Association of the testis-specific TRIM/RBCC protein RNF33/TRIM60 with the cytoplasmic motor proteins KIF3A and KIF3B

Reciprocal regulation of lncRNA MEF and c-Myc drives colorectal cancer tumorigenesis

More than half of all cancers demonstrate aberrant c-Myc expression, making this arguably the most important human oncogene. Deregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are also commonly implicated in tumorigenesis, and some limited examples have been established where lncRNAs act as biological tuners of c-Myc expression and activity. Here, we demonstrate that the lncRNA denoted c-Myc Enhancing Factor (MEF) enjoys a cooperative relationship with c-Myc, both as a transcriptional target and driver of c-Myc expression. Mechanistically, MEF functions by binding to and stabilizing the expression of hnRNPK in colorectal cancer cells. The MEF-hnRNPK interaction serves to disrupt binding between hnRNPK and the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM25, which attenuates TRIM25-dependent hnRNPK ubiquitination and proteasomal destruction. In turn, the stabilization of hnRNPK through MEF enhances c-Myc expression by augmenting the translation c-Myc. Moreover, modulating the expression of MEF in shRNA-mediated knockdown and overexpression studies revealed that MEF expression is essential for colorectal cancer cell proliferation and survival, both in vitro and in vivo. From the clinical perspective, we show that MEF expression is differentially increased in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal adjacent tissues. Further, correlations exist between MEF, c-Myc, and hnRNPK suggesting the MEF-c-Myc positive feedback loop is active in patients. Together these data demonstrate that MEF is a pivotal partner of the c-Myc network and propose MEF as a valuable therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

Positive Selection and Duplication of Bat TRIM Family Proteins

Bats have received increasing attention because of some unique biological features they possess. TRIM is a large family of proteins that participate in diverse cellular functions, such as antiviral immunity, DNA damage repair, tumor suppression, and aging. These functional areas appear to be highly consistent with the special characteristics of bats, such as tolerance to viruses and DNA damage generated in flight, low cancer incidence, and longevity. However, there is still a lack of systematic study of the TRIM family in bats. Here, we explored the TRIM family of bats using the genomes of 16 representative species. The results showed that the bat TRIM family contains 70 members, with 24 under positive selection and 7 duplicated. Additional transcriptomic analysis revealed the tissue-specific expressions of TRIM9, 46, 54, 55, 63, and 72. Additionally, following interferon or viral stimulation, TRIM orthologs associated with antiviral immunity reported in humans were also upregulated in bat cells. The present study systematically analyzed the composition, evolution, and expression of bat TRIM genes. It may provide a theoretical basis for studies of bat TRIM in the fields of antiviral immunity, longevity, and tolerance to DNA damage.

Kinesins in Mammalian Spermatogenesis and Germ Cell Transport

In mammalian testes, the apical cytoplasm of each Sertoli cell holds up to several dozens of germ cells, especially spermatids that are transported up and down the seminiferous epithelium. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) established by neighboring Sertoli cells in the basal compartment restructures on a regular basis to allow preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes to pass through. The timely transfer of germ cells and other cellular organelles such as residual bodies, phagosomes, and lysosomes across the epithelium to facilitate spermatogenesis is important and requires the microtubule-based cytoskeleton in Sertoli cells. Kinesins, a superfamily of the microtubule-dependent motor proteins, are abundantly and preferentially expressed in the testis, but their functions are poorly understood. This review summarizes recent findings on kinesins in mammalian spermatogenesis, highlighting their potential role in germ cell traversing through the BTB and the remodeling of Sertoli cell-spermatid junctions to advance spermatid transport. The possibility of kinesins acting as a mediator and/or synchronizer for cell cycle progression, germ cell transit, and junctional rearrangement and turnover is also discussed. We mostly cover findings in rodents, but we also make special remarks regarding humans. We anticipate that this information will provide a framework for future research in the field.

