Localization of utrophin and aciculin at sites of cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion in cultured cells

Structure and Characterization of Phosphoglucomutase 5 from Atlantic and Baltic Herring-An Inactive Enzyme with Intact Substrate Binding

Phosphoglucomutase 5 (PGM5) in humans is known as a structural muscle protein without enzymatic activity, but detailed understanding of its function is lacking. PGM5 belongs to the alpha-D-phosphohexomutase family and is closely related to the enzymatically active metabolic enzyme PGM1. In the Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, PGM5 is one of the genes strongly associated with ecological adaptation to the brackish Baltic Sea. We here present the first crystal structures of PGM5, from the Atlantic and Baltic herring, differing by a single substitution Ala330Val. The structure of PGM5 is overall highly similar to structures of PGM1. The structure of the Baltic herring PGM5 in complex with the substrate glucose-1-phosphate shows conserved substrate binding and active site compared to human PGM1, but both PGM5 variants lack phosphoglucomutase activity under the tested conditions. Structure comparison and sequence analysis of PGM5 and PGM1 from fish and mammals suggest that the lacking enzymatic activity of PGM5 is related to differences in active-site loops that are important for flipping of the reaction intermediate. The Ala330Val substitution does not alter structure or biophysical properties of PGM5 but, due to its surface-exposed location, could affect interactions with protein-binding partners.

Identification of unexplored substrates of the serine protease, thrombin, using N-terminomics strategy

The function and regulation of thrombin is a complex as well as an intriguing aspect of evolution and has captured the interest of many investigators over the years. The reported substrates of thrombin are coagulation factors V, VIII, XI, XIII, protein C and fibrinogen. However, these may not be all the substrate of thrombin and therefore its functional role(s), may not have been completely comprehended. The purpose of our study was to identify hitherto unreported substrates of thrombin from human plasma using a N-terminomics protease substrate identification method. We identified 54 putative substrates of thrombin of which 12 are already known and 42 are being reported for the first time. Amongst the proteins identified, recombinant siglec-6 and purified serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein were validated by cleavage with thrombin. We have discussed the probable relevance of siglec-6 cleavage by thrombin in human placenta mostly because an upregulation in the expression of siglec-6 and thrombin has been reported in the placenta of preeclampsia patients. We also speculate the role of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein cleavage by thrombin in the acute phase as alpha-1-acid glycoprotein is known to be an inhibitor of platelet aggregation whereas thrombin is known to trigger platelet aggregation.

PGM5: a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for liver cancer

Background

Liver cancer is a common malignancy and a significant public health problem worldwide, but diagnosis and prognostic evaluation remain challenging for clinicians. Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, and we therefore examined the diagnostic and prognostic value of a metabolic enzyme, phosphoglucomutase-like protein 5 (PGM5), in liver cancer.

Methods

All data were from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. R and related statistical packages were used for data analysis. Hepatic PGM5 expression was determined in different groups, and the chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine the significance of differences. The pROC package was used to determine receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the survival package was used to for survival analysis and development of a Cox multivariable model, and the ggplot2 package was used for data visualization.

Results

PGM5 expression was significantly lower in cancerous than adjacent normal liver tissues, and had modest diagnostic value based on ROC analysis and calculations of area under the curve (AUC). Hepatic PGM5 expression had positive associations with male sex and survival, but negative associations with advanced histologic type, advanced histologic grade, advanced stage, and advanced T classification. Patents with low PGM5 levels had poorer overall survival and relapse-free survival. PGM5 was independently associated with patient prognosis.

Conclusion

PGM5 has potential use as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for liver cancer.

The utrophin-beta 2 syntrophin complex regulates adipocyte lipid droplet size independent of adipogenesis

Utrophin is a widely expressed cytoskeleton protein and is associated with lipid droplets (LDs) in adipocytes. The scaffold protein beta 2 syntrophin (SNTB2) controls signaling events by recruiting distinct membrane and cytoskeletal proteins, and binds to utrophin. Here we show that SNTB2 forms a complex with utrophin in adipocytes. SNTB2 protein is strongly diminished when utrophin is low. Of note, knock-down of utrophin or SNTB2 enhances LD growth during adipogenesis. SNTB2 reduction has no effect on basal and induced lipolysis, and insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt is normal. The antilipolytic activity of insulin is enhanced in adipocytes with low SNTB2, while knock-down of utrophin has no effect. Uptake of exogenously supplied oleate and linoleate is comparable in scrambled and SNTB2 siRNA-treated cells. In the fibroblasts, diminished SNTB2 is associated with lower proliferation. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins which are critical transcription factors for adipogenesis are normally expressed. Consequently, maturation of cells with SNTB2 knock-down is not grossly impaired. In fibroblasts, SNTB2 is localized to filamentous and vesicular structures which are distinct from beta actin, alpha tubulin, endoplasmic reticulum, early endosomes, lysosomes and mitochondria. Collectively, our data provide evidence that the utrophin-SNTB2 complex regulates LD size without affecting adipogenesis.

