Regulation and isoform function of the V-ATPases

The V-ATPase membrane domain is a sensor of granular pH that controls the exocytotic machinery

Several studies have suggested that the V0 domain of the vacuolar-type H(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (V-ATPase) is directly implicated in secretory vesicle exocytosis through a role in membrane fusion. We report in this paper that there was a rapid decrease in neurotransmitter release after acute photoinactivation of the V0 a1-I subunit in neuronal pairs. Likewise, inactivation of the V0 a1-I subunit in chromaffin cells resulted in a decreased frequency and prolonged kinetics of amperometric spikes induced by depolarization, with shortening of the fusion pore open time. Dissipation of the granular pH gradient was associated with an inhibition of exocytosis and correlated with the V1-V0 association status in secretory granules. We thus conclude that V0 serves as a sensor of intragranular pH that controls exocytosis and synaptic transmission via the reversible dissociation of V1 at acidic pH. Hence, the V-ATPase membrane domain would allow the exocytotic machinery to discriminate fully loaded and acidified vesicles from vesicles undergoing neurotransmitter reloading.

The function of vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) a subunit isoforms in invasiveness of MCF10a and MCF10CA1a human breast cancer cells

The vacuolar H(+) ATPases (V-ATPases) are ATP-driven proton pumps that transport protons across both intracellular and plasma membranes. Previous studies have implicated V-ATPases in the invasiveness of various cancer cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the role of V-ATPases in the invasiveness of two closely matched human breast cancer lines. MCF10a cells are a non-invasive, immortalized breast epithelial cell line, and MCF10CA1a cells are a highly invasive, H-Ras-transformed derivative of MCF10a cells selected for their metastatic potential. Using an in vitro Matrigel assay, MCF10CA1a cells showed a much higher invasion than the parental MCF10a cells. Moreover, this increased invasion was completely sensitive to the specific V-ATPase inhibitor concanamycin. MCF10CA1a cells expressed much higher levels of both a1 and a3 subunit isoforms relative to the parental line. Isoforms of subunit a are responsible for subcellular localization of V-ATPases, with a3 and a4 targeting V-ATPases to the plasma membrane of specialized cells. Knockdown of either a3 alone or a3 and a4 together using isoform-specific siRNAs inhibited invasion by MCF10CA1a cells. Importantly, overexpression of a3 but not the other a subunit isoforms greatly increased the invasiveness of the parental MCF10a cells. Similarly, overexpression of a3 significantly increased expression of V-ATPases at the plasma membrane. These studies suggest that breast tumor cells employ particular a subunit isoforms to target V-ATPases to the plasma membrane, where they function in tumor cell invasion.

(Pro)renin receptor is required for prorenin-dependent and -independent regulation of vacuolar H+-ATPase activity in MDCK.C11 collecting duct cells

Prorenin binding to the prorenin receptor [(P)RR] results in nonproteolytic activation of prorenin but also directly (i.e., independent of angiotensin generation) activates signal transduction cascades that can lead to the upregulation of profibrotic factors. The (P)RR is an accessory protein of vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) and is required for V-ATPase integrity. In addition, in collecting duct cells, prorenin-induced activation of Erk depends on V-ATPase activity. However, whether prorenin binding to the (P)RR directly regulates V-ATPase activity is as yet unknown. Here, we studied the effect of prorenin on plasma membrane V-ATPase activity in Madin-Darby canine kidney clone 11 (MDCK.C11) cells, which resemble intercalated cells of the collecting duct. Prorenin increased V-ATPase activity at low nanomolar concentrations, and the V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1, but not the angiotensin II type 1 and 2 receptor blockers irbesartan and PD-123319, prevented this. Increased, but not basal, V-ATPase activity was abolished by small interfering RNA depletion of the (P)RR. Unexpectedly, the putative peptidic (P)RR blocker handle region peptide also increasedV-ATPase activity in a (P)RR-dependent manner. Finally, [Arg8]-vasopressin-stimulated V-ATPase activity and cAMP production were also abolished by (P)RR depletion. Our results show that in MDCK.C11 cells, the (P)RR is required for prorenin-dependent and -independent regulation of V-ATPase activity.

Lysosomal metal, redox and proton cycles influencing the CysHis cathepsin reaction

In the 1930's pioneers discovered that maximal autolysis in tissue homogenates requires metal chelator, sulfhydryl reducing agent and acid pH. However, metals, reducing equivalents and protons (MR&P) have been overlooked as combined catalytic controls. Three categories of lysosomal machinery drive three distinguishable cycles importing and exporting MR&P. Zn(2+) preemptively inhibits CysHis catalysis under otherwise optimal protonation and reduction. Protein-bound cell Zn(2+) concentration is 200-2000 times the non-sequestered inhibitory concentration. Following autophagy, lysosomal proteolysis liberates much inhibitory Zn(2+). The vacuolar proton pump is the driving force for Zn(2+) export, as well as protonation of the peptidolytic mechanism. Other machinery of lysosomal cycles includes proton-driven Zn(2+) exporters (e.g. SLC11A1), Zn(2+) channels (e.g. TRPML-1), lysosomal thiol reductase, etc. The CysHis dyad is a sensor of the vacuolar environment of MR&P, an integrator of these simultaneous variables, and a catalytic responder. Rate-determination can shift between autophagic substrate acquisition (swallowing) and substrate degradation (digesting). Zn(2+) recycling from degraded proteins to new proteins is a fourth cycle that might pace lysosomal function under some conditions. Heritable insufficient or excess functions of CysHis cathepsins are associated with dysfunctional inflammation and immunity/auto-immunity, including diabetic pathogenesis.

Lysosomal membrane proteins and their central role in physiology

The lysosomal membrane was thought for a long time to primarily act as a physical barrier separating the luminal acidic milieu from the cytoplasmic environment. Meanwhile, it has been realized that unique lysosomal membranes play essential roles in a number of cellular events ranging from phagocytosis, autophagy, cell death, virus infection to membrane repair. This review provides an overview about the most interesting emerging functions of lysosomal membrane proteins and how they contribute to health and disease. Their importance is exemplified by their role in acidification, transport of metabolites and ions across the membrane, intracellular transport of hydrolases and the regulation of membrane fusion events. Studies in patient cells, non-mammalian model organisms and knockout mice contributed to our understanding of how the different lysosomal membrane proteins affect cellular homeostasis, developmental processes as well as tissue functions. Because these proteins are central for the biogenesis of this compartment they are also considered as attractive targets to modulate the lysosomal machinery in cases where impaired lysosomal degradation leads to cellular pathologies. We are only beginning to understand the complex composition and function of these proteins which are tightly linked to processes occurring throughout the endocytic and biosynthetic pathways.

