Adaptor protein sorting nexin 17 interacts with the scavenger receptor FEEL-1/stabilin-1 and modulates its expression on the cell surface

Pulse Pressure: An Emerging Therapeutic Target for Dementia

Elevated pulse pressure can cause blood-brain barrier dysfunction and subsequent adverse neurological changes that may drive or contribute to the development of dementia with age. In short, elevated pulse pressure dysregulates cerebral endothelial cells and increases cellular production of oxidative and inflammatory molecules. The resulting cerebral microvascular damage, along with excessive pulsatile mechanical force, can induce breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, which in turn triggers brain cell impairment and death. We speculate that elevated pulse pressure may also reduce the efficacy of other therapeutic strategies for dementia. For instance, BACE1 inhibitors and anti-amyloid-β biologics reduce amyloid-β deposits in the brain that are thought to be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia. However, upregulation of oxidative and inflammatory molecules and increased amyloid-β secretion by cerebral endothelial cells exposed to elevated pulse pressure may hinder cognitive improvements with these drugs. Additionally, stem or progenitor cell therapy has the potential to repair blood-brain barrier damage, but chronic oxidative and inflammatory stress due to elevated pulse pressure can inhibit stem and progenitor cell regeneration. Finally, we discuss current efforts to repurpose blood pressure medications to prevent or treat dementia. We propose that new drugs or devices should be developed to safely reduce elevated pulse pressure specifically to the brain. Such novel technologies may alleviate an entire downstream pathway of cellular dysfunction, oxidation, inflammation, and amyloidogenesis, thereby preventing pulse-pressure-induced cognitive decline. Furthermore, these technologies may also enhance efficacy of other dementia therapeutics when used in combination.

SNX17 produces anti-arrhythmic effects by preserving functional SERCA2a protein in myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Sorting nexin 17 (SNX17) is a critical cytoplasmic adaptor protein that regulates endosomal trafficking of membrane proteins to determine their recycling and/or degradation. The potential role of SNX17 in cardiovascular pathophysiology has not been reported.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cardiac arrhythmias were monitored using standard limb lead II electrocardiograph, and cardiac performances were determined by echocardiography in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI) created by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. We found that SNX17 was substantially downregulated in ischemic myocardium. The downregulation contributed to the cardiac electrical disturbances and contractile dysfunction as SNX17 replacement mitigated the detrimental alterations of MI hearts. Specifically, silence of SNX17 expression using RNA interference caused intracellular Ca²⁺ overload as revealed by the abnormal rise of resting [Ca²⁺]_i and deceleration of Ca²⁺ decay, whereas SNX17 overexpression using vectors elicited the opposite effects. Moreover, the protein level of SERCA2a was significantly decreased by silencing SNX17. Immunohistochemistry indicated that SNX17 and SERCA2a were co-localized, and co-immunoprecipitation revealed the binding between the phox-homology domain of SNX17 and SERCA2a protein. Furthermore, lysosome inhibitor chloroquine prevented SNX17 silencing-induced reduction of SERCA2a protein level.

CONCLUSION

Abnormal downregulation of SNX17 contributes to ischemic damages of cardiac electrophysiology and contractile function. SNX17 is an endogenous anti-arrhythmic factor acting by preserving functional SERCA2a protein in MI thereby offering a new strategy for the management of MI to alleviate ischemic myocardial injuries.

New Blood Pressure-Associated Loci Identified in Meta-Analyses of 475 000 Individuals

BACKGROUND

Genome-wide association studies have recently identified >400 loci that harbor DNA sequence variants that influence blood pressure (BP). Our earlier studies identified and validated 56 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with BP from meta-analyses of exome chip genotype data. An additional 100 variants yielded suggestive evidence of association.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Here, we augment the sample with 140 886 European individuals from the UK Biobank, in whom 77 of the 100 suggestive SNVs were available for association analysis with systolic BP or diastolic BP or pulse pressure. We performed 2 meta-analyses, one in individuals of European, South Asian, African, and Hispanic descent (pan-ancestry, ≈475 000), and the other in the subset of individuals of European descent (≈423 000). Twenty-one SNVs were genome-wide significant (P<5×10-8) for BP, of which 4 are new BP loci: rs9678851 (missense, SLC4A1AP), rs7437940 (AFAP1), rs13303 (missense, STAB1), and rs1055144 (7p15.2). In addition, we identified a potentially independent novel BP-associated SNV, rs3416322 (missense, SYNPO2L) at a known locus, uncorrelated with the previously reported SNVs. Two SNVs are associated with expression levels of nearby genes, and SNVs at 3 loci are associated with other traits. One SNV with a minor allele frequency <0.01, (rs3025380 at DBH) was genome-wide significant.

