Extracellular interactome of the FGF receptor-ligand system: complexities and the relative simplicity of the worm

Roles of Fibroblast Growth Factors in the Axon Guidance

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have been widely studied by virtue of their ability to regulate many essential cellular activities, including proliferation, survival, migration, differentiation and metabolism. Recently, these molecules have emerged as the key components in forming the intricate connections within the nervous system. FGF and FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling pathways play important roles in axon guidance as axons navigate toward their synaptic targets. This review offers a current account of axonal navigation functions performed by FGFs, which operate as chemoattractants and/or chemorepellents in different circumstances. Meanwhile, detailed mechanisms behind the axon guidance process are elaborated, which are related to intracellular signaling integration and cytoskeleton dynamics.

New developments in the biology of fibroblast growth factors

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family is composed of 18 secreted signaling proteins consisting of canonical FGFs and endocrine FGFs that activate four receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs 1-4) and four intracellular proteins (intracellular FGFs or iFGFs) that primarily function to regulate the activity of voltage-gated sodium channels and other molecules. The canonical FGFs, endocrine FGFs, and iFGFs have been reviewed extensively by us and others. In this review, we briefly summarize past reviews and then focus on new developments in the FGF field since our last review in 2015. Some of the highlights in the past 6 years include the use of optogenetic tools, viral vectors, and inducible transgenes to experimentally modulate FGF signaling, the clinical use of small molecule FGFR inhibitors, an expanded understanding of endocrine FGF signaling, functions for FGF signaling in stem cell pluripotency and differentiation, roles for FGF signaling in tissue homeostasis and regeneration, a continuing elaboration of mechanisms of FGF signaling in development, and an expanding appreciation of roles for FGF signaling in neuropsychiatric diseases. This article is categorized under: Cardiovascular Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Cancer > Stem Cells and Development.

2b or Not 2b: How Opposing FGF Receptor Splice Variants Are Blocking Progress in Precision Oncology

More than ten thousand peer-reviewed studies have assessed the role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) in cancer, but few patients have yet benefited from drugs targeting this molecular family. Strategizing how best to use FGFR-targeted drugs is complicated by multiple variables, including RNA splicing events that alter the affinity of ligands for FGFRs and hence change the outcomes of stromal-epithelial interactions. The effects of splicing are most relevant to FGFR2; expression of the FGFR2b splice isoform can restore apoptotic sensitivity to cancer cells, whereas switching to FGFR2c may drive tumor progression by triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The differentiating and regulatory actions of wild-type FGFR2b contrast with the proliferative actions of FGFR1 and FGFR3, and may be converted to mitogenicity either by splice switching or by silencing of tumor suppressor genes such as CDH1 or PTEN. Exclusive use of small-molecule pan-FGFR inhibitors may thus cause nonselective blockade of FGFR2 isoforms with opposing actions, undermining the rationale of FGFR2 drug targeting. This splice-dependent ability of FGFR2 to switch between tumor-suppressing and -driving functions highlights an unmet oncologic need for isoform-specific drug targeting, e.g., by antibody inhibition of ligand-FGFR2c binding, as well as for more nuanced molecular pathology prediction of FGFR2 actions in different stromal-tumor contexts.

Characterization of clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) and fibroblast growth factor receptor interactions using novel receptor dimerization assay

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is a potent neurotoxin that serves as an effective therapeutic for several neuromuscular disorders via induction of temporary muscular paralysis. Specific binding and internalization of BoNT/A into neuronal cells is mediated by its binding domain (H_C/A), which binds to gangliosides, including GT1b, and protein cell surface receptors, including SV2. Previously, recombinant H_C/A was also shown to bind to FGFR3. As FGFR dimerization is an indirect measure of ligand-receptor binding, an FCS & TIRF receptor dimerization assay was developed to measure rH_C/A-induced dimerization of fluorescently tagged FGFR subtypes (FGFR1-3) in cells. rH_C/A dimerized FGFR subtypes in the rank order FGFR3c (EC₅₀ ≈ 27 nM) > FGFR2b (EC₅₀ ≈ 70 nM) > FGFR1c (EC₅₀ ≈ 163 nM); rH_C/A dimerized FGFR3c with similar potency as the native FGFR3c ligand, FGF9 (EC₅₀ ≈ 18 nM). Mutating the ganglioside binding site in H_C/A, or removal of GT1b from the media, resulted in decreased dimerization. Interestingly, reduced dimerization was also observed with an SV2 mutant variant of H_C/A. Overall, the results suggest that the FCS & TIRF receptor dimerization assay can assess FGFR dimerization with known and novel ligands and support a model wherein H_C/A, either directly or indirectly, interacts with FGFRs and induces receptor dimerization.

