmic reticulum targeting peptide (HDEL peptide fused with GFP). Co-expression of NSm with ER–GFP showed that the ER-network was transformed into vesicles indicating that NSm interacts with ER and remodels it. Mutations in the conserved hydrophobic region of NSm (residues 130–138) did not abolish the formation of vesicles. Additionally, the conserved prolines at positions 140 and 142 were found to be essential for targeting the vesicles to the cell membrane. Further, systematic deletion of amino acid residues from N- and C-terminus demonstrated that N-terminal 203 amino acids are dispensable for the vesicle formation. On the other hand, the C-terminal coiled coil domain when expressed alone could also form vesicles. These results suggest that GBNV NSm remodels the ER network by forming vesicles via its interaction through the C-terminal coiled coil domain. Interestingly, NSm interacts with NP in vitro and coexpression of these two proteins in planta resulted in the relocalization of NP to PD and this relocalization was abolished when the N-terminal unfolded region of NSm was deleted. Thus, the NSm interacts with NP via its N-terminal unfolded region and the NSm–NP complex could in turn interact with the ER membrane via the C-terminal coiled coil domain of NSm to form vesicles that are targeted to PD and there by assist the cell to cell movement of the viral genome complex.

Spectroscopic investigation of interactions of new potential anticancer drugs with DNA and non-ionic micelles.

Photophysical properties of some azinium iodides in aqueous solution of nanostructured systems as DNA and nonionic micelles were investigated using steady-state and ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy. Spectrophotometric and fluorimetric titrations of the investigated compounds with salmon testes DNA supplied evidence of a good interaction between the salts and DNA with binding constants of 10(4)-10(6) M(-1), making them interesting for pharmaceutical applications. The interaction with DNA also changes the photobehavior of the compounds, increasing the radiative deactivation pathway to the detriment of internal conversion and slowing down the excited state dynamics. The interaction of the azinium salts with the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 from premicellar to postmicellar concentration was studied by spectrophotometric and fluorimetric titrations evidencing the ability of the micelles to associate the studied salts in their hydrophobic portion and to release them in the presence of DNA, acting as promising drug carriers. Also transient absorption spectroscopy with femtosecond resolution demonstrated the insertion of the investigated compounds into micellar aggregates. Preliminary measurements by confocal fluorescence microscopy on MCF-7 cells in the presence of the studied azinium salts showed that they are able to cross the cellular membrane and that their cytotoxicity can be expressed through interaction with DNA (RNA). In fact, they showed a significant fluorescence signal in all cell compartments, particularly (for 2 and 3) into punctuate structures within the nuclei compatible with a localization into the nucleoli.

PDI AND ERP57 CO-CLUSTER IN PLATELETS AND THEIR MOVEMENT IS REGULATED BY ACTIN POLYMERIZATION

Introduction The thiolisomerases PDI and ERp57 are released to the platelet surface and contribute to several cellular responses. PDI is present in subcellular structures, not corresponding to α - and δ -granules, and lysosomes. It was, however, shown to co-localise with TLR9 in T-granules. The subcellular localisation of other platelet thiolisomerases or their mechanisms of translocation to the cell surface have not been established. Hypothesis and Methods Using spinning disk confocal microscopy we explored whether ERp57 and PDI co-localise in resting and activated platelets and whether actin polymerization regulates their translocation to the platelet surface. Results In resting platelets, PDI and ERp57 were organized in granular structures both on the platelet surface and in the cytoplasm where they co-localised (Pearson9s correlation coefficient=0.597±0.08, mean±SD). They neither co-distributed with P-selectin, an α -granule membrane marker, nor with TLR9, a marker of T-granules. Upon platelet activation, the thiolisomerases still co-distributed and migrated to the surface (Pearson9s correlation coefficient=0.533±0.08, mean±SD). Inhibiting actin polymerization with latrunculin A, decreased P-selectin exposure on the platelet surface and prevented agonist-induced platelet shape change, as shown by tubulin staining. Importantly, latrunculin A also blocked the translocation of PDI and ERp57 from internal granular structures to the platelet surface. Conclusions In resting platelets PDI and ERp57 are organized, and partially co-localised, in punctuate structures different from α- or T-granules. Actin polymerization during platelet activation exerts a fundamental role in the relocalisation of PDI and ERp57 to the platelet surface, thus suggesting that thiolisomerases undergo a bonfide secretory mechanism.

