1
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Quinn JM, Wang Y, Wood M, Flozak AS, Le PM, Yemelyanov A, Oakes PW, Gottardi CJ. α-catenin middle- and actin-binding domain unfolding mutants differentially impact epithelial strength and sheet migration. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar65. [PMID: 38507238 PMCID: PMC11151094 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-01-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
α-catenin (α-cat) displays force-dependent unfolding and binding to actin filaments through direct and indirect means, but features of adherens junction structure and function most vulnerable to loss of these allosteric mechanisms have not been directly compared. By reconstituting an α-cat F-actin-binding domain unfolding mutant known to exhibit enhanced binding to actin (α-cat-H0-FABD+) into α-cat knockout Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, we show that partial loss of the α-cat catch bond mechanism (via an altered H0 α-helix) leads to stronger epithelial sheet integrity with greater colocalization between the α-cat-H0-FABD+ mutant and actin. α-cat-H0-FABD+ -expressing cells are less efficient at closing scratch-wounds, suggesting reduced capacity for more dynamic cell-cell coordination. Evidence that α-cat-H0-FABD+ is equally accessible to the conformationally sensitive α18 antibody epitope as WT α-cat and shows similar vinculin recruitment suggests this mutant engages lower tension cortical actin networks, as its M-domain is not persistently open. Conversely, α-cat-M-domain salt-bridge mutants with persistent recruitment of vinculin and phosphorylated myosin light chain show only intermediate monolayer adhesive strengths, but display less directionally coordinated and thereby slower migration speeds during wound-repair. These data show α-cat M- and FABD-unfolding mutants differentially impact cell-cell cohesion and migration properties, and suggest signals favoring α-cat-cortical actin interaction without persistent M-domain opening may improve epithelial monolayer strength through enhanced coupling to lower tension actin networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne M. Quinn
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Yuou Wang
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Megan Wood
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Annette S. Flozak
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Phuong M. Le
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Alex Yemelyanov
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Patrick W. Oakes
- Department of Cell & Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL 60153
| | - Cara J. Gottardi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
- Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
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2
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Jia Q, Zeng H, Li M, Tang J, Xiao N, Gao S, Li H, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Xie W. Binding asymmetry and conformational studies of the AtGSDA dimer. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:5515-5522. [PMID: 38022696 PMCID: PMC10663702 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Guanosine deaminase (GSDA) is an important deaminase that converts guanosine to xanthosine, a key intermediate in nitrogen recycling in plants. We previously solved complex structures of Arabidopsis thaliana GSDA bound by various ligands and examined its catalytic mechanism. Here, we report cocrystal structures of AtGSDA bound by inactive guanosine derivatives, which bind relatively weakly to the enzyme and mostly have poor binding geometries. The two protomers display unequal binding performances, and molecular dynamics simulation identified diverse conformations during the enzyme-ligand interactions. Moreover, intersubunit, tripartite salt bridges show conformational differences between the two protomers, possibly acting as "gating" systems for substrate binding and product release. Our structural and biochemical studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the enzymatic behavior of this intriguing enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Jia
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zeng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingwei Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
| | - Jing Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Xiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Shangfang Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanxi Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinbing Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
| | - Wei Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China
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3
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Shi B, Matsui T, Qian S, Weiss TM, Nicholl ID, Callaway DJE, Bu Z. An ensemble of cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex employs vinculin as the major F-actin binding mode. Biophys J 2023; 122:2456-2474. [PMID: 37147801 PMCID: PMC10323030 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell-cell adhesion cadherin-catenin complexes recruit vinculin to the adherens junction (AJ) to modulate the mechanical couplings between neighboring cells. However, it is unclear how vinculin influences the AJ structure and function. Here, we identified two patches of salt bridges that lock vinculin in the head-tail autoinhibited conformation and reconstituted the full-length vinculin activation mimetics bound to the cadherin-catenin complex. The cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex contains multiple disordered linkers and is highly dynamic, which poses a challenge for structural studies. We determined the ensemble conformation of this complex using small-angle x-ray and selective deuteration/contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering. In the complex, both α-catenin and vinculin adopt an ensemble of flexible conformations, but vinculin has fully open conformations with the vinculin head and actin-binding tail domains well separated from each other. F-actin binding experiments show that the cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex binds and bundles F-actin. However, when the vinculin actin-binding domain is removed from the complex, only a minor fraction of the complex binds to F-actin. The results show that the dynamic cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex employs vinculin as the primary F-actin binding mode to strengthen AJ-cytoskeleton interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bright Shi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY), New York; PhD Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York
| | - Tsutomu Matsui
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Menlo Park, California
| | - Shuo Qian
- Second Target Station Project, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Thomas M Weiss
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Menlo Park, California
| | - Iain D Nicholl
- Department of Biomedical Science and Physiology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - David J E Callaway
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY), New York.
| | - Zimei Bu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY), New York; PhD Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York.
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4
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Gupta J, Rangarajan ES, Troyanovsky RB, Indra I, Troyanovsky SM, Izard T. Plakophilin-3 Binds the Membrane and Filamentous Actin without Bundling F-Actin. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9458. [PMID: 37298410 PMCID: PMC10253835 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Plakophilin-3 is a ubiquitously expressed protein found widely in epithelial cells and is a critical component of desmosomes. The plakophilin-3 carboxy-terminal domain harbors nine armadillo repeat motifs with largely unknown functions. Here, we report the 5 Å cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) structure of the armadillo repeat motif domain of plakophilin-3, one of the smaller cryoEM structures reported to date. We find that this domain is a monomer or homodimer in solution. In addition, using an in vitro actin co-sedimentation assay, we show that the armadillo repeat domain of plakophilin-3 directly interacts with F-actin. This feature, through direct interactions with actin filaments, could be responsible for the observed association of extra-desmosomal plakophilin-3 with the actin cytoskeleton directly attached to the adherens junctions in A431 epithelial cells. Further, we demonstrate, through lipid binding analyses, that plakophilin-3 can effectively be recruited to the plasma membrane through phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-mediated interactions. Collectively, we report on novel properties of plakophilin-3, which may be conserved throughout the plakophilin protein family and may be behind the roles of these proteins in cell-cell adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Gupta
- Cell Adhesion Laboratory, UF Scripps, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | | | - Regina B. Troyanovsky
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606112, USA
| | - Indrajyoti Indra
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606112, USA
| | - Sergey M. Troyanovsky
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 606112, USA
| | - Tina Izard
- Cell Adhesion Laboratory, UF Scripps, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
- The Skaggs Graduate School, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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5
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Troyanovsky SM. Adherens junction: the ensemble of specialized cadherin clusters. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:374-387. [PMID: 36127186 PMCID: PMC10020127 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The cell-cell connections in adherens junctions (AJs) are mediated by transmembrane receptors, type I cadherins (referred to here as cadherins). These cadherin-based connections (or trans bonds) are weak. To upregulate their strength, cadherins exploit avidity, the increased affinity of binding between cadherin clusters compared with isolated monomers. Formation of such clusters is a unique molecular process that is driven by a synergy of direct and indirect cis interactions between cadherins located at the same cell. In addition to their role in adhesion, cadherin clusters provide structural scaffolds for cytosolic proteins, which implicate cadherin into different cellular activities and signaling pathways. The cluster lifetime, which depends on the actin cytoskeleton, and on the mechanical forces it generates, determines the strength of AJs and their plasticity. The key aspects of cadherin adhesion, therefore, cannot be understood at the level of isolated cadherin molecules, but should be discussed in the context of cadherin clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey M Troyanovsky
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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6
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Rangarajan ES, Smith EW, Izard T. Distinct inter-domain interactions of dimeric versus monomeric α-catenin link cell junctions to filaments. Commun Biol 2023; 6:276. [PMID: 36928388 PMCID: PMC10020564 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04610-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Attachment between cells is crucial for almost all aspects of the life of cells. These inter-cell adhesions are mediated by the binding of transmembrane cadherin receptors of one cell to cadherins of a neighboring cell. Inside the cell, cadherin binds β-catenin, which interacts with α-catenin. The transitioning of cells between migration and adhesion is modulated by α-catenin, which links cell junctions and the plasma membrane to the actin cytoskeleton. At cell junctions, a single β-catenin/α-catenin heterodimer slips along filamentous actin in the direction of cytoskeletal tension which unfolds clustered heterodimers to form catch bonds with F-actin. Outside cell junctions, α-catenin dimerizes and links the plasma membrane to F-actin. Under cytoskeletal tension, α-catenin unfolds and forms an asymmetric catch bond with F-actin. To understand the mechanism of this important α-catenin function, we determined the 2.7 Å cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) structures of filamentous actin alone and bound to human dimeric α-catenin. Our structures provide mechanistic insights into the role of the α-catenin interdomain interactions in directing α-catenin function and suggest a bivalent mechanism. Further, our cryoEM structure of human monomeric α-catenin provides mechanistic insights into α-catenin autoinhibition. Collectively, our structures capture the initial α-catenin interaction with F-actin before the sensing of force, which is a crucial event in cell adhesion and human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emmanuel W Smith
- The Cell Adhesion Laboratory, UF Scripps, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Tina Izard
- The Cell Adhesion Laboratory, UF Scripps, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
- The Skaggs Graduate School, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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7
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Bax NA, Wang A, Huang DL, Pokutta S, Weis WI, Dunn AR. Multi-level Force-dependent Allosteric Enhancement of αE-catenin Binding to F-actin by Vinculin. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167969. [PMID: 36682678 PMCID: PMC9957948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.167969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Classical cadherins are transmembrane proteins whose extracellular domains link neighboring cells, and whose intracellular domains connect to the actin cytoskeleton via β-catenin and α-catenin. The cadherin-catenin complex transmits forces that drive tissue morphogenesis and wound healing. In addition, tension-dependent changes in αE-catenin conformation enables it to recruit the actin-binding protein vinculin to cell-cell junctions, which contributes to junctional strengthening. How and whether multiple cadherin-complexes cooperate to reinforce cell-cell junctions in response to load remains poorly understood. Here, we used single-molecule optical trap measurements to examine how multiple cadherin-catenin complexes interact with F-actin under load, and how this interaction is influenced by the presence of vinculin. We show that force oriented toward the (-) end of the actin filament results in mean lifetimes 3-fold longer than when force was applied towards the barbed (+) end. We also measured force-dependent actin binding by a quaternary complex comprising the cadherin-catenin complex and the vinculin head region, which cannot itself bind actin. Binding lifetimes of this quaternary complex increased as additional complexes bound F-actin, but only when load was oriented toward the (-) end. In contrast, the cadherin-catenin complex alone did not show this form of cooperativity. These findings reveal multi-level, force-dependent regulation that enhances the strength of the association of multiple cadherin/catenin complexes with F-actin, conferring positive feedback that may strengthen the junction and polarize F-actin to facilitate the emergence of higher-order cytoskeletal organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas A Bax
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States. https://twitter.com/@bax1337
| | - Amy Wang
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States; Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, United States. https://twitter.com/@amywang01
| | - Derek L Huang
- Graduate Program in Biophysics, Stanford University, United States
| | - Sabine Pokutta
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States
| | - William I Weis
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States.
