Rap1b Expression Research Articles

The Role of rap1b in Hoxb4 Transgenic Zebrafish Line,

Abstract 3413Self-renewal – the generation of daughter cells having the same regenerative properties as the parental cell – is the defining feature of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Homeobox b4 (Hoxb4) is the key gene shown capable of expanding hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vivo and in vitro. It is imperative to establish a stable Hoxb4 overexpressing transgenic live animal model. Here, using a Cre-loxP system, we established a transgenic zebrafish line that stably overexpressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) – tagged hoxb4 protein under the control of hemangioblast-specific lmo2 promoter. The results indicate that Hoxb4 favors hematopoietic stem cell development of hemangioblasts in vivo. The mechanisms of Hoxb4-mediated HSC proliferation and the reason why Hoxb4 overexpression can cause retardation of specific and terminal blood cells in vivo are still unknown.Rap1 belongs to the Ras subfamily of small GTP-binding proteins. Rap1 can regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and adhesion through distinct mechanisms. So we want to know whether Hoxb4 overexpression can influence Rap1b expression. The expression difference of Rap1b in blank control group(Tubegin Wild type), experimental control group (Tg(zLmo2:LDL-EGFP)×Tg(zLmo2:Cre)), experimental group (Tg(zLmo2:LDL-Hoxb4-EGFP) ×Tg(zLmo2:Cre)) zebrafish embryo were detected by whole embryo in situ hybridization (WISH) with Rap1b antisense mRNA probe. It was found that Rap1b expression was extended from 30 to 36 hour postfertilization(hpf) when Hoxb4 was overexpressed. In the Hoxb4 expressed lines, rap1b was upregulated and strongly expressed in the caudal hematopoietic tissue (CHT) at 36 hpf. Then, the EGFP labeled hematopoietic cell in transgenic line were collected with the fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). The Rap1b mRNA expression of sorting cell were compared by SqRT-PCR (Semi-quantitative Reverse Transcription and Polymerase Chain Reaction). The gene expressions of Rap1b was upregulated in Hoxb4 experimental group. These results indicate that Rap1b gene maybe is downstream target gene of Hoxb4 gene in hematopoietic system of zebrafish. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

TheCOP1OrthologPPSRegulates the Juvenile–Adult and Vegetative–Reproductive Phase Changes in Rice

Because plant reproductive development occurs only in adult plants, the juvenile-to-adult phase change is an indispensable part of the plant life cycle. We identified two allelic mutants, peter pan syndrome-1 (pps-1) and pps-2, that prolong the juvenile phase in rice (Oryza sativa) and showed that rice PPS is an ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1. The pps-1 mutant exhibits delayed expression of miR156 and miR172 and the suppression of GA biosynthetic genes, reducing the GA(3) content in this mutant. In spite of its prolonged juvenile phase, the pps-1 mutant flowers early, and this is associated with derepression of RAP1B expression in pps-1 plants independently of the Hd1-Hd3a/RFT1 photoperiodic pathway. PPS is strongly expressed in the fourth and fifth leaves, suggesting that it regulates the onset of the adult phase downstream of MORI1 and upstream of miR156 and miR172. Its ability to regulate the vegetative phase change and the time of flowering suggests that rice PPS acquired novel functions during the evolution of rice/monocots.

Radixin Assembles cAMP Effectors Epac and PKA into a Functional cAMP Compartment: ROLE IN cAMP-DEPENDENT CELL PROLIFERATION

cAMP is an ubiquitous second messenger. Localized areas with high cAMP concentration, i.e. cAMP microdomains, provide an elegant mechanism to generate signaling specificity and transduction efficiency. However, the mechanisms underlying cAMP effector targeting into these compartments is still unclear. Here we report the identification of radixin as a scaffolding unit for both cAMP effectors, Epac and PKA. This complex localizes in a submembrane compartment where cAMP synthesis occurs. Compartment disruption by shRNA and dominant negative approaches negatively affects cAMP action. Inhibition can be rescued by expression of Rap1b, a substrate for both Epac1 and PKA, but only in its GTP-bound and phosphorylated state. We propose that radixin scaffolds both cAMP effectors in a functional cAMP-sensing compartment for efficient signal transduction, using Rap1 as a downstream signal integrator.

Rap1b GTPase Ameliorates Glucose-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction

The role of tubular injury in diabetic nephropathy is relatively unknown, despite that apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells is commonly observed in human renal biopsies. The GTPase Ras-proximate-1 (Rap1b) is upregulated in the hyperglycemic state and is known to increase B-Raf, an antiapoptotic effector protein. In this study, the effects of high glucose on renal tubular apoptosis and the potential ability for Rap1b to ameliorate these effects were investigated. In the kidneys of diabetic mice, apoptotic tubular cells and dysmorphic mitochondria were observed, Bcl-2 expression was decreased, and Bax expression was increased. Total Rap1b expression was slightly increased, but its associated GTPase activity was significantly decreased. In vitro, high extracellular glucose led to decreased Bcl-2 expression, reduced Rap1b GTPase activity, and increased levels of both Bax and GTPase activating protein in a proximal tubular cell line (HK-2). These changes were accompanied by increased DNA fragmentation, decreased high molecular weight mitochondrial DNA, altered mitochondrial morphology and function, disrupted Bcl-2-Bax and Bcl-2-Rap1b interactions, and reduced cell survival. Overexpression of Rap1b partially prevents these abnormalities. Furthermore, the BH4 domain of Bcl-2 was found to be required for successful protein-protein interaction between Bcl-2 and Rap1b. In summary, these data suggest that Rap1b ameliorates glucose-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular cells.