Quantitative assessment of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 expression in neurons and glia

Background

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) have numerous functions in the developing and adult central nervous system (CNS). For example, the FGFR1 receptor is important for proliferation and fate specification of radial glial cells in the cortex and hippocampus, oligodendrocyte proliferation and regeneration, midline glia morphology and soma translocation, Bergmann glia morphology, and cerebellar morphogenesis. In addition, FGFR1 signaling in astrocytes is required for postnatal maturation of interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV). FGFR1 is implicated in synapse formation in the hippocampus, and alterations in the expression of Fgfr1 and its ligand, Fgf2 accompany major depression. Understanding which cell types express Fgfr1 during development may elucidate its roles in normal development of the brain as well as illuminate possible causes of certain neuropsychiatric disorders.

Methods

Here, we used a BAC transgenic reporter line to trace Fgfr1 expression in the developing postnatal murine CNS. The specific transgenic line employed was created by the GENSAT project, tgFGFR1-EGFPGP338Gsat, and includes a gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the regulation of the Fgfr1 promoter, to trace Fgfr1 expression in the developing CNS. Unbiased stereological counts were performed for several cell types in the cortex and hippocampus.

Results

This model reveals that Fgfr1 is primarily expressed in glial cells, in both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, along with some neurons. Dual labeling experiments indicate that the proportion of GFP+ (Fgfr1+) cells that are also GFAP+ increases from postnatal day 7 (P7) to 1 month, illuminating dynamic changes in Fgfr1 expression during postnatal development of the cortex. In postnatal neurogenic areas, GFP expression was also observed in SOX2, doublecortin (DCX), and brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP) expressing cells. Fgfr1 is also highly expressed in DCX positive cells of the dentate gyrus (DG), but not in the rostral migratory stream. Fgfr1 driven GFP was also observed in tanycytes and GFAP+ cells of the hypothalamus, as well as in Bergmann glia and astrocytes of the cerebellum.

Conclusions

The tgFGFR1-EGFPGP338Gsat mouse model expresses GFP that is congruent with known functions of FGFR1, including hippocampal development, glial cell development, and stem cell proliferation. Understanding which cell types express Fgfr1 may elucidate its role in neuropsychiatric disorders and brain development.

Achondroplasia: Development, pathogenesis, and therapy

Autosomal dominant mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) cause achondroplasia (Ach), the most common form of dwarfism in humans, and related chondrodysplasia syndromes that include hypochondroplasia (Hch), severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans (SADDAN), and thanatophoric dysplasia (TD). FGFR3 is expressed in chondrocytes and mature osteoblasts where it functions to regulate bone growth. Analysis of the mutations in FGFR3 revealed increased signaling through a combination of mechanisms that include stabilization of the receptor, enhanced dimerization, and enhanced tyrosine kinase activity. Paradoxically, increased FGFR3 signaling profoundly suppresses proliferation and maturation of growth plate chondrocytes resulting in decreased growth plate size, reduced trabecular bone volume, and resulting decreased bone elongation. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms that regulate growth plate chondrocytes, the pathogenesis of Ach, and therapeutic approaches that are being evaluated to improve endochondral bone growth in people with Ach and related conditions. Developmental Dynamics 246:291-309, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Reversal of Aged Muscle Stem Cell Dysfunction

The loss of muscle stem cell (MuSC) numbers and function in the elderly results in a dramatic delay or incomplete repair of muscle following injury or surgery. Prolonged immobility can exacerbate the loss of muscle mass with increased morbidity of affected patients. Stem cells and their niche cooperate to regulate the activation, self-renewal, differentiation, and return to quiescence of MuSCs. Extracellular matrix fibronectin (FN) and MuSC β1-integrin have been identified as critical factors in the dysfunction of aging muscle. Reduced amounts and/or function of β1-integrin and fibronectin are critical factors in the decline in MuSC regeneration and homeostasis with aging. Replacement of fibronectin and/or stimulation of β1-integrin may provide a novel means to augment the decline in MuSC function with age.

