Claudin family proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans

SRGP-1/srGAP and AFD-1/afadin stabilize HMP-1/⍺-catenin at rosettes to seal internalization sites following gastrulation in C. elegans

A hallmark of gastrulation is the establishment of germ layers by internalization of cells initially on the exterior. In C. elegans the end of gastrulation is marked by the closure of the ventral cleft, a structure formed as cells internalize during gastrulation, and the subsequent rearrangement of adjacent neuroblasts that remain on the surface. We found that a nonsense allele of srgp-1/srGAP leads to 10-15% cleft closure failure. Deletion of the SRGP-1/srGAP C-terminal domain led to a comparable rate of cleft closure failure, whereas deletion of the N-terminal F-BAR region resulted in milder defects. Loss of the SRGP-1/srGAP C-terminus or F-BAR domain results in defects in rosette formation and defective clustering of HMP-1/⍺-catenin in surface cells during cleft closure. A mutant form of HMP-1/⍺-catenin with an open M domain can suppress cleft closure defects in srgp-1 mutant backgrounds, suggesting that this mutation acts as a gain-of-function allele. Since SRGP-1 binding to HMP-1/⍺-catenin is not favored in this case, we sought another HMP-1 interactor that might be recruited when HMP-1/⍺-catenin is constitutively open. A good candidate is AFD-1/afadin, which genetically interacts with cadherin-based adhesion later during embryonic elongation. AFD-1/afadin is prominently expressed at the vertex of neuroblast rosettes in wildtype, and depletion of AFD-1/afadin increases cleft closure defects in srgp-1/srGAP and hmp-1R551/554A/⍺-catenin backgrounds. We propose that SRGP-1/srGAP promotes nascent junction formation in rosettes; as junctions mature and sustain higher levels of tension, the M domain of HMP-1/⍺-catenin opens, allowing maturing junctions to transition from recruitment of SRGP-1/srGAP to AFD-1/afadin. Our work identifies new roles for ⍺-catenin interactors during a process crucial to metazoan development.

Redox and Metabolic Regulation of Intestinal Barrier Function and Associated Disorders

The intestinal epithelium forms a physical barrier assembled by intercellular junctions, preventing luminal pathogens and toxins from crossing it. The integrity of tight junctions is critical for maintaining intestinal health as the breakdown of tight junction proteins leads to various disorders. Redox reactions are closely associated with energy metabolism. Understanding the regulation of tight junctions by cellular metabolism and redox status in cells may lead to the identification of potential targets for therapeutic interventions. In vitro and in vivo models have been utilized in investigating intestinal barrier dysfunction and in particular the free-living soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, may be an important alternative to mammalian models because of its convenience of culture, transparent body for microscopy, short generation time, invariant cell lineage and tractable genetics.

Probiotic-mediated p38 MAPK immune signaling prolongs the survival of Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to pathogenic bacteria

The host-microbiota cross-talk represents an important factor contributing to innate immune response and host resistance during infection. It has been shown that probiotic lactobacilli exhibit the ability to modulate innate immunity and enhance pathogen elimination. Here we showed that heat-inactivated probiotic strain Lactobacillus curvatus BGMK2-41 stimulates immune response and resistance of the Caenorhabditis elegans against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. By employing qRT-PCR and western blot analysis we showed that heat-inactivated BGMK2-41 activated PMK-1/p38 MAPK immunity pathway which prolongs the survival of C. elegans exposed to pathogenic bacteria in nematode killing assays. The C. elegans pmk-1 mutant was used to demonstrate a mechanistic basis for the antimicrobial potential of BGMK2-41, showing that BGMK2-41 upregulated PMK-1/p38 MAPK dependent transcription of C-type lectins, lysozymes and tight junction protein CLC-1. Overall, this study suggests that PMK-1/p38 MAPK-dependent immune regulation by BGMK2-41 is essential for probiotic-mediated C. elegans protection against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and could be further explored for development of probiotics with the potential to increase resistance of the host towards pathogens.

The Claudin-like Protein HPO-30 Is Required to Maintain LAChRs at the C. elegans Neuromuscular Junction

Communications across chemical synapses are primarily mediated by neurotransmitters and their postsynaptic receptors. There are diverse molecular systems to localize and regulate the receptors at the synapse. Here, we identify HPO-30, a member of the claudin superfamily of membrane proteins, as a positive regulator for synaptic localization of levamisole-dependent AChRs (LAChRs) at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction (NMJ). The HPO-30 protein localizes at the NMJ and shows genetic and physical association with the LAChR subunits LEV-8, UNC-29, and UNC-38. Using genetic and electrophysiological assays in the hermaphrodite C. elegans, we demonstrate that HPO-30 functions through Neuroligin at the NMJ to maintain postsynaptic LAChR levels at the synapse. Together, this work suggests a novel function for a tight junction protein in maintaining normal receptor levels at the NMJ.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Claudins are a large superfamily of membrane proteins. Their role in maintaining the functional integrity of tight junctions has been widely explored. Our experiments suggest a critical role for the claudin-like protein, HPO-30, in maintaining synaptic levamisole-dependent AChR (LAChR) levels. LAChRs contribute to <20% of the acetylcholine-mediated conductance in adult Caenorhabditis elegans; however, they play a significant functional role in worm locomotion. This study provides a new perspective in the study of LAChR physiology.