CONCLUSIONS

We report 4 novel loci associated with BP regulation, and 1 independent variant at an established BP locus. This analysis highlights several candidate genes with variation that alter protein function or gene expression for potential follow-up.

Integrating Genome-Wide Association and eQTLs Studies Identifies the Genes and Gene Sets Associated with Diabetes

AIM

To identify novel candidate genes and gene sets for diabetes.

METHODS

We performed an integrative analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) data for diabetes. Summary data was driven from a large-scale GWAS of diabetes, totally involving 58,070 individuals. eQTLs dataset included 923,021 cis-eQTL for 14,329 genes and 4,732 trans-eQTL for 2,612 genes. Integrative analysis of GWAS and eQTLs data was conducted by summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR). To identify the gene sets associated with diabetes, the SMR single gene analysis results were further subjected to gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). A total of 13,311 annotated gene sets were analyzed in this study.

RESULTS

SMR analysis identified 6 genes significantly associated with fasting glucose, such as C11ORF10 (p value = 6.04 × 10^-8), MRPL33 (p value = 1.24 × 10^-7), and FADS1 (p value = 2.39 × 10^-7). Gene set analysis identified HUANG_FOXA2_TARGETS_UP (false discovery rate = 0.047) associated with fasting glucose.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides novel clues for clarifying the genetic mechanism of diabetes. This study also illustrated the good performance of SMR approach and extended it to gene set association analysis for complex diseases.

Retromer and sorting nexins in endosomal sorting

The evolutionarily conserved endosomal retromer complex rescues transmembrane proteins from the lysosomal degradative pathway and facilitates their recycling to other cellular compartments. Retromer functions in conjunction with numerous associated proteins, including select members of the sorting nexin (SNX) family. In the present article, we review the molecular architecture and cellular roles of retromer and its various functional partners. The endosomal network is a crucial hub in the trafficking of proteins through the cellular endomembrane system. Transmembrane proteins, here termed cargos, enter endosomes by endocytosis from the plasma membrane or by trafficking from the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Endosomal cargo proteins face one of the two fates: retention in the endosome, leading ultimately to lysosomal degradation or export from the endosome for reuse ('recycling'). The balance of protein degradation and recycling is crucial to cellular homoeostasis; inappropriate sorting of proteins to either fate leads to cellular dysfunction. Retromer is an endosome-membrane-associated protein complex central to the recycling of many cargo proteins from endosomes, both to the TGN and the plasma membrane (and other specialized compartments, e.g. lysosome-related organelles). Retromer function is reliant on a number of proteins from the SNX family. In the present article, we discuss this inter-relationship and how defects in retromer function are increasingly being linked with human disease.

Scavenger receptor structure and function in health and disease

Scavenger receptors (SRs) are a ‘superfamily’ of membrane-bound receptors that were initially thought to bind and internalize modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL), though it is currently known to bind to a variety of ligands including endogenous proteins and pathogens. New family of SRs and their properties have been identified in recent years, and have now been classified into 10 eukaryote families, defined as Classes A-J. These receptors are classified according to their sequences, although in each class they are further classified based in the variations of the sequence. Their ability to bind a range of ligands is reflected on the biological functions such as clearance of modified lipoproteins and pathogens. SR members regulate pathophysiological states including atherosclerosis, pathogen infections, immune surveillance, and cancer. Here, we review our current understanding of SR structure and function implicated in health and disease.

SNX17 affects T cell activation by regulating TCR and integrin recycling

A key component in T cell activation is the endosomal recycling of receptors to the cell surface, thereby allowing continual integration of signaling and Ag recognition. One protein potentially involved in TCR transport is sorting nexin 17 (SNX17). SNX proteins have been found to bind proteins involved in T cell activation, but specifically the role of SNX17 in receptor recycling and T cell activation is unknown. Using immunofluorescence, we find that SNX17 colocalizes with TCR and localizes to the immune synapse in T- conjugates. Significantly, knockdown of the SNX17 resulted in fewer T-APC conjugates, lower CD69, TCR, and LFA-1 surface expression, as well as lower overall TCR recycling compared with control T cells. Lastly, we identified the 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin domain of SNX17 as being responsible in the binding and trafficking of TCR and LFA-1 to the cell surface. These data suggest that SNX17 plays a role in the maintenance of normal surface levels of activating receptors and integrins to permit optimum T cell activation at the immune synapse.