Inhibitory and combinatorial effect of diphyllin, a v-ATPase blocker, on influenza viruses

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Diphyllin inhibits endosomal acidification in MDCK cells and A549 cells.

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Treatment with diphyllin alters the cellular susceptibility to the influenza virus.

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Diphyllin demonstrated a broad-spectrum antiviral activity.

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The combination of diphyllin and other drugs showed an enhanced antiviral effect.

An influenza pandemic poses a serious threat to humans and animals. Conventional treatments against influenza include two classes of pathogen-targeting antivirals: M2 ion channel blockers (such as amantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitors (such as oseltamivir). Examination of the mechanism of influenza viral infection has shown that endosomal acidification plays a major role in facilitating the fusion between viral and endosomal membranes. This pathway has led to investigations on vacuolar ATPase (v-ATPase) activity, whose role as a regulating factor on influenza virus replication has been verified in extensive genome-wide screenings. Blocking v-ATPase activity thus presents the opportunity to interfere with influenza viral infection by preventing the pH-dependent membrane fusion between endosomes and virions. This study aims to apply diphyllin, a natural compound shown to be as a novel v-ATPase inhibitor, as a potential antiviral for various influenza virus strains using cell-based assays. The results show that diphyllin alters cellular susceptibility to influenza viruses through the inhibition of endosomal acidification, thus interfering with downstream virus replication, including that of known drug-resistant strains. In addition, combinatorial treatment of the host-targeting diphyllin with pathogen-targeting therapeutics (oseltamivir and amantadine) demonstrates enhanced antiviral effects and cell protection in vitro.

Involvement of MoVMA11, a Putative Vacuolar ATPase c' Subunit, in Vacuolar Acidification and Infection-Related Morphogenesis of Magnaporthe oryzae

Many functions of vacuole depend on the activity of vacuolar ATPase which is essential to maintain an acidic lumen and create the driving forces for massive fluxes of ions and metabolites through vacuolar membrane. In filamentous fungus Magnaportheoryzae, subcellular colocalization and quinacrine staining suggested that the V1V0 domains of V-ATPase were fully assembled and the vacuoles were kept acidic during infection-related developments. Targeted gene disruption of MoVMA11 gene, encoding the putative c' subunit of V-ATPase, impaired vacuolar acidification and mimicked the phenotypes of yeast V-ATPase mutants in the poor colony morphology, abolished asexual and sexual reproductions, selective carbon source utilization, and increased calcium and heavy metals sensitivities, however, not in the typical pH conditional lethality. Strikingly, aerial hyphae of the MoVMA11 null mutant intertwined with each other to form extremely thick filamentous structures. The results also implicated that MoVMA11 was involved in cell wall integrity and appressorium formation. Abundant non-melanized swollen structures and rare, small appressoria without penetration ability were produced at the hyphal tips of the ΔMovma11 mutant on onion epidermal cells. Finally, the MoVMA11 null mutant lost pathogenicity on both intact and wounded host leaves. Overall, our data indicated that MoVMA11, like other fungal VMA genes, is associated with numerous cellular functions and highlighted that V-ATPase is essential for infection-related morphogenesis and pathogenesis in M. oryzae.

Proteomic analysis of early reprogramming events in murine somatic cells incubated with Xenopus laevis oocyte extracts demonstrates network associations with induced pluripotency markers

The reprogramming of somatic cells into a pluripotent/embryonic-like state holds great potential for regenerative medicine, bypassing ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Numerous methods, including somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), fusion to pluripotent cells, the use of cell extracts, and expression of transcription factors, have been used to reprogram cells into ES-like cells [termed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)]. This study investigated early events in the nuclei of permeabilized murine somatic cells incubated in cytoplasmic extract prepared from Xenopus laevis germinal vesicle-stage oocytes by identifying proteins that showed significant quantitative changes using proteomic techniques. A total of 69 protein spots from two-dimensional electrophoresis were identified as being significantly altered in expression after treatment, and 38 proteins were identified by tandem mass spectrometry. Network analysis was used to highlight pathway connections and interactions between these identified proteins, which were found to be involved in many functions--primarily nuclear structure and dynamics, transcription, and translation. The pluripotency markers Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, and POU5F1 were highlighted by the interaction network analysis, as well as other compounds/proteins known to be repressed in pluripotent cells [e.g., protein kinase C (PRKC)] or enhanced during differentiation of ESCs (e.g., retinoic acid). The network analysis also indicated additional proteins and pathways potentially involved in early reprogramming events.

Circulating aldosterone induces the apical accumulation of the proton pumping V-ATPase and increases proton secretion in clear cells in the caput epididymis

Clear cells express the vacuolar proton-pumping H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) and acidify the lumen of the epididymis, a process that is essential for male fertility. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates fluid and electrolyte balance in the epididymis, and a previous study showed binding of aldosterone exclusively to epididymal clear cells (Hinton BT, Keefer DA. Steroid Biochem 23: 231-233, 1985). We examined here the role of aldosterone in the regulation of V-ATPase in the epididymis. RT-PCR showed expression of the mineralocorticoid receptor [MR; nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C member 2 (NR3C2)] and 11-β-dehydrogenase isozyme 2 (HSD11β2) mRNAs specifically in clear cells, isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from B1-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mice. Tail vein injection of adult rats with aldosterone, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG), or 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (cpt-cAMP) induced V-ATPase apical membrane accumulation and extension of V-ATPase-labeled microvilli in clear cells in the caput epididymis but not in the cauda. V-ATPase activity was measured in EGFP-expressing clear cells using the intracellular pH (pHi)-sensing dye seminaphthorhodafluor-5F-5-(and 6)-carboxylic acid, acetoxymethyl ester acetate (SNARF-5F). Aldosterone induced a rapid increase in the rate of Na(+)- and bicarbonate-independent pHi recovery following an NH4Cl-induced acid load in clear cells isolated from the caput but not the cauda. This effect was abolished by concanamycin A, spironolactone, and chelerythrine but not myristoylated-protein kinase inhibitor (mPKI) or mifepristone. Thus aldosterone increases V-ATPase-dependent proton secretion in clear cells in the caput epididymis via MR/NR3C2 and PKC activation. This study, therefore, identifies aldosterone as an active member of the RAAS for the regulation of luminal acidification in the proximal epididymis.

Cancer-associated lysosomal changes: friends or foes?

Rapidly dividing and invasive cancer cells are strongly dependent on effective lysosomal function. Accordingly, transformation and cancer progression are characterized by dramatic changes in lysosomal volume, composition and cellular distribution. Depending on one's point of view, the cancer-associated changes in the lysosomal compartment can be regarded as friends or foes. Most of them are clearly transforming as they promote invasive growth, angiogenesis and drug resistance. The same changes can, however, strongly sensitize cells to lysosomal membrane permeabilization and thereby to lysosome-targeting anti-cancer drugs. In this review we compile our current knowledge on cancer-associated changes in lysosomal composition and discuss the consequences of these alterations to cancer progression and the possibilities they can bring to cancer therapy.