Ttyh1 protein is expressed in glia in vitro and shows elevated expression in activated astrocytes following status epilepticus.

In a previous study, we showed that Ttyh1 protein is expressed in neurons in vitro and in vivo in the form of punctuate structures, which are localized to neuropil and neuronal somata. Herein, we provide the first description of Ttyh1 protein expression in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia in vitro. Moreover, using double immunofluorescence, we show Ttyh1 protein expression in activated astrocytes in the hippocampus following amygdala stimulation-induced status epilepticus. We demonstrate that in migrating astrocytes in in vitro wound model Ttyh1 concentrates at the edges of extending processes. These data suggest that Ttyh1 not only participates in shaping neuronal morphology, as previously described, but may also play a role in the function of activated glia in brain pathology. To localize Ttyh1 expression in the cellular compartments of neurons and astrocytes, we performed in vitro double immunofluorescent staining using markers for the following subcellular structures: endoplasmic reticulum (GRP78), Golgi apparatus (GM130), clathrin-coated vehicles (clathrin), early endosomes (Rab5 and APPL2), recycling endosomes (Rab11), trans-Golgi network (TGN46), endoplasmic reticulum membrane (calnexin), late endosomes and lysosomes (LAMP1) and synaptic vesicles (synaptoporin and synaptotagmin 1). We found that Ttyh1 is present in the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and clathrin-coated vesicles (clathrin) in both neurons and astrocytes and also in late endosomes or lysosomes in astrocytes. The presence of Ttyh1 was negligible in early endosomes, recycling endosomes, trans-Golgi network, endoplasmic reticulum membrane and synaptic vesicles.

Protein kinase A activation enhances β-catenin transcriptional activity through nuclear localization to PML bodies.

The Protein Kinase A (PKA) and Wnt signaling cascades are fundamental pathways involved in cellular development and maintenance. In the osteoblast lineage, these pathways have been demonstrated functionally to be essential for the production of mineralized bone. Evidence for PKA-Wnt crosstalk has been reported both during tumorigenesis and during organogenesis, and the nature of the interaction is thought to rely on tissue and cell context. In this manuscript, we analyzed bone tumors arising from mice with activated PKA caused by mutation of the PKA regulatory subunit Prkar1a. In primary cells from these tumors, we observed relocalization of β-catenin to intranuclear punctuate structures, which were identified as PML bodies. Cellular redistribution of β-catenin could be recapitulated by pharmacologic activation of PKA. Using 3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts as a model system, we found that PKA phosphorylation sites on β-catenin were required for nuclear re-localization. Further, β-catenin's transport to the nucleus was accompanied by an increase in canonical Wnt-dependent transcription, which also required the PKA sites. PKA-Wnt crosstalk in the cells was bi-directional, including enhanced interactions between β-catenin and the cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) and transcriptional crosstalk between the Wnt and PKA signaling pathways. Increases in canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling were associated with a decrease in the activity of the non-canonical Wnt/Ror2 pathway, which has been shown to antagonize canonical Wnt signaling. Taken together, this study provides a new understanding of the complex regulation of the subcellular distribution of β-catenin and its differential protein-protein interaction that can be modulated by PKA signaling.