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, United States; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford School of Medicine.
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8
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Noordstra I, Morris RG, Yap AS. Cadherins and the cortex: A matter of time? Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 80:102154. [PMID: 36822056 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Cell adhesion systems commonly operate in close partnership with the cytoskeleton. Adhesion receptors bind to the cortex and regulate its dynamics, organization and mechanics; conversely, the cytoskeleton influences aspects of adhesion, including strength, stability and ductility. In this review we consider recent advances in elucidating such cooperation, focusing on interactions between classical cadherins and actomyosin. The evidence presents an apparent paradox. Molecular mechanisms of mechanosensation by the cadherin-actin apparatus imply that adhesion strengthens under tension. However, this does not always translate to the broader setting of confluent tissues, where increases in fluctuations of tension can promote intercalation due to the shrinkage of adherens junctions. Emerging evidence suggests that understanding of timescales may be important in resolving this issue, but that further work is needed to understand the role of adhesive strengthening across scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivar Noordstra
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072 Australia
| | - Richard G Morris
- School of Physics, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Alpha S Yap
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072 Australia.
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9
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Rangarajan ES, Smith EW, Izard T. The nematode α-catenin ortholog, HMP1, has an extended α-helix when bound to actin filaments. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102817. [PMID: 36539037 PMCID: PMC9860117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of cell-cell junctions during epidermal morphogenesis ensures tissue integrity, a process regulated by α-catenin. This cytoskeletal protein connects the cadherin complex to filamentous actin at cell-cell junctions. The cadherin-catenin complex plays key roles in cell physiology, organism development, and disease. While mutagenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans cadherin and catenin shows that these proteins are key for embryonic morphogenesis, we know surprisingly little about their structure and attachment to the cytoskeleton. In contrast to mammalian α-catenin that functions as a dimer or monomer, the α-catenin ortholog from C. elegans, HMP1 for humpback, is a monomer. Our cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) structure of HMP1/α-catenin reveals that the amino- and carboxy-terminal domains of HMP1/α-catenin are disordered and not in contact with the remaining HMP1/α-catenin middle domain. Since the carboxy-terminal HMP1/α-catenin domain is the F-actin-binding domain (FABD), this interdomain constellation suggests that HMP1/α-catenin is constitutively active, which we confirm biochemically. Our perhaps most surprising finding, given the high sequence similarity between the mammalian and nematode proteins, is our cryoEM structure of HMP1/α-catenin bound to F-actin. Unlike the structure of mammalian α-catenin bound to F-actin, binding to F-actin seems to allosterically convert a loop region of the HMP1/α-catenin FABD to extend an HMP1/α-catenin FABD α-helix. We use cryoEM and bundling assays to show for the first time how the FABD of HMP1/α-catenin bundles actin in the absence of force. Collectively, our data advance our understanding of α-catenin regulation of cell-cell contacts and additionally aid our understanding of the evolution of multicellularity in metazoans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tina Izard
- Cell Adhesion Laboratory, UF Scripps, Jupiter, Florida, USA; The Skaggs Graduate School, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA.
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10
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Wang A, Dunn AR, Weis WI. Mechanism of the cadherin-catenin F-actin catch bond interaction. eLife 2022; 11:e80130. [PMID: 35913118 PMCID: PMC9402232 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanotransduction at cell-cell adhesions is crucial for the structural integrity, organization, and morphogenesis of epithelia. At cell-cell junctions, ternary E-cadherin/β-catenin/αE-catenin complexes sense and transmit mechanical load by binding to F-actin. The interaction with F-actin, described as a two-state catch bond, is weak in solution but is strengthened by applied force due to force-dependent transitions between weak and strong actin-binding states. Here, we provide direct evidence from optical trapping experiments that the catch bond property principally resides in the αE-catenin actin-binding domain (ABD). Consistent with our previously proposed model, the deletion of the first helix of the five-helix ABD bundle enables stable interactions with F-actin under minimal load that are well described by a single-state slip bond, even when αE-catenin is complexed with β-catenin and E-cadherin. Our data argue for a conserved catch bond mechanism for adhesion proteins with structurally similar ABDs. We also demonstrate that a stably bound ABD strengthens load-dependent binding interactions between a neighboring complex and F-actin, but the presence of the other αE-catenin domains weakens this effect. These results provide mechanistic insight to the cooperative binding of the cadherin-catenin complex to F-actin, which regulate dynamic cytoskeletal linkages in epithelial tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, School of EngineeringStanfordUnited States
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, School of EngineeringStanfordUnited States
| | - William I Weis
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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11
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Nishimura R, Kato K, Saida M, Kamei Y, Takeda M, Miyoshi H, Yamagata Y, Amano Y, Yonemura S. Appropriate tension sensitivity of α-catenin ensures rounding morphogenesis of epithelial spheroids. Cell Struct Funct 2022; 47:55-73. [PMID: 35732428 PMCID: PMC10511042 DOI: 10.1247/csf.22014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The adherens junction (AJ) is an actin filament-anchoring junction. It plays a central role in epithelial morphogenesis through cadherin-based recognition and adhesion among cells. The stability and plasticity of AJs are required for the morphogenesis. An actin-binding α-catenin is an essential component of the cadherin-catenin complex and functions as a tension transducer that changes its conformation and induces AJ development in response to tension. Despite much progress in understanding molecular mechanisms of tension sensitivity of α-catenin, its significance on epithelial morphogenesis is still unknown. Here we show that the tension sensitivity of α-catenin is essential for epithelial cells to form round spheroids through proper multicellular rearrangement. Using a novel in vitro suspension culture model, we found that epithelial cells form round spheroids even from rectangular-shaped cell masses with high aspect ratios without using high tension and that increased tension sensitivity of α-catenin affected this morphogenesis. Analyses of AJ formation and cellular tracking during rounding morphogenesis showed cellular rearrangement, probably through AJ remodeling. The rearrangement occurs at the cell mass level, but not single-cell level. Hypersensitive α-catenin mutant-expressing cells did not show cellular rearrangement at the cell mass level, suggesting that the appropriate tension sensitivity of α-catenin is crucial for the coordinated round morphogenesis.Key words: α-catenin, vinculin, adherens junction, morphogenesis, mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Nishimura
- Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Kagayaki Kato
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Misako Saida
- Spectrography and Bioimaging Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kamei
- Spectrography and Bioimaging Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahiro Takeda
- Ultra High Precision Optics Technology Team/Advanced Manufacturing Support Team, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- Center for Advanced Photonics, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiromi Miyoshi
- Ultra High Precision Optics Technology Team/Advanced Manufacturing Support Team, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- Center for Advanced Photonics, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- Applied Mechanobiology Laboratory, Faculty of Systems Design, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yamagata
- Ultra High Precision Optics Technology Team/Advanced Manufacturing Support Team, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- Center for Advanced Photonics, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yu Amano
- Department of Bioscience, Kwansei Gakuin University, Sanda, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Shigenobu Yonemura
- Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
- Ultrastructural Research Team, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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12
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Yang YC, Fu H, Zhang B, Wu YB. Interleukin-6 Downregulates the Expression of Vascular Endothelial-Cadherin and Increases Permeability in Renal Glomerular Endothelial Cells via the Trans-Signaling Pathway. Inflammation 2022; 45:2544-2558. [DOI: 10.1007/s10753-022-01711-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is still unknown, but reportedly, interleukin 6 (IL-6) is involved in this process. However, its role in damaging glomerular endothelial cells is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, to clarify the mechanism of the pathogenesis of IgAN, we investigated the effect of IL-6 on the permeability of glomerular endothelial cells. A rat model of IgAN was established, and the animals divided into two groups, namely, the normal and IgAN groups. Glomerular endothelial cell injury was evaluated via electron microscopy. Furthermore, IL-6-induced changes in the permeability of human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) were measured via trans-endothelial resistance (TEER) measurements and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran fluorescence. Furthermore, vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin) was overexpressed to clarify the effect of IL-6 on HRGEC permeability, and to determine the pathway by which it acts. The classical signaling pathway was blocked by silencing IL-6R and the trans-signaling pathway was blocked by sgp30Fc. In IgAN rats, electron microscopy showed glomerular endothelial cell damage and western blotting revealed a significant increase in IL-6 expression, while VE-cadherin expression decreased significantly in the renal tissues. IL-6/IL-6R stimulation also significantly increased the permeability of HRGECs (p < 0.05). This effect was significantly reduced by VE-cadherin overexpression (p < 0.01). After IL-6R was silenced, IL-6/IL-6R still significantly reduced VE-cadherin expression and sgp30Fc blocked the trans-signaling pathway as well as the upregulation of IL-6/IL-6R-induced VE-cadherin expression. This suggests that IL-6 mainly acts via the trans-signaling pathway. IL-6 increased the permeability of HRGECs by decreasing the expression of VE-cadherin via the trans-signaling pathway.