Visualization of two distinct states of disassembly in the bacterial V-ATPase from Thermus thermophilus

V-ATPases are multisubunit, membrane-bound, energy-converting, cellular machines whose assembly and disassembly is innately connected to their activity in vivo. In vitro V-ATPases show a propensity for disassembly that greatly complicates their functional, and, in particular, structural characterization. Direct structural evidence for early stages of their disassembly has not been reported yet. We analyzed the structure of the V-ATPase from Thermus thermophilus in a single negatively stained two-dimensional (2-D) crystal both by electron tomography and by electron crystallography. Our analysis demonstrated that for 2-D crystals of fragile macromolecular complexes, which are too heterogenous or too few for the merging of image data from many crystals, single-crystal 3-D reconstructions by electron tomography and electron crystallography are expedient tools of analysis. The asymmetric unit in the 2-D crystal lattice contains two different V-ATPase complexes that appear to be in an early stage of disassembly and with either one or both peripheral stalks not being visualized, suggesting the involvement of the peripheral stalks in early stages of disassembly.

Vacuolar H+ ATPase expression and activity is required for Rab27B-dependent invasive growth and metastasis of breast cancer

The secretory Rab27B small GTPase promotes invasive growth and metastasis in estrogen receptor (ER) α-positive breast cancer cells by orchestrating the peripheral targeting of vesicles secreting proinvasive growth regulators. Increased Rab27B expression is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. The molecular mechanisms of peripheral Rab27B secretory vesicle distribution are poorly understood. Mass spectrometry analysis on green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Rab27B vesicles prepared from GFP-Rab27B transfected MCF-7 human breast cancer cells detected eight subunits of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) and the presence of V0a1 and V0d1 subunits was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Reversible inhibition of V-ATPase activity by bafilomycin A1 or transient silencing of V0a1 or V0d1 subunits demonstrated that V-ATPase controls peripheral localization and size of Rab27B vesicles. V-ATPase expression and activity further controls Rab27B-induced collagen type I invasion, cell-cycle progression and invasive growth in the chorioallantoic membrane assay. In agreement, Rab27B-dependent extracellular heat shock protein90α release and matrix metalloprotease-2 activation is markedly reduced by bafilomycin A1 and transient silencing of V0a1 and V0d1 subunits. Poor prognosis ERα-positive primary breast tumors expressing high levels of Rab27B also expressed multiple V-ATPase subunits and showed a strong cytoplasmic and peripheral V-ATPase V1E expression. In conclusion, inhibiting V-ATPase activity by interfering agents and drugs might be an effective strategy for blocking Rab27B-dependent proinvasive secretory vesicle trafficking in ERα-positive breast cancer patients.

Genetic causes and mechanisms of distal renal tubular acidosis

The primary or hereditary forms of distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) have received increased attention because of advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanism, whereby mutations in the main proteins involved in acid-base transport result in impaired acid excretion. Dysfunction of intercalated cells in the collecting tubules accounts for all the known genetic causes of dRTA. These cells secrete protons into the tubular lumen through H(+)-ATPases functionally coupled to the basolateral anion exchanger 1 (AE1). The substrate for both transporters is provided by the catalytic activity of the cytosolic carbonic anhydrase II (CA II), an enzyme which is also present in the proximal tubular cells and osteoclasts. Mutations in ATP6V1B1, encoding the B-subtype unit of the apical H(+) ATPase, and ATP6V0A4, encoding the a-subtype unit, lead to the loss of function of the apical H(+) ATPase and are usually responsible for patients with autosomal recessive dRTA often associated with early or late sensorineural deafness. Mutations in the gene encoding the cytosolic CA II are associated with the autosomal recessive syndrome of osteopetrosis, mixed distal and proximal RTA and cerebral calcification. Mutations in the AE1, the gene that encodes the Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger, usually present as dominant dRTA, but a recessive pattern has been recently described. Several studies have shown trafficking defects in the mutant protein rather than the lack of function as the major mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of dRTA from AE1 mutations.

Inhibitors of vacuolar ATPase proton pumps inhibit human prostate cancer cell invasion and prostate-specific antigen expression and secretion

Vacuolar ATPases (V-ATPases) comprise specialized and ubiquitously distributed pumps that acidify intracellular compartments and energize membranes. To gain new insights into the roles of V-ATPases in prostate cancer (PCa), we studied the effects of inhibiting V-ATPase pumps in androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (C4-2B) cells of a human PCa progression model. Treatment with nanomolar concentrations of the V-ATPase inhibitors bafilomycin A or concanamycin A reduced the in vitro invasion in both cell types by 80%, regardless that V-ATPase was prominent at the plasma membrane of C4-2B cells and only traces were detected in the low-metastatic LNCaP parental cells. In both cell types, intracellular V-ATPase was excessive and co-localized with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the Golgi compartment. V-ATPase inhibitors reversibly excluded PSA from the Golgi and led to the accumulation of largely dispersed PSA-loaded vesicles of lysosomal composition. Inhibition of acridine orange staining and transferrin receptor recycling suggested defective endosomal and lysosomal acidification. The inhibitors, additionally, interfered with the AR-PSA axis under conditions that reduced invasion. Bafilomycin A significantly reduced steady-state and R1881-induced PSA mRNA expression and secretion in the LNCaP cells which are androgen-dependent, but not in the C4-2B cells which are androgen ablation-resistant. In the C4-2B cells, an increased susceptibility to V-ATPase inhibitors was detected after longer treatments, as proliferation was reduced and reversibility of bafilomycin-induced responses impaired. These findings make V-ATPases attractive targets against early and advanced PCa tumors.