Abstract 3323: PRAF2 regulates Rab5-dependent endocytic trafficking of EGFR in neuroblastoma

Abstract Receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mediate extracellular signaling that activates downstream cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Through ligand stimulation, clathrin-mediated endocytosis regulates the EGFR signal transduction pathway. Prenylated Rab acceptor 1 domain family, membrane 2 (PRAF2) is a novel 19-kDa protein with a prenylated Rab acceptor 1 (PRA1) motif and four transmembrane-spanning domains. Similar to PRAF1 and PRAF3, PRAF2 belongs to the PRAF family of vesicle transport-associated proteins. Our lab identified PRAF2 as a candidate prognostic marker of neuroblastic tumors. Using RNA interference, we showed that PRAF2 plays an essential role in neuroblastoma tumorigenesis and metastasis. In the present study, we examined the function of PRAF2 in EGFR endocytic trafficking. We generated stable PRAF2-knockdown (SK-shPRAF2) and PRAF2-overexpressing (SK-PRAF2) neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cell lines and stimulated both cell lines with EGF (10 ng/ml) for various time periods in order to determine the role of PRAF2 in EGFR endocytic trafficking. As judged by immunofluorescence microscopy, we detected larger Rab5-positive punctuate structures in PRAF2-overexpressing SK-PRAF2 cells compared to PRAF2-knockdown SK-shPRAF2 cells or control cells, after 15 min EGF stimulation. After EGF treatment, PRAF2 clearly colocalized with Rab5-positive punctae in SK-PRAF2 cells, suggesting that PRAF2 interacts with Rab5, a critical regulator for receptor endocytosis and early endosome fusion. Moreover, using a receptor internalization assay, we observed a delay in the internalization of EGFR in EGF-treated SK-shPRAF2 cells, in contrast to SK-PRAF2 and control cells. This is in support of our immunofluorescence microscopy results in which Rab5-postive punctae distribution is observed mostly along the membrane of the EGF-treated SK-shPRAF2 cells. Notably, the level of phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) transiently elevated in EGF-treated SK-PRAF2 cells after 15 min and diminished thereafter, suggesting that overexpression of PRAF2 accelerates the EGFR internalization and degradation. Based on our findings, we propose that PRAF2 affects EGFR endocytosis by regulating early endosome trafficking and Akt activation in neuroblastoma. Citation Format: Lisette P. Yco, Andre S. Bachmann. PRAF2 regulates Rab5-dependent endocytic trafficking of EGFR in neuroblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3323. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3323

Blue-light-activated phototropin2 trafficking from the cytoplasm to Golgi/post-Golgi vesicles.

Phototropins are plasma membrane-localized UVA/blue light photoreceptors which mediate phototropism, inhibition of primary hypocotyl elongation, leaf positioning, chloroplast movements, and stomatal opening. Blue light irradiation activates the C-terminal serine/threonine kinase domain of phototropin which autophosphorylates the receptor. Arabidopsis thaliana encodes two phototropins, phot1 and phot2. In response to blue light, phot1 moves from the plasma membrane into the cytosol and phot2 translocates to the Golgi complex. In this study the molecular mechanism and route of blue-light-induced phot2 trafficking are demonstrated. It is shown that Atphot2 behaves in a similar manner when expressed transiently under 35S or its native promoter. The phot2 kinase domain but not blue-light-mediated autophosphorylation is required for the receptor translocation. Using co-localization and western blotting, the receptor was shown to move from the cytoplasm to the Golgi complex, and then to the post-Golgi structures. The results were confirmed by brefeldin A (an inhibitor of the secretory pathway) which disrupted phot2 trafficking. An association was observed between phot2 and the light chain2 of clathrin via bimolecular fluorescence complementation. The fluorescence was observed at the plasma membrane. The results were confirmed using co-immunoprecipitation. However, tyrphostin23 (an inhibitor of clathrin-mediated endocytosis) and wortmannin (a suppressor of receptor endocytosis) were not able to block phot2 trafficking, indicating no involvement of receptor endocytosis in the formation of phot2 punctuate structures. Protein turnover studies indicated that the receptor was continuously degraded in both darkness and blue light. The degradation of phot2 proceeded via a transport route different from translocation to the Golgi complex.