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13
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Reconstitution of the full transmembrane cadherin-catenin complex. Protein Expr Purif 2022; 193:106056. [PMID: 35063654 PMCID: PMC9487826 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2022.106056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic regulation of epithelial adherens junctions relies on all components of the E-cadherin-catenin complex. Previously, the complexes have been partially reconstituted and composed only of α-catenin, β-catenin, and the E-cadherin cytoplasmic domain. However, p120-catenin and the full-length E-cadherin including the extracellular, transmembrane, and intra-cellular domains are vital to the understanding of the relationship between extracellular adhesion and intracellular signaling. Here, we reconstitute the complete and full-length cadherin-catenin complex, including full-length E-cadherin, α-catenin, β-catenin, and p120-catenin, into nanodiscs. We are able to observe the cadherin in nanodiscs by cryo-EM. We also reconstitute α-catenin, β-catenin, and p120-catenin with the E-cadherin cytoplasmic tail alone in order to analyze the affinities of their binding interactions. We find that p120-catenin does not associate strongly with α- or β-catenin and binds much more transiently to the cadherin cytoplasmic tail than does β-catenin. Overall, this work creates many new possibilities for biochemical studies understanding transmembrane signaling of cadherins and the role of p120-catenin in adhesion activation.
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14
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Bale TA, Rosenblum MK. The 2021 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System: An update on pediatric low-grade gliomas and glioneuronal tumors. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13060. [PMID: 35218102 PMCID: PMC9245930 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2021 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System reflects the discovery of genetic alterations underlying many central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. Insights gained from technologic advances and novel applications in molecular diagnostics, including next‐generation sequencing and DNA methylation‐based profiling, coupled with the recognition of clinicopathologic correlates, have prompted substantial changes to CNS tumor classification; this is particularly true for pediatric low‐grade gliomas and glioneuronal tumors (pLGG/GNTs). The 2021 WHO now classifies gliomas, glioneuronal tumors and neuronal tumors into 6 families, three of which encompass pLGG/LGNTs: “Pediatric type diffuse low‐grade gliomas,” “circumscribed astrocytic gliomas,” and “glioneuronal and neuronal tumors.” Among these are six newly recognized tumor types: “diffuse astrocytoma, MYB or MYBL1‐altered”; “polymorphous low grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young (PLNTY)”; “diffuse low‐grade glioma‐MAPK altered”; “Diffuse glioneuronal tumor with oligodendroglioma‐like features and nuclear clusters (DGONC)”; “myxoid glioneuronal tumor (MGT)”; and “multinodular and vacuolating neuronal tumor (MVNT).” We review these newly recognized entities in the context of general changes to the WHO schema, discuss implications of the new classification for treatment of pLGG/LGNT, and consider strategies for molecular testing and interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejus A Bale
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marc K Rosenblum
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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15
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Abstract
E-cadherin is the main component of epithelial adherens junctions (AJs), which play a crucial role in the maintenance of stable cell-cell adhesion and overall tissue integrity. Down-regulation of E-cadherin expression has been found in many carcinomas, and loss of E-cadherin is generally associated with poor prognosis in patients. During the last decade, however, numerous studies have shown that E-cadherin is essential for several aspects of cancer cell biology that contribute to cancer progression, most importantly, active cell migration. In this review, we summarize the available data about the input of E-cadherin in cancer progression, focusing on the latest advances in the research of the various roles E-cadherin-based AJs play in cancer cell dissemination. The review also touches upon the "cadherin switching" in cancer cells where N- or P-cadherin replace or are co-expressed with E-cadherin and its influence on the migratory properties of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana N Rubtsova
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Institute of Carcinogenesis, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina Y Zhitnyak
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Institute of Carcinogenesis, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalya A Gloushankova
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Institute of Carcinogenesis, Moscow, Russia
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16
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Zhu X, Yang M, Zhao P, Li S, Zhang L, Huang L, Huang Y, Fei P, Yang Y, Zhang S, Xu H, Yuan Y, Zhang X, Zhu X, Ma S, Hao F, Sundaresan P, Zhu W, Yang Z. Catenin α 1 mutations cause familial exudative vitreoretinopathy by overactivating Norrin/β-catenin signaling. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:139869. [PMID: 33497368 DOI: 10.1172/jci139869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a severe retinal vascular disease that causes blindness. FEVR has been linked to mutations in several genes associated with inactivation of the Norrin/β-catenin signaling pathway, but these account for only approximately 50% of cases. We report that mutations in α-catenin (CTNNA1) cause FEVR by overactivating the β-catenin pathway and disrupting cell adherens junctions. We identified 3 heterozygous mutations in CTNNA1 (p.F72S, p.R376Cfs*27, and p.P893L) by exome sequencing and further demonstrated that FEVR-associated mutations led to overactivation of Norrin/β-catenin signaling as a result of impaired protein interactions within the cadherin-catenin complex. The clinical features of FEVR were reproduced in mice lacking Ctnna1 in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) or with overactivated β-catenin signaling by an EC-specific gain-of-function allele of Ctnnb1. In isolated mouse lung ECs, both CTNNA1-P893L and F72S mutants failed to rescue either the disrupted F-actin arrangement or the VE-cadherin and CTNNB1 distribution. Moreover, we discovered that compound heterozygous Ctnna1 F72S and a deletion allele could cause a similar phenotype. Furthermore, in a FEVR family, we identified a mutation of LRP5, which activates Norrin/β-catenin signaling, and the corresponding knockin mice exhibited a partial FEVR-like phenotype. Our study demonstrates that the precise regulation of β-catenin activation is critical for retinal vascular development and provides new insights into the pathogenesis of FEVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjun Zhu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Research Unit for Blindness Prevention of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Mu Yang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Research Unit for Blindness Prevention of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Peiquan Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shujin Li
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Research Unit for Blindness Prevention of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lulin Huang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ping Fei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yeming Yang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Huijuan Xu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ye Yuan
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiong Zhu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shi Ma
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fang Hao
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Periasamy Sundaresan
- Department of Genetics, Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Weiquan Zhu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Zhenglin Yang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Research Unit for Blindness Prevention of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, China
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17
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Troyanovsky RB, Sergeeva AP, Indra I, Chen CS, Kato R, Shapiro L, Honig B, Troyanovsky SM. Sorting of cadherin-catenin-associated proteins into individual clusters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2105550118. [PMID: 34272290 PMCID: PMC8307379 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105550118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The cytoplasmic tails of classical cadherins form a multiprotein cadherin-catenin complex (CCC) that constitutes the major structural unit of adherens junctions (AJs). The CCC in AJs forms junctional clusters, "E clusters," driven by cis and trans interactions in the cadherin ectodomain and stabilized by α-catenin-actin interactions. Additional proteins are known to bind to the cytoplasmic region of the CCC. Here, we analyze how these CCC-associated proteins (CAPs) integrate into cadherin clusters and how they affect the clustering process. Using a cross-linking approach coupled with mass spectrometry, we found that the majority of CAPs, including the force-sensing protein vinculin, interact with CCCs outside of AJs. Accordingly, structural modeling shows that there is not enough space for CAPs the size of vinculin to integrate into E clusters. Using two CAPs, scribble and erbin, as examples, we provide evidence that these proteins form separate clusters, which we term "C clusters." As proof of principle, we show, by using cadherin ectodomain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), that mAb-bound E-cadherin forms separate clusters that undergo trans interactions. Taken together, our data suggest that, in addition to its role in cell-cell adhesion, CAP-driven CCC clustering serves to organize cytoplasmic proteins into distinct domains that may synchronize signaling networks of neighboring cells within tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina B Troyanovsky
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Alina P Sergeeva
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Indrajyoti Indra
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Chi-Shuo Chen
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Rei Kato
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Lawrence Shapiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
| | - Barry Honig
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Sergey M Troyanovsky
- Department of Dermatology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611;
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
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18
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Activated nanoscale actin-binding domain motion in the catenin-cadherin complex revealed by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2025012118. [PMID: 33753508 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025012118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As the core component of the adherens junction in cell-cell adhesion, the cadherin-catenin complex transduces mechanical tension between neighboring cells. Structural studies have shown that the cadherin-catenin complex exists as an ensemble of flexible conformations, with the actin-binding domain (ABD) of α-catenin adopting a variety of configurations. Here, we have determined the nanoscale protein domain dynamics of the cadherin-catenin complex using neutron spin echo spectroscopy (NSE), selective deuteration, and theoretical physics analyses. NSE reveals that, in the cadherin-catenin complex, the motion of the entire ABD becomes activated on nanosecond to submicrosecond timescales. By contrast, in the α-catenin homodimer, only the smaller disordered C-terminal tail of ABD is moving. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations also show increased mobility of ABD in the cadherin-catenin complex, compared to the α-catenin homodimer. Biased MD simulations further reveal that the applied external forces promote the transition of ABD in the cadherin-catenin complex from an ensemble of diverse conformational states to specific states that resemble the actin-bound structure. The activated motion and an ensemble of flexible configurations of the mechanosensory ABD suggest the formation of an entropic trap in the cadherin-catenin complex, serving as negative allosteric regulation that impedes the complex from binding to actin under zero force. Mechanical tension facilitates the reduction in dynamics and narrows the conformational ensemble of ABD to specific configurations that are well suited to bind F-actin. Our results provide a protein dynamics and entropic explanation for the observed force-sensitive binding behavior of a mechanosensitive protein complex.