Deletion of vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase V(o)a isoforms clarifies the role of vacuolar pH as a determinant of virulence-associated traits in Candida albicans

Vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase) is a central regulator of cellular pH homeostasis, and inactivation of all V-ATPase function has been shown to prevent infectivity in Candida albicans. V-ATPase subunit a of the Vo domain (Voa) is present as two fungal isoforms: Stv1p (Golgi) and Vph1p (vacuole). To delineate the individual contribution of Stv1p and Vph1p to C. albicans physiology, we created stv1Δ/Δ and vph1Δ/Δ mutants and compared them to the corresponding reintegrant strains (stv1Δ/ΔR and vph1Δ/ΔR). V-ATPase activity, vacuolar physiology, and in vitro virulence-related phenotypes were unaffected in the stv1Δ/Δ mutant. The vph1Δ/Δ mutant exhibited defective V1Vo assembly and a 90% reduction in concanamycin A-sensitive ATPase activity and proton transport in purified vacuolar membranes, suggesting that the Vph1p isoform is essential for vacuolar V-ATPase activity in C. albicans. The vph1Δ/Δ cells also had abnormal endocytosis and vacuolar morphology and an alkalinized vacuolar lumen (pHvph1Δ/Δ = 6.8 versus pHvph1Δ/ΔR = 5.8) in both yeast cells and hyphae. Secreted protease and lipase activities were significantly reduced, and M199-induced filamentation was impaired in the vph1Δ/Δ mutant. However, the vph1Δ/Δ cells remained competent for filamentation induced by Spider media and YPD, 10% FCS, and biofilm formation and macrophage killing were unaffected in vitro. These studies suggest that different virulence mechanisms differentially rely on acidified vacuoles and that the loss of both vacuolar (Vph1p) and non-vacuolar (Stv1p) V-ATPase activity is necessary to affect in vitro virulence-related phenotypes. As a determinant of C. albicans pathogenesis, vacuolar pH alone may prove less critical than originally assumed.

Altered V-ATPase expression in renal intercalated cells isolated from B1 subunit-deficient mice by fluorescence-activated cell sorting

Unlike human patients with mutations in the 56-kDa B1 subunit isoform of the vacuolar proton-pumping ATPase (V-ATPase), B1-deficient mice (Atp6v1b1(-/-)) do not develop metabolic acidosis under baseline conditions. This is due to the insertion of V-ATPases containing the alternative B2 subunit isoform into the apical membrane of renal medullary collecting duct intercalated cells (ICs). We previously reported that quantitative Western blots (WBs) from whole kidneys showed similar B2 protein levels in Atp6v1b1(-/-) and wild-type mice (Păunescu TG, Russo LM, Da Silva N, Kovacikova J, Mohebbi N, Van Hoek AN, McKee M, Wagner CA, Breton S, Brown D. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 293: F1915-F1926, 2007). However, WBs from renal medulla (including outer and inner medulla) membrane and cytosol fractions reveal a decrease in the levels of the ubiquitous V-ATPase E1 subunit. To compare V-ATPase expression specifically in ICs from wild-type and Atp6v1b1(-/-) mice, we crossed mice in which EGFP expression is driven by the B1 subunit promoter (EGFP-B1(+/+) mice) with Atp6v1b1(-/-) mice to generate novel EGFP-B1(-/-) mice. We isolated pure IC populations by fluorescence-assisted cell sorting from EGFP-B1(+/+) and EGFP-B1(-/-) mice to compare their V-ATPase subunit protein levels. We report that V-ATPase A, E1, and H subunits are all significantly downregulated in EGFP-B1(-/-) mice, while the B2 protein level is considerably increased in these animals. We conclude that under baseline conditions B2 upregulation compensates for the lack of B1 and is sufficient to maintain basal acid-base homeostasis, even when other V-ATPase subunits are downregulated.

β-Catenin-dependent lysosomal targeting of internalized tumor necrosis factor-α suppresses caspase-8 activation in apoptosis-resistant colon cancer cells

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-induced apoptotic activation of caspase-8 requires internalization of its receptor. This study shows that constitutively activated β-catenin is required to facilitate the lysosomal delivery of internalized TNF, the inhibition of caspase-8 activation, and the suppression of apoptosis in colon cancer cells.

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is constitutively activated in more than 90% of human colorectal cancer. Activated β-catenin stimulates cell proliferation and survival, however, its antiapoptotic mechanisms are not fully understood. We show here that activated β-catenin is required to suppress caspase-8 activation, but only in colon cancer cells that are resistant to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-induced apoptosis. We found that lysosomal delivery of internalized TNF occurred at a faster pace in apoptosis-resistant than in apoptosis-sensitive colon cancer cells. Retardation of endosomal trafficking through vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) inhibition enhanced caspase-8 activation in apoptosis-resistant but not apoptosis-sensitive cells. Interestingly, knockdown of β-catenin also prolonged TNF association with the early endosome and enhanced caspase-8 activation in apoptosis-resistant but not apoptosis-sensitive colon cancer cells. In a mouse model of inflammation-associated colon tumors, we found nuclear expression of β-catenin, resistance to TNF-induced apoptosis, and reactivation of apoptosis in vivo after cotreatment of TNF with a V-ATPase inhibitor. Together these results suggest that activated β-catenin can facilitate endosomal trafficking of internalized TNF to suppress caspase-8 activation in colon cancer cells.

Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis: report of 41 novel mutations in the TCIRG1 gene and diagnostic implications

Here we report 41 novel mutations in the TCIRG1 gene that is responsible for the disease in more than 50% of ARO patients. The characterisation of mutations in this gene might be useful in the process of drug design for osteoporosis treatment.

INTRODUCTION

Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (ARO) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder due to reduced bone resorption by osteoclasts. In this process, a crucial role is played by the proton pump V-ATPase. Biallelic mutations in the TCIRG1 gene, encoding for the a3 subunit of this pump, are responsible for more than one half of ARO patients.

METHODS

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of ARO have been collected for 7 years and mutation analysis of the TCIRG1 gene was performed using direct DNA sequencing of PCR-amplified exons according to both a standard protocol and a modified one.

RESULTS

We report here 41 novel mutations identified in 67 unpublished patients, all with biallelic mutations. In particular, we describe two novel large genomic deletions and two splice site mutations in the 5' UTR of the TCIRG1 gene, in patients previously classified as mono-allelic.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data highlights the importance of two large genomic deletions and mutations in the 5' UTR with respect to patient management and, more critically, to prenatal diagnosis. With the present work, we strongly contribute to the molecular dissection of TCIRG1-deficient ARO and identify several protein residues which are fundamental for proton pump function and could thus be the target of future drugs designed to inhibit osteoclast resorptive activity.

Endosomal maturation, Rab7 GTPase and phosphoinositides in African swine fever virus entry

Here we analyzed the dependence of African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection on the integrity of the endosomal pathway. Using confocal immunofluorescence with antibodies against viral capsid proteins, we found colocalization of incoming viral particles with early endosomes (EE) during the first minutes of infection. Conversely, viral capsid protein was not detected in acidic late endosomal compartments, multivesicular bodies (MVBs), late endosomes (LEs) or lysosomes (LY). Using an antibody against a viral inner core protein, we found colocalization of viral cores with late compartments from 30 to 60 minutes postinfection. The absence of capsid protein staining in LEs and LYs suggested that virus desencapsidation would take place at the acid pH of these organelles. In fact, inhibitors of intraluminal acidification of endosomes caused retention of viral capsid staining virions in Rab7 expressing endosomes and more importantly, severely impaired subsequent viral protein production. Endosomal acidification in the first hour after virus entry was essential for successful infection but not thereafter. In addition, altering the balance of phosphoinositides (PIs) which are responsible of the maintenance of the endocytic pathway impaired ASFV infection. Early infection steps were dependent on the production of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) which is involved in EE maturation and multivesicular body (MVB) biogenesis and on the interconversion of PtdIns3P to phosphatidylinositol 3, 5-biphosphate (PtdIns(3,5)P₂). Likewise, GTPase Rab7 activity should remain intact, as well as processes related to LE compartment physiology, which are crucial during early infection. Our data demonstrate that the EE and LE compartments and the integrity of the endosomal maturation pathway orchestrated by Rab proteins and PIs play a central role during early stages of ASFV infection.