Targeting β1-integrin signaling enhances regeneration in aged and dystrophic muscle in mice

Interactions between stem cells and their microenvironment, or niche, are essential for stem cell maintenance and function. Our knowledge of the niche for the skeletal muscle stem cell, i.e., the satellite cell (SC), is incomplete. Here we show that β1-integrin is an essential niche molecule that maintains SC homeostasis, and sustains the expansion and self-renewal of this stem cell pool during regeneration. We further show that β1-integrin cooperates with fibroblast growth factor 2 (Fgf2), a potent growth factor for SCs, to synergistically activate their common downstream effectors, the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase Erk and protein kinase B (Akt). Notably, SCs in aged mice show altered β1-integrin activity and insensitivity to Fgf2. Augmenting β1-integrin activity with a monoclonal antibody restores Fgf2 sensitivity and improves regeneration after experimentally induced muscle injury. The same treatment also enhances regeneration and function of dystrophic muscles in mdx mice, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Therefore, β1-integrin senses the SC niche to maintain responsiveness to Fgf2, and this integrin represents a potential therapeutic target for pathological conditions of the muscle in which the stem cell niche is compromised.

Dysregulated fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in neurological and psychiatric disorders

The role of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) system in brain-related disorders has received considerable attention in recent years. To understand the role of this system in neurological and psychiatric disorders, it is important to identify the specific members of the FGF family that are implicated, their location and the various mechanisms they can be modulated. Each disorder appears to impact specific molecular players in unique anatomical locations, and all of these could conceivably become targets for treatment. In the last several years, the issue of how to target this system directly has become an area of increasing interest. To date, the most promising therapeutics are small molecule inhibitors and antibodies that modulate FGF receptor (FGFR) function. Beyond attempting to modify the primary players affected by a given brain disorder, it may prove useful to target molecules, such as membrane-bound or extracellular proteins that interact with FGF ligands or FGFRs to modulate signaling.

Fibroblast growth factors as tissue repair and regeneration therapeutics

Cell communication is central to the integration of cell function required for the development and homeostasis of multicellular animals. Proteins are an important currency of cell communication, acting locally (auto-, juxta-, or paracrine) or systemically (endocrine). The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family contributes to the regulation of virtually all aspects of development and organogenesis, and after birth to tissue maintenance, as well as particular aspects of organism physiology. In the West, oncology has been the focus of translation of FGF research, whereas in China and to an extent Japan a major focus has been to use FGFs in repair and regeneration settings. These differences have their roots in research history and aims. The Chinese drive into biotechnology and the delivery of engineered clinical grade FGFs by a major Chinese research group were important enablers in this respect. The Chinese language clinical literature is not widely accessible. To put this into context, we provide the essential molecular and functional background to the FGF communication system covering FGF ligands, the heparan sulfate and Klotho co-receptors and FGF receptor (FGFR) tyrosine kinases. We then summarise a selection of clinical reports that demonstrate the efficacy of engineered recombinant FGF ligands in treating a wide range of conditions that require tissue repair/regeneration. Alongside, the functional reasons why application of exogenous FGF ligands does not lead to cancers are described. Together, this highlights that the FGF ligands represent a major opportunity for clinical translation that has been largely overlooked in the West.

