Intracellular transport, organelle biogenesis and establishment of Golgi identity: impact of brefeldin A on the activity of lipid synthesizing enzymes

Helicobacter pylori-induced changes in microtubule dynamics conferred by α-tubulin phosphorylation on Ser/Tyr mediate gastric mucosal secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its modulation by ghrelin

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) secretion in response to proinflammatory challenge remains under a strict control of factors that affect the stability dynamics of the major cytoskeleton polymeric structures, microtubules (MTs). In this study, we report that H. pylori LPS-elicited induction gastric mucosal MMP-9 secretion is accompanied by the enhancement in MT stabilization as evidenced by the increase in α-tubulin acetylation and detyrosination while the modulatory influence of hormone, ghrelin, is associated with MT destabilization and reflected in a decrease in α-tubulin acetylation and detyrosination. Further, we reveal that the LPS-induced enhancement in MT stabilization and up-regulation in MMP-9 secretion as well as the modulatory influence of ghrelin occur with the involvement of PKCδ and SFK. The LPS effect is reflected in a marked increase in PKCδ-mediated α-tubulin phosphorylation on Ser, while the modulatory effect of ghrelin on MT dynamics and MMP-9 secretion is manifested by the SFK-dependent phosphorylation of α-tubulin on Tyr. Moreover, the changes in α-tubulin phosphorylation and MT stabilization dynamics occur in concert with the Golgi recruitment and activation of PKD2 and Arf-GEF. The findings demonstrate that the enhancement in gastric mucosal MMP-9 secretion in response to H. pylori and its modulation by ghrelin are the result of changes in MT dynamics conferred by PKCδ/SFK- mediated α-tubulin Ser/Tyr phosphorylation.

Effects of a Sublethal and Transient Stress of the Endoplasmic Reticulum on the Mitochondrial Population

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are not discrete intracellular organelles but establish close physical and functional interactions involved in several biological processes including mitochondrial bioenergetics, calcium homeostasis, lipid synthesis, and the regulation of apoptotic cell death pathways. As many cell types might face a transient and sublethal ER stress during their lifetime, it is thus likely that the adaptive UPR response might affect the mitochondrial population. The aim of this work was to study the putative effects of a non-lethal and transient endoplasmic reticulum stress on the mitochondrial population in HepG2 cells. The results show that thapsigargin and brefeldin A, used to induce a transient and sublethal ER stress, rapidly lead to the fragmentation of the mitochondrial network associated with a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, O2 (•-) production and less efficient respiration. These changes in mitochondrial function are transient and preceded by the phosphorylation of JNK. Inhibition of JNK activation by SP600125 prevents the decrease in O2 (•-) production and the mitochondrial network fragmentation observed in cells exposed to the ER stress but has no impact on the reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In conclusion, our data show that a non-lethal and transient ER stress triggers a rapid activation of JNK without inducing apoptosis, leading to the fragmentation of the mitochondrial network and a reduction of O2 (•-) production. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1913-1931, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of brefeldin A and nordihydroguaiaretic acid on endomembrane dynamics and lipid synthesis in plant cells

Effects of brefeldin A (BFA) and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) on endomembrane structures and lipid synthesis were compared in maize root cells and tobacco Bright Yellow-2 cells. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy studies showed that NDGA altered the structure and distribution of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) within 1 h but not of the Golgi apparatus whereas, as shown previously, BFA altered that organization of the Golgi apparatus and, only subsequently, of the ER. Biochemical studies revealed that both drugs and especially BFA led to a strong inhibition of the phytosterol biosynthetic pathway: BFA led to accumulation of sterol precursors. The importance of phytosterols in membrane architecture and membrane trafficking is discussed.

A study of the protein secretory pathway of Aspergillus niger using a glucoamylase-GFP fusion protein

The effect of various treatments that block protein secretion was visualized in Aspergillus niger using a strain expressing a glucoamylase-GFP fusion protein. Cold shock caused the retention of the fusion protein in a reticulate network (ER) with brighter nodes that may represent Golgi bodies. Treatment of germlings with brefeldin A (BFA) also initially caused accumulation within the ER but prolonged exposure led to the formation and targeting of the fusion protein to vacuoles from the ER. Disruption of actin with cytochalasin A initially led to a faint diffuse accumulation and ultimately to the formation of aggregated bodies which were not vacuoles, suggesting that the actin cytoskeleton is important in secretory vesicle transport. Disruption of microtubules with nocodazole led to hyperbranching but did not cause intracellular accumulation, suggesting that microtubules play a role in directing vesicle transport rather than vesicle movement per se. Treatment of regenerating protoplasts confirmed that BFA and cytochalasin but not nocodazole inhibited protein secretion. When germlings were subjected to carbon starvation, vacuolation was rapidly initiated throughout the hyphae and GFP fluorescence was visible in some of the vacuoles, indicating retargeting of the fusion protein from the secretory pathway to the vacuoles.