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19
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Heier JA, Pokutta S, Dale IW, Kim SK, Hinck AP, Weis WI, Kwiatkowski AV. Distinct intramolecular interactions regulate autoinhibition of vinculin binding in αT-catenin and αE-catenin. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100582. [PMID: 33771561 PMCID: PMC8091058 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Catenin binds directly to β-catenin and connects the cadherin–catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. Tension regulates α-catenin conformation. Actomyosin-generated force stretches the middle (M)-region to relieve autoinhibition and reveal a binding site for the actin-binding protein vinculin. It is not known whether the intramolecular interactions that regulate epithelial (αE)-catenin binding are conserved across the α-catenin family. Here, we describe the biochemical properties of testes (αT)-catenin, an α-catenin isoform critical for cardiac function and how intramolecular interactions regulate vinculin-binding autoinhibition. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that αT-catenin binds the β-catenin–N-cadherin complex with a similar low nanomolar affinity to that of αE-catenin. Limited proteolysis revealed that the αT-catenin M-region adopts a more open conformation than αE-catenin. The αT-catenin M-region binds the vinculin N-terminus with low nanomolar affinity, indicating that the isolated αT-catenin M-region is not autoinhibited and thereby distinct from αE-catenin. However, the αT-catenin head (N- and M-regions) binds vinculin 1000-fold more weakly (low micromolar affinity), indicating that the N-terminus regulates the M-region binding to vinculin. In cells, αT-catenin recruitment of vinculin to cell–cell contacts requires the actin-binding domain and actomyosin-generated tension, indicating that force regulates vinculin binding. Together, our results show that the αT-catenin N-terminus is required to maintain M-region autoinhibition and modulate vinculin binding. We postulate that the unique molecular properties of αT-catenin allow it to function as a scaffold for building specific adhesion complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon A Heier
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sabine Pokutta
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ian W Dale
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sun Kyung Kim
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William I Weis
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Adam V Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
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20
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Weber P, Baltus D, Jatho A, Drews O, Zelarayan LC, Wieland T, Lutz S. RhoGEF17-An Essential Regulator of Endothelial Cell Death and Growth. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040741. [PMID: 33801779 PMCID: PMC8067313 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor RhoGEF17 was described to reside in adherens junctions (AJ) in endothelial cells (EC) and to play a critical role in the regulation of cell adhesion and barrier function. The purpose of this study was to analyze signal cascades and processes occurring subsequent to AJ disruption induced by RhoGEF17 knockdown. Primary human and immortalized rat EC were used to demonstrate that an adenoviral-mediated knockdown of RhoGEF17 resulted in cell rounding and an impairment in spheroid formation due to an enhanced proteasomal degradation of AJ components. In contrast, β-catenin degradation was impaired, which resulted in an induction of the β-catenin-target genes cyclin D1 and survivin. RhoGEF17 depletion additionally inhibited cell adhesion and sheet migration. The RhoGEF17 knockdown prevented the cells with impeded cell–cell and cell–matrix contacts from apoptosis, which was in line with a reduction in pro-caspase 3 expression and an increase in Akt phosphorylation. Nevertheless, the cells were not able to proliferate as a cell cycle block occurred. In summary, we demonstrate that a loss of RhoGEF17 disturbs cell–cell and cell–substrate interaction in EC. Moreover, it prevents the EC from cell death and blocks cell proliferation. Non-canonical β-catenin signaling and Akt activation could be identified as a potential mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamina Weber
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM), European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Ludolf-Krehl-Str. 13-17, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (P.W.); (D.B.)
| | - Doris Baltus
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM), European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Ludolf-Krehl-Str. 13-17, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (P.W.); (D.B.)
| | - Aline Jatho
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.J.); (L.C.Z.)
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Drews
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Laura C. Zelarayan
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.J.); (L.C.Z.)
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Wieland
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM), European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Ludolf-Krehl-Str. 13-17, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (P.W.); (D.B.)
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Susanne Lutz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.J.); (L.C.Z.)
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.W.); (S.L.)
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21
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Pavel M, Park SJ, Frake RA, Son SM, Manni MM, Bento CF, Renna M, Ricketts T, Menzies FM, Tanasa R, Rubinsztein DC. α-Catenin levels determine direction of YAP/TAZ response to autophagy perturbation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1703. [PMID: 33731717 PMCID: PMC7969950 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21882-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The factors regulating cellular identity are critical for understanding the transition from health to disease and responses to therapies. Recent literature suggests that autophagy compromise may cause opposite effects in different contexts by either activating or inhibiting YAP/TAZ co-transcriptional regulators of the Hippo pathway via unrelated mechanisms. Here, we confirm that autophagy perturbation in different cell types can cause opposite responses in growth-promoting oncogenic YAP/TAZ transcriptional signalling. These apparently contradictory responses can be resolved by a feedback loop where autophagy negatively regulates the levels of α-catenins, LC3-interacting proteins that inhibit YAP/TAZ, which, in turn, positively regulate autophagy. High basal levels of α-catenins enable autophagy induction to positively regulate YAP/TAZ, while low α-catenins cause YAP/TAZ activation upon autophagy inhibition. These data reveal how feedback loops enable post-transcriptional determination of cell identity and how levels of a single intermediary protein can dictate the direction of response to external or internal perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pavel
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Immunology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - So Jung Park
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rebecca A Frake
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sung Min Son
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marco M Manni
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carla F Bento
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maurizio Renna
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas Ricketts
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fiona M Menzies
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Radu Tanasa
- Department of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - David C Rubinsztein
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Cambridge, UK.
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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22
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Bunker EN, Wheeler GE, Chapnick DA, Liu X. Suppression of α-catenin and adherens junctions enhances epithelial cell proliferation and motility via TACE-mediated TGF-α autocrine/paracrine signaling. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 32:348-361. [PMID: 33378218 PMCID: PMC8098817 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-08-0474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained cell migration is essential for wound healing and cancer metastasis. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling cascade is known to drive cell migration and proliferation. While the signal transduction downstream of EGFR has been extensively investigated, our knowledge of the initiation and maintenance of EGFR signaling during cell migration remains limited. The metalloprotease TACE (tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme) is responsible for producing active EGFR family ligands in the via ligand shedding. Sustained TACE activity may perpetuate EGFR signaling and reduce a cell’s reliance on exogenous growth factors. Using a cultured keratinocyte model system, we show that depletion of α-catenin perturbs adherens junctions, enhances cell proliferation and motility, and decreases dependence on exogenous growth factors. We show that the underlying mechanism for these observed phenotypical changes depends on enhanced autocrine/paracrine release of the EGFR ligand transforming growth factor alpha in a TACE-dependent manner. We demonstrate that proliferating keratinocyte epithelial cell clusters display waves of oscillatory extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) activity, which can be eliminated by TACE knockout, suggesting that these waves of oscillatory ERK activity depend on autocrine/paracrine signals produced by TACE. These results provide new insights into the regulatory role of adherens junctions in initiating and maintaining autocrine/paracrine signaling with relevance to wound healing and cellular transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric N Bunker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303
| | - Graycen E Wheeler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303
| | | | - Xuedong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303
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23
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Huxham J, Tabariès S, Siegel PM. Afadin (AF6) in cancer progression: A multidomain scaffold protein with complex and contradictory roles. Bioessays 2020; 43:e2000221. [PMID: 33165933 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Adherens (AJ) and tight junctions (TJ) maintain cell-cell adhesions and cellular polarity in normal tissues. Afadin, a multi-domain scaffold protein, is commonly found in both adherens and tight junctions, where it plays both structural and signal-modulating roles. Afadin is a complex modulator of cellular processes implicated in cancer progression, including signal transduction, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. In keeping with the complexities associated with the roles of adherens and tight junctions in cancer, afadin exhibits both tumor suppressive and pro-metastatic functions. In this review, we will explore the dichotomous roles that afadin plays during cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Huxham
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sébastien Tabariès
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Peter M Siegel
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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24