Molecular targets of developmental exposure to bisphenol A in diabesity: a focus on endoderm-derived organs

Several studies associate foetal human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) to metabolic/endocrine diseases, mainly diabesity. They describe the role of BPA in the disruption of pancreatic beta cell, adipocyte and hepatocyte functions. Indeed, the complexity of the diabesity phenotype is due to the involvement of different endoderm-derived organs, all targets of BPA. Here, we analyse this point delineating a picture of different mechanisms of BPA toxicity in endoderm-derived organs leading to diabesity. Moving from epidemiological data, we summarize the in vivo experimental data of the BPA effects on endoderm-derived organs (thyroid, pancreas, liver, gut, prostate and lung) after prenatal exposure. Mainly, we gather molecular data evidencing harmful effects at low-dose exposure, pointing to the risk to human health. Although the fragmentation of molecular data does not allow a clear conclusion to be drawn, the present work indicates that the developmental exposure to BPA represents a risk for endoderm-derived organs development as it deregulates the gene expression from the earliest developmental stages. A more systematic analysis of BPA impact on the transcriptomes of endoderm-derived organs is still missing. Here, we suggest in vitro toxicogenomics approaches as a tool for the identification of common mechanisms of BPA toxicity leading to the diabesity in organs having the same developmental origin.

Proximity biotinylation provides insight into the molecular composition of focal adhesions at the nanometer scale

Focal adhesions are protein complexes that link metazoan cells to the extracellular matrix through the integrin family of transmembrane proteins. Integrins recruit many proteins to these complexes, referred to as the "adhesome." We used proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID) in U2OS osteosarcoma cells to label proteins within 15 to 25 nm of paxillin, a cytoplasmic focal adhesion protein, and kindlin-2, which directly binds β integrins. Using mass spectrometry analysis of the biotinylated proteins, we identified 27 known adhesome proteins and 8 previously unknown components close to paxillin. However, only seven of these proteins interacted directly with paxillin, one of which was the adaptor protein Kank2. The proteins in proximity to β integrin included 15 of the adhesion proteins identified in the paxillin BioID data set. BioID also correctly established kindlin-2 as a cell-cell junction protein. By focusing on this smaller data set, new partners for kindlin-2 were found, namely, the endocytosis-promoting proteins liprin β1 and EFR3A, but, contrary to previous reports, not the filamin-binding protein migfilin. A model adhesome based on both data sets suggests that focal adhesions contain fewer components than previously suspected and that paxillin lies away from the plasma membrane. These data not only illustrate the power of using BioID and stable isotope-labeled mass spectrometry to define macromolecular complexes but also enable the correct identification of therapeutic targets within the adhesome.

E-cadherin loss alters cytoskeletal organization and adhesion in non-malignant breast cells but is insufficient to induce an epithelial-mesenchymal transition

BACKGROUND

E-cadherin is an adherens junction protein that forms homophilic intercellular contacts in epithelial cells while also interacting with the intracellular cytoskeletal networks. It has roles including establishment and maintenance of cell polarity, differentiation, migration and signalling in cell proliferation pathways. Its downregulation is commonly observed in epithelial tumours and is a hallmark of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT).

METHODS

To improve our understanding of how E-cadherin loss contributes to tumorigenicity, we investigated the impact of its elimination from the non-tumorigenic breast cell line MCF10A. We performed cell-based assays and whole genome RNAseq to characterize an isogenic MCF10A cell line that is devoid of CDH1 expression due to an engineered homozygous 4 bp deletion in CDH1 exon 11.