Rap1 Activation Plays a Regulatory Role in Pancreatic Amylase Secretion

Rap1 is a member of the Ras superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins and is localized on pancreatic zymogen granules. The current study was designed to determine whether GTP-Rap1 is involved in the regulation of amylase secretion. Rap1A/B and the two Rap1 guanine nucleotide exchange factors, Epac1 and CalDAG-GEF III, were identified in mouse pancreatic acini. A fraction of both Rap1 and Epac1 colocalized with amylase in zymogen granules, but only Rap1 was integral to the zymogen granule membranes. Stimulation with cholecystokinin (CCK), carbachol, and vasoactive intestinal peptide all induced Rap1 activation, as did calcium ionophore A23187, phorbol ester, forskolin, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, and the Epac-specific cAMP analog 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP. The phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 abolished carbachol- but not forskolin-induced Rap1 activation. Co-stimulation with carbachol and 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP led to an additive effect on Rap1 activation, whereas a synergistic effect was seen on amylase release. Although the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89 abolished forskolin-stimulated CREB phosphorylation, it did not modify forskolin-induced GTP-Rap1 levels, excluding PKA participation. Overexpression of Rap1 GTPase-activating protein, which blocked Rap1 activation, reduced the effect of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP, and vasoactive intestinal peptide on amylase release by 60% and reduced CCK- as well as carbachol-stimulated pancreatic amylase release by 40%. These findings indicate that GTP-Rap1 is required for pancreatic amylase release. Rap1 activation not only mediates the cAMP-evoked response via Epac1 but is also involved in CCK- and carbachol-induced amylase release, with their action most likely mediated by CalDAG-GEF III.

Junctional Adhesion Molecule A (JAM‐A) signals through Afadin and Rap1

JAM-A is a transmembrane tight junction protein involved in regulation of barrier function and leukocyte transmigration, yet the mechanisms governing these functions are incompletely understood. The extracellular domain of JAM-A is known to participate in protein-protein interactions while the cytoplasmic tail of JAM-A has a PDZ motif that interacts with scaffolding proteins such as Afadin and ZO-1 that are linked to signaling molecules such as small GTPases. We have previously shown that JAM-A siRNA-mediated knockdown causes a decrease in the levels of β1 integrin in an epithelial cell line (SKCO15). We now provide evidence that this decrease in β1 integrin is due to loss of Rap1a activity and that loss of β1 integrin is due to aberrant recycling. Furthermore we show that siRNA-mediated knockdown of JAM-A, Afadin, and Rap1b, but not Rap1a, results in dramatic alterations in epithelial cell shape characterized by loss of cell-cell interactions, flattening and abundant spikes. Such alterations in cell shape appeared to be dependent upon dimerization of JAM-A. Additionally, decreases in JAM-A, Rap1b, and Afadin expression were observed to be associated with an increase in expression of the actin monomer shuttle, Twinfillin. Knockdown of both Twinfillin and JAM-A resulted in partial reversal of the morphologic alterations observed with knockdown of JAM-A alone. Together, these findings suggest that JAM-A dimerization promotes activation of Rap1, presumably mediated by Afadin. We also predict that Rap1b activation is associated with increased twinfillin expression, which alters actin cytoskeleton dynamics and cell morphology. Supported by NIH R01 DK61379

CAMP-dependent Oncogenic Action of Rap1b in the Thyroid Gland

cAMP signaling leads to activation and phosphorylation of Rap1b. Using cellular models where cAMP stimulates cell proliferation, we have demonstrated that cAMP-mediated activation, as well as phosphorylation of Rap1b, is critical for cAMP stimulation of DNA synthesis. To determine whether Rap1b stimulates mitogenesis in vivo, we have constructed a transgenic mouse where a constitutively active G12V-Rap1b, flanked by Cre recombinase LoxP sites, is followed by the dominant negative S17N mutant. Employing this novel mouse model, we have switched, in a tissue-specific (thyroid) and temporally controlled manner, the expression of Rap1b from a stimulatory to an inhibitory form. These experiments provide conclusive evidence that Rap1b is oncogenic in the thyroid in ways linked to transduction of the cAMP mitogenic signal.

