Phosphatidic acid-dependent recruitment and function of the Rac activator DOCK1 during dorsal ruffle formation

Activation of receptor tyrosine kinases leads to the formation of two different types of plasma membrane structures: peripheral ruffles and dorsal ruffles. Although the formation of both ruffle types requires activation of the small GTPase Rac, the difference in kinetics suggests that a distinct regulatory mechanism operates for their ruffle formation. DOCK1 and DOCK5 are atypical Rac activators and are both expressed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We found that although PDGF-induced Rac activation and peripheral ruffle formation were coordinately regulated by DOCK1 and DOCK5 in MEFs, DOCK1 deficiency alone impaired dorsal ruffle formation in MEFs. Unlike DOCK5, DOCK1 bound to phosphatidic acid (PA) through the C-terminal polybasic amino acid cluster and was localized to dorsal ruffles. When this interaction was blocked, PDGF-induced dorsal ruffle formation was severely impaired. In addition, we show that phospholipase D, an enzyme that catalyzes PA synthesis, is required for PDGF-induced dorsal, but not peripheral, ruffle formation. These results indicate that the phospholipase D-PA axis selectively controls dorsal ruffle formation by regulating DOCK1 localization.

Deficiencies of the lipid-signaling enzymes phospholipase D1 and D2 alter cytoskeletal organization, macrophage phagocytosis, and cytokine-stimulated neutrophil recruitment

Cell migration and phagocytosis ensue from extracellular-initiated signaling cascades that orchestrate dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. The reorganization is mediated by effector proteins recruited to the site of activity by locally-generated lipid second messengers. Phosphatidic acid (PA), a membrane phospholipid generated by multiple enzyme families including Phospholipase D (PLD), has been proposed to function in this role. Here, we show that macrophages prepared from mice lacking either of the classical PLD isoforms PLD1 or PLD2, or wild-type macrophages whose PLD activity has been pharmacologically inhibited, display isoform-specific actin cytoskeleton abnormalities that likely underlie decreases observed in phagocytic capacity. Unexpectedly, PA continued to be detected on the phagosome in the absence of either isoform and even when all PLD activity was eliminated. However, a disorganized phagocytic cup was observed as visualized by imaging PA, F-actin, Rac1, an organizer of the F-actin network, and DOCK2, a Rac1 activator, suggesting that PLD-mediated PA production during phagocytosis is specifically critical for the integrity of the process. The abnormal F-actin reorganization additionally impacted neutrophil migration and extravasation from the vasculature into interstitial tissues. Although both PLD1 and PLD2 were important in these processes, we also observed isoform-specific functions. PLD1-driven processes in particular were observed to be critical in transmigration of macrophages exiting the vasculature during immune responses such as those seen in acute pancreatitis or irritant-induced skin vascularization.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase α facilitates Toll-like receptor 4-mediated microglial inflammation through regulation of the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) location

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), generated by PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K), regulates many critical cellular events. PIP(2) is also known to mediate plasma membrane localization of the Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), required for the MyD88-dependent Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 signaling pathway. Microglia are the primary immune competent cells in brain tissue, and TLR4 is important for microglial activation. However, a functional role for PIP5K and PIP(2) in TLR4-dependent microglial activation remains unclear. Here, we knocked down PIP5Kα, a PIP5K isoform, in a BV2 microglial cell line using stable expression of lentiviral shRNA constructs or siRNA transfection. PIP5Kα knockdown significantly suppressed induction of inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, IL-1β, and nitric oxide, by lipopolysaccharide. PIP5Kα knockdown also attenuated signaling events downstream of TLR4 activation, including p38 MAPK and JNK phosphorylation, NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation, and IκB-α degradation. Complementation of the PIP5Kα knockdown cells with wild type but not kinase-dead PIP5Kα effectively restored the LPS-mediated inflammatory response. We found that PIP5Kα and TIRAP colocalized at the cell surface and interacted with each other, whereas kinase-dead PIP5Kα rendered TIRAP soluble. Furthermore, in LPS-stimulated control cells, plasma membrane PIP(2) increased and subsequently declined, and TIRAP underwent bi-directional translocation between the membrane and cytosol, which temporally correlated with the changes in PIP(2). In contrast, PIP5Kα knockdown that reduced PIP(2) levels disrupted TIRAP membrane targeting by LPS. Together, our results suggest that PIP5Kα promotes TLR4-associated microglial inflammation by mediating PIP(2)-dependent recruitment of TIRAP to the plasma membrane.