RESULTS

The E-cadherin-deficient line, MCF10A CDH1-/- showed subtle morphological changes, weaker cell-substrate adhesion, delayed migration, but retained cell-cell contact, contact growth inhibition and anchorage-dependent growth. Within the cytoskeleton, the apical microtubule network in the CDH1-deficient cells lacked the radial pattern of organization present in the MCF10A cells and F-actin formed thicker, more numerous stress fibres in the basal part of the cell. Whole genome RNAseq identified compensatory changes in the genes involved in cell-cell adhesion while genes involved in cell-substrate adhesion, notably ITGA1, COL8A1, COL4A2 and COL12A1, were significantly downregulated. Key EMT markers including CDH2, FN1, VIM and VTN were not upregulated although increased expression of proteolytic matrix metalloprotease and kallikrein genes was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results demonstrated that E-cadherin loss alone was insufficient to induce an EMT or enhance transforming potential in the non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells but was associated with broad transcriptional changes associated with tissue remodelling.

E-cadherin loss alters cytoskeletal organization and adhesion in non-malignant breast cells but is insufficient to induce an epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Background

E-cadherin is an adherens junction protein that forms homophilic intercellular contacts in epithelial cells while also interacting with the intracellular cytoskeletal networks. It has roles including establishment and maintenance of cell polarity, differentiation, migration and signalling in cell proliferation pathways. Its downregulation is commonly observed in epithelial tumours and is a hallmark of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Methods

To improve our understanding of how E-cadherin loss contributes to tumorigenicity, we investigated the impact of its elimination from the non-tumorigenic breast cell line MCF10A. We performed cell-based assays and whole genome RNAseq to characterize an isogenic MCF10A cell line that is devoid of CDH1 expression due to an engineered homozygous 4 bp deletion in CDH1 exon 11.

Results

The E-cadherin-deficient line, MCF10A CDH1-/- showed subtle morphological changes, weaker cell-substrate adhesion, delayed migration, but retained cell-cell contact, contact growth inhibition and anchorage-dependent growth. Within the cytoskeleton, the apical microtubule network in the CDH1-deficient cells lacked the radial pattern of organization present in the MCF10A cells and F-actin formed thicker, more numerous stress fibres in the basal part of the cell. Whole genome RNAseq identified compensatory changes in the genes involved in cell-cell adhesion while genes involved in cell-substrate adhesion, notably ITGA1, COL8A1, COL4A2 and COL12A1, were significantly downregulated. Key EMT markers including CDH2, FN1, VIM and VTN were not upregulated although increased expression of proteolytic matrix metalloprotease and kallikrein genes was observed.

Conclusions

Overall, our results demonstrated that E-cadherin loss alone was insufficient to induce an EMT or enhance transforming potential in the non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells but was associated with broad transcriptional changes associated with tissue remodelling.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2407-14-552) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

E-cadherin loss alters cytoskeletal organization and adhesion in non-malignant breast cells but is insufficient to induce an epithelial-mesenchymal transition

BACKGROUND

E-cadherin is an adherens junction protein that forms homophilic intercellular contacts in epithelial cells while also interacting with the intracellular cytoskeletal networks. It has roles including establishment and maintenance of cell polarity, differentiation, migration and signalling in cell proliferation pathways. Its downregulation is commonly observed in epithelial tumours and is a hallmark of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT).

METHODS

To improve our understanding of how E-cadherin loss contributes to tumorigenicity, we investigated the impact of its elimination from the non-tumorigenic breast cell line MCF10A. We performed cell-based assays and whole genome RNAseq to characterize an isogenic MCF10A cell line that is devoid of CDH1 expression due to an engineered homozygous 4 bp deletion in CDH1 exon 11.

RESULTS

The E-cadherin-deficient line, MCF10A CDH1-/- showed subtle morphological changes, weaker cell-substrate adhesion, delayed migration, but retained cell-cell contact, contact growth inhibition and anchorage-dependent growth. Within the cytoskeleton, the apical microtubule network in the CDH1-deficient cells lacked the radial pattern of organization present in the MCF10A cells and F-actin formed thicker, more numerous stress fibres in the basal part of the cell. Whole genome RNAseq identified compensatory changes in the genes involved in cell-cell adhesion while genes involved in cell-substrate adhesion, notably ITGA1, COL8A1, COL4A2 and COL12A1, were significantly downregulated. Key EMT markers including CDH2, FN1, VIM and VTN were not upregulated although increased expression of proteolytic matrix metalloprotease and kallikrein genes was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results demonstrated that E-cadherin loss alone was insufficient to induce an EMT or enhance transforming potential in the non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells but was associated with broad transcriptional changes associated with tissue remodelling.