Claudins in morphogenesis: Forming an epithelial tube

The claudin family of tetraspan transmembrane proteins is essential for tight junction formation and regulation of paracellular transport between epithelial cells. Claudins also play a role in apical-basal cell polarity, cell adhesion and link the tight junction to the actin cytoskeleton to exert effects on cell shape. The function of claudins in paracellular transport has been extensively studied through loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies in cell lines and in animal models, however, their role in morphogenesis has been less appreciated. In this review, we will highlight the importance of claudins during morphogenesis by specifically focusing on their critical functions in generating epithelial tubes, lumens, and tubular networks during organ formation.

Tight junctions: from simple barriers to multifunctional molecular gates

Epithelia and endothelia separate different tissue compartments and protect multicellular organisms from the outside world. This requires the formation of tight junctions, selective gates that control paracellular diffusion of ions and solutes. Tight junctions also form the border between the apical and basolateral plasma-membrane domains and are linked to the machinery that controls apicobasal polarization. Additionally, signalling networks that guide diverse cell behaviours and functions are connected to tight junctions, transmitting information to and from the cytoskeleton, nucleus and different cell adhesion complexes. Recent advances have broadened our understanding of the molecular architecture and cellular functions of tight junctions.

Vertebrate Claudin/PMP22/EMP22/MP20 family protein TMEM47 regulates epithelial cell junction maturation and morphogenesis

BACKGROUND

TMEM47 is the vertebrate orthologue of C. elegans VAB-9, a tetraspan adherens junction protein in the PMP22/EMP/Claudin family of proteins. VAB-9 regulates cell morphology and adhesion in C. elegans and TMEM47 is expressed during kidney development and regulates the activity of Fyn. The conserved functions of VAB-9 and TMEM47 are not well understood.

RESULTS

expression of TMEM47 in C. elegans functionally rescues vab-9 mutations. Unlike Claudins, expression of TMEM47 in L fibroblasts does not generate tight junction strands; instead, membrane localization requires E-cadherin expression. Temporally, TMEM47 localizes at cell junctions first with E-cadherin before ZO-1 colocalization and in polarized epithelia, TMEM47 colocalizes with adherens junction proteins. By immunoprecipitation, TMEM47 associates with classical adherens junction proteins, but also with tight junction proteins Par6B and aPKCλ. Over-expression of TMEM47 in MDCK cells decreases apical surface area, increases activated myosin light chain at cell-cell contacts, disrupts cell polarity and morphology, delays cell junction reassembly following calcium switch, and selectively interferes with tight junction assembly. Reduced TMEM47 expression results in opposite phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

TMEM47 regulates the localization of a subset of tight junction proteins, associated actomyosin structures, cell morphology, and participates in developmental transitions from adherens to tight junctions. Developmental Dynamics 245:653-666, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Identification of Wnt Pathway Target Genes Regulating the Division and Differentiation of Larval Seam Cells and Vulval Precursor Cells in Caenorhabditis elegans

The evolutionarily conserved Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a fundamental role during metazoan development, regulating numerous processes including cell fate specification, cell migration, and stem cell renewal. Wnt ligand binding leads to stabilization of the transcriptional effector β-catenin and upregulation of target gene expression to mediate a cellular response. During larval development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, Wnt/β-catenin pathways act in fate specification of two hypodermal cell types, the ventral vulval precursor cells (VPCs) and the lateral seam cells. Because little is known about targets of the Wnt signaling pathways acting during larval VPC and seam cell differentiation, we sought to identify genes regulated by Wnt signaling in these two hypodermal cell types. We conditionally activated Wnt signaling in larval animals and performed cell type-specific "mRNA tagging" to enrich for VPC and seam cell-specific mRNAs, and then used microarray analysis to examine gene expression compared to control animals. Two hundred thirty-nine genes activated in response to Wnt signaling were identified, and we characterized 50 genes further. The majority of these genes are expressed in seam and/or vulval lineages during normal development, and reduction of function for nine genes caused defects in the proper division, fate specification, fate execution, or differentiation of seam cells and vulval cells. Therefore, the combination of these techniques was successful at identifying potential cell type-specific Wnt pathway target genes from a small number of cells and at increasing our knowledge of the specification and behavior of these C. elegans larval hypodermal cells.

Redox-sensitive structure and function of the first extracellular loop of the cell-cell contact protein claudin-1: lessons from molecular structure to animals

The paracellular cleft within epithelia/endothelia is sealed by tight junction (TJ) proteins. Their extracellular loops (ECLs) are assumed to control paracellular permeability and are targets of pathogenes. We demonstrated that claudin-1 is crucial for paracellular tightening. Its ECL1 is essential for the sealing and contains two cysteines conserved throughout all claudins.