Molecular mechanisms of fMLP-induced superoxide generation and degranulation in mouse neutrophils

In this manuscript, involvement of PLD in fMLP-induced superoxide generation and degranulation were re-investigated using PLD(-/-) neutrophils, and the molecular mechanisms of these neutrophil functions were examined. Neither PLD1 nor PLD2 is involved in these fMLP-induced neutrophil functions. The results obtained in this study provide evidence that cPKC plays an important role in fMLP-induced superoxide generation. On the other hand, Ca(2+)-dependent signaling pathway and cPKC seem to be involved in degranulation.

Construction of a global pain systems network highlights phospholipid signaling as a regulator of heat nociception

The ability to perceive noxious stimuli is critical for an animal's survival in the face of environmental danger, and thus pain perception is likely to be under stringent evolutionary pressure. Using a neuronal-specific RNAi knock-down strategy in adult Drosophila, we recently completed a genome-wide functional annotation of heat nociception that allowed us to identify α2δ3 as a novel pain gene. Here we report construction of an evolutionary-conserved, system-level, global molecular pain network map. Our systems map is markedly enriched for multiple genes associated with human pain and predicts a plethora of novel candidate pain pathways. One central node of this pain network is phospholipid signaling, which has been implicated before in pain processing. To further investigate the role of phospholipid signaling in mammalian heat pain perception, we analysed the phenotype of PIP5Kα and PI3Kγ mutant mice. Intriguingly, both of these mice exhibit pronounced hypersensitivity to noxious heat and capsaicin-induced pain, which directly mapped through PI3Kγ kinase-dead knock-in mice to PI3Kγ lipid kinase activity. Using single primary sensory neuron recording, PI3Kγ function was mechanistically linked to a negative regulation of TRPV1 channel transduction. Our data provide a systems map for heat nociception and reinforces the extraordinary conservation of molecular mechanisms of nociception across different species.

Nociception is the perception of noxious, potentially damaging stimuli; and this pain or its equivalent behavioral readout is evolutionarily conserved from fruit flies to humans. Using genetic techniques in the fruit fly, we have been able to evaluate the potential functional contribution of every gene in the fruit fly genome for a role in avoidance of high noxious temperatures (heat pain-like responses). Using this functional genomics data set, we have developed a conserved network map of heat pain/nociception that predicts numerous conserved genes and pathways as novel pain pathways, including phospholipid signaling. Studies in multiple mutant mice confirmed a role for lipid signaling in pain perception, and more specifically we identify the critical lipid kinase (PI3Kγ) as a negative regulator of TRPV1 (receptor for noxious heat and capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers) signaling. This finding shows that our fly-based genetic pain network map is a valuable tool for the discovery of novel “nociception genes” in mammals.

Key roles for the lipid signaling enzyme phospholipase d1 in the tumor microenvironment during tumor angiogenesis and metastasis

Angiogenesis inhibitors, which target tumor cells, confer only short-term benefits on tumor growth. We report that ablation of the lipid signaling enzyme phospholipase D1 (PLD1) in the tumor environment compromised the neovascularization and growth of tumors. PLD1 deficiency suppressed the activation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways by vascular endothelial growth factor in vascular endothelial cells, resulting in decreased integrin-dependent cell adhesion to, and migration on, extracellular matrices, as well as reduced tumor angiogenesis in a xenograft model. In addition, mice lacking PLD1 incurred fewer lung metastases than did wild-type mice. Bone marrow transplantation and binding studies identified a platelet-derived mechanism involving decreased tumor cell-platelet interactions, in part because of impaired activation of αIIbβ3 integrin in platelets, which decreased the seeding of tumor cells into the lung parenchyma. Treatment with a small-molecule inhibitor of PLD1 phenocopied PLD1 deficiency, efficiently suppressing both tumor growth and metastasis in mice. These findings reveal that PLD1 in the tumor environment promotes tumor growth and metastasis and, taken together with previous reports on the roles of PLD in tumor cell-intrinsic adaptations to stress, suggest the potential use of PLD inhibitors as cancer therapeutics.