Hanging on for the ride: adhesion to the extracellular matrix mediates cellular responses in skeletal muscle morphogenesis and disease

Skeletal muscle specification and morphogenesis during early development are critical for normal physiology. In addition to mediating locomotion, skeletal muscle is a secretory organ that contributes to metabolic homeostasis. Muscle is a highly adaptable tissue, as evidenced by the ability to increase muscle cell size and/or number in response to weight bearing exercise. Conversely, muscle wasting can occur during aging (sarcopenia), cancer (cancer cachexia), extended hospital stays (disuse atrophy), and in many genetic diseases collectively known as the muscular dystrophies and myopathies. It is therefore of great interest to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate skeletal muscle development and adaptation. Muscle morphogenesis transforms short muscle precursor cells into long, multinucleate myotubes that anchor to tendons via the myotendinous junction. This process requires carefully orchestrated interactions between cells and their extracellular matrix microenvironment. These interactions are dynamic, allowing muscle cells to sense biophysical, structural, organizational, and/or signaling changes within their microenvironment and respond appropriately. In many musculoskeletal diseases, these cell adhesion interactions are disrupted to such a degree that normal cellular adaptive responses are not sufficient to compensate for accumulating damage. Thus, one major focus of current research is to identify the cell adhesion mechanisms that drive muscle morphogenesis, with the hope that understanding how muscle cell adhesion promotes the intrinsic adaptability of muscle tissue during development may provide insight into potential therapeutic approaches for muscle diseases. Our objectives in this review are to highlight recent studies suggesting conserved roles for cell-extracellular matrix adhesion in vertebrate muscle morphogenesis and cellular adaptive responses in animal models of muscle diseases.

FGFR signalling in women's cancers

FGFs, in a complex with their receptors (FGFRs) and heparan sulfate (HS), are responsible for a range of cellular functions, from embryogenesis to metabolism. Both germ line and somatic FGFR mutations are known to play a role in a range of diseases, most notably craniosynestosis dysplasias, dwarfism and cancer. Because of the ability of FGFR signalling to induce cell proliferation, migration and survival, FGFRs are readily co-opted by cancer cells. Mutations in, and amplifications of, these receptors are found in a range of cancers with some of the most striking clinical findings relating to their contribution to pathogenesis and progression of female cancers. Here, we outline the molecular mechanisms of FGFR signalling and discuss the role of this pathway in women's cancers, focusing on breast, endometrial, ovarian and cervical carcinomas, and their associated preclinical and clinical data. We also address the rationale for therapeutic intervention and the need for FGFR-targeted therapy to selectively target cancer cells in view of the fundamental roles of FGF signalling in normal physiology.

Fgf10 expression patterns in the developing chick inner ear

The inner ear is a complex three-dimensional sensorial structure with auditory and vestibular functions. It originates from the otic placode, which invaginates, forming the otic vesicle; the latter gives rise to neurosensory and nonsensory elements of the adult membranous labyrinth. A hypothesis based on descriptive and experimental evidence suggests that the acquisition of discrete sensory patches during evolution of this primordium may be related to subdivision of an early pansensory domain. In order to gain insight into this developmental mechanism, we carried out a detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal expression pattern of the gene Fgf10, by comparing different markers of otic patterning and hair cell differentiation. Fgf10 expression labels a sensory-competent domain included in a Serrate-positive territory from which most of the sensory epithelia arise. Our data show that Fgf10 transcripts are present initially in a narrow ventromedial band of the rudimentary otocyst, extending between its rostral and caudal poles. During development, this Fgf10-expressing area splits repetitively into several separate subareas, creating six of the eight sensory organs present in birds. Only the lateral crista and the macula neglecta were initially Fgf10 negative, although they activated Fgf10 expression after their specification as sensory elements. These results allowed us to determine a timetable of sensory specification in the developing chick inner ear. The comparison of the expression pattern of Fgf10 with those of other markers of sensory differentiation contributes to our understanding of the mechanism by which vertebrate inner ear prosensory domains have arisen during evolution.

Extracellular modulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor signaling through heparan sulfate proteoglycans in mammalian development

Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling plays crucial roles in multiple cellular processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration during mammalian embryogenesis. In the extracellular matrix, as well as at the cell surface, the movement of FGF ligands to target cells and the subsequent complex formations with their receptors are positively and negatively controlled extracellularly by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) such as syndecans, glypicans, and perlecan. Additionally, spreading of HSPGs by cleavage with sheddases such as proteinases and heparanases, and the overall length and sulfation level of specific heparan sulfate structures further generate a great diversity of FGF signaling outcomes. This review presents our current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of FGF signaling in extracellular spaces through HSPGs in mammalian development.