Aciculin interacts with filamin C and Xin and is essential for myofibril assembly, remodeling and maintenance

Filamin C (FLNc) and Xin actin-binding repeat-containing proteins (XIRPs) are multi-adaptor proteins that are mainly expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscles and which play important roles in the assembly and repair of myofibrils and their attachment to the membrane. We identified the dystrophin-binding protein aciculin (also known as phosphoglucomutase-like protein 5, PGM5) as a new interaction partner of FLNc and Xin. All three proteins colocalized at intercalated discs of cardiac muscle and myotendinous junctions of skeletal muscle, whereas FLNc and aciculin also colocalized in mature Z-discs. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments in developing cultured mammalian skeletal muscle cells demonstrated that Xin and aciculin also interact in FLNc-containing immature myofibrils and areas of myofibrillar remodeling and repair induced by electrical pulse stimulation (EPS). Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments showed that aciculin is a highly dynamic and mobile protein. Aciculin knockdown in myotubes led to failure in myofibril assembly, alignment and membrane attachment, and a massive reduction in myofibril number. A highly similar phenotype was found upon depletion of aciculin in zebrafish embryos. Our results point to a thus far unappreciated, but essential, function of aciculin in myofibril formation, maintenance and remodeling.

Modulation of cell spreading and cell-substrate adhesion dynamics by dystroglycan

Dystroglycan is a ubiquitously expressed cell adhesion protein. Its principal role has been determined as a component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex of muscle, where it constitutes a key component of the costameric cell adhesion system. To investigate more fundamental aspects of dystroglycan function in cell adhesion, we examined the role of dystroglycan in the dynamics and assembly of cellular adhesions in myoblasts. We show that beta-dystroglycan is recruited to adhesion structures and, based on staining for vinculin, that overexpression or depletion of dystroglycan affects both size and number of fibrillar adhesions. Knockdown of dystroglycan increases the size and number of adhesions, whereas overexpression decreases the number of adhesions. Dystroglycan knockdown or overexpression affects the ability of cells to adhere to different substrates, and has effects on cell migration that are consistent with effects on the formation of fibrillar adhesions. Using an SH3 domain proteomic screen, we identified vinexin as a binding partner for dystroglycan. Furthermore, we show that dystroglycan can interact indirectly with vinculin by binding to the vinculin-binding protein vinexin, and that this interaction has a role in dystroglycan-mediated cell adhesion and spreading. For the first time, we also demonstrate unequivocally that beta-dystroglycan is a resident of focal adhesions.

TAPP2 links phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling to B-cell adhesion through interaction with the cytoskeletal protein utrophin: expression of a novel cell adhesion-promoting complex in B-cell leukemia

Tandem pleckstrin homology domain proteins (TAPPs) are recruited to the plasma membrane via binding to phosphoinositides produced by phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks). Whereas PI3Ks are critical for B-cell activation, the functions of TAPP proteins in B cells are unknown. We have identified 40 potential interaction partners of TAPP2 in B cells, including proteins involved in cytoskeletal rearrangement, signal transduction and endocytic trafficking. The association of TAPP2 with the cytoskeletal proteins utrophin and syntrophin was confirmed by Western blotting. We found that TAPP2, syntrophin, and utrophin are coexpressed in normal human B cells and B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells. TAPP2 and syntrophin expression in B-CLL was variable from patient to patient, with significantly higher expression in the more aggressive disease subset identified by zeta-chain-associated protein kinase of 70 kDa (ZAP70) expression and unmutated immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) genes. We examined whether TAPP can regulate cell adhesion, a known function of utrophin/syntrophin in other cell types. Expression of membrane-targeted TAPP2 enhanced B-cell adhesion to fibronectin and laminin, whereas PH domain-mutant TAPP2 inhibited adhesion. siRNA knockdown of TAPP2 or utrophin, or treatment with PI3K inhibitors, significantly inhibited adhesion. These findings identify TAPP2 as a novel link between PI3K signaling and the cytoskeleton with potential relevance for leukemia progression.

Dystroglycan, Tks5 and Src mediated assembly of podosomes in myoblasts

Background

Dystroglycan is a ubiquitously expressed cell adhesion receptor best understood in its role as part of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex of mature skeletal muscle. Less is known of the role of dystroglycan in more fundamental aspects of cell adhesion in other cell types, nor of its role in myoblast cell adhesion.