Effect of ethanol on gastric mucus glycoprotein synthesis, translocation, transport, glycosylation, and secretion

The effect of ethanol on mucus glycoprotein synthesis, intracellular modification, transport, glycosylation, and secretion was studied in rat gastric mucous cells. Preincubation of the in vitro translation mixture containing gastric mucous cells mRNA for 60 min with 0 to 120 mM ethanol caused a decrease in the synthesis of mucus glycoprotein apopeptide by up to 40%. The reduction in translation was time- and ethanol concentration-dependent. After 60 min, translation in the presence of 30, 60, and 120 mM ethanol decreased to 83.3 +/- 2.3%, 75.5 +/- 0.4%, and 63.6 +/- 2.6%, respectively. The experiments conducted with endoplasmic reticulum microsomes, preincubated with ethanol, and used in the studies of cotranslational translocation of the apomucin showed a 20% decrease in the transfer of mucus glycoprotein apopeptide to the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum microsomes. In the presence of ethanol, processing of mucus glycoprotein apopeptide in Golgi was also inhibited. During the initial 30 min of incubation with 0 to 120 mM ethanol, glycosylation seemed to proceed at the same rate in the samples with and without ethanol. However, during consecutive 30 min of incubation, glycosylation in the presence of 60 mM ethanol decreased by 30 to 35%, and with 120 mM ethanol was completely inhibited. Measurements of the effect of ethanol on the discharge of mucus glycoprotein from the intracellular stores revealed that, on average, the secretory output of the rat gastric mucosa exposed to ethanol liquid diet for 8 weeks decreased by 77% or more, and adherence of the glycoprotein to the gastric epithelium was weakened. Results indicate that ethanol inhibits synthesis, transport, and processing of gastric mucus glycoprotein, and that the processes taking place in different intracellular compartments contribute in the additive fashion and, are reflected in a dramatic decrease in the delivery of mucus glycoprotein to the gastric epithelial surfaces.

Isoprenoid lipid metabolism in the retina: dynamics of squalene and cholesterol incorporation and turnover in frog rod outer segment membranes

Frogs were injected intravitreally with [3H]acetate, and the formation of [3H]-labeled squalene and cholesterol in the retina and their incorporation into rod outer segment (ROS) membranes were evaluated biochemically over a 60-day time course. ROS [3H]squalene specific activity was maximal by 1-3 days, then declined with a half-time of approximately 20-30 days. In contrast, the specific activity of ROS [3H]cholesterol initially increased to a level substantially less than that of [3H]squalene, and then remained constant. Thus, ROS squalene appears to turn over without obligatory conversion to, or coturnover with, ROS cholesterol. When [3H]acetate was injected into one eye, radiolabel in non-saponifiable lipids of the contralateral retina represented < 1% of those recovered from the ipsilateral retina; hence, systemic contributions to de novo synthesis were obviated. Long-term (> or = 8 hr) in vitro incubations of isolated retinas with [3H]acetate resulted in incorporation of [3H]-labeled sterols and squalene into ROS, at levels comparable to those observed in ROS from companion incubated eyecup preparations and from retinas 8 hr after intravitreal injection of [3H]acetate. These results demonstrate that the in vitro system faithfully reflects the in vivo biosynthetic capacity with respect to isoprenoid lipid metabolism, and suggest that de novo synthesis within the neural retina is responsible for generating most, if not all, of the [3H]squalene and [3H]cholesterol formed under the given conditions. Treatment of retinas in vitro with brefeldin A or energy poisons blocked transport of newly synthesized opsin, but not squalene, to the ROS. Furthermore, frogs maintained at 8 degrees C exhibited marked suppression of incorporation of newly synthesized protein into the ROS, while [3H]squalene incorporation was only minimally reduced, compared with frogs maintained at 22 degrees C. These results are consistent with prior findings that suggest that lipids are transported to the ROS by a mechanism distinct and independent from that employed for intracellular trafficking of opsin and other ROS-destined membrane proteins.