Structural determinants for binding of sorting nexin 17 (SNX17) to the cytoplasmic adaptor protein Krev interaction trapped 1 (KRIT1)

Sorting nexin 17 (SNX17) is a member of the family of cytoplasmic sorting nexin adaptor proteins that regulate endosomal trafficking of cell surface proteins. SNX17 localizes to early endosomes where it directly binds NPX(Y/F) motifs in the cytoplasmic tails of its target receptors to mediate their rates of endocytic internalization, recycling, and/or degradation. SNX17 has also been implicated in mediating cell signaling and can interact with cytoplasmic proteins. KRIT1 (Krev interaction trapped 1), a cytoplasmic adaptor protein associated with cerebral cavernous malformations, has previously been shown to interact with SNX17. Here, we demonstrate that SNX17 indeed binds directly to KRIT1 and map the binding to the second Asn-Pro-Xaa-Tyr/Phe (NPX(Y/F)) motif in KRIT1. We further characterize the interaction as being mediated by the FERM domain of SNX17. We present the co-crystal structure of SNX17-FERM with the KRIT1-NPXF2 peptide to 3.0 Å resolution and demonstrate that the interaction is highly similar in structure and binding affinity to that between SNX17 and P-selectin. We verify the molecular details of the interaction by site-directed mutagenesis and pulldown assay and thereby confirm that the major binding site for SNX17 is confined to the NPXF2 motif in KRIT1. Taken together, our results verify a direct interaction between SNX17 and KRIT1 and classify KRIT1 as a SNX17 binding partner.

Sorting nexin 17 regulates ApoER2 recycling and reelin signaling

ApoER2 is a member of the low density-lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) family. As a receptor for reelin, ApoER2 participates in neuronal migration during development as well as synaptic plasticity and survival in the adult brain. A previous yeast two-hybrid screen showed that ApoER2 is a binding partner of sorting nexin 17 (SNX17) - a cytosolic adaptor protein that regulates the trafficking of several membrane proteins in the endosomal pathway, including LRP1, P-selectin and integrins. However, no further studies have been performed to investigate the role of SNX17 in ApoER2 trafficking and function. In this study, we present evidence based on GST pull-down and inmunoprecipitation assays that the cytoplasmic NPxY endocytosis motif of ApoER2 interacts with the FERM domain of SNX17. SNX17 stimulates ApoER2 recycling in different cell lines including neurons without affecting its endocytic rate and also facilitates the transport of ApoER2 from the early endosomes to the recycling endosomes. The reduction of SNX17 was associated with accumulation of an ApoER2 carboxy-terminal fragment (CTF). In addition, in SNX17 knockdown cells, constitutive ApoER2 degradation was not modified, whereas reelin-induced ApoER2 degradation was increased, implying that SNX17 is a regulator of the receptor's half-life. Finally, in SNX17 silenced hippocampal and cortical neurons, we underscored a positive role of this endosomal protein in the development of the dendritic tree and reelin signaling. Overall, these results establish the role of SNX17 in ApoER2 trafficking and function and aid in identifying new links between endocytic trafficking and receptor signaling.

Role of advanced glycation end products in cellular signaling

Improvements in health care and lifestyle have led to an elevated lifespan and increased focus on age-associated diseases, such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, frailty and arteriosclerosis. In all these chronic diseases protein, lipid or nucleic acid modifications are involved, including cross-linked and non-degradable aggregates, such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Formation of endogenous or uptake of dietary AGEs can lead to further protein modifications and activation of several inflammatory signaling pathways. This review will give an overview of the most prominent AGE-mediated signaling cascades, AGE receptor interactions, prevention of AGE formation and the impact of AGEs during pathophysiological processes.

Measuring interactions of FERM domain-containing sorting Nexin proteins with endosomal lipids and cargo molecules

Endosomal recycling pathways regulate cellular homeostasis via the transport of internalized material back to the plasma membrane. Phox homology (PX) and band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (FERM) domain-containing proteins are a recently identified subfamily of PX proteins that are critical for the recycling of numerous transmembrane cargo molecules. The PX-FERM subfamily includes three endosome-associated proteins called sorting nexin (SNX) 17, SNX27, and SNX31. These are modular peripheral membrane proteins that act as central scaffolds mediating protein-lipid interactions, cargo binding, and regulatory protein recruitment. This chapter outlines the methodology employed to classify the PX-FERM family using combined bioinformatics and structure prediction tools. It further details the application of isothermal titration calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to understand the mechanisms that underpin their endosomal membrane recruitment and subsequent recognition of NPxY/NxxY peptide sorting motifs, present in many cargo receptors and required for their trafficking. It is now increasingly recognized that the formation of a stable trafficking complex is dictated by a multitude of coordinated protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions, and the approaches highlighted here will be useful for future studies aimed at understanding these biomolecular interactions in greater detail.