Principal Findings

We have examined the role of dystroglycan in the early stages of myoblast adhesion and spreading and found that dystroglycan initially associates with other adhesion proteins in large puncta morphologically similar to podosomes. Using a human SH3 domain phage display library we identified Tks5, a key regulator of podosomes, as interacting with β-dystroglycan. We verified the interaction by immunoprecipitation, GST-pulldown and immunfluorescence localisation. Both proteins localise to puncta during early phases of spreading, but importantly following stimulation with phorbol ester, also localise to structures indistinguishable from podosomes. Dystroglycan overexpression inhibited podosome formation by sequestering Tks5 and Src. Mutation of dystroglycan tyrosine 890, previously identified as a Src substrate, restored podosome formation.

Conclusions

We propose therefore, that Src-dependent phosphorylation of β-dystroglycan results in the formation of a Src/dystroglycan complex that drives the SH3-mediated association between dystroglycan and Tks5 which together regulate podosome formation in myoblasts.

Characterization of the interaction of lassa fever virus with its cellular receptor alpha-dystroglycan

The cellular receptor for the Old World arenaviruses Lassa fever virus (LFV) and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) has recently been identified as alpha-dystroglycan (alpha-DG), a cell surface receptor that provides a molecular link between the extracellular matrix and the actin-based cytoskeleton. In the present study, we show that LFV binds to alpha-DG with high affinity in the low-nanomolar range. Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotyped with LFV glycoprotein (GP) adopted the receptor binding characteristics of LFV and depended on alpha-DG for infection of cells. Mapping of the binding site of LFV on alpha-DG revealed that LFV binding required the same domains of alpha-DG that are involved in the binding of LCMV. Further, LFV was found to efficiently compete with laminin alpha1 and alpha2 chains for alpha-DG binding. Together with our previous studies on receptor binding of the prototypic immunosuppressive LCMV isolate LCMV clone 13, these findings indicate a high degree of conservation in the receptor binding characteristics between the highly human-pathogenic LFV and murine-immunosuppressive LCMV isolates.

Dystroglycan, a scaffold for the ERK-MAP kinase cascade

Dystroglycan is an important cell adhesion receptor linking the actin cytoskeleton, via utrophin and dystrophin, to laminin in the extracellular matrix. To identify adhesion-related signalling molecules associated with dystroglycan, we conducted a yeast two-hybrid screen and identified mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase 2 (MEK2) as a beta-dystroglycan interactor. Pull-down experiments and localization studies substantiated a physiological link between beta-dystroglycan and MEK and localized MEK with dystroglycan in membrane ruffles. Moreover, we also identified active extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), the downstream kinase from MEK, as another interacting partner for beta-dystroglycan and localized both active ERK and dystroglycan to focal adhesions in fibroblast cells. These studies suggest a role for dystroglycan as a multifunctional adaptor or scaffold capable of interacting with components of the ERK-MAP kinase cascade including MEK and ERK. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the role of dystroglycan in normal cellular processes and in disease states such as muscular dystrophy.

Maintaining epithelial integrity: a function for gigantic spectraplakin isoforms in adherens junctions

The Short stop (Shot/Kakapo) spectraplakin is a giant cytoskeletal protein, which exists in multiple isoforms with characteristics of both spectrin and plakin superfamilies. Previously characterized Shot isoforms are similar to spectrin and dystrophin, with an actin-binding domain followed by spectrin repeats. We describe a new large exon within the shot locus, which encodes a series of plakin repeats similar to the COOH terminus of plakins such as plectin and BPAG1e. We find that the plakin repeats are inserted between the actin-binding domain and spectrin repeats, generating isoforms as large as 8,846 residues, which could span 400 nm. These novel isoforms localized to adherens junctions of embryonic and follicular epithelia. Loss of Shot within the follicle epithelium leads to double layering and accumulation of actin and ZO-1 in between, and a reduction of Armadillo and Discs lost within, mutant cells, indicative of a disruption of adherens junction integrity. Thus, we identify a new role for spectraplakins in mediating cell–cell adhesion.