High Glucose Stimulates Synthesis of Fibronectin via a Novel Protein Kinase C, Rap1b, and B-Raf Signaling Pathway

The molecular mechanism(s) by which high glucose induces fibronectin expression via G-protein activation in the kidney are largely unknown. This investigation describes the effect of high glucose (HG) on a small GTP-binding protein, Rap1b, expression and activation, and the relevance of protein kinase C (PKC) and Raf pathways in fibronectin synthesis in cultured renal glomerular mesangial cells (MCs). In vivo experiments revealed a dose-dependent increase in Rap1b expression in glomeruli of diabetic rat kidneys. Similarly, in vitro exposure of MCs to HG led to an up-regulation of Rap1b with concomitant increase in fibronectin (FN) mRNA and protein expression. The up-regulation of Rap1b mRNA was mitigated by the PKC inhibitors, calphostin C, and bisindolymaleimide, while also reducing HG- induced FN expression in non-transfected MCs. Overexpression of Rap1b by transfection with pcDNA 3.1/Rap1b in MCs resulted in the stimulation of FN synthesis; however, the PKC inhibitors had no significant effect in reducing FN expression in Rap1b-transfected MCs. Transfection of Rap1b mutants S17N (Ser --> Asn) or T61R (Thr --> Arg) in MCs inhibited the HG-induced increased FN synthesis. B-Raf and Raf-1 expression was investigated to assess whether Rap1b effects are mediated via the Raf pathway. B-Raf, and not Raf-1, expression was increased in MCs transfected with Rap1b. HG also caused activation of Rap1b, which was largely unaffected by anti-platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) antibodies. HG-induced activation of Rap1b was specific, since Rap2b activation and expression of Rap2a and Rap2b were unaffected by HG. These findings indicate that hyperglycemia and HG cause an activation and up-regulation of Rap1b in renal glomeruli and in cultured MCs, which then stimulates FN synthesis. This effect appears to be PKC-dependent and PDGF-independent, but involves B-Raf, suggesting a novel PKC-Rap1b-B-Raf pathway responsible for HG-induced increased mesangial matrix synthesis, a hallmark of diabetic nephropathy.

Identification of up-regulated Ras-like GTPase, Rap1b, by suppression subtractive hybridization

Diabetic nephropathy accounts for over 30% of the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A number of defined mechanisms and molecules that are involved in its pathogenesis are known, while others remain to be identified. Suppression subtraction hybridization (SSH)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to search for new genes that may be relevant to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy during embryonic development, the time when the kidney is most susceptible to various forms of stress. A diabetic state was induced in pregnant mice at day-13 of gestation by administration of streptozotocin. The kidneys of newborn mice with blood glucose level> 200 mg/dL were harvested, mRNA isolated and subjected to SSH-PCR. Several differentially expressed cDNA fragments with up-regulated expression were isolated. One of the cDNA fragments had homology with human Ras-like guanine 5'-triphosphate (GTPase), Rap1b gene. By utilizing the lambdaZAP II mouse cDNA library and SMART RACE amplification, a full-length Rap1b cDNA was isolated. A recombinant protein was generated in pET15b bacterial expression system. An anti-Rap1b antibody was raised in rabbits by immunizing them with the fusion protein, and its specificity was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Rap1b cDNA had an open reading frame of 552 bp with a predicted putative protein size of approximately 21 kD. In vitro translation verified the authentication of the Rap1b cDNA clone. Northern blot analyses revealed a single approximately 2.3 kb Rap1b mRNA transcript. Its expression was up-regulated in several tissues, including the kidney of newborn diabetic mice. The degree of up-regulation of Rap1b mRNA expression was proportional to the blood glucose levels. Western blot analyses confirmed the hyperglycemia-induced up-regulation of the Rap1b expression. In situ hybridization and immunofluorescence studies revealed that Rap1b was expressed in the inner medullary collecting tubules. During hyperglycemia, its expression was accentuated and extended into the outer medullary and cortical collecting tubules. Similar up-regulation of Rap1b was observed when embryonic kidneys, harvested at day-13 of gestation, were exposed to high glucose ambience. The data suggest that Rap1b, a GTP-binding protein that plays a critical role in various signaling intracellular events, is another molecule that may be relevant to the pathobiology of diabetic nephropathy.

Differential Expression of Low Mr GTP-binding Proteins in Human Megakaryoblastic Leukemia Cell Line, MEG-01, and their Possible Involvement in the Differentiation Process

The expression of various low Mr GTP-binding proteins at various states of differentiation of a human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, MEG-01, was analyzed using thermocycle amplification of mRNA and immunoblotting. MEG-01 cells were found to express mRNAs of rap1A, rap1B, rap2B, ralA, rhoA, rac1, rac2, CDC42Hs, rab1, rab3B, rab6, ram and ran, but not rab4, and the proteins of Rap1, Rap2, RhoA, Rac1, Rac2, Rab3B, Rab4, Rab6 and Rab8 were expressed. Differentiation of MEG-01 cells induced by 100 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate revealed the considerable increases in mRNA expression of rap1B, rab3B, rab4, ram and ran whereas the levels of rap2B, rhoA and rac1 decreased. During the differentiation process, significant changes in protein levels of Rap1, RhoA, Rac1, Rac2, Rab3B, Rab4 and Rab6 were observed among three subcellular (cytosol, Triton X-100-soluble membrane and -insoluble cytoskeleton) fractions. The present investigation may be useful for the study of the megakaryocyte differentiation.