Sorting nexin 24 genetic variation associates with coronary artery aneurysm severity in Kawasaki disease patients

Background

The sorting nexin (SNX) family is involved in endocytosis and protein trafficking and plays multiple roles in various diseases. The role of SNX proteins in Kawasaki disease (KD) is not known. We attempted to test whether genetic SNX variation associates with the risk of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) formation in KD.

Methods and results

Chi-square tests were used to identify SNX24 genetic variants associated with KD susceptibility and CAA formation in KD; models were adjusted for fever duration and time of first administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. We obtained clinical characteristics and genotypes from KD patients (76 with CAA and 186 without CAA) in a population-based retrospective KD cohort study (n = 262). Clinical and genetic factors were associated with CAA formation in KD. In addition, endothelial cell inflammation was evaluated. Significant correlation was observed between KD with CAA complications and the rs28891 single-nucleotide polymorphism in SNX24. Patients with CC + CT genotypes had lesser CAA complications. In lipopolysaccharide-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, siRNA knockdown of SNX24 significantly decreased gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8.

Conclusions

Polymorphisms in SNX24 may be used as genetic markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CAA formation in KD.

Structural basis for endosomal trafficking of diverse transmembrane cargos by PX-FERM proteins

Transit of proteins through the endosomal organelle following endocytosis is critical for regulating the homeostasis of cell-surface proteins and controlling signal transduction pathways. However, the mechanisms that control these membrane-transport processes are poorly understood. The Phox-homology (PX) domain-containing proteins sorting nexin (SNX) 17, SNX27, and SNX31 have emerged recently as key regulators of endosomal recycling and bind conserved Asn-Pro-Xaa-Tyr-sorting signals in transmembrane cargos via an atypical band, 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (FERM) domain. Here we present the crystal structure of the SNX17 FERM domain bound to the sorting motif of the P-selectin adhesion protein, revealing both the architecture of the atypical FERM domain and the molecular basis for recognition of these essential sorting sequences. We further show that the PX-FERM proteins share a promiscuous ability to bind a wide array of putative cargo molecules, including receptor tyrosine kinases, and propose a model for their coordinated molecular interactions with membrane, cargo, and regulatory proteins.

SNX17 regulates Notch pathway and pancreas development through the retromer-dependent recycling of Jag1

BACKGROUND

Notch is one of the most important signaling pathways involved in cell fate determination. Activation of the Notch pathway requires the binding of a membrane-bound ligand to the Notch receptor in the adjacent cell which induces proteolytic cleavages and the activation of the receptor. A unique feature of the Notch signaling is that processes such as modification, endocytosis or recycling of the ligand have been reported to play critical roles during Notch signaling, however, the underlying molecular mechanism appears context-dependent and often controversial.

RESULTS

Here we identified SNX17 as a novel regulator of the Notch pathway. SNX17 is a sorting nexin family protein implicated in vesicular trafficking and we find it is specifically required in the ligand-expressing cells for Notch signaling. Mechanistically, SNX17 regulates the protein level of Jag1a on plasma membrane by binding to Jag1a and facilitating the retromer-dependent recycling of the ligand. In zebrafish, inhibition of this SNX17-mediated Notch signaling pathway results in defects in neurogenesis as well as pancreas development.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal that SNX17, by acting as a cargo-specific adaptor, promotes the retromer dependent recycling of Jag1a and Notch signaling and this pathway is involved in cell fate determination during zebrafish neurogenesis and pancreas development.

Human papillomavirus L2 facilitates viral escape from late endosomes via sorting nexin 17

The human papillomavirus (HPV) L2 capsid protein plays an essential role during the early stages of viral infection, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its mode of action remain obscure. Using a proteomic approach, we have identified the adaptor protein, sorting nexin 17 (SNX17) as a strong interacting partner of HPV L2. This interaction occurs through a highly conserved SNX17 consensus binding motif, which is present in the majority of HPV L2 proteins analysed. Using mutants of L2 defective for SNX17 interaction, or siRNA ablation of SNX17 expression, we demonstrate that the interaction between L2 and SNX17 is essential for viral infection. Furthermore, loss of the L2-SNX17 interaction results in enhanced turnover of the L2 protein and decreased stability of the viral capsids, and concomitantly, there is a dramatic decrease in the efficiency with which viral genomes transit to the nucleus. Indeed, using a range of endosomal and lysosomal markers, we show that capsids defective in their capacity to bind SNX17 transit much more rapidly to the lysosomal compartment. These results demonstrate that the L2-SNX17 interaction is essential for viral infection and facilitates the escape of the L2-DNA complex from the late endosomal/lysosomal compartments.