Fibroblast growth factors in neurodevelopment and psychopathology

In psychiatric disorders, the effect of genetic and environmental factors may converge on molecular pathways and brain circuits related to growth factor functioning. In this review, we describe how disturbances in fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors influence behavior by affecting brain development. Recently, several studies reported associations of members of the FGF family with psychiatric disorders. FGFs are key candidates to modulate the impact of environmental factors, such as stress. Mutant mice for FGF receptor 1 show schizophrenia-like behaviors that are related to general loss of neurons and postnatal glia dysfunction. Mice lacking FGF2, a FGFR1 ligand, show similar reductions in brain volume and hyperactivity, as well as increased anxiety behaviors. FGFR2 and FGF17 are involved in the development of frontal brain regions and impairments in cognitive and social behaviors, respectively. Moreover, treatment with FGF2 was beneficial for depressive and cognitive measures in several animal studies and one human study. These findings indicate the importance of the FGF system with respect to developing novel etiology-directed treatments for psychopathology.

Signal amplification by glyco-qPCR for ultrasensitive detection of carbohydrates: applications in glycobiology

Tiny amounts of carbohydrates (ca. 1 zmol) can be detected quantitatively by a real-time method based on the conjugation of carbohydrates with DNA markers (see picture). The proposed method (glyco-qPCR) provides uniform, ultrasensitive detection of carbohydrates, which can be applied to glycobiology, as well as carbohydrate-based drug discovery.

Role of fibroblast growth factor signaling in vascular formation and maintenance: orchestrating signaling networks as an integrated system

The vascular system has begun to be perceived as a dynamic organ actively controlling a wide variety of physiological processes. The structural and functional integrity of blood vessels, regulated by signaling activities finely modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, is crucial for vessel physiology, as well as basic functionality of the tissue. Throughout the process of new vessel formation, while blood vessels are actively reorganized and remodeled with migration and proliferation of vascular cells, maintenance of vascular barrier function is essentially important. These conflicting properties, i.e., dynamic cellular mobilization and maintenance of barrier integrity, are simultaneously achieved through the interaction of highly organized signaling networks governing coordinated cell-cell interplay. Recent evidence suggests that the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) system plays a regulatory role in several physiological conditions in the vascular system. In this article, we will attempt to summarize current knowledge in order to understand the mechanism of this coordination and evaluate the pivotal role of FGF signaling in integrating a diverse range of signaling events in vascular growth and maintenance.

Heparan sulfate biosynthesis: methods for investigation of the heparanosome

Heparan sulfate is perhaps the most complex polysaccharide known from animals. The basic repeating disaccharide is extensively modified by sulfation and uronic acid epimerization. Despite this, the fine structure of heparan sulfate is remarkably consistent with a particular cell type. This suggests that the synthesis of heparan sulfate is tightly controlled. Although genomics has identified the enzymes involved in glycosaminoglycan synthesis in a number of vertebrates and invertebrates, the regulation of the process is not understood. Moreover, the localization of the various enzymes in the Golgi apparatus has not been carried out in a detailed way using high-resolution microscopy. We have begun this process, using well-known markers for the various Golgi compartments, coupled with the use of characterized antibodies and cDNA expression. Laser scanning confocal microscopy coupled with line scanning provides high-quality resolution of the distribution of enzymes. The EXT2 protein, which when combined as heterodimers with EXT1 comprises the major polymerase in heparan sulfate synthesis, has been studied in depth. All the data are consistent with a cis-Golgi distribution and provide a starting point to establish whether all the enzymes are clustered in a multimolecular complex or are distributed through the various compartments of the Golgi apparatus.

Receptor antibodies as novel therapeutics for diabetes

Antibodies to receptors can block or mimic hormone action. Taking advantage of receptor isoforms, co-receptors, and other receptor modulating proteins, antibodies and other designer ligands can enhance tissue specificity and provide new approaches to the therapy of diabetes and other diseases.