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Mei L, Espinosa de Los Reyes S, Reynolds MJ, Leicher R, Liu S, Alushin GM. Molecular mechanism for direct actin force-sensing by α-catenin. eLife 2020; 9:62514. [PMID: 32969337 PMCID: PMC7588232 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton mediates mechanical coupling between cells and their tissue microenvironments. The architecture and composition of actin networks are modulated by force; however, it is unclear how interactions between actin filaments (F-actin) and associated proteins are mechanically regulated. Here we employ both optical trapping and biochemical reconstitution with myosin motor proteins to show single piconewton forces applied solely to F-actin enhance binding by the human version of the essential cell-cell adhesion protein αE-catenin but not its homolog vinculin. Cryo-electron microscopy structures of both proteins bound to F-actin reveal unique rearrangements that facilitate their flexible C-termini refolding to engage distinct interfaces. Truncating α-catenin’s C-terminus eliminates force-activated F-actin binding, and addition of this motif to vinculin confers force-activated binding, demonstrating that α-catenin’s C-terminus is a modular detector of F-actin tension. Our studies establish that piconewton force on F-actin can enhance partner binding, which we propose mechanically regulates cellular adhesion through α-catenin. All of the cells in our bodies rely on cues from their surrounding environment to alter their behavior. As well sending each other chemical signals, such as hormones, cells can also detect pressure and physical forces applied by the cells around them. These physical interactions are coordinated by a network of proteins called the cytoskeleton, which provide the internal scaffold that maintains a cell’s shape. However, it is not well understood how forces transmitted through the cytoskeleton are converted into mechanical signals that control cell behavior. The cytoskeleton is primarily made up protein filaments called actin, which are frequently under tension from external and internal forces that push and pull on the cell. Many proteins bind directly to actin, including adhesion proteins that allow the cell to ‘stick’ to its surroundings. One possibility is that when actin filaments feel tension, they convert this into a mechanical signal by altering how they bind to other proteins. To test this theory, Mei et al. isolated and studied an adhesion protein called α-catenin which is known to interact with actin. This revealed that when tiny forces – similar to the amount cells experience in the body – were applied to actin filaments, this caused α-catenin and actin to bind together more strongly. However, applying the same level of physical force did not alter how well actin bound to a similar adhesion protein called vinculin. Further experiments showed that this was due to differences in a small, flexible region found on both proteins. Manipulating this region revealed that it helps α-catenin attach to actin when a force is present, and was thus named a ‘force detector’. Proteins that bind to actin are essential in all animals, making it likely that force detectors are a common mechanism. Scientists can now use this discovery to identify and manipulate force detectors in other proteins across different cells and animals. This may help to develop drugs that target the mechanical signaling process, although this will require further understanding of how force detectors work at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Mei
- Laboratory of Structural Biophysics and Mechanobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States.,Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | | | - Matthew J Reynolds
- Laboratory of Structural Biophysics and Mechanobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Rachel Leicher
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States.,Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
| | - Gregory M Alushin
- Laboratory of Structural Biophysics and Mechanobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, United States
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25
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Xu XP, Pokutta S, Torres M, Swift MF, Hanein D, Volkmann N, Weis WI. Structural basis of αE-catenin-F-actin catch bond behavior. eLife 2020; 9:e60878. [PMID: 32915141 PMCID: PMC7588230 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions transmit mechanical forces during tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis. α-Catenin links cell-cell adhesion complexes to the actin cytoskeleton, and mechanical load strengthens its binding to F-actin in a direction-sensitive manner. Specifically, optical trap experiments revealed that force promotes a transition between weak and strong actin-bound states. Here, we describe the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the F-actin-bound αE-catenin actin-binding domain, which in solution forms a five-helix bundle. In the actin-bound structure, the first helix of the bundle dissociates and the remaining four helices and connecting loops rearrange to form the interface with actin. Deletion of the first helix produces strong actin binding in the absence of force, suggesting that the actin-bound structure corresponds to the strong state. Our analysis explains how mechanical force applied to αE-catenin or its homolog vinculin favors the strongly bound state, and the dependence of catch bond strength on the direction of applied force.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabine Pokutta
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Megan Torres
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | | | - Dorit Hanein
- Scintillon InstituteSan DiegoUnited States
- Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Pasteur InstituteParisFrance
| | - Niels Volkmann
- Scintillon InstituteSan DiegoUnited States
- Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Pasteur InstituteParisFrance
| | - William I Weis
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
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26
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Bale TA. FGFR- gene family alterations in low-grade neuroepithelial tumors. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:21. [PMID: 32085805 PMCID: PMC7035775 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00898-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) gene family alterations as drivers of primary brain tumors has generated significant excitement, both as potential therapeutic targets as well as defining hallmarks of histologic entities. However, FGFR alterations among neuroepithelial lesions are not restricted to high or low grade, nor to adult vs. pediatric-type tumors. While it may be tempting to consider FGFR-altered tumors as a unified group, this underlying heterogeneity poses diagnostic and interpretive challenges. Therefore, understanding the underlying biology of tumors harboring specific FGFR alterations is critical. In this review, recent evidence for recurrent FGFR alterations in histologically and biologically low-grade neuroepithelial tumors (LGNTs) is examined (namely FGFR1 tyrosine kinase domain duplication in low grade glioma, FGFR1-TACC1 fusions in extraventricular neurocytoma [EVN], and FGFR2-CTNNA3 fusions in polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young [PLNTY]). Additionally, FGFR alterations with less well-defined prognostic implications are considered (FGFR3-TACC3 fusions, FGFR1 hotspot mutations). Finally, a framework for practical interpretation of FGFR alterations in low grade glial/glioneuronal tumors is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejus A Bale
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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27
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Abstract
The discovery of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) gene family alterations as drivers of primary brain tumors has generated significant excitement, both as potential therapeutic targets as well as defining hallmarks of histologic entities. However, FGFR alterations among neuroepithelial lesions are not restricted to high or low grade, nor to adult vs. pediatric-type tumors. While it may be tempting to consider FGFR-altered tumors as a unified group, this underlying heterogeneity poses diagnostic and interpretive challenges. Therefore, understanding the underlying biology of tumors harboring specific FGFR alterations is critical. In this review, recent evidence for recurrent FGFR alterations in histologically and biologically low-grade neuroepithelial tumors (LGNTs) is examined (namely FGFR1 tyrosine kinase domain duplication in low grade glioma, FGFR1-TACC1 fusions in extraventricular neurocytoma [EVN], and FGFR2-CTNNA3 fusions in polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young [PLNTY]). Additionally, FGFR alterations with less well-defined prognostic implications are considered (FGFR3-TACC3 fusions, FGFR1 hotspot mutations). Finally, a framework for practical interpretation of FGFR alterations in low grade glial/glioneuronal tumors is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejus A Bale
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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28
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Kluger C, Braun L, Sedlak SM, Pippig DA, Bauer MS, Miller K, Milles LF, Gaub HE, Vogel V. Different Vinculin Binding Sites Use the Same Mechanism to Regulate Directional Force Transduction. Biophys J 2020; 118:1344-1356. [PMID: 32109366 PMCID: PMC7091509 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vinculin is a universal adaptor protein that transiently reinforces the mechanical stability of adhesion complexes. It stabilizes mechanical connections that cells establish between the actomyosin cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix via integrins or to neighboring cells via cadherins, yet little is known regarding its mechanical design. Vinculin binding sites (VBSs) from different nonhomologous actin-binding proteins use conserved helical motifs to associate with the vinculin head domain. We studied the mechanical stability of such complexes by pulling VBS peptides derived from talin, α-actinin, and Shigella IpaA out of the vinculin head domain. Experimental data from atomic force microscopy single-molecule force spectroscopy and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations both revealed greater mechanical stability of the complex for shear-like than for zipper-like pulling configurations. This suggests that reinforcement occurs along preferential force directions, thus stabilizing those cytoskeletal filament architectures that result in shear-like pulling geometries. Large force-induced conformational changes in the vinculin head domain, as well as protein-specific fine-tuning of the VBS sequence, including sequence inversion, allow for an even more nuanced force response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carleen Kluger
- Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Braun
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steffen M Sedlak
- Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Diana A Pippig
- Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Magnus S Bauer
- Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ken Miller
- Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas F Milles
- Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Hermann E Gaub
- Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Viola Vogel
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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29
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Biswas KH. Molecular Mobility-Mediated Regulation of E-Cadherin Adhesion. Trends Biochem Sci 2019; 45:163-173. [PMID: 31810601 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cells in epithelial tissues utilize homotypic E-cadherin interaction-mediated adhesions to both physically adhere to each other and sense the physical properties of their microenvironment, such as the presence of other cells in close vicinity or an alteration in the mechanical tension of the tissue. These position E-cadherin centrally in organogenesis and other processes, and its function is therefore tightly regulated through a variety of means including endocytosis and gene expression. How does membrane molecular mobility of E-cadherin, and thus membrane physical properties and associated actin cytoskeleton, impinges on the assembly of adhesive clusters and signaling is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kabir H Biswas
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha 34110, Qatar.