Rabconnectin3α promotes stable activity of the H+ pump on synaptic vesicles in hair cells

Acidification of synaptic vesicles relies on the vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase) and provides the electrochemical driving force for neurotransmitter exchange. The regulatory mechanisms that ensure assembly of the V-ATPase holoenzyme on synaptic vesicles are unknown. Rabconnectin3α (Rbc3α) is a potential candidate for regulation of V-ATPase activity because of its association with synaptic vesicles and its requirement for acidification of intracellular compartments. Here, we provide the first evidence for a role of Rbc3α in synaptic vesicle acidification and neurotransmission. In this study, we characterized mutant alleles of rbc3α isolated from a large-scale screen for zebrafish with auditory/vestibular defects. We show that Rbc3α is localized to basal regions of hair cells in which synaptic vesicles are present. To determine whether Rbc3α regulates V-ATPase activity, we examined the acidification of synaptic vesicles and localization of the V-ATPase in hair cells. In contrast to wild-type hair cells, we observed that synaptic vesicles had elevated pH, and a cytosolic subunit of the V-ATPase was no longer enriched in synaptic regions of mutant hair cells. As a consequence of defective acidification of synaptic vesicles, afferent neurons in rbc3α mutants had reduced firing rates and reduced accuracy of phase-locked action potentials in response to mechanical stimulation of hair cells. Collectively, our data suggest that Rbc3α modulates synaptic transmission in hair cells by promoting V-ATPase activity in synaptic vesicles.

Enhanced expression of vacuolar H+-ATPase subunit E in the roots is associated with the adaptation of Broussonetia papyrifera to salt stress

Vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-H⁺-ATPase) may play a pivotal role in maintenance of ion homeostasis inside plant cells. In the present study, the expression of V-H⁺-ATPase genes was analyzed in the roots and leaves of a woody plant, Broussonetia papyrifera, which was stressed with 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl. Moreover, the expression and distribution of the subunit E protein were investigated by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. These showed that treatment of B. papyrifera with NaCl distinctly changed the hydrolytic activity of V-H⁺-ATPase in the roots and leaves. Salinity induced a dramatic increase in V-H⁺-ATPase hydrolytic activity in the roots. However, only slight changes in V-H⁺-ATPase hydrolytic activity were observed in the leaves. In contrast, increased H⁺ pumping activity of V-H⁺-ATPase was observed in both the roots and leaves. In addition, NaCl treatment led to an increase in H⁺-pyrophosphatase (V-H⁺-PPase) activity in the roots. Moreover, NaCl treatment triggered the enhancement of mRNA levels for subunits A, E and c of V-H⁺-ATPase in the roots, whereas only subunit c mRNA was observed to increase in the leaves. By Western blot and immunocytological analysis, subunit E was shown to be augmented in response to salinity stress in the roots. These findings provide evidence that under salt stress, increased V-H⁺-ATPase activity in the roots was positively correlated with higher transcript and protein levels of V-H⁺-ATPase subunit E. Altogether, our results suggest an essential role for V-H⁺-ATPase subunit E in the response of plants to salinity stress.

Comparative vesicle proteomics reveals selective regulation of protein expression in chestnut blight fungus by a hypovirus

The chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) and hypovirus constitute a model system to study fungal pathogenesis and mycovirus-host interaction. Knowledge in this field has been gained largely from investigations at gene transcription level so far. Here we report a systematic analysis of the vesicle proteins of the host fungus with/without hypovirus infection. Thirty-three differentially expressed protein spots were identified in the purified vesicle protein samples by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Down-regulated proteins were mostly cargo proteins involved in primary metabolism and energy generation and up-regulated proteins were mostly vesicle associated proteins and ABC transporter. A virus-encoded protein p48 was found to have four forms with different molecular mass in vesicles from the virus-infected strain. While a few of the randomly selected differentially expressed proteins were in accordance with their transcription profiles, majority were not in agreement with their mRNA accumulation patterns, suggesting that an extensive post-transcriptional regulation may have occurred in the host fungus upon a hypovirus infection.

The binding site of the V-ATPase inhibitor apicularen is in the vicinity of those for bafilomycin and archazolid

The investigation of V-ATPases as potential therapeutic drug targets and hence of their specific inhibitors is a promising approach in osteoporosis and cancer treatment because the occurrence of these diseases is interrelated to the function of the V-ATPase. Apicularen belongs to the novel inhibitor family of the benzolactone enamides, which are highly potent but feature the unique characteristic of not inhibiting V-ATPases from fungal sources. In this study we specify, for the first time, the binding site of apicularen within the membrane spanning V(O) complex. By photoaffinity labeling using derivatives of apicularen and of the plecomacrolides bafilomycin and concanamycin, each coupled to (14)C-labeled 4-(3-trifluoromethyldiazirin-3-yl)benzoic acid, we verified that apicularen binds at the interface of the V(O) subunits a and c. The binding site is in the vicinity to those of the plecomacrolides and of the archazolids, a third family of V-ATPase inhibitors. Expression of subunit c homologues from Homo sapiens and Manduca sexta, both species sensitive to benzolactone enamides, in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain lacking the corresponding intrinsic gene did not transfer this sensitivity to yeast. Therefore, the binding site of benzolactone enamides cannot be formed exclusively by subunit c. Apparently, subunit a substantially contributes to the binding of the benzolactone enamides.

Lysosomal calcium homeostasis defects, not proton pump defects, cause endo-lysosomal dysfunction in PSEN-deficient cells

Presenilin (PSEN) deficiency is accompanied by accumulation of endosomes and autophagosomes, likely caused by impaired endo-lysosomal fusion. Recently, Lee et al. (2010. Cell. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2010.05.008) attributed this phenomenon to PSEN1 enabling the transport of mature V0a1 subunits of the vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) to lysosomes. In their view, PSEN1 mediates the N-glycosylation of V0a1 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER); consequently, PSEN deficiency prevents V0a1 glycosylation, compromising the delivery of unglycosylated V0a1 to lysosomes, ultimately impairing V-ATPase function and lysosomal acidification. We show here that N-glycosylation is not a prerequisite for proper targeting and function of this V-ATPase subunit both in vitro and in vivo in Drosophila melanogaster. We conclude that endo-lysosomal dysfunction in PSEN(-/-) cells is not a consequence of failed N-glycosylation of V0a1, or compromised lysosomal acidification. Instead, lysosomal calcium storage/release is significantly altered in PSEN(-/-) cells and neurons, thus providing an alternative hypothesis that accounts for the impaired lysosomal fusion capacity and accumulation of endomembranes that accompanies PSEN deficiency.