Toward a systems level view of the ECM and related proteins: a framework for the systematic definition and analysis of biological systems

Advances in high throughput 'omic technologies are starting to provide unprecedented insights into how components of biological systems are organized and interact. Key to exploiting these datasets is the definition of the components that comprise the system of interest. Although a variety of knowledge bases exist that capture such information, a major challenge is determining how these resources may be best utilized. Here we present a systematic curation strategy to define a systems-level view of the human extracellular matrix (ECM)--a three-dimensional meshwork of proteins and polysaccharides that impart structure and mechanical stability to tissues. Employing our curation strategy we define a set of 357 proteins that represent core components of the ECM, together with an additional 524 genes that mediate related functional roles, and construct a map of their physical interactions. Topological properties help identify modules of functionally related proteins, including those involved in cell adhesion, bone formation and blood clotting. Because of its major role in cell adhesion, proliferation and morphogenesis, defects in the ECM have been implicated in cancer, atherosclerosis, asthma, fibrosis, and arthritis. We use MeSH annotations to identify modules enriched for specific disease terms that aid to strengthen existing as well as predict novel gene-disease associations. Mapping expression and conservation data onto the network reveal modules evolved in parallel to convey tissue-specific functionality on otherwise broadly expressed units. In addition to demonstrating an effective workflow for defining biological systems, this study crystallizes our current knowledge surrounding the organization of the ECM.

FGFs: Neurodevelopment's Jack-of-all-Trades - How Do They Do it?

From neurulation to postnatal processes, the requirements for FGF signaling in many aspects of neural precursor cell biology have been well documented. However, identifying a requirement for FGFs in a particular neurogenic process provides only an initial and superficial understanding of what FGF signaling is doing. How FGFs specify cell types in one instance, yet promote cell survival, proliferation, migration, or differentiation in other instances remains largely unknown and is key to understanding how they function. This review describes what we have learned primarily from in vivo vertebrate studies about the roles of FGF signaling in neurulation, anterior–posterior patterning of the neural plate, brain patterning from local signaling centers, and finally neocortex development as an example of continued roles for FGFs within the same brain area. The potential explanations for the diverse functions of FGFs through differential interactions with cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors is then discussed with an emphasis on how little we know about the modulation of FGF signaling in vivo. A clearer picture of the mechanisms involved is nevertheless essential to understand the behavior of neural precursor cells and to potentially guide their fates for therapeutic purposes.

Zebrafish Ext2 is necessary for Fgf and Wnt signaling, but not for Hh signaling

BACKGROUND

Heparan sulfate (HS) biosynthesis is tightly regulated during vertebrate embryo development. However, potential roles for HS biosynthesis in regulating the function of paracrine signaling molecules that bind to HS are incompletely understood.

RESULTS

In this report we have studied Fgf, Wnt and Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in ext2 mutants, where heparan sulfate content is low. We found that Fgf targeted gene expression is reduced in ext2 mutants and that the remaining expression is readily inhibited by SU5402, an FGF receptor inhibitor. In the ext2 mutants, Fgf signaling is shown to be affected during nervous system development and reduction of Fgf ligands in the mutants affects tail development. Also, Wnt signaling is affected in the ext2 mutants, as shown by a stronger phenotype in ext2 mutants injected with morpholinos that partially block translation of Wnt11 or Wnt5b, compared to injected wild type embryos. In contrast, Hh dependent signaling is apparently unaffected in the ext2 mutants; Hh targeted gene expression is not reduced, the Hh inhibitor cyclopamine is not more affective in the mutants and Hh dependent cell differentiation in the retina and in the myotome are normal in ext2 mutants. In addition, no genetic interaction between ext2 and shha during development could be detected.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that ext2 is involved in Fgf and Wnt signaling but not in Hh signaling, revealing an unexpected specificity for ext2 in signaling pathways during embryonic development. Thus, our results support the hypothesis that regulation of heparan sulfate biosynthesis has distinct instructive functions for different signaling factors.