Genomic organization and expression profile of the parvin family of focal adhesion proteins in mice and humans

We have characterized the genomic organization and the expression pattern of alpha-, beta- and gamma-parvin, a novel family of focal adhesion proteins, in mice and humans. alpha-Parvin is nearly ubiquitously expressed, beta-parvin is preferentially expressed in heart- and skeletal muscle, and gamma-parvin in lymphoid tissues. Parvins display diverse patterns of developmental regulation. The alpha-form is present throughout mouse development, beta-parvin is gradually upregulated and gamma-parvin is downregulated at embryonic day 11. The human alpha-parvin gene (PARVA), extending over 160 kb, is located on chromosome 11. Both, the human beta-parvin gene (PARVB), which is over 145 kb long, and the gamma-parvin gene (PARVG) of a total length of about 25 kb are positioned on chromosome 22 with PARVG located about 12 kb downstream of the 3' end of PARVB. Multiple tissue array analysis indicates that parvins are expressed at reduced levels in cancer as compared to the corresponding normal tissues. Analysis of ESTs and PCR-amplified fragments reveals alternatively spliced and alternatively polyadenylated gene products. Mammalian parvins are likely to have arisen late in evolution from gene duplication as they share a remarkably similar exon/intron organization, which is different from the organization of the single genes encoding parvin-like proteins in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis.

The complexities of dystroglycan

The notion of dystroglycan as a simple laminin-binding receptor is increasingly being challenged. New roles and new binding partners are continually emerging. Recent structural advances have provided exciting new insights into the precise molecular interactions between dystroglycan and other key components of the dystroglycan complex. Coupled with an increasing understanding of dystroglycan function at the molecular level, we are finally beginning to probe the complexities of dystroglycan, not only in disease, but in development, adhesion and signalling.

Parvin, a 42 kDa focal adhesion protein, related to the alpha-actinin superfamily

We have identified and cloned a novel 42-kDa protein termed alpha-parvin, which has a single alpha-actinin-like actin-binding domain. Unlike other members of the alpha-actinin superfamily, which are large multidomain proteins, alpha-parvin lacks a rod domain or any other C-terminal structural modules and therefore represents the smallest known protein of the superfamily. We demonstrate that mouse alpha-parvin is widely expressed as two mRNA species generated by alternative use of two polyadenylation signals. We analyzed the actin-binding properties of mouse alpha-parvin and determined the K(d) with muscle F-actin to be 8.4+/-2.1 microM. The GFP-tagged alpha-parvin co-localizes with actin filaments at membrane ruffles, focal contacts and tensin-rich fibers in the central area of fibroblasts. Domain analysis identifies the second calponin homology domain of parvin as a module sufficient for targeting the focal contacts. In man and mouse, a closely related paralogue beta-parvin and a more distant relative gamma-parvin have also been identified and cloned. The availability of the genomic sequences of different organisms enabled us to recognize closely related parvin-like proteins in flies and worms, but not in yeast and Dictyostelium. Phylogenetic analysis of alpha-parvin and its para- and orthologues suggests, that the parvins represent a new family of alpha-actinin-related proteins that mediate cell-matrix adhesion.

Expression and localization of utrophin in differentiating PC12 cells

To ascertain the role of utrophin in cultured neuronal cells, we investigated its expression and distribution along the NGF-induced differentiation of PC12 cells grown on different substrata. Utrophin mRNA was measured by RT-PCR assay and utrophin protein was quantified by immunoblot analysis. The distribution of utrophin and beta-dystroglycan was analyzed by confocal microscopy. We demonstrate that utrophin protein was increased 4-fold during differentiation of cells grown laminin. Concomitant with this up-regulation, utrophin was enriched at the growth cones in differentiating cells, where it co-localizes with beta-dystroglycan. These data suggest the presence of a utrophin-beta-dystroglycan complex in PC12 cells that participates in the formation and/or stabilization of the growth cone-extracellular matrix adhesion.

Adhesion-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of (beta)-dystroglycan regulates its interaction with utrophin

Many cell adhesion-dependent processes are regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. In order to investigate the role of tyrosine phosphorylation of the utrophin-dystroglycan complex we treated suspended or adherent cultures of HeLa cells with peroxyvanadate and immunoprecipitated (beta)-dystroglycan and utrophin from cell extracts. Western blotting of (β)-dystroglycan and utrophin revealed adhesion- and peroxyvanadate-dependent mobility shifts which were recognised by anti-phospho-tyrosine antibodies. Using maltose binding protein fusion constructs to the carboxy-terminal domains of utrophin we were able to demonstrate specific interactions between the WW, EF and ZZ domains of utrophin and (beta)-dystroglycan by co-immunoprecipitation with endogenous (beta)-dystroglycan. In extracts from cells treated with peroxyvanadate, where endogenous (beta)-dystroglycan was tyrosine phosphorylated, (beta)-dystroglycan was no longer co-immunoprecipitated with utrophin fusion constructs. Peptide ‘SPOTs’ assays confirmed that tyrosine phosphorylation of (beta)-dystroglycan regulated the binding of utrophin. The phosphorylated tyrosine was identified as Y(892) in the (beta)-dystroglycan WW domain binding motif PPxY thus demonstrating the physiological regulation of the (beta)-dystroglycan/utrophin interaction by adhesion-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation.