AIMS

We prove the hypothesis that this cysteine motif forms a redox-sensitive intramolecular disulfide bridge and, hence, the claudin-1-ECL1 constitutes a functional structure which is associated to ECLs of this and other TJ proteins.

RESULTS

The structure and function of claudin-1-ECL1 was elucidated by investigating sequences of this ECL as synthetic peptides, C1C2, and as recombinant proteins, and exhibited a β-sheet binding surface flanked by an α-helix. These sequences bound to different claudins, their ECL1, and peptides with nanomolar binding constants. C-terminally truncated C1C2 (-4aaC) opened cellular barriers and the perineurium. Recombinant ECL1 formed oligomers, and bound to claudin-1 expressing cells. Oligomerization and claudin association were abolished by reducing agents, indicating intraloop disulfide bridging and redox sensitivity.

INNOVATION

The structural and functional model based on our in vitro and in vivo investigations suggested that claudin-1-ECL1 constitutes a functional and ECL-binding β-sheet, stabilized by a shielded and redox-sensitive disulfide bond.

CONCLUSION

Since the β-sheet represents a consensus sequence of claudins and further junctional proteins, a general structural feature is implied. Therefore, our model is of general relevance for the TJ assembly in normal and pathological conditions. C1C2-4aaC is a new drug enhancer that is used to improve pharmacological treatment through tissue barriers.

Structural molecular components of septate junctions in cnidarians point to the origin of epithelial junctions in eukaryotes

Septate junctions (SJs) insure barrier properties and control paracellular diffusion of solutes across epithelia in invertebrates. However, the origin and evolution of their molecular constituents in Metazoa have not been firmly established. Here, we investigated the genomes of early branching metazoan representatives to reconstruct the phylogeny of the molecular components of SJs. Although Claudins and SJ cytoplasmic adaptor components appeared successively throughout metazoan evolution, the structural components of SJs arose at the time of Placozoa/Cnidaria/Bilateria radiation. We also show that in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata, the structural SJ component Neurexin IV colocalizes with the cortical actin network at the apical border of the cells, at the place of SJs. We propose a model for SJ components in Cnidaria. Moreover, our study reveals an unanticipated diversity of SJ structural component variants in cnidarians. This diversity correlates with gene-specific expression in calcifying and noncalcifying tissues, suggesting specific paracellular pathways across the cell layers of these diploblastic animals.

Plasma membrane--cortical cytoskeleton interactions: a cell biology approach with biophysical considerations

From a biophysical standpoint, the interface between the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton is an intriguing site where a "two-dimensional fluid" interacts with an exceedingly complex three-dimensional protein meshwork. The membrane is a key regulator of the cytoskeleton, which not only provides docking sites for cytoskeletal elements through transmembrane proteins, lipid binding-based, and electrostatic interactions, but also serves as the source of the signaling events and molecules that control cytoskeletal organization and remolding. Conversely, the cytoskeleton is a key determinant of the biophysical and biochemical properties of the membrane, including its shape, tension, movement, composition, as well as the mobility, partitioning, and recycling of its constituents. From a cell biological standpoint, the membrane-cytoskeleton interplay underlies--as a central executor and/or regulator--a multitude of complex processes including chemical and mechanical signal transduction, motility/migration, endo-/exo-/phagocytosis, and other forms of membrane traffic, cell-cell, and cell-matrix adhesion. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the tight structural and functional coupling between the membrane and the cytoskeleton. As biophysical approaches, both theoretical and experimental, proved to be instrumental for our understanding of the membrane/cytoskeleton interplay, this review will "oscillate" between the cell biological phenomena and the corresponding biophysical principles and considerations. After describing the types of connections between the membrane and the cytoskeleton, we will focus on a few key physical parameters and processes (force generation, curvature, tension, and surface charge) and will discuss how these contribute to a variety of fundamental cell biological functions.

Sensory neuron fates are distinguished by a transcriptional switch that regulates dendrite branch stabilization

Sensory neurons adopt distinct morphologies and functional modalities to mediate responses to specific stimuli. Transcription factors and their downstream effectors orchestrate this outcome but are incompletely defined. Here, we show that different classes of mechanosensory neurons in C. elegans are distinguished by the combined action of the transcription factors MEC-3, AHR-1, and ZAG-1. Low levels of MEC-3 specify the elaborate branching pattern of PVD nociceptors, whereas high MEC-3 is correlated with the simple morphology of AVM and PVM touch neurons. AHR-1 specifies AVM touch neuron fate by elevating MEC-3 while simultaneously blocking expression of nociceptive genes such as the MEC-3 target, the claudin-like membrane protein HPO-30, that promotes the complex dendritic branching pattern of PVD. ZAG-1 exercises a parallel role to prevent PVM from adopting the PVD fate. The conserved dendritic branching function of the Drosophila AHR-1 homolog, Spineless, argues for similar pathways in mammals.

Claudins and the modulation of tight junction permeability

Claudins are tight junction membrane proteins that are expressed in epithelia and endothelia and form paracellular barriers and pores that determine tight junction permeability. This review summarizes our current knowledge of this large protein family and discusses recent advances in our understanding of their structure and physiological functions.