The cooperation of FGF receptor and Klotho is involved in excretory canal development and regulation of metabolic homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans

FGFs have traditionally been associated with cell proliferation, morphogenesis, and development; yet, a subfamily of FGFs (FGF19, -21, and -23) functions as hormones to regulate glucose, lipid, phosphate, and vitamin D metabolism with impact on energy balance and aging. In mammals, Klotho and beta-Klotho are type 1 transmembrane proteins that function as obligatory co-factors for endocrine FGFs to bind to their cognate FGF receptors (FGFRs). Mutations in Klotho/beta-Klotho or fgf19, -21, or -23 are associated with a number of human diseases, including autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets, premature aging disorders, and diabetes. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome contains two paralogues of Klotho/beta-Klotho, klo-1, and klo-2. klo-1 is expressed in the C. elegans excretory canal, which is structurally and functionally paralogous to the vertebrate kidney. KLO-1 associates with EGL-15/FGFR, suggesting a role for KLO-1 in the fluid homeostasis phenotype described previously for egl-15/fgfr mutants. Altered levels of EGL-15/FGFR signaling lead to defects in excretory canal development and function in C. elegans. These results suggest an evolutionarily conserved function for the FGFR-Klotho complex in the development of excretory organs such as the mammalian kidney and the worm excretory canal. These results also suggest an evolutionarily conserved function for the FGFR-Klotho axis in metabolic regulation.

FGF signalling as a mediator of lineage transitions--evidence from embryonic stem cell differentiation

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling pathway is one of the most ubiquitous in biology. It has diverse roles in development, differentiation and cancer. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are in vitro cell lines capable of differentiating into all the lineages of the conceptus. As such they have the capacity to differentiate into derivatives of all three germ layers and to some extent the extra-embryonic lineages as well. Given the prominent role of FGF signalling in early embryonic development, we explore the role of this pathway in early ES cell differentiation towards the major lineages of the embryo. As early embryonic differentiation is intricately choreographed at the level of morphogenetic movement, adherent ES cell culture affords a unique opportunity to study the basic steps in early lineage specification in the absence of ever shifting complex in vivo microenvironments. Thus recent experiments in ES cell differentiation are able to pinpoint specific FGF dependent lineage transitions that are difficult to resolve in vivo. Here we review the role of FGF signalling in early development alongside the ES cell data and suggest that FGF dependent signalling via phospho-Erk activation maybe a major mediator of transitions in lineage specification.

Cancer models in Caenorhabditis elegans

Although now dogma, the idea that nonvertebrate organisms such as yeast, worms, and flies could inform, and in some cases even revolutionize, our understanding of oncogenesis in humans was not immediately obvious. Aided by the conservative nature of evolution and the persistence of a cohort of devoted researchers, the role of model organisms as a key tool in solving the cancer problem has, however, become widely accepted. In this review, we focus on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and its diverse and sometimes surprising contributions to our understanding of the tumorigenic process. Specifically, we discuss findings in the worm that address a well-defined set of processes known to be deregulated in cancer cells including cell cycle progression, growth factor signaling, terminal differentiation, apoptosis, the maintenance of genome stability, and developmental mechanisms relevant to invasion and metastasis.

Caenorhabditis elegans fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling can occur independently of the multi-substrate adaptor FRS2

The components of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling complexes help to define the specificity of the effects of their activation. The Caenorhabditis elegans fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), EGL-15, regulates a number of processes, including sex myoblast (SM) migration guidance and fluid homeostasis, both of which require a Grb2/Sos/Ras cassette of signaling components. Here we show that SEM-5/Grb2 can bind directly to EGL-15 to mediate SM chemoattraction. A yeast two-hybrid screen identified SEM-5 as able to interact with the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of EGL-15, a domain that is specifically required for SM chemoattraction. This interaction requires the SEM-5 SH2-binding motifs present in the CTD (Y(1009) and Y(1087)), and these sites are required for the CTD role of EGL-15 in SM chemoattraction. SEM-5, but not the SEM-5 binding sites located in the CTD, is required for the fluid homeostasis function of EGL-15, indicating that SEM-5 can link to EGL-15 through an alternative mechanism. The multi-substrate adaptor protein FRS2 serves to link vertebrate FGFRs to Grb2. In C. elegans, an FRS2-like gene, rog-1, functions upstream of a Ras/MAPK pathway for oocyte maturation but is not required for EGL-15 function. Thus, unlike the vertebrate FGFRs, which require the multi-substrate adaptor FRS2 to recruit Grb2, EGL-15 can recruit SEM-5/Grb2 directly.

