The C-terminal acidic motif of Phafin2 inhibits PH domain binding to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate

Phafins Are More Than Phosphoinositide-Binding Proteins

Phafins are PH (Pleckstrin Homology) and FYVE (Fab1, YOTB, Vac1, and EEA1) domain-containing proteins. The Phafin protein family is classified into two groups based on their sequence homology and functional similarity: Phafin1 and Phafin2. This protein family is unique because both the PH and FYVE domains bind to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P], a phosphoinositide primarily found in endosomal and lysosomal membranes. Phafin proteins act as PtdIns(3)P effectors in apoptosis, endocytic cargo trafficking, and autophagy. Additionally, Phafin2 is recruited to macropinocytic compartments through coincidence detection of PtdIns(3)P and PtdIns(4)P. Membrane-associated Phafins serve as adaptor proteins that recruit other binding partners. In addition to the phosphoinositide-binding domains, Phafin proteins present a poly aspartic acid motif that regulates membrane binding specificity. In this review, we summarize the involvement of Phafins in several cellular pathways and their potential physiological functions while highlighting the similarities and differences between Phafin1 and Phafin2. Besides, we discuss research perspectives for Phafins.

Identification of zebrafish PLEKHF2 presents in egg/embryos as an antibacterial protein

PLEKHF2 proteins are widespread in animals, but their functions and mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here we clearly demonstrate that PLEKHF2 is a newly identified present abundantly in the eggs/embryos of zebrafish. We also show that recombinant PLEKHF2 acts as a pattern recognition receptor capable of identifying the bacterial signature molecule PGN, LPS, and LTA, binding the bacteria, and functions as an antibacterial effector directly killing the bacteria. In brief, these results indicate that PLEKHF2 is an antibacterial protein, a novel role assigned to PLEKHF2 proteins.

The PH Domain and C-Terminal polyD Motif of Phafin2 Exhibit a Unique Concurrence in Animals

Phafin2, a member of the Phafin family of proteins, contributes to a plethora of cellular activities including autophagy, endosomal cargo transportation, and macropinocytosis. The PH and FYVE domains of Phafin2 play key roles in membrane binding, whereas the C-terminal poly aspartic acid (polyD) motif specifically autoinhibits the PH domain binding to the membrane phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P). Since the Phafin2 FYVE domain also binds PtdIns3P, the role of the polyD motif remains unclear. In this study, bioinformatics tools and resources were employed to determine the concurrence of the PH-FYVE module with the polyD motif among Phafin2 and PH-, FYVE-, or polyD-containing proteins from bacteria to humans. FYVE was found to be an ancient domain of Phafin2 and is related to proteins that are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Interestingly, the polyD motif only evolved in Phafin2 and PH- or both PH-FYVE-containing proteins in animals. PolyD motifs are absent in PH domain-free FYVE-containing proteins, which usually display cellular trafficking or autophagic functions. Moreover, the prediction of the Phafin2-interacting network indicates that Phafin2 primarily cross-talks with proteins involved in autophagy, protein trafficking, and neuronal function. Taken together, the concurrence of the polyD motif with the PH domain may be associated with complex cellular functions that evolved specifically in animals.

Backbone 1H, 15N, and 13C resonance assignments of the Phafin2 pleckstrin homology domain

Phafin2 is a peripheral protein that triggers cellular signaling from endosomal and lysosomal compartments. The specific subcellular localization of Phafin2 is mediated by the presence of a tandem of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P)-binding domains, the pleckstrin homology (PH) and the Fab-1, YOTB, Vac1, and EEA1 (FYVE) domains. The requirement for both domains for binding to PtdIns3P still remains unclear. To understand the molecular interactions of the Phafin2 PH domain in detail, we report its nearly complete 1H, 15N, and 13C backbone resonance assignments.

The phosphoinositide coincidence detector Phafin2 promotes macropinocytosis by coordinating actin organisation at forming macropinosomes

Uptake of large volumes of extracellular fluid by actin-dependent macropinocytosis has an important role in infection, immunity and cancer development. A key question is how actin assembly and disassembly are coordinated around macropinosomes to allow them to form and subsequently pass through the dense actin network underlying the plasma membrane to move towards the cell center for maturation. Here we show that the PH and FYVE domain protein Phafin2 is recruited transiently to newly-formed macropinosomes by a mechanism that involves coincidence detection of PtdIns3P and PtdIns4P. Phafin2 also interacts with actin via its PH domain, and recruitment of Phafin2 coincides with actin reorganization around nascent macropinosomes. Moreover, forced relocalization of Phafin2 to the plasma membrane causes rearrangement of the subcortical actin cytoskeleton. Depletion of Phafin2 inhibits macropinosome internalization and maturation and prevents KRAS-transformed cancer cells from utilizing extracellular protein as an amino acid source. We conclude that Phafin2 promotes macropinocytosis by controlling timely delamination of actin from nascent macropinosomes for their navigation through the dense subcortical actin network.

JIP4 is recruited by the phosphoinositide-binding protein Phafin2 to promote recycling tubules on macropinosomes

Macropinocytosis allows cells to take up extracellular material in a non-selective manner into large vesicles called macropinosomes. After internalization, macropinosomes acquire phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) on their limiting membrane as they mature into endosomal-like vesicles. The molecular mechanisms that underlie recycling of membranes and transmembrane proteins from these macropinosomes still need to be defined. Here, we report that JIP4 (officially known as SPAG9), a protein previously described to bind to microtubule motors, is recruited to tubulating subdomains on macropinosomes by the PtdIns3P-binding protein Phafin2 (officially known as PLEKHF2). These JIP4-positive tubulating subdomains on macropinosomes contain F-actin, the retromer recycling complex and the retromer cargo VAMP3. Disruption of the JIP4-Phafin2 interaction, deletion of Phafin2 or inhibition of PtdIns3P production by VPS34 impairs JIP4 recruitment to macropinosomes. Whereas knockout of JIP4 suppresses tubulation, its overexpression enhances tubulation from macropinosomes. JIP4-knockout cells display increased retention of macropinocytic cargo in both early and late macropinosomes. Collectively, these data identify JIP4 and Phafin2 as components of a tubular recycling pathway that operates from macropinosomes. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.