Efficient Gene Knockdown in Mouse Oocytes through Peptide Nanoparticle-Mediated SiRNA Transfection

The use of mouse oocytes as a model for studying female meiosis is very important in reproductive medicine. Gene knockdown by specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) is usually the first step in the study of the function of a target gene in mouse oocytes during in vitro maturation. Traditionally, the only way to introduce siRNA into mouse oocytes is through microinjection, which is certainly less efficient and strenuous than siRNA transfection in somatic cells. Recently, in research using somatic cells, peptide nanoparticle-mediated siRNA transfection has been gaining popularity over liposome nanoparticle-mediated methods because of its high efficiency, low toxicity, good stability, and strong serum compatibility. However, no researchers have yet tried transfecting siRNA into mouse oocytes because of the existence of the protective zona pellucida surrounding the oocyte membrane (vitelline membrane). We therefore tested whether peptide nanoparticles can introduce siRNA into mouse oocytes. In the present study, we showed for the first time that our optimized program can efficiently knock down a target gene with high specificity. Furthermore, we achieved the expected meiotic phenotypes after we knocked down a test unknown target gene TRIM75. We propose that peptide nanoparticles may be superior for preliminary functional studies of unknown genes in mouse oocytes.

Regulation of microtubule (MT)-based cytoskeleton in the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis

In rodents and humans, testicular cells, similar to other mammalian cells, are supported by actin-, microtubule (MT)- and intermediate filament-based cytoskeletons. Although the cytoskeletal network of the testis serves an important role in regulating spermatogenesis during the epithelial cycle, most of the published findings in the literature are limited to studies that only visualize these cytoskeletons in the seminiferous epithelium. Few focus on the underlying molecular mechanism that regulates their organization in the epithelium in response to changes in the stages of the epithelial cycle. Functional studies in the last decade have begun to focus on the role of binding proteins that regulate these cytoskeletons, with some interesting findings rapidly emerging in the field. Since the actin- and intermediate filament-based cytoskeletons have been recently reviewed, herein we focus on the MT-based cytoskeleton for two reasons. First, besides serving as a structural support cytoskeleton, MTs are known to serve as the track to support and facilitate the transport of germ cells, such as preleptotene spermatocytes connected in clones and elongating/elongated spermatids during spermiogenesis, across the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and the adluminal compartment, respectively, during spermatogenesis. While these cellular events are crucial to the completion of spermatogenesis, they have been largely ignored in the past. Second, MT-based cytoskeleton is working in concert with the actin-based cytoskeleton to provide structural support for the transport of intracellular organelles across the cell cytosol, such as endosome-based vesicles, and phagosomes, which contain residual bodies detached from spermatids, to maintain the cellular homeostasis in the seminiferous epithelium. We critically evaluate some recent published findings herein to support a hypothesis regarding the role of MT in conferring germ cell transport in the seminiferous epithelium.

Germ cell transport across the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis

Transport of germ cells across the seminiferous epithelium is crucial to spermatogenesis. Its disruption causes infertility. Signaling molecules, such as focal adhesion kinase, c-Yes, c-Src, and intercellular adhesion molecules 1 and 2, are involved in these events by regulating actin-based cytoskeleton via their action on actin-regulating proteins, endocytic vesicle-mediated protein trafficking, and adhesion protein complexes. We critically evaluate these findings and provide a hypothetical framework that regulates these events.

The heterotrimeric kinesin-2 complex interacts with and regulates GLI protein function

GLI transport to the primary cilium and nucleus is required for proper Hedgehog (HH) signaling; however, the mechanisms that mediate these trafficking events are poorly understood. Kinesin-2 motor proteins regulate ciliary transport of cargo, yet their role in GLI protein function remains unexplored. To examine a role for the heterotrimeric KIF3A-KIF3B-KAP3 kinesin-2 motor complex in regulating GLI activity, we performed a series of structure-function analyses using biochemical, cell signaling and in vivo approaches that define novel specific interactions between GLI proteins and two components of this complex, KAP3 and KIF3A. We find that all three mammalian GLI proteins interact with KAP3 and we map specific interaction sites in both proteins. Furthermore, we find that GLI proteins interact selectively with KIF3A, but not KIF3B, and that GLI interacts synergistically with KAP3 and KIF3A. Using a combination of cell signaling assays and chicken in ovo electroporation, we demonstrate that KAP3 interactions restrict GLI activator function but not GLI repressor function. These data suggest that GLI interactions with KIF3A-KIF3B-KAP3 complexes are essential for proper GLI transcriptional activity.