The binding of NCAM to FGFR1 induces a specific cellular response mediated by receptor trafficking

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) associates with fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor-1 (FGFR1). However, the biological significance of this interaction remains largely elusive. In this study, we show that NCAM induces a specific, FGFR1-mediated cellular response that is remarkably different from that elicited by FGF-2. In contrast to FGF-induced degradation of endocytic FGFR1, NCAM promotes the stabilization of the receptor, which is recycled to the cell surface in a Rab11- and Src-dependent manner. In turn, FGFR1 recycling is required for NCAM-induced sustained activation of various effectors. Furthermore, NCAM, but not FGF-2, promotes cell migration, and this response depends on FGFR1 recycling and sustained Src activation. Our results implicate NCAM as a nonconventional ligand for FGFR1 that exerts a peculiar control on the intracellular trafficking of the receptor, resulting in a specific cellular response. Besides introducing a further level of complexity in the regulation of FGFR1 function, our findings highlight the link of FGFR recycling with sustained signaling and cell migration and the critical role of these events in dictating the cellular response evoked by receptor activation.

N-Glycosylation regulates fibroblast growth factor receptor/EGL-15 activity in Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo

The regulation of cell function by fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) classically occurs through a dual receptor system of a tyrosine kinase receptor (FGFR) and a heparan sulfate proteoglycan co-receptor. Mutations in some consensus N-glycosylation sites in human FGFR result in skeletal disorders and craniosynostosis syndromes, and biophysical studies in vitro suggest that N-glycosylation of FGFR alters ligand and heparan sulfate binding properties. The evolutionarily conserved FGFR signaling system of Caenorhabditis elegans has been used to assess the role of N-glycosylation in the regulation of FGFR signaling in vivo. The C. elegans FGF receptor, EGL-15, is N-glycosylated in vivo, and genetic substitution of specific consensus N-glycosylation sites leads to defects in the maintenance of fluid homeostasis and differentiation of sex muscles, both of which are phenotypes previously associated with hyperactive EGL-15 signaling. These phenotypes are suppressed by hypoactive mutations in EGL-15 downstream signaling components or activating mutations in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, respectively. The results show that N-glycans negatively regulate FGFR activity in vivo supporting the notion that mutation of N-glycosylation sites in human FGFR may lead to inappropriate activation of the receptor.

TagR promotes PpkA-catalysed type VI secretion activation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) contribute to interactions of bacterial pathogens and symbionts with their hosts. Previously, we showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa T6S is posttranslationally activated upon phosphorylation of Fha1, an FHA domain protein, by PpkA, a membrane-spanning threonine kinase. Herein, additional structural, enzymatic and genetic requirements for PpkA-catalysed T6SS activation are identified. We found that PpkA plays an essential structural role in the T6SS, and that this role is intimately linked to its ability to promote secretion and phosphorylate Fha1. Protein localization and protein-protein interaction studies show that a complex containing Fha1 and the T6S ATPase, ClpV1 is recruited to the T6S apparatus in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. The mechanism of PpkA activation was also investigated. We identified critical PpkA autophosphorylation sites and showed that small molecule-induced dimerization of the extracellular domains of PpkA is sufficient to activate the T6SS. Finally, we discovered TagR, a component of the T6S posttranslational regulatory pathway that functions upstream of PpkA to promote kinase activity. We present a model whereby an unknown cue causes dimerization of the extracellular domains of PpkA, leading to its autophosphorylation, recruitment of the Fha1-ClpV1 complex, phosphorylation of Fha1, and T6SS activation. Our findings should facilitate approaches for identifying physiological activators of T6S.