Osteopetrosis mutation R444L causes endoplasmic reticulum retention and misprocessing of vacuolar H+-ATPase a3 subunit

Osteopetrosis is a genetic bone disease characterized by increased bone density and fragility. The R444L missense mutation in the human V-ATPase a3 subunit (TCIRG1) is one of several known mutations in a3 and other proteins that can cause this disease. The autosomal recessive R444L mutation results in a particularly malignant form of infantile osteopetrosis that is lethal in infancy, or early childhood. We have studied this mutation using the pMSCV retroviral vector system to integrate the cDNA construct for green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused a3(R445L) mutant protein into the RAW 264.7 mouse osteoclast differentiation model. In comparison with wild-type a3, the mutant glycoprotein localized to the ER instead of lysosomes and its oligosaccharide moiety was misprocessed, suggesting inability of the core-glycosylated glycoprotein to traffic to the Golgi. Reduced steady-state expression of the mutant protein, in comparison with wild type, suggested that the former was being degraded, likely through the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation pathway. In differentiated osteoclasts, a3(R445L) was found to degrade at an increased rate over the course of osteoclastogenesis. Limited proteolysis studies suggested that the R445L mutation alters mouse a3 protein conformation. Together, these data suggest that Arg-445 plays a role in protein folding, or stability, and that infantile malignant osteopetrosis caused by the R444L mutation in the human V-ATPase a3 subunit is another member of the growing class of protein folding diseases. This may have implications for early-intervention treatment, using protein rescue strategies.

V-ATPase V1 sector is required for corpse clearance and neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans

The vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase) is a proton pump composed of two sectors, the cytoplasmic V(1) sector that catalyzes ATP hydrolysis and the transmembrane V(o) sector responsible for proton translocation. The transmembrane V(o) complex directs the complex to different membranes, but also has been proposed to have roles independent of the V(1) sector. However, the roles of the V(1) sector have not been well characterized. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans there are two V(1) B-subunit genes; one of them, vha-12, is on the X chromosome, whereas spe-5 is on an autosome. vha-12 is broadly expressed in adults, and homozygotes for a weak allele in vha-12 are viable but are uncoordinated due to decreased neurotransmission. Analysis of a null mutation demonstrates that vha-12 is not required for oogenesis or spermatogenesis in the adult germ line, but it is required maternally for early embryonic development. Zygotic expression begins during embryonic morphogenesis, and homozygous null mutants arrest at the twofold stage. These mutant embryos exhibit a defect in the clearance of apoptotic cell corpses in vha-12 null mutants. These observations indicate that the V(1) sector, in addition to the V(o) sector, is required in exocytic and endocytic pathways.

V-ATPases in osteoclasts: structure, function and potential inhibitors of bone resorption

The vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) proton pump is a macromolecular complex composed of at least 14 subunits organized into two functional domains, V(1) and V(0). The complex is located on the ruffled border plasma membrane of bone-resorbing osteoclasts, mediating extracellular acidification for bone demineralization during bone resorption. Genetic studies from mice to man implicate a critical role for V-ATPase subunits in osteoclast-related diseases including osteopetrosis and osteoporosis. Thus, the V-ATPase complex is a potential molecular target for the development of novel anti-resorptive agents useful for the treatment of osteolytic diseases. Here, we review the current structure and function of V-ATPase subunits, emphasizing their exquisite roles in osteoclastic function. In addition, we compare several distinct classes of V-ATPase inhibitors with specific inhibitory effects on osteoclasts. Understanding the structure-function relationship of the osteoclast V-ATPase may lead to the development of osteoclast-specific V-ATPase inhibitors that may serve as alternative therapies for the treatment of osteolytic diseases.

The (pro)renin receptor. A decade of research: what have we learned?

The discovery of a (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) in 2002 provided a long-sought explanation for tissue renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activity and a function for circulating prorenin, the inactive precursor of renin, in end-organ damage. Binding of renin and prorenin (referred to as (pro)renin) to the (P)RR increases angiotensin I formation and induces intracellular signalling, resulting in the production of profibrotic factors. However, the (pro)renin concentrations required for intracellular signalling in vitro are several orders of magnitude above (patho)physiological plasma levels. Moreover, the phenotype of prorenin-overexpressing animals could be completely attributed to angiotensin generation, possibly even without the need for a receptor. The efficacy of the only available putative (pro)renin receptor blocker handle region peptide remains doubtful, leading to inconclusive results. The fact that, in contrast to other RAS components, (P)RR knock-outs, even tissue-specific, are lethal, points to an important, (pro)renin-independent, function of the (P)RR. Indeed, recent research has highlighted ancillary functions of the (P)RR as an essential accessory protein of the vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase), and in this role, it acts as an intermediate in Wnt signalling independent of (pro)renin. In conclusion, (pro)renin-dependent signalling is unlikely in non-(pro)renin synthesizing organs, and the (P)RR role in V-ATPase integrity and Wnt signalling may explain some, if not all of the phenotypes previously associated with (pro)renin-(P)RR interaction.

Sorting of the yeast vacuolar-type, proton-translocating ATPase enzyme complex (V-ATPase): identification of a necessary and sufficient Golgi/endosomal retention signal in Stv1p

Subunit a of the yeast vacuolar-type, proton-translocating ATPase enzyme complex (V-ATPase) is responsible for both proton translocation and subcellular localization of this highly conserved molecular machine. Inclusion of the Vph1p isoform causes the V-ATPase complex to traffic to the vacuolar membrane, whereas incorporation of Stv1p causes continued cycling between the trans-Golgi and endosome. We previously demonstrated that this targeting information is contained within the cytosolic, N-terminal portion of V-ATPase subunit a (Stv1p). To identify residues responsible for sorting of the Golgi isoform of the V-ATPase, a random mutagenesis was performed on the N terminus of Stv1p. Subsequent characterization of mutant alleles led to the identification of a short peptide sequence, W(83)KY, that is necessary for proper Stv1p localization. Based on three-dimensional homology modeling to the Meiothermus ruber subunit I, we propose a structural model of the intact Stv1p-containing V-ATPase demonstrating the accessibility of the W(83)KY sequence to retrograde sorting machinery. Finally, we characterized the sorting signal within the context of a reconstructed Stv1p ancestor (Anc.Stv1). This evolutionary intermediate includes an endogenous W(83)KY sorting motif and is sufficient to compete with sorting of the native yeast Stv1p V-ATPase isoform. These data define a novel sorting signal that is both necessary and sufficient for trafficking of the V-ATPase within the Golgi/endosomal network.