Phosphoinositides in the mammalian endo-lysosomal network

The endo-lysosomal system is an interconnected tubulo-vesicular network that acts as a sorting station to process and distribute internalised cargo. This network accepts cargoes from both the plasma membrane and the biosynthetic pathway, and directs these cargos either towards the lysosome for degradation, the peri-nuclear recycling endosome for return to the cell surface, or to the trans-Golgi network. These intracellular membranes are variously enriched in different phosphoinositides that help to shape compartmental identity. These lipids act to localise a number of phosphoinositide-binding proteins that function as sorting machineries to regulate endosomal cargo sorting. Herein we discuss regulation of these machineries by phosphoinositides and explore how phosphoinositide-switching contributes toward sorting decisions made at this platform.

Phox homology band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin-like proteins function as molecular scaffolds that interact with cargo receptors and Ras GTPases

Following endocytosis, the fates of receptors, channels, and other transmembrane proteins are decided via specific endosomal sorting pathways, including recycling to the cell surface for continued activity. Two distinct phox-homology (PX)-domain-containing proteins, sorting nexin (SNX) 17 and SNX27, are critical regulators of recycling from endosomes to the cell surface. In this study we demonstrate that SNX17, SNX27, and SNX31 all possess a novel 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (FERM)-like domain. SNX17 has been shown to bind to Asn-Pro-Xaa-Tyr (NPxY) sequences in the cytoplasmic tails of cargo such as LDL receptors and the amyloid precursor protein, and we find that both SNX17 and SNX27 display similar affinities for NPxY sorting motifs, suggesting conserved functions in endosomal recycling. Furthermore, we show for the first time that all three proteins are able to bind the Ras GTPase through their FERM-like domains. These interactions place the PX-FERM-like proteins at a hub of endosomal sorting and signaling processes. Studies of the SNX17 PX domain coupled with cellular localization experiments reveal the mechanistic basis for endosomal localization of the PX-FERM-like proteins, and structures of SNX17 and SNX27 determined by small angle X-ray scattering show that they adopt non-self-assembling, modular structures in solution. In summary, this work defines a novel family of proteins that participate in a network of interactions that will impact on both endosomal protein trafficking and compartment specific Ras signaling cascades.

Scavenger receptors and their potential as therapeutic targets in the treatment of cardiovascular disease

Scavenger receptors act as membrane-bound and soluble proteins that bind to macromolecular complexes and pathogens. This diverse supergroup of proteins mediates binding to modified lipoprotein particles which regulate the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. In vascular tissues, scavenger receptors are implicated in regulating intracellular signaling, lipid accumulation, foam cell development, and cellular apoptosis or necrosis linked to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. One approach is using gene therapy to modulate scavenger receptor function in atherosclerosis. Ectopic expression of membrane-bound scavenger receptors using viral vectors can modify lipid profiles and reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis. Alternatively, expression of soluble scavenger receptors can also block plaque initiation and progression. Inhibition of scavenger receptor expression using a combined gene therapy and RNA interference strategy also holds promise for long-term therapy. Here we review our current understanding of the gene delivery by viral vectors to cells and tissues in gene therapy strategies and its application to the modulation of scavenger receptor function in atherosclerosis.

Adaptor protein GULP is involved in stabilin-1-mediated phagocytosis

The clearance of apoptotic cells is critical during cellular homeostasis as well as inflammation resolution. Recently, we found that stabilin-1 is a phagocytic receptor that is involved in the clearance of apoptotic cells. However, the downstream signaling pathway of stabilin-1-mediated phagocytosis remains to be investigated. Here we identify that GULP is able to specifically interact with the NPxF/Y motif of stabilin-1 cytoplasmic region. The PTB domain of GULP is necessary for interaction with stabilin-1. GULP is enriched around PS-coated beads for phagocytosis and co-localized with stabilin-1. Downregulation of endogenous GULP expression decreased stabilin-1-mediated phagocytosis. Thus, these results indicate that GULP functions as an adaptor protein for stabilin-1-mediated phagocytosis.