Abstract 380: PDI and ERp57 Localization in Platelets Is Regulated by Actin Polymerization

Introduction: PDI and ERp57 are members of the thiol isomerase family of enzymes that are released to the platelet surface where they contribute to a range of platelet responses. PDI has been reported to be present in subcellular structures in resting platelets, although it is excluded from α - and δ -granules, and lysosomes. It was, however, recently shown to co-localise with TLR9 in T-granules, intracellular bodies underlying the plasma membrane. The subcellular localisation of other platelet thiol isomerases or their mechanisms of translocation to the cell surface have not been established. Hypothesis and Methods: Using spinning disk confocal microscopy we sought to explore whether platelet thiol isomerases ERp57 and PDI are co-localised in resting and activated platelets and to test the hypothesis that translocation of thiol isomerases to the platelet surface is dependent on actin polymerization. Results and Conclusions: In resting platelets, PDI and ERp57 were organized in punctate structures both on the platelet surface and in the cytoplasm. They did not colocalise with P-selectin consistent with them residing outside α -granules. In contrast to expectations, TLR9 did not colocalize with PDI and ERp57, suggesting their exclusion from T-granules. Partial colocalization was observed in resting platelets between PDI and ERp57 in granule-like structures. Upon platelet activation, this degree of co-distribution persisted with PDI and ERp57 migrating to the platelet surface. Latrunculin A, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, decreased P-selectin exposure on the platelet surface, as measured by flow cytometry, and agonist-stimulated platelets treated with this agent retained a rounded shape, as shown by tubulin staining. Importantly, latrunculin A also blocked the translocation of PDI and ERp57 from internal granule-like structures to the platelet surface. We conclude that in resting platelets PDI and ERp57 are organized, and partially co-localised, in punctuate structures unlikely to represent α- or T-granules. The polymerization of actin during platelet activation exerts a fundamental role in the relocalization of PDI and ERp57 from these cytoplasmic structures to the platelet surface.

Selenoprotein W regulates epidermal growth factor receptor trafficking, expression, and activation (374.4)

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) is the founding member of the ErbB family of growth factor receptors that control growth, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell migration. Selenoprotein W (SEPW1) is a highly conserved, ubiquitously expressed 9 kDa selenocysteine‐containing protein involved in cell cycle control. SEPW1 siRNA inhibited EGFR activation in RWPE‐1, MCF‐10A and MCF‐7 cells, while SEPW1 overexpression increased it. SEPW1 siRNA inhibited EGF‐induced activation of downstream pathways (MAPK, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, and p53), and blocked EGF‐induced cell cycle entry. SEPW1 was associated with peripheral punctuate structures that partially co‐localized with EGFR. Ligand‐bound EGFR failed to traffic towards the nucleus in SEPW1‐depleted cells, indicating that SEPW1 has a role in EGFR trafficking. Consequently, the half‐life, expression, dimerization, and phosphorylation of EGFR were also decreased in SEPW1‐depleted cells. SEPW1 siRNA also inhibited hydrogen peroxide‐induced EGFR phosphorylation. However, SEPW1 siRNA inhibition of EGF‐stimulated EGFR phosphorylation was not decreased by N‐acetylcysteine or sodium orthovanadate, indicating SEPW1 regulation of EGFR does not involve reactive oxygen species or inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase. Glutathione peroxidase siRNA partially rescued EGF‐induced cell cycle entry in SEPW1‐depleted cells, showing the effect of SEPW1 depletion is not due to loss of antioxidant protection. Knowledge of the mechanisms underlying SEPW1 regulation of EGFR trafficking may be important to understanding the relationship between dietary selenium and cancer.Grant Funding Source: Supported by USDA CRIS Project 5306‐51530‐018‐00D