The nitric oxide pathway--evidence and mechanisms for protection against liver ischaemia reperfusion injury

Ischaemia reperfusion (IR) injury is a clinical entity with a major contribution to the morbidity and mortality of liver surgery and transplantation. A central pathway of protection against IR injury utilizes nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes manufacture NO from L-arginine. NO generated by the endothelial NOS (eNOS) isoform protects against liver IR injury, whereas inducible NOS (iNOS)-derived NO may have either a protective or a deleterious effect during the early phase of IR injury, depending on the length of ischaemia, length of reperfusion and experimental model. In late phase hepatic IR injury, iNOS-derived NO plays a protective role. In addition to NOS consumption of L-arginine during NO synthesis, this amino acid may also be metabolized by arginase, an enzyme whose release is increased during prolonged ischaemia, and therefore diverts L-arginine away from NOS metabolism leading to a drop in the rate of NO synthesis. NO most commonly acts through the soluble guanylyl cyclase-cyclic GMP- protein kinase G pathway to ameliorate hepatic IR injury. Both endogenously generated and exogenously administered NO donors protect against liver IR injury. The beneficial effects of NO on liver IR are not, however, universal, and certain conditions, such as steatosis, may influence the protective effects of NO. In this review, the evidence for, and mechanisms of these protective actions of NO are discussed, and areas in need of further research are highlighted.

Recruitment of the endosomal WASH complex is mediated by the extended 'tail' of Fam21 binding to the retromer protein Vps35

The retromer complex is a conserved endosomal protein sorting complex that sorts membrane proteins into nascent endosomal tubules. The recognition of membrane proteins is mediated by the cargo-selective retromer complex, a stable trimer of the Vps35 (vacuolar protein sorting 35), Vps29 and Vps26 proteins. We have recently reported that the cargo-selective retromer complex associates with the WASH (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome homologue) complex, a multimeric protein complex that regulates tubule dynamics at endosomes. In the present study, we show that the retromer-WASH complex interaction occurs through the long unstructured 'tail' domain of the WASH complex-Fam21 protein binding to Vps35, an interaction that is necessary and sufficient to target the WASH complex to endosomes. The Fam21-tail also binds to FKBP15 (FK506-binding protein 15), a protein associated with ulcerative colitis, to mediate the membrane association of FKBP15. Elevated Fam21-tail expression inhibits the association of the WASH complex with retromer, resulting in increased cytoplasmic WASH complex. Additionally, overexpression of the Fam21-tail results in cell-spreading defects, implicating the activity of the WASH complex in regulating the mobilization of membrane into the endosome-to-cell surface pathway.

Developmental genetics of secretory vesicle acidification during Caenorhabditis elegans spermatogenesis

Secretory vesicles are used during spermatogenesis to deliver proteins to the cell surface. In Caenorhabditis elegans, secretory membranous organelles (MO) fuse with the plasma membrane to transform spermatids into fertilization-competent spermatozoa. We show that, like the acrosomal vesicle of mammalian sperm, MOs undergo acidification during development. Treatment of spermatids with the V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin blocks both MO acidification and formation of functional spermatozoa. There are several spermatogenesis-defective mutants that cause defects in MO morphogenesis, including spe-5. We determined that spe-5, which is on chromosome I, encodes one of two V-ATPase B paralogous subunits. The spe-5 null mutant is viable but sterile because it forms arrested, multi-nucleate spermatocytes. Immunofluorescence with a SPE-5-specific monoclonal antibody shows that SPE-5 expression begins in spermatocytes and is found in all subsequent stages of spermatogenesis. Most SPE-5 is discarded into the residual body during spermatid budding, but a small amount remains in budded spermatids where it localizes to MOs as a discrete dot. The other V-ATPase B subunit is encoded by vha-12, which is located on the X chromosome. Usually, spe-5 mutants are self-sterile in a wild-type vha-12 background. However, an extrachromosomal transgene containing wild-type vha-12 driven by its own promoter allows spe-5 mutant hermaphrodites to produce progeny, indicating that VHA-12 can at least partially substitute for SPE-5. Others have shown that the X chromosome is transcriptionally silent in the male germline, so expression of the autosomally located spe-5 gene ensures that a V-ATPase B subunit is present during spermatogenesis.

Mutations in vacuolar H+ -ATPase subunits lead to biliary developmental defects in zebrafish

We identified three zebrafish mutants with defects in biliary development. One of these mutants, pekin (pn), also demonstrated generalized hypopigmentation and other defects, including disruption of retinal cell layers, lack of zymogen granules in the pancreas, and dilated Golgi in intestinal epithelial cells. Bile duct cells in pn demonstrated an accumulation of electron dense bodies. We determined that the causative defect in pn was a splice site mutation in the atp6ap2 gene that leads to an inframe stop codon. atp6ap2 encodes a subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-H(+)-ATPase), which modulates pH in intracellular compartments. The Atp6ap2 subunit has also been shown to function as an intracellular renin receptor that stimulates fibrogenesis. Here we show that mutants and morphants involving other V-H(+)-ATPase subunits also demonstrated developmental biliary defects, but did not demonstrate the inhibition of fibrogenic genes observed in pn. The defects in pn are reminiscent of those we and others have observed in class C VPS (vacuolar protein sorting) family mutants and morphants, and we report here that knockdown of atp6ap2 and vps33b had an additive negative effect on biliary development. Our findings suggest that pathways which are important in modulating intracompartmental pH lead to defects in digestive organ development, and support previous studies demonstrating the importance of intracellular sorting pathways in biliary development.

Caveolae, fenestrae and transendothelial channels retain PV1 on the surface of endothelial cells

PV1 protein is an essential component of stomatal and fenestral diaphragms, which are formed at the plasma membrane of endothelial cells (ECs), on structures such as caveolae, fenestrae and transendothelial channels. Knockout of PV1 in mice results in in utero and perinatal mortality. To be able to interpret the complex PV1 knockout phenotype, it is critical to determine whether the formation of diaphragms is the only cellular role of PV1. We addressed this question by measuring the effect of complete and partial removal of structures capable of forming diaphragms on PV1 protein level. Removal of caveolae in mice by knocking out caveolin-1 or cavin-1 resulted in a dramatic reduction of PV1 protein level in lungs but not kidneys. The magnitude of PV1 reduction correlated with the abundance of structures capable of forming diaphragms in the microvasculature of these organs. The absence of caveolae in the lung ECs did not affect the transcription or translation of PV1, but it caused a sharp increase in PV1 protein internalization rate via a clathrin- and dynamin-independent pathway followed by degradation in lysosomes. Thus, PV1 is retained on the cell surface of ECs by structures capable of forming diaphragms, but undergoes rapid internalization and degradation in the absence of these structures, suggesting that formation of diaphragms is the only role of PV1.