Structural basis for Arf6-MKLP1 complex formation on the Flemming body responsible for cytokinesis

A small GTPase, Arf6, is involved in cytokinesis by localizing to the Flemming body (the midbody). However, it remains unknown how Arf6 contributes to cytokinesis. Here, we demonstrate that Arf6 directly interacts with mitotic kinesin-like protein 1 (MKLP1), a Flemming body-localizing protein essential for cytokinesis. The crystal structure of the Arf6-MKLP1 complex reveals that MKLP1 forms a homodimer flanked by two Arf6 molecules, forming a 2:2 heterotetramer containing an extended β-sheet composed of 22 β-strands that spans the entire heterotetramer, suitable for interaction with a concave membrane surface at the cleavage furrow. We show that, during cytokinesis, Arf6 is first accumulated around the cleavage furrow and, prior to abscission, recruited onto the Flemming body via interaction with MKLP1. We also show by structure-based mutagenesis and siRNA-mediated knockdowns that the complex formation is required for completion of cytokinesis. A model based on these results suggests that the Arf6-MKLP1 complex plays a crucial role in cytokinesis by connecting the microtubule bundle and membranes at the cleavage plane.

Regulation of PIP5K activity by Arf6 and its physiological significance

The phospholipid kinase phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) catalyzes the phosphorylation of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate to generate the pleiotropic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2) ]. To date, three mammalian PIP5K isozymes, α, β, and γ, and several splicing variants of the γ isozyme have been identified. These PIP5K isozymes and PIP5Kγ variants play critical roles in various cellular functions through their product PI(4,5)P(2) . The small GTPase Arf6 is one of the key activators of PIP5K. Increasing evidence suggests that PIP5K functions as a downstream effector of Arf6 to regulate a wide variety of cellular functions, such as exocytosis, endocytosis, endosomal recycling, membrane ruffle formation, immune response, and bacterial invasion. In this review, we place our focus on the recent advances in Arf6/PIP5K signaling and its linkage to cellular functions.

Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase alpha deficiency alters dynamics of glucose-stimulated insulin release to improve glucohomeostasis and decrease obesity in mice

OBJECTIVE

Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase (PI4P5K) has been proposed to facilitate regulated exocytosis and specifically insulin secretion by generating phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)). We sought to examine the role of the α isoform of PI4P5K in glucohomeostasis and insulin secretion.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The response of PI4P5Kα(-/-) mice to glucose challenge and a type 2-like diabetes-inducing high-fat diet was examined in vivo. Glucose-stimulated responses and PI4P5Kα(-/-) pancreatic islets and β-cells were characterized in culture.

RESULTS

We show that PI4P5Kα(-/-) mice exhibit increased first-phase insulin release and improved glucose clearance, and resist high-fat diet-induced development of type 2-like diabetes and obesity. PI4P5Kα(-/-) pancreatic islets cultured in vitro exhibited decreased numbers of insulin granules docked at the plasma membrane and released less insulin under quiescent conditions, but then secreted similar amounts of insulin on glucose stimulation. Stimulation-dependent PIP(2) depletion occurred on the plasma membrane of the PI4P5Kα(-/-) pancreatic β-cells, accompanied by a near-total loss of cortical F-actin, which was already decreased in the PI4P5Kα(-/-) β-cells under resting conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that PI4P5Kα plays a complex role in restricting insulin release from pancreatic β-cells through helping to maintain plasma membrane PIP(2) levels and integrity of the actin cytoskeleton under both basal and stimulatory conditions. The increased first-phase glucose-stimulated release of insulin observed on the normal diet may underlie the partial protection against the elevated serum glucose and obesity seen in type 2 diabetes-like model systems.

SIRT1 Regulates Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Release by Enhancing PIP5Kgamma Activity through Deacetylation of Specific Lysine Residues in Mammals

BACKGROUND

SIRT1, a NAD-dependent deacetylase, has diverse roles in a variety of organs such as regulation of endocrine function and metabolism. However, it remains to be addressed how it regulates hormone release there.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Here, we report that SIRT1 is abundantly expressed in pituitary thyrotropes and regulates thyroid hormone secretion. Manipulation of SIRT1 level revealed that SIRT1 positively regulated the exocytosis of TSH-containing granules. Using LC/MS-based interactomics, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K)gamma was identified as a SIRT1 binding partner and deacetylation substrate. SIRT1 deacetylated two specific lysine residues (K265/K268) in PIP5Kgamma and enhanced PIP5Kgamma enzyme activity. SIRT1-mediated TSH secretion was abolished by PIP5Kgamma knockdown. SIRT1 knockdown decreased the levels of deacetylated PIP5Kgamma, PI(4,5)P(2), and reduced the secretion of TSH from pituitary cells. These results were also observed in SIRT1-knockout mice.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings indicated that the control of TSH release by the SIRT1-PIP5Kgamma pathway is important for regulating the metabolism of the whole body.

Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinases and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate synthesis in the brain

The predominant pathway for phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) synthesis is thought to be phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate at the 5 position of the inositol ring by type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPK): PIPKIalpha, PIPKIbeta, and PIPKIgamma. PIPKIgamma has been shown to play a role in PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis in brain, and the absence of PIPKIgamma is incompatible with postnatal life. Conversely, mice lacking PIPKIalpha or PIPKIbeta (isoforms are referred to according to the nomenclature of human PIPKIs) live to adulthood, although functional effects in specific cell types are observed. To determine the contribution of PIPKIalpha and PIPKIbeta to PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis in brain, we investigated the impact of disrupting multiple PIPKI genes. Our results show that a single allele of PIPKIgamma, in the absence of both PIPKIalpha and PIPKIbeta, can support life to adulthood. In addition, PIPKIalpha alone, but not PIPKIbeta alone, can support prenatal development, indicating an essential and partially overlapping function of PIPKIalpha and PIPKIgamma during embryogenesis. This is consistent with early embryonic expression of PIPKIalpha and PIPKIgamma but not of PIPKIbeta. PIPKIbeta expression in brain correlates with neuronal differentiation. The absence of PIPKIbeta does not impact embryonic development in the PIPKIgamma knock-out (KO) background but worsens the early postnatal phenotype of the PIPKIgamma KO (death occurs within minutes rather than hours). Analysis of PIP(2) in brain reveals that only the absence of PIPKIgamma significantly impacts its levels. Collectively, our results provide new evidence for the dominant importance of PIPKIgamma in mammals and imply that PIPKIalpha and PIPKIbeta function in the generation of specific PI(4,5)P(2) pools that, at least in brain, do not have a major impact on overall PI(4,5)P(2) levels.

The nuclear receptor gene nhr-25 plays multiple roles in the Caenorhabditis elegans heterochronic gene network to control the larva-to-adult transition

Developmental timing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is controlled by heterochronic genes, mutations in which cause changes in the relative timing of developmental events. One of the heterochronic genes, let-7, encodes a microRNA that is highly evolutionarily conserved, suggesting that similar genetic pathways control developmental timing across phyla. Here we report that the nuclear receptor nhr-25, which belongs to the evolutionarily conserved fushi tarazu-factor 1/nuclear receptor NR5A subfamily, interacts with heterochronic genes that regulate the larva-to-adult transition in C. elegans. We identified nhr-25 as a regulator of apl-1, a homolog of the Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein-like gene that is downstream of let-7 family microRNAs. NHR-25 controls not only apl-1 expression but also regulates developmental progression in the larva-to-adult transition. NHR-25 negatively regulates the expression of the adult-specific collagen gene col-19 in lateral epidermal seam cells. In contrast, NHR-25 positively regulates the larva-to-adult transition for other timed events in seam cells, such as cell fusion, cell division and alae formation. The genetic relationships between nhr-25 and other heterochronic genes are strikingly varied among several adult developmental events. We propose that nhr-25 has multiple roles in both promoting and inhibiting the C. elegans heterochronic gene pathway controlling adult differentiation programs.

Pertussis toxin up-regulates angiotensin type 1 receptors through Toll-like receptor 4-mediated Rac activation

Pertussis toxin (PTX) is recognized as a specific tool that uncouples receptors from G(i) and G(o) through ADP-ribosylation. During the study analyzing the effects of PTX on Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R) function in cardiac fibroblasts, we found that PTX increases the number of AT1Rs and enhances AT1R-mediated response. Microarray analysis revealed that PTX increases the induction of interleukin (IL)-1beta among cytokines. Inhibition of IL-1beta suppressed the enhancement of AT1R-mediated response by PTX. PTX increased the expression of IL-1beta and AT1R through NF-kappaB, and a small GTP-binding protein, Rac, mediated PTX-induced NF-kappaB activation through NADPH oxidase-dependent production of reactive oxygen species. PTX induced biphasic increases in Rac activity, and the Rac activation in a late but not an early phase was suppressed by IL-1beta siRNA, suggesting that IL-1beta-induced Rac activation contributes to the amplification of Rac-dependent signaling induced by PTX. Furthermore, inhibition of TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4) abolished PTX-induced Rac activation and enhancement of AT1R function. However, ADP-ribosylation of G(i)/G(o) by PTX was not affected by inhibition of TLR4. Thus, PTX binds to two receptors; one is TLR4, which activates Rac, and another is the binding site that is required for ADP-ribosylation of G(i)/G(o).

