Interactions of Recombinant Mouse Erythrocyte Transglutaminase with Membrane Skeletal Proteins

Protein 4.2 interaction with hereditary spherocytosis mutants of the cytoplasmic domain of human anion exchanger 1

AE1 (anion exchanger 1) and protein 4.2 associate in a protein complex bridging the erythrocyte membrane and cytoskeleton; disruption of the complex results in unstable erythrocytes and HS (hereditary spherocytosis). Three HS mutations (E40K, G130R and P327R) in cdAE1 (the cytoplasmic domain of AE1) occur with deficiencies of protein 4.2. The interaction of wild-type AE1, AE1HS mutants, mdEA1 (the membrane domain of AE1), kAE1 (the kidney isoform of AE1) and AE1SAO (Southeast Asian ovalocytosis AE1) with protein 4.2 was examined in transfected HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells. The HS mutants had wild-type expression levels and plasma-membrane localization. Protein 4.2 expression was not dependent on AE1. Protein 4.2 was localized throughout the cytoplasm and co-localized at the plasma membrane with the HS mutants mdAE1 and kAE1, but at the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) with AE1SAO. Pull-down assays revealed diminished levels of protein 4.2 associated with the HS mutants relative to AE1. The mdAE1 did not bind protein 4.2, whereas kAE1 and AE1SAO bound wild-type amounts of protein 4.2. A protein 4.2 fatty acylation mutant, G2A/C173A, had decreased plasma-membrane localization compared with wild-type protein 4.2, and co-expression with AE1 enhanced its plasma-membrane localization. Subcellular fractionation showed the majority of wild-type and G2A/C173A protein 4.2 was associated with the cytoskeleton of HEK-293 cells. The present study shows that cytoplasmic HS mutants cause impaired binding of protein 4.2 to AE1, leaving protein 4.2 susceptible to loss during erythrocyte development.

Erythrocyte tropomodulin isoforms with and without the N-terminal actin-binding domain

Erythrocyte tropomodulin (E-Tmod or Tmod1) of 41 kDa is a tropomyosin (TM)-binding protein that caps the slow-growing end of the actin filaments. Its N-terminal half is flexible, whereas the C-terminal half has a single domain structure. E-Tmod/TM5 complex may function as a "molecular ruler" generating actin protofilaments of ∼37 nm. Here we report the discovery of a short isoform of 29 kDa that lacks the N-terminal actin-binding domain (N-ABD) but retains the C-terminal actin-binding domain (C-ABD). E-Tmod29 can be generated by alternative splicing from an upstream promoter or by multiple transcriptional start sites from a downstream promoter. Promoter switching leads to a surge of E-Tmod41 in reticulocytes, which degrades quickly in the cytosol. We expressed recombinant isoforms in Escherichia coli and tested their binding toward TM5, G-actin, and F-actin. Solid-phase binding assays show that, without the N-terminal 102 residues, E-Tmod29 binds to TM5 or G-actin more strongly than E-Tmod41 does, but barely binds to F-actin after TM5 binding. Differential bindings explain the distinct localizations of E-Tmod29 in the cytosol and E-Tmod41 on the membrane. Sequential bindings and immunofluorescent staining further suggest that 1) TM5 binding to E-Tmod41 may open up the flexible N-terminal half, exposing N-ABD and unblocking C-ABD; 2) N-ABD binds to F-actin and C-ABD binds to G-actin; and 3) F-actin binding to N-ABD may prevent G-actin from binding to C-ABD. E-Tmod29 may thus modulate the availability of TM5 and G-actin for E-Tmod41 to construct the protofilament-based membrane skeletal network for circulating erythrocytes.

Modulation of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity and its association with G protein-band 3 interactions

Circulating acetylcholine, substrate of membrane acetylcholinesterase (AChE), is known to enhance the band 3 protein degree of phosphorylation. The purpose of this study was to verify whether the band 3 phosphorylation status is associated with a G protein and whether it is an influent factor on AChE enzyme activity. From blood samples of healthy donors, erythrocyte suspensions were prepared and incubated with AChE substrate (acetylcholine) and inhibitor (velnacrine), along with protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitors. AChE activity was determined by spectrophotometry and extract samples were analyzed by western blotting using primary antibodies to different G protein subunits. Our results with phosphorylated band 3 (PTP inhibitor) show an increase in erythrocyte AChE (p < 0.0001). A dephosphorylated band 3 state (PTK inhibitor) shows a significant decrease. We identified a potential linkage of protein subunits Galpha(i1/2) and G(beta) with band 3 protein. Galpha(i1/2) and G(beta) may be linked to the band 3 C-terminal site. Galpha(i1/2) is associated with the band 3 N-terminal domain, except for the control and ACh aliquots. G(beta) is associated with both phosphorylated and dephosphorylated band 3 in the presence of velnacrine. We conclude that an erythrocyte G protein with subunits Galpha(i1/2) and G(beta) is associated with band 3. AChE depends on the degree of band 3 phosphorylation and its association with Galpha(i1/2) and G(beta).