Functional diversity of the phosphoglucomutase superfamily: structural implications

Three-dimensional structural models of three members of the phosphoglucomutase (PGM) superfamily, parafusin, phosphoglucomutase-related protein and sarcoplasmic reticulum phosphoglucomutase, were constructed by homology modeling based on the known crystal structure of rabbit muscle phosphoglucomutase. Parafusin, phosphoglucomutase-related protein and sarcoplasmic reticulum phosphoglucomutase each have 50% or more identity with rabbit muscle phosphoglucomutase at the amino acid level and all are reported to exhibit no or minor phosphoglucomutase activity. There are four major insertions and two deletions in the parafusin sequence relative to PGM, all of which are located in surface-exposed loops connecting secondary structural elements. The remaining amino acid substitutions are distributed throughout the sequence and are not predicted to alter the polypeptide fold. Parafusin contains a putative protein kinase C site located on a surface loop in domain II that is not present in the homologs. Although the general domain structure and the active site of rabbit muscle phosphoglucomutase are preserved in the model of phosphoglucomutase-related protein, a major structural difference is likely to occur in domain 1 due to the absence of 55 amino acid residues in PGM-RP. This deletion predicts the loss of three alpha-helices and one beta-strand from an anti-parallel beta-sheet in this domain as compared with the rabbit muscle phosphoglucomutase.

Differential effects of prolactin and src/abl kinases on the nuclear translocation of STAT5B and STAT5A

In this study, DNA binding and tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5A and STAT5B were compared with their subcellular localization determined using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Following prolactin activation, both STAT5A and STAT5B were rapidly translocated into the nucleus and displayed a detergent-resistant, punctate nuclear staining pattern. Similar to prolactin induction, src activation resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation and DNA binding of both STAT5A and STAT5B. However, nuclear translocation of only STAT5B but not STAT5A was observed. This selective nuclear translocation appears to be mediated via the carboxyl-terminal sequences in STAT5B. Furthermore, overexpression of a dominant negative kinase-inactive mutant of JAK2 prevented prolactin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT5A and STAT5B but did not block src kinase activation and nuclear translocation of STAT5B. In co-transfection assays, prolactin-mediated activation but not src kinase-mediated activation of STAT5B resulted in the induction of a beta-casein promoter-driven reporter construct. These results suggest that STAT5 activation by src may occur by a mechanism distinct from that employed in cytokine activation of the JAK/STAT pathway, resulting in the selective nuclear translocation of STAT5B.

The relationship between perlecan and dystroglycan and its implication in the formation of the neuromuscular junction

Perlecan is a major heparan-sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) within the basement membrane surrounding skeletal muscle fibers. The C-terminus of its core protein contains three globular domain modules which are also found in laminin and agrin, two proteins that bind to dystroglycan (DG, cranin) on the muscle surface with these modules. In this study, we examined whether perlecan can also bind to DG and is involved in signaling the formation of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). By labeling cultured muscle cells with a polyclonal anti-perlecan antibody, this protein is found both within the extracellular matrix in a fibrillar network and at the cell surface in a punctate pattern. In Xenopus muscle cells, the cell-surface perlecan is precisely colocalized with DG. Both perlecan and DG are clustered at ACh receptor clusters induced by spinal neurons or by beads coated with HB-GAM, a heparin-binding growth factor. Blot overlay assays have shown that perlecan binds alpha-DG in a calcium and heparin-sensitive manner. Furthermore, perlecan is present in muscle lysate immunoprecipitated with an anti-DG antibody. Immunolabeling also showed colocalization between HB-GAM and perlecan and between HB-GAM and DG. These data suggest that perlecan is anchored to muscle surface via DG-dystrophin complex. Since DG is also a site of agrin binding, the neural agrin secreted by motoneurons during NMJ formation may compete with the pre-existing perlecan for cell surface binding. This competition may result in the presentation of perlecan-bound growth factors such as HB-GAM to effect synaptic induction.