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30
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Le S, Yu M, Yan J. Direct single-molecule quantification reveals unexpectedly high mechanical stability of vinculin-talin/α-catenin linkages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaav2720. [PMID: 31897422 PMCID: PMC6920023 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav2720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The vinculin-mediated mechanosensing requires establishment of stable mechanical linkages between vinculin to integrin at focal adhesions and to cadherins at adherens junctions through associations with the respective adaptor proteins talin and α-catenin. However, the mechanical stability of these critical vinculin linkages has yet to be determined. Here, we developed a single-molecule detector assay to provide direct quantification of the mechanical lifetime of vinculin association with the vinculin binding sites in both talin and α-catenin, which reveals a surprisingly high mechanical stability of the vinculin-talin and vinculin-α-catenin interfaces that have a lifetime of >1000 s at forces up to 10 pN and can last for seconds to tens of seconds at 15 to 25 pN. Our results suggest that these force-bearing intermolecular interfaces provide sufficient mechanical stability to support the vinculin-mediated mechanotransduction at cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimin Le
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Miao Yu
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Jie Yan
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
- Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546, Singapore
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31
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Terekhova K, Pokutta S, Kee YS, Li J, Tajkhorshid E, Fuller G, Dunn AR, Weis WI. Binding partner- and force-promoted changes in αE-catenin conformation probed by native cysteine labeling. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15375. [PMID: 31653927 PMCID: PMC6814714 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51816-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adherens Junctions (AJs) are cell-cell adhesion complexes that sense and propagate mechanical forces by coupling cadherins to the actin cytoskeleton via β-catenin and the F-actin binding protein αE-catenin. When subjected to mechanical force, the cadherin•catenin complex can tightly link to F-actin through αE-catenin, and also recruits the F-actin-binding protein vinculin. In this study, labeling of native cysteines combined with mass spectrometry revealed conformational changes in αE-catenin upon binding to the E-cadherin•β-catenin complex, vinculin and F-actin. A method to apply physiologically meaningful forces in solution revealed force-induced conformational changes in αE-catenin when bound to F-actin. Comparisons of wild-type αE-catenin and a mutant with enhanced vinculin affinity using cysteine labeling and isothermal titration calorimetry provide evidence for allosteric coupling of the N-terminal β-catenin-binding and the middle (M) vinculin-binding domain of αE-catenin. Cysteine labeling also revealed possible crosstalk between the actin-binding domain and the rest of the protein. The data provide insight into how binding partners and mechanical stress can regulate the conformation of full-length αE-catenin, and identify the M domain as a key transmitter of conformational changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Terekhova
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Sabine Pokutta
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yee S Kee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (Y.S.K.); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637 (J.L.), USA
| | - Jing Li
- Departments of Chemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.,Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (Y.S.K.); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637 (J.L.), USA
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- Departments of Chemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Gerald Fuller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - William I Weis
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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32
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An ensemble of flexible conformations underlies mechanotransduction by the cadherin-catenin adhesion complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:21545-21555. [PMID: 31591245 PMCID: PMC6815173 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911489116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Adherens junctions are specialized cell–cell adhesion complexes found in epithelial, endothelial, and neuronal tissues of multicellular organism. The cadherin–catenin complex is the core component of the adherens junction and transmits mechanical stress from cell to cell. This study reveals that the cadherin–catenin complex displays a wide spectrum of flexible structures, which suggests a dynamic mechanism for this complex in mechanotransduction for cell–cell adhesion. The cadherin–catenin adhesion complex is the central component of the cell–cell adhesion adherens junctions that transmit mechanical stress from cell to cell. We have determined the nanoscale structure of the adherens junction complex formed by the α-catenin•β-catenin•epithelial cadherin cytoplasmic domain (ABE) using negative stain electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and selective deuteration/small-angle neutron scattering. The ABE complex is highly pliable and displays a wide spectrum of flexible structures that are facilitated by protein-domain motions in α- and β-catenin. Moreover, the 107-residue intrinsically disordered N-terminal segment of β-catenin forms a flexible “tongue” that is inserted into α-catenin and participates in the assembly of the ABE complex. The unanticipated ensemble of flexible conformations of the ABE complex suggests a dynamic mechanism for sensitivity and reversibility when transducing mechanical signals, in addition to the catch/slip bond behavior displayed by the ABE complex under mechanical tension. Our results provide mechanistic insight into the structural dynamics for the cadherin–catenin adhesion complex in mechanotransduction.
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33
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Merkel CD, Li Y, Raza Q, Stolz DB, Kwiatkowski AV. Vinculin anchors contractile actin to the cardiomyocyte adherens junction. Mol Biol Cell 2019; 30:2639-2650. [PMID: 31483697 PMCID: PMC6761764 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-04-0216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The adherens junction (AJ) couples the actin cytoskeletons of neighboring cells to allow mechanical integration and tissue organization. The physiological demands of intercellular adhesion require that the AJ be responsive to dynamic changes in force while maintaining mechanical load. These demands are tested in the heart, where cardiomyocyte AJs must withstand repeated cycles of actomyosin-mediated contractile force. Here we show that force-responsive cardiomyocyte AJs recruit actin-binding ligands to selectively couple actin networks. We employed a panel of N-cadherin-αE-catenin fusion proteins to rebuild AJs with specific actin linkages in N-cadherin-null cardiomyocytes. In this system, vinculin recruitment was required to rescue myofibril integration at nascent contacts. In contrast, loss of vinculin from the AJ disrupted junction morphology and blocked myofibril integration at cell–cell contacts. Our results identify vinculin as a critical link to contractile actomyosin and offer insight to how actin integration at the AJ is regulated to provide stability under mechanical load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea D Merkel
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Qanber Raza
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Donna B Stolz
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Adam V Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
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34
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Pang SM, Le S, Kwiatkowski AV, Yan J. Mechanical stability of αT-catenin and its activation by force for vinculin binding. Mol Biol Cell 2019; 30:1930-1937. [PMID: 31318313 PMCID: PMC6727763 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-02-0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
αT (Testes)-catenin, a critical factor regulating cell-cell adhesion in the heart, directly couples the cadherin-catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton at the intercalated disk (ICD), a unique cell-cell junction that couples cardiomyocytes. Loss of αT-catenin in mice reduces plakophilin2 and connexin 43 recruitment to the ICD. Since αT-catenin is subjected to mechanical stretch during actomyosin contraction in cardiomyocytes, its activity could be regulated by mechanical force. To provide insight in how force regulates αT-catenin function, we investigated the mechanical stability of the putative, force-sensing middle (M) domain of αT-catenin and determined how force impacts vinculin binding to αT-catenin. We show that 1) physiological levels of force, <15 pN, are sufficient to unfold the three M domains; 2) the M1 domain that harbors the vinculin-binding site is unfolded at ∼6 pN; and 3) unfolding of the M1 domain is necessary for high-affinity vinculin binding. In addition, we quantified the binding kinetics and affinity of vinculin to the mechanically exposed binding site in M1 and observed that αT-catenin binds vinculin with low nanomolar affinity. These results provide important new insights into the mechanosensing properties of αT-catenin and how αT-catenin regulates cell-cell adhesion at the cardiomyocyte ICD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Ming Pang
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Shimin Le
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
| | - Adam V. Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Jie Yan
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
- Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546
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35
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Shao X, Lucas B, Strauch J, Hardin J. The adhesion modulation domain of Caenorhabditis elegans α-catenin regulates actin binding during morphogenesis. Mol Biol Cell 2019; 30:2115-2123. [PMID: 31188702 PMCID: PMC6743470 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-01-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining tissue integrity during epidermal morphogenesis depends on α-catenin, which connects the cadherin complex to F-actin. We show that the adhesion modulation domain (AMD) of Caenorhabditis elegans HMP-1/α-catenin regulates its F-actin–binding activity and organization of junctional–proximal actin in vivo. Deleting the AMD increases F-actin binding in vitro and leads to excess actin recruitment to adherens junctions in vivo. Reducing actin binding through a compensatory mutation in the C-terminus leads to improved function. Based on the effects of phosphomimetic and nonphosphorylatable mutations, phosphorylation of S509, within the AMD, may regulate F-actin binding. Taken together, these data establish a novel role for the AMD in regulating the actin-binding ability of an α-catenin and its proper function during epithelial morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangqiang Shao
- Program in Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Bethany Lucas
- Department of Biology, Regis University, Denver, CO 80221
| | - Jared Strauch
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Jeff Hardin
- Program in Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
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36
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Enkavi G, Javanainen M, Kulig W, Róg T, Vattulainen I. Multiscale Simulations of Biological Membranes: The Challenge To Understand Biological Phenomena in a Living Substance. Chem Rev 2019; 119:5607-5774. [PMID: 30859819 PMCID: PMC6727218 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Biological membranes are tricky to investigate. They are complex in terms of molecular composition and structure, functional over a wide range of time scales, and characterized by nonequilibrium conditions. Because of all of these features, simulations are a great technique to study biomembrane behavior. A significant part of the functional processes in biological membranes takes place at the molecular level; thus computer simulations are the method of choice to explore how their properties emerge from specific molecular features and how the interplay among the numerous molecules gives rise to function over spatial and time scales larger than the molecular ones. In this review, we focus on this broad theme. We discuss the current state-of-the-art of biomembrane simulations that, until now, have largely focused on a rather narrow picture of the complexity of the membranes. Given this, we also discuss the challenges that we should unravel in the foreseeable future. Numerous features such as the actin-cytoskeleton network, the glycocalyx network, and nonequilibrium transport under ATP-driven conditions have so far received very little attention; however, the potential of simulations to solve them would be exceptionally high. A major milestone for this research would be that one day we could say that computer simulations genuinely research biological membranes, not just lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giray Enkavi
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matti Javanainen
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy
of Sciences, Flemingovo naḿesti 542/2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
- Computational
Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Waldemar Kulig
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tomasz Róg
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Computational
Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Ilpo Vattulainen
- Department
of Physics, University of
Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Computational
Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
- MEMPHYS-Center
for Biomembrane Physics
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37
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Huang H, Wright S, Zhang J, Brekken RA. Getting a grip on adhesion: Cadherin switching and collagen signaling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2019; 1866:118472. [PMID: 30954569 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental biological process that is hijacked during tumor progression. Cadherin switching, which disrupts adherens junctions and alters cadherin-associated signaling pathways, is common during EMT. In many tumors, substantial extracellular matrix (ECM) is deposited. Collagen is the most abundant ECM constituent and it mediates specific signaling pathways by binding to integrins and discoidin domain receptors (DDRs). The interaction of the collagen receptors results in activation of signaling pathways that promote tumor progression including an induction of the cadherin switching. DDR inhibitors have demonstrated anticancer therapeutic efficacy preclinically by inhibiting the collagen signaling. Understanding how collagen signaling impacts cellular processes including EMT and cadherin switching is of great interest especially given the strong interest in stromal targeted therapies for desmoplastic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huocong Huang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Steven Wright
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Junqiu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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38