Differential expression of speckled POZ protein, SPOP: putative regulation by miR-145

The speckle POZ protein, SPOP, is an adaptor of the Cul3-based ubiquitination process, and has been implicated in the carcinogenesis process. Despite recent elucidation of biological functions, regulation of SPOP gene expression has not been reported. In this study, the mRNA levels of the mouse SPOP (mSPOP) gene were first shown to vary noticeably in different tissues. However, the SPOP protein was detected in high abundance only in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and seminiferous tubule of the testis, echoing previous reports of involvement of ubiquitination in neuron cells and in spermatogenesis. In other mouse tissues and human cancer cell lines analysed, only low SPOP protein levels were detected. The 3'-untranslated regions of both the mSPOP and human SPOP transcripts harbor a conserved putative miR-145 binding site (BS). In some tissues and cell lines, miR-145 and SPOP protein levels were in an inverse relationship suggesting miR-145 regulation. Luciferase assays of deletion and point mutation constructs of the miR-145 BS, and miR-145 induction by serum starvation that resulted in reduced endogenous SPOP levels provided further evidence that miR-145 is likely involved in post-transcriptional regulation of SPOP expression in selected tissues, and possibly with the participation of other miRNA species.

TRIM3 regulates the motility of the kinesin motor protein KIF21B

Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) are molecular motors that transport cellular cargo along the microtubule cytoskeleton. KIF21B is a neuronal kinesin that is highly enriched in dendrites. The regulation and specificity of microtubule transport involves the binding of motors to individual cargo adapters and accessory proteins. Moreover, posttranslational modifications of either the motor protein, their cargos or tubulin regulate motility, cargo recognition and the binding or unloading of cargos. Here we show that the ubiquitin E3 ligase TRIM3, also known as BERP, interacts with KIF21B via its RBCC domain. TRIM3 is found at intracellular and Golgi-derived vesicles and co-localizes with the KIF21B motor in neurons. Trim3 gene deletion in mice and TRIM3 overexpression in cultured neurons both suggested that the E3-ligase function of TRIM3 is not involved in KIF21B degradation, however TRIM3 depletion reduces the motility of the motor. Together, our data suggest that TRIM3 is a regulator in the modulation of KIF21B motor function.

Kinesin-2: a family of heterotrimeric and homodimeric motors with diverse intracellular transport functions

Kinesin-2 was first purified as a heterotrimeric, anterograde, microtubule-based motor consisting of two distinct kinesin-related subunits and a novel associated protein (KAP) that is currently best known for its role in intraflagellar transport and ciliogenesis. Subsequent work, however, has revealed diversity in the oligomeric state of different kinesin-2 motors owing to the combinatorial heterodimerization of its subunits and the coexistence of both heterotrimeric and homodimeric kinesin-2 motors in some cells. Although the functional significance of the homo- versus heteromeric organization of kinesin-2 motor subunits and the role of KAP remain uncertain, functional studies suggest that cooperation between different types of kinesin-2 motors or between kinesin-2 and a member of a different motor family can generate diverse patterns of anterograde intracellular transport. Moreover, despite being restricted to ciliated eukaryotes, kinesin-2 motors are now known to drive diverse transport events outside cilia. Here, I review the organization, assembly, phylogeny, biological functions, and motility mechanism of this diverse family of intracellular transport motors.

Mechanosensing by the primary cilium: deletion of Kif3A reduces bone formation due to loading

Primary cilia, solitary microtubule-based structures that grow from the centriole and extend into the extracellular space, have increasingly been implicated as sensors of a variety of biochemical and biophysical signals. Mutations in primary cilium-related genes have been linked to a number of rare developmental disorders as well as dysregulation of cell proliferation. We propose that primary cilia are also important in mechanically regulated bone formation in adults and that their malfunction could play a role in complex multi-factorial bone diseases, such as osteoporosis. In this study, we generated mice with an osteoblast- and osteocyte-specific knockout of Kif3a, a subunit of the kinesin II intraflagellar transport (IFT) protein; IFT is required for primary cilia formation, maintenance, and function. These Colα1(I) 2.3-Cre;Kif3a(fl/fl) mice exhibited no obvious morphological skeletal abnormalities. Skeletally mature Colα1(I) 2.3-Cre;Kif3a(fl/fl) and control mice were exposed to 3 consecutive days of cyclic axial ulna loading, which resulted in a significant increase in bone formation in both the conditional knockouts and controls. However, Colα1(I) 2.3-Cre;Kif3a(fl/fl) mice did exhibit decreased formation of new bone in response to mechanical ulnar loading compared to control mice. These results suggest that primary cilia act as cellular mechanosensors in bone and that their function may be critical for the regulation of bone physiology due to mechanical loading in adults.