Postsynaptic abnormalities at the neuromuscular junctions of utrophin-deficient mice

Utrophin is a dystrophin-related cytoskeletal protein expressed in many tissues. It is thought to link F-actin in the internal cytoskeleton to a transmembrane protein complex similar to the dystrophin protein complex (DPC). At the adult neuromuscular junction (NMJ), utrophin is precisely colocalized with acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and recent studies have suggested a role for utrophin in AChR cluster formation or maintenance during NMJ differentiation. We have disrupted utrophin expression by gene targeting in the mouse. Such mice have no utrophin detectable by Western blotting or immunocytochemistry. Utrophin-deficient mice are healthy and show no signs of weakness. However, their NMJs have reduced numbers of AChRs (alpha-bungarotoxin [alpha-BgTx] binding reduced to approximately 60% normal) and decreased postsynaptic folding, though only minimal electrophysiological changes. Utrophin is thus not essential for AChR clustering at the NMJ but may act as a component of the postsynaptic cytoskeleton, contributing to the development or maintenance of the postsynaptic folds. Defects of utrophin could underlie some forms of congenital myasthenic syndrome in which a reduction of postsynaptic folds is observed.

Localization of cranin (dystroglycan) at sites of cell-matrix and cell-cell contact: recruitment to focal adhesions is dependent upon extracellular ligands

We report that cranin (dystroglycan) can become recruited to focal adhesions of cultured rat REF 52 fibroblasts and human aortic smooth muscle cells. Within mature focal adhesions, cranin was present within the plaque region defined by beta 1 integrin, vinculin and phosphotyrosine staining, but occupied a larger domain corresponding to the terminal segments of stress fibers that was more precisely co-extensive with the cytoskeletal proteins alpha-actinin, utrophin and aciculin. When REF 52 fibroblasts were plated on different substrata in the absence of protein synthesis and secretion in serum-free medium, focal clusters of cranin readily formed within 2 hours on matrix proteins that bind cranin directly (laminin or agrin) which were maintained as the focal adhesions became mature. In contrast, cranin failed to become targeted to cell-substratum attachment sites, either at early or later times, when cells were plated on a variety of other substrata that elicit formation of focal adhesions but do not bind cranin directly (fibronectin, vitronectin, collagen type IV, or anti-beta 1 integrin antibody TS2/16). These data strongly suggest that targeting of cranin to focal adhesions was dependent upon the presence of an extracellular ligand capable of binding cranin directly. However, some cultured nonmuscle cell lines (e.g., human umbilical vein endothelial cells, NIH 3T3 and CHO cells) failed to localize cranin to focal adhesions, even when plated on laminin. Cranin was also enriched at cell-cell adherens-type junctions of human normal breast MCF-10 epithelial cells, and at growth cones of E17 rat hippocampal axons. That cranin can become targeted to sites of cell-cell and cell-substratum contact in diverse cell types supports the hypothesis that cranin may be involved in mediating or regulating cell adhesion. The absence of muscle-specific and synapse-specific proteins within fibroblasts and epithelial cells provides a different context for thinking about cranin (dystroglycan) that may aid in discerning general principles of its structure and function.

Focal adhesions, contractility, and signaling

Focal adhesions are sites of tight adhesion to the underlying extracellular matrix developed by cells in culture. They provided a structural link between the actin cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix and are regions of signal transduction that relate to growth control. The assembly of focal adhesions is regulated by the GTP-binding protein Rho. Rho stimulates contractility which, in cells that are tightly adherent to the substrate, generates isometric tension. In turn, this leads to the bundling of actin filaments and the aggregation of integrins (extracellular matrix receptors) in the plane of the membrane. The aggregation of integrins activates the focal adhesion kinase and leads to the assembly of a multicomponent signaling complex.

Receptors for laminins during epithelial morphogenesis

Laminin-1 is expressed by many embryonic epithelial cell types. It binds to receptors on the epithelial cell surface. The integrin alpha6beta1 is a well known laminin-1 receptor that is expressed on many embryonic epithelial cells. More recently, dystroglycan was discovered as a high-affinity receptor for laminin-1 and laminin-2. It is expressed not only by muscle cells but also by embryonic epithelial cells. In embryonic epithelia, dystroglycan may act by binding to the E3 fragment of laminin-1. Integrins and the dystroglycan complex seems to be important for epithelial morphogenesis, but the relative roles of these two receptor systems for epithelial cells are still unclear.