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Alégot H, Markosian C, Rauskolb C, Yang J, Kirichenko E, Wang YC, Irvine KD. Recruitment of Jub by α-catenin promotes Yki activity and Drosophila wing growth. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:jcs.222018. [PMID: 30659113 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.222018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hippo signaling network controls organ growth through YAP family transcription factors, including the Drosophila Yorkie protein. YAP activity is responsive to both biochemical and biomechanical cues, with one key input being tension within the F-actin cytoskeleton. Several potential mechanisms for the biomechanical regulation of YAP proteins have been described, including tension-dependent recruitment of Ajuba family proteins, which inhibit kinases that inactivate YAP proteins, to adherens junctions. Here, we investigate the mechanism by which the Drosophila Ajuba family protein Jub is recruited to adherens junctions, and the contribution of this recruitment to the regulation of Yorkie. We identify α-catenin as the mechanotransducer responsible for tension-dependent recruitment of Jub by identifying a region of α-catenin that associates with Jub, and by identifying a region, which when deleted, allows constitutive, tension-independent recruitment of Jub. We also show that increased Jub recruitment to α-catenin is associated with increased Yorkie activity and wing growth, even in the absence of increased cytoskeletal tension. Our observations establish α-catenin as a multi-functional mechanotransducer and confirm Jub recruitment to α-catenin as a key contributor to biomechanical regulation of Hippo signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herve Alégot
- Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
| | - Christopher Markosian
- Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
| | - Cordelia Rauskolb
- Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
| | - Janice Yang
- Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
| | - Elmira Kirichenko
- Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
| | - Yu-Chiun Wang
- Laboratory for Epithelial Morphogenesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB), Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Kenneth D Irvine
- Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
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Martín-Mora D, Ortega Á, Matilla MA, Martínez-Rodríguez S, Gavira JA, Krell T. The Molecular Mechanism of Nitrate Chemotaxis via Direct Ligand Binding to the PilJ Domain of McpN. mBio 2019; 10:e02334-18. [PMID: 30782655 PMCID: PMC6381276 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02334-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotaxis and energy taxis permit directed bacterial movements in gradients of environmental cues. Nitrate is a final electron acceptor for anaerobic respiration and can also serve as a nitrogen source for aerobic growth. Previous studies indicated that bacterial nitrate taxis is mediated by energy taxis mechanisms, which are based on the cytosolic detection of consequences of nitrate metabolism. Here we show that Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 mediates nitrate chemotaxis on the basis of specific nitrate sensing by the periplasmic PilJ domain of the PA2788/McpN chemoreceptor. The presence of nitrate reduced mcpN transcript levels, and McpN-mediated taxis occurred only under nitrate starvation conditions. In contrast to the NarX and NarQ sensor kinases, McpN bound nitrate specifically and showed no affinity for other ligands such as nitrite. We report the three-dimensional structure of the McpN ligand binding domain (LBD) at 1.3-Å resolution in complex with nitrate. Although structurally similar to 4-helix bundle domains, the ligand binding mode differs since a single nitrate molecule is bound to a site on the dimer symmetry axis. As for 4-helix bundle domains, ligand binding stabilized the McpN-LBD dimer. McpN homologues showed a wide phylogenetic distribution, indicating that nitrate chemotaxis is a widespread phenotype. These homologues were particularly abundant in bacteria that couple sulfide/sulfur oxidation with nitrate reduction. This work expands the range of known chemotaxis effectors and forms the basis for the exploration of nitrate chemotaxis in other bacteria and for the study of its physiological role.IMPORTANCE Nitrate is of central importance in bacterial physiology. Previous studies indicated that movements toward nitrate are due to energy taxis, which is based on the cytosolic sensing of consequences of nitrate metabolism. Here we present the first report on nitrate chemotaxis. This process is initiated by specific nitrate binding to the periplasmic ligand binding domain (LBD) of McpN. Nitrate chemotaxis is highly regulated and occurred only under nitrate starvation conditions, which is helpful information to explore nitrate chemotaxis in other bacteria. We present the three-dimensional structure of the McpN-LBD in complex with nitrate, which is the first structure of a chemoreceptor PilJ-type domain. This structure reveals striking similarities to that of the abundant 4-helix bundle domain but employs a different sensing mechanism. Since McpN homologues show a wide phylogenetic distribution, nitrate chemotaxis is likely a widespread phenomenon with importance for the life cycle of ecologically diverse bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Martín-Mora
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Álvaro Ortega
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel A Matilla
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Sergio Martínez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Universidad de Granada, Melilla, Spain
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, IACT, Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y la Universidad de Granada (UGR), Armilla, Spain
| | - José A Gavira
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, IACT, Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) y la Universidad de Granada (UGR), Armilla, Spain
| | - Tino Krell
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Department of Environmental Protection, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
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Weng J, Yu L, Chen Z, Su H, Yu S, Zhang Y, Lei X, Chen L, Cui Y, Huang Q, Jiang Y, Guo X. β-Catenin phosphorylation at Y654 and Y142 is crucial for high mobility group box-1 protein-induced pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 127:174-184. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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41
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Ishiyama N, Sarpal R, Wood MN, Barrick SK, Nishikawa T, Hayashi H, Kobb AB, Flozak AS, Yemelyanov A, Fernandez-Gonzalez R, Yonemura S, Leckband DE, Gottardi CJ, Tepass U, Ikura M. Force-dependent allostery of the α-catenin actin-binding domain controls adherens junction dynamics and functions. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5121. [PMID: 30504777 PMCID: PMC6269467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07481-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
α-catenin is a key mechanosensor that forms force-dependent interactions with F-actin, thereby coupling the cadherin-catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton at adherens junctions (AJs). However, the molecular mechanisms by which α-catenin engages F-actin under tension remained elusive. Here we show that the α1-helix of the α-catenin actin-binding domain (αcat-ABD) is a mechanosensing motif that regulates tension-dependent F-actin binding and bundling. αcat-ABD containing an α1-helix-unfolding mutation (H1) shows enhanced binding to F-actin in vitro. Although full-length α-catenin-H1 can generate epithelial monolayers that resist mechanical disruption, it fails to support normal AJ regulation in vivo. Structural and simulation analyses suggest that α1-helix allosterically controls the actin-binding residue V796 dynamics. Crystal structures of αcat-ABD-H1 homodimer suggest that α-catenin can facilitate actin bundling while it remains bound to E-cadherin. We propose that force-dependent allosteric regulation of αcat-ABD promotes dynamic interactions with F-actin involved in actin bundling, cadherin clustering, and AJ remodeling during tissue morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noboru Ishiyama
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
| | - Ritu Sarpal
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Megan N Wood
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | | | - Tadateru Nishikawa
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Hanako Hayashi
- RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Anna B Kobb
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Annette S Flozak
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Alex Yemelyanov
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Shigenobu Yonemura
- RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
- Department of Cell Biology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Medical Science, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Deborah E Leckband
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Cara J Gottardi
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Ulrich Tepass
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Mitsuhiko Ikura
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
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42
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43
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Adhikari S, Moran J, Weddle C, Hinczewski M. Unraveling the mechanism of the cadherin-catenin-actin catch bond. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006399. [PMID: 30118477 PMCID: PMC6114904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The adherens junctions between epithelial cells involve a protein complex formed by E-cadherin, β-catenin, α-catenin and F-actin. The stability of this complex was a puzzle for many years, since in vitro studies could reconstitute various stable subsets of the individual proteins, but never the entirety. The missing ingredient turned out to be mechanical tension: a recent experiment that applied physiological forces to the complex with an optical tweezer dramatically increased its lifetime, a phenomenon known as catch bonding. However, in the absence of a crystal structure for the full complex, the microscopic details of the catch bond mechanism remain mysterious. Building on structural clues that point to α-catenin as the force transducer, we present a quantitative theoretical model for how the catch bond arises, fully accounting for the experimental lifetime distributions. The underlying hypothesis is that force induces a rotational transition between two conformations of α-catenin, overcoming a significant energy barrier due to a network of salt bridges. This transition allosterically regulates the energies at the interface between α-catenin and F-actin. The model allows us to predict these energetic changes, as well as highlighting the importance of the salt bridge rotational barrier. By stabilizing one of the α-catenin states, this barrier could play a role in how the complex responds to additional in vivo binding partners like vinculin. Since significant conformational energy barriers are a common feature of other adhesion systems that exhibit catch bonds, our model can be adapted into a general theoretical framework for integrating structure and function in a variety of force-regulated protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shishir Adhikari
- Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jacob Moran
- Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Christopher Weddle
- Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Michael Hinczewski
- Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
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44
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Miller PW, Pokutta S, Mitchell JM, Chodaparambil JV, Clarke DN, Nelson WJ, Weis WI, Nichols SA. Analysis of a vinculin homolog in a sponge (phylum Porifera) reveals that vertebrate-like cell adhesions emerged early in animal evolution. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:11674-11686. [PMID: 29880641 PMCID: PMC6066325 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of cell-adhesion mechanisms in animals facilitated the assembly of organized multicellular tissues. Studies in traditional animal models have revealed two predominant adhesion structures, the adherens junction (AJ) and focal adhesions (FAs), which are involved in the attachment of neighboring cells to each other and to the secreted extracellular matrix (ECM), respectively. The AJ (containing cadherins and catenins) and FAs (comprising integrins, talin, and paxillin) differ in protein composition, but both junctions contain the actin-binding protein vinculin. The near ubiquity of these structures in animals suggests that AJ and FAs evolved early, possibly coincident with multicellularity. However, a challenge to this perspective is that previous studies of sponges-a divergent animal lineage-indicate that their tissues are organized primarily by an alternative, sponge-specific cell-adhesion mechanism called "aggregation factor." In this study, we examined the structure, biochemical properties, and tissue localization of a vinculin ortholog in the sponge Oscarella pearsei (Op). Our results indicate that Op vinculin localizes to both cell-cell and cell-ECM contacts and has biochemical and structural properties similar to those of vertebrate vinculin. We propose that Op vinculin played a role in cell adhesion and tissue organization in the last common ancestor of sponges and other animals. These findings provide compelling evidence that sponge tissues are indeed organized like epithelia in other animals and support the notion that AJ- and FA-like structures extend to the earliest periods of animal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabine Pokutta
- From the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and
- Structural Biology, School of Medicine and
| | - Jennyfer M Mitchell
- the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208
| | - Jayanth V Chodaparambil
- From the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and
- Structural Biology, School of Medicine and
| | - D Nathaniel Clarke
- the Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 and
| | - W James Nelson
- From the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and
- the Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 and
| | - William I Weis
- From the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and
- Structural Biology, School of Medicine and
| | - Scott A Nichols
- the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208
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Nicholl ID, Matsui T, Weiss TM, Stanley CB, Heller WT, Martel A, Farago B, Callaway DJE, Bu Z. α-Catenin Structure and Nanoscale Dynamics in Solution and in Complex with F-Actin. Biophys J 2018; 115:642-654. [PMID: 30037495 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As a core component of the adherens junction, α-catenin stabilizes the cadherin/catenin complexes to the actin cytoskeleton for the mechanical coupling of cell-cell adhesion. α-catenin also modulates actin dynamics, cell polarity, and cell-migration functions that are independent of the adherens junction. We have determined the solution structures of the α-catenin monomer and dimer using in-line size-exclusion chromatography small-angle X-ray scattering, as well as the structure of α-catenin dimer in complex to F-actin filament using selective deuteration and contrast-matching small angle neutron scattering. We further present the first observation, to our knowledge, of the nanoscale dynamics of α-catenin by neutron spin-echo spectroscopy, which explicitly reveals the mobile regions of α-catenin that are crucial for binding to F-actin. In solution, the α-catenin monomer is more expanded than either protomer shown in the crystal structure dimer, with the vinculin-binding M fragment and the actin-binding domain being able to adopt different configurations. The α-catenin dimer in solution is also significantly more expanded than the dimer crystal structure, with fewer interdomain and intersubunit contacts than the crystal structure. When in complex to F-actin, the α-catenin dimer has an even more open and extended conformation than in solution, with the actin-binding domain further separated from the main body of the dimer. The α-catenin-assembled F-actin bundle develops into an ordered filament packing arrangement at increasing α-catenin/F-actin molar ratios. Together, the structural and dynamic studies reveal that α-catenin possesses dynamic molecular conformations that prime this protein to function as a mechanosensor protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain D Nicholl
- Department of Biomedical Science and Physiology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Tsutomu Matsui
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Menlo Park, California
| | - Thomas M Weiss
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Menlo Park, California
| | | | - William T Heller
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | | | | | - David J E Callaway
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, New York.