Mitochondrial ATP synthase: architecture, function and pathology

Human mitochondrial (mt) ATP synthase, or complex V consists of two functional domains: F(1), situated in the mitochondrial matrix, and F(o), located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Complex V uses the energy created by the proton electrochemical gradient to phosphorylate ADP to ATP. This review covers the architecture, function and assembly of complex V. The role of complex V di-and oligomerization and its relation with mitochondrial morphology is discussed. Finally, pathology related to complex V deficiency and current therapeutic strategies are highlighted. Despite the huge progress in this research field over the past decades, questions remain to be answered regarding the structure of subunits, the function of the rotary nanomotor at a molecular level, and the human complex V assembly process. The elucidation of more nuclear genetic defects will guide physio(patho)logical studies, paving the way for future therapeutic interventions.

Lysosomal acidification mechanisms

Lysosomes, the terminal organelles on the endocytic pathway, digest macromolecules and make their components available to the cell as nutrients. Hydrolytic enzymes specific to a wide range of targets reside within the lysosome; these enzymes are activated by the highly acidic pH (between 4.5 and 5.0) in the organelles' interior. Lysosomes generate and maintain their pH gradients by using the activity of a proton-pumping V-type ATPase, which uses metabolic energy in the form of ATP to pump protons into the lysosome lumen. Because this activity separates electric charge and generates a transmembrane voltage, another ion must move to dissipate this voltage for net pumping to occur. This so-called counterion may be either a cation (moving out of the lysosome) or an anion (moving into the lysosome). Recent data support the involvement of ClC-7, a Cl(-)/H(+) antiporter, in this process, although many open questions remain as to this transporter's involvement. Although functional results also point to a cation transporter, its molecular identity remains uncertain. Both the V-ATPase and the counterion transporter are likely to be important players in the mechanisms determining the steady-state pH of the lysosome interior. Exciting new results suggest that lysosomal pH may be dynamically regulated in some cell types.

Differentiation of intercalated cells in the kidney

The intercalated cell of collecting ducts of the kidney is of two forms, the α form secretes acid, whereas the β form secretes HCO(3). Here, we review recent work that shows that the α form is derived from the β form and that the pathway is mediated by an extracellular matrix protein called hensin/DMBT1.

Cloning and overexpression of an important functional gene ATP6V1F encoding a component of vacuolar ATPase from the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

ATP6V1F encodes a component of vacuolar ATPase mediating acidification. The cDNA and the genomic sequences of ATP6V1F were cloned successfully for the first time from the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and touchdown-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The cDNA fragment cloned is 364 bp in size, containing an open reading frame of 360 bp encoding 119 amino acids. Alignment analysis indicated that both ORF and the deduced amino acid sequence are highly conserved. The length of the genomic sequence of the Giant Panda is 2225 bp, including two exons and one intron. Topology prediction showed that there is one protein kinase C phosphorylation site, two Casein kinase II phosphorylation sites, and one N-myristoylation site in the ATP6V1F protein. The ATP6V1F gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli indicating that ATP6V1F fusion with the N-terminally His-tagged form gave rise to the accumulation of an expected 17 kDa polypeptide, which was according with the predicted protein and also could be used to purify the protein and study its function.

Vesicular Ca(2+) mediates granule motion and exocytosis

Secretory vesicles of chromaffin cells are acidic organelles that maintain an increasing pH gradient towards the cytosol (5.5 vs. 7.3) that is mediated by V-ATPase activity. This gradient is primarily responsible for the accumulation of large concentrations of amines and Ca(2+), although the mechanisms mediating Ca(2+) uptake and release from granules, and the physiological relevance of these processes, remain unclear. The presence of a vesicular matrix appears to create a bi-compartmentalised medium in which the major fractions of solutes, including catecholamines, nucleotides and Ca(2+), are strongly associated with vesicle proteins, particularly chromogranins. This association appears to be favoured at acidic pH values. It has been demonstrated that disrupting the pH gradient of secretory vesicles reduces their rate of exocytosis and promotes the leakage of vesicular amines and Ca(2+), dramatically increasing the movement of secretory vesicles and triggering exocytosis. In this short review, we will discuss the data available that highlights the importance of pH in regulating the association between chromogranins, vesicular amines and Ca(2+). We will also address the potential role of vesicular Ca(2+) in two major processes in secretory cells, vesicle movement and exocytosis.

Pea Albumin 1 subunit b (PA1b), a promising bioinsecticide of plant origin

PA1b (Pea Albumin 1, subunit b) is a peptide extract from pea seeds showing significant insecticidal activity against certain insects, such as cereal weevils (genus Sitophilus), the mosquitoes Culex pipiens and Aedes aegyptii, and certain species of aphids. PA1b has great potential for use on an industrial scale and for use in organic farming: it is extracted from a common plant; it is a peptide (and therefore suitable for transgenic applications); it can withstand many steps of extraction and purification without losing its activity; and it is present in a seed regularly consumed by humans and mammals without any known toxicity or allergenicity. The potential of this peptide to limit pest damage has stimulated research concerning its host range, its mechanism of action, its three-dimensional structure, the natural diversity of PA1b and its structure-function relationships.

Molecular mechanisms of endolysosomal Ca2+ signalling in health and disease

Endosomes, lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles are emerging as important Ca2+ storage cellular compartments with a central role in intracellular Ca2+ signalling. Endocytosis at the plasma membrane forms endosomal vesicles which mature to late endosomes and culminate in lysosomal biogenesis. During this process, acquisition of different ion channels and transporters progressively changes the endolysosomal luminal ionic environment (e.g. pH and Ca2+) to regulate enzyme activities, membrane fusion/fission and organellar ion fluxes, and defects in these can result in disease. In the present review we focus on the physiology of the inter-related transport mechanisms of Ca2+ and H+ across endolysosomal membranes. In particular, we discuss the role of the Ca2+-mobilizing messenger NAADP (nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate) as a major regulator of Ca2+ release from endolysosomes, and the recent discovery of an endolysosomal channel family, the TPCs (two-pore channels), as its principal intracellular targets. Recent molecular studies of endolysosomal Ca2+ physiology and its regulation by NAADP-gated TPCs are providing exciting new insights into the mechanisms of Ca2+-signal initiation that control a wide range of cellular processes and play a role in disease. These developments underscore a new central role for the endolysosomal system in cellular Ca2+ regulation and signalling.