The tyrosine kinase Fer is a downstream target of the PLD-PA pathway that regulates cell migration

Phosphatidic acid (PA), which can be produced by phospholipase D (PLD), is involved in various signaling events, such as cell proliferation, survival, and migration. However, the molecular mechanisms that link PA to cell migration are largely unknown. Here, we show that PA binds to the tyrosine kinase Fer and enhances its ability to phosphorylate cortactin, a protein that promotes actin polymerization. We found that a previously unknown lipid-binding module in Fer adjacent to the F-BAR [Fes-Cdc42-interacting protein 4 (CIP4) homology (FCH) and bin-amphiphysin-Rvs] domain mediated PA binding. We refer to this lipid-binding domain as the FX (F-BAR extension) domain. Overexpression of Fer enhanced lamellipodia formation and cell migration in a manner dependent on PLD activity and the PA-FX interaction. Thus, the PLD-PA pathway promotes cell migration through Fer-induced enhancement of actin polymerization.

Small G proteins in peroxisome biogenesis: the potential involvement of ADP-ribosylation factor 6

BACKGROUND

Peroxisomes execute diverse and vital functions in virtually every eukaryote. New peroxisomes form by budding from pre-existing organelles or de novo by vesiculation of the ER. It has been suggested that ADP-ribosylation factors and COPI coatomer complexes are involved in these processes.

RESULTS

Here we show that all viable Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains deficient in one of the small GTPases which have an important role in the regulation of vesicular transport contain functional peroxisomes, and that the number of these organelles in oleate-grown cells is significantly upregulated in the arf1 and arf3 null strains compared to the wild-type strain. In addition, we provide evidence that a portion of endogenous Arf6, the mammalian orthologue of yeast Arf3, is associated with the cytoplasmic face of rat liver peroxisomes. Despite this, ablation of Arf6 did neither influence the regulation of peroxisome abundance nor affect the localization of peroxisomal proteins in cultured fetal hepatocytes. However, co-overexpression of wild-type, GTP hydrolysis-defective or (dominant-negative) GTP binding-defective forms of Arf1 and Arf6 caused mislocalization of newly-synthesized peroxisomal proteins and resulted in an alteration of peroxisome morphology.

CONCLUSION

These observations suggest that Arf6 is a key player in mammalian peroxisome biogenesis. In addition, they also lend strong support to and extend the concept that specific Arf isoform pairs may act in tandem to regulate exclusive trafficking pathways.

Sequential regulation of DOCK2 dynamics by two phospholipids during neutrophil chemotaxis

During chemotaxis, activation of the small guanosine triphosphatase Rac is spatially regulated to organize the extension of membrane protrusions in the direction of migration. In neutrophils, Rac activation is primarily mediated by DOCK2, an atypical guanine nucleotide exchange factor. Upon stimulation, we found that DOCK2 rapidly translocated to the plasma membrane in a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent manner. However, subsequent accumulation of DOCK2 at the leading edge required phospholipase D-mediated synthesis of phosphatidic acid, which stabilized DOCK2 there by means of interaction with a polybasic amino acid cluster, resulting in increased local actin polymerization. When this interaction was blocked, neutrophils failed to form leading edges properly and exhibited defects in chemotaxis. Thus, intracellular DOCK2 dynamics are sequentially regulated by distinct phospholipids to localize Rac activation during neutrophil chemotaxis.

RalA functions as an indispensable signal mediator for the nutrient-sensing system

Cells sense nutrients present in the extracellular environment and modulate the activities of intracellular signaling systems in response to nutrient availability. This study demonstrates that RalA and its activator RalGDS participate in nutrient sensing and are indispensable for activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) induced by extracellular nutrients. Knockdown of RalA or RalGDS abolished amino acid- and glucose-induced mTORC1 activation, as judged by phosphorylation of S6 kinase and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1. The amount of GTP-bound RalA increased in response to increased amino acid availability. In addition, RalA knockdown suppressed Rheb-induced S6 kinase phosphorylation, and the constitutively active form of RalA induced mTORC1 activation in the absence of Rheb. These results collectively suggest that RalGDS and RalA act downstream of Rheb and that RalA activation is a crucial step in nutrient-induced mTORC1 activation.