| | - Zimei Bu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, New York.
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Chiarella SE, Rabin EE, Ostilla LA, Flozak AS, Gottardi CJ. αT-catenin: A developmentally dispensable, disease-linked member of the α-catenin family. Tissue Barriers 2018; 6:e1463896. [PMID: 29746206 PMCID: PMC6179130 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2018.1463896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Catenins are actin-filament binding proteins and critical subunits of the cadherin-catenin cell-cell adhesive complex. They are found in nominally-defined epithelial (E), neural (N), and testis (T) forms transcribed from three distinct genes. While most of α-catenin research has focused on the developmentally essential founding member, αE-catenin, this review discusses recent studies on αT-catenin (CTNNA3), a developmentally dispensable isoform that is emerging as relevant to cardiac, allergic and neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E. Chiarella
- Department of Medicine
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Erik E. Rabin
- Department of Medicine
- Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Lorena A. Ostilla
- Department of Medicine
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Annette S. Flozak
- Department of Medicine
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Cara J. Gottardi
- Department of Medicine
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
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47
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Mykuliak VV, Haining AWM, von Essen M, del Río Hernández A, Hytönen VP. Mechanical unfolding reveals stable 3-helix intermediates in talin and α-catenin. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006126. [PMID: 29698481 PMCID: PMC5940241 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stability is a key feature in the regulation of structural scaffolding proteins and their functions. Despite the abundance of α-helical structures among the human proteome and their undisputed importance in health and disease, the fundamental principles of their behavior under mechanical load are poorly understood. Talin and α-catenin are two key molecules in focal adhesions and adherens junctions, respectively. In this study, we used a combination of atomistic steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations, polyprotein engineering, and single-molecule atomic force microscopy (smAFM) to investigate unfolding of these proteins. SMD simulations revealed that talin rod α-helix bundles as well as α-catenin α-helix domains unfold through stable 3-helix intermediates. While the 5-helix bundles were found to be mechanically stable, a second stable conformation corresponding to the 3-helix state was revealed. Mechanically weaker 4-helix bundles easily unfolded into a stable 3-helix conformation. The results of smAFM experiments were in agreement with the findings of the computational simulations. The disulfide clamp mutants, designed to protect the stable state, support the 3-helix intermediate model in both experimental and computational setups. As a result, multiple discrete unfolding intermediate states in the talin and α-catenin unfolding pathway were discovered. Better understanding of the mechanical unfolding mechanism of α-helix proteins is a key step towards comprehensive models describing the mechanoregulation of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasyl V. Mykuliak
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences and BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Finland and Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
| | - Alexander William M. Haining
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Magdaléna von Essen
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences and BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Finland and Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
| | - Armando del Río Hernández
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (AdRH); (VPH)
| | - Vesa P. Hytönen
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences and BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Finland and Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
- * E-mail: (AdRH); (VPH)
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Hirano Y, Amano Y, Yonemura S, Hakoshima T. The force‐sensing device region of α‐catenin is an intrinsically disordered segment in the absence of intramolecular stabilization of the autoinhibitory form. Genes Cells 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Hirano
- Structural Biology Laboratory Nara Institute of Science and Technology Ikoma Nara Japan
| | - Yu Amano
- Electron Microscope Laboratory RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology Kobe Hyogo Japan
- Department of Bioscience Kwansei Gakuin University Sanda Hyogo Japan
| | - Shigenobu Yonemura
- Electron Microscope Laboratory RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology Kobe Hyogo Japan
- Department of Cell Biology Tokushima University Graduate School of Medical Science Tokushima Tokushima Japan
- CREST, JST Kawaguchi Saitama Japan
| | - Toshio Hakoshima
- Structural Biology Laboratory Nara Institute of Science and Technology Ikoma Nara Japan
- CREST, JST Kawaguchi Saitama Japan
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49
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Maki K, Han SW, Hirano Y, Yonemura S, Hakoshima T, Adachi T. Real-time TIRF observation of vinculin recruitment to stretched α-catenin by AFM. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1575. [PMID: 29371682 PMCID: PMC5785519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20115-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adherens junctions (AJs) adaptively change their intensities in response to intercellular tension; therefore, they integrate tension generated by individual cells to drive multicellular dynamics, such as morphogenetic change in embryos. Under intercellular tension, α-catenin, which is a component protein of AJs, acts as a mechano-chemical transducer to recruit vinculin to promote actin remodeling. Although in vivo and in vitro studies have suggested that α-catenin-mediated mechanotransduction is a dynamic molecular process, which involves a conformational change of α-catenin under tension to expose a cryptic vinculin binding site, there are no suitable experimental methods to directly explore the process. Therefore, in this study, we developed a novel system by combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF). In this system, α-catenin molecules (residues 276-634; the mechano-sensitive M1-M3 domain), modified on coverslips, were stretched by AFM and their recruitment of Alexa-labeled full-length vinculin molecules, dissolved in solution, were observed simultaneously, in real time, using TIRF. We applied a physiologically possible range of tensions and extensions to α-catenin and directly observed its vinculin recruitment. Our new system could be used in the fields of mechanobiology and biophysics to explore functions of proteins under tension by coupling biomechanical and biochemical information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Maki
- Laboratory of Biomechanics, Department of Biosystems Science, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.,Department of Micro Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Sung-Woong Han
- National Institute for Nanomaterials Technology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Korea
| | - Yoshinori Hirano
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Shigenobu Yonemura
- Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Toshio Hakoshima
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Taiji Adachi
- Laboratory of Biomechanics, Department of Biosystems Science, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan. .,Department of Micro Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
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50
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Barrick S, Li J, Kong X, Ray A, Tajkhorshid E, Leckband D. Salt bridges gate α-catenin activation at intercellular junctions. Mol Biol Cell 2017; 29:111-122. [PMID: 29142072 PMCID: PMC5909925 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e17-03-0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations, equilibrium binding measurements, and fluorescence imaging reveal the influence of a key salt bridge in the mechanical activation of α-catenin at intercellular adhesions. Simulations reveal possible α-catenin conformational changes underlying experimental fluorescence and equilibrium binding data. Cadherin complexes transduce force fluctuations at junctions to activate signals that reinforce stressed intercellular contacts. α-Catenin is an identified force transducer within cadherin complexes that is autoinhibited under low tension. Increased force triggers a conformational change that exposes a cryptic site for the actin-binding protein vinculin. This study tested predictions that salt bridges within the force-sensing core modulate α-catenin activation. Studies with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based α-catenin conformation sensor demonstrated that each of the salt-bridge mutations R551A and D503N enhances α-catenin activation in live cells, but R551A has a greater impact. Under dynamic force loading at reannealing cell–cell junctions, the R551A mutant bound more vinculin than wild-type α-catenin. In vitro binding measurements quantified the impact of the R551A mutation on the free-energy difference between the active and autoinhibited α-catenin conformers. A 2-μs constant-force, steered molecular dynamics simulation of the core force-sensing region suggested how the salt-bridge mutants alter the α-catenin conformation, and identified a novel load-bearing salt bridge. These results reveal key structural features that determine the force-transduction mechanism and the force sensitivity of this crucial nanomachine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Barrick
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Jing Li
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.,Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Xinyu Kong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Alokananda Ray
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.,Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Deborah Leckband
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801 .,Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.,Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
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