1
|
Thiel G, Rössler OG. Calmodulin Regulates Transient Receptor Potential TRPM3 and TRPM8-Induced Gene Transcription. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097902. [PMID: 37175607 PMCID: PMC10178570 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Calmodulin is a small protein that binds Ca2+ ions via four EF-hand motifs. The Ca2+/calmodulin complex as well as Ca2+-free calmodulin regulate the activities of numerous enzymes and ion channels. Here, we used genetic and pharmacological tools to study the functional role of calmodulin in regulating signal transduction of TRPM3 and TRPM8 channels. Both TRPM3 and TRPM8 are important regulators of thermosensation. Gene transcription triggered by stimulation of TRPM3 or TRPM8 channels was significantly impaired in cells expressing a calmodulin mutant with mutations in all four EF-hand Ca2+ binding motifs. Similarly, incubation of cells with the calmodulin inhibitor ophiobolin A reduced TRPM3 and TRPM8-induced signaling. The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin was shown to negatively regulate TRPM3-induced gene transcription. Here, we show that TRPM8-induced transcription is also regulated by calcineurin. We propose that calmodulin plays a dual role in regulating TRPM3 and TRPM8 functions. Calmodulin is required for the activation of TRPM3 and TRPM8-induced intracellular signaling, most likely through a direct interaction with the channels. Ca2+ influx through TRPM3 and TRPM8 feeds back to TRPM3 and TRPM8-induced signaling by activation of the calmodulin-regulated enzyme calcineurin, which acts as a negative feedback loop for both TRPM3 and TRPM8 channel signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Thiel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University, Building 44, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Oliver G Rössler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University, Building 44, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Increase of c-FOS promoter transcriptional activity by the dual leucine zipper kinase. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:1223-1233. [PMID: 36700987 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02401-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) and the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor c-FOS have important roles in beta-cell proliferation and function. Some studies in neuronal cells suggest that DLK can influence c-FOS expression. Given that c-FOS is mainly regulated at the transcriptional level, the effect of DLK on c-FOS promoter activity was investigated in the beta-cell line HIT. The methods used in this study are the following: Luciferase reporter gene assays, immunoblot analysis, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing, and real-time quantitative PCR. In the beta-cell line HIT, overexpressed DLK increased c-FOS promoter activity twofold. Using 5'-,3'-promoter deletions, the promoter regions from - 348 to - 339 base pairs (bp) and from a - 284 to - 53 bp conferred basal activity, whereas the promoter region from - 711 to - 348 bp and from - 53 to + 48 bp mediated DLK responsiveness. Mutation of the cAMP response element within the promoter prevented the stimulatory effect of DLK. Treatment of HIT cells with KCl and the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin increased c-FOS promoter transcriptional activity ninefold. Since the transcriptional activity of those promoter fragments activated by KCl and forskolin was decreased by DLK, DLK might interfere with KCl/forskolin-induced signaling. In a newly generated, genome-edited HIT cell line lacking catalytically active DLK, c-Fos mRNA levels were reduced by 80% compared to the wild-type cell line. DLK increased c-FOS promoter activity but decreased stimulated transcriptional activity, suggesting that DLK fine-tunes c-FOS promoter-dependent gene transcription. Moreover, at least in HIT cells, DLK is required for FOS mRNA expression.
Collapse
|
3
|
Glucose Homeostasis and Pancreatic Islet Size Are Regulated by the Transcription Factors Elk-1 and Egr-1 and the Protein Phosphatase Calcineurin. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010815. [PMID: 36614256 PMCID: PMC9821712 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic β-cells synthesize and secrete insulin. A key feature of diabetes mellitus is the loss of these cells. A decrease in the number of β-cells results in decreased biosynthesis of insulin. Increasing the number of β-cells should restore adequate insulin biosynthesis leading to adequate insulin secretion. Therefore, identifying proteins that regulate the number of β-cells is a high priority in diabetes research. In this review article, we summerize the results of three sophisticated transgenic mouse models showing that the transcription factors Elk-1 and Egr-1 and the Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase calcineurin control the formation of sufficiently large pancreatic islets. Impairment of the biological activity of Egr-1 and Elk-1 in pancreatic β-cells leads to glucose intolerance and dysregulation of glucose homeostasis, the process that maintains glucose concentration in the blood within a narrow range. Transgenic mice expressing an activated calcineurin mutant also had smaller islets and showed hyperglycemia. Calcineurin induces dephosphorylation of Elk-1 which subsequently impairs Egr-1 biosynthesis and the biological functions of Elk-1 and Egr-1 to regulate islet size and glucose homeostasis.
Collapse
|
4
|
Eriksson H, Rössler OG, Thiel G. Tyrosine hydroxylase gene promoter activity is upregulated in female catecholaminergic neuroblastoma cells following activation of a Gαq-coupled designer receptor. Neurochem Int 2022; 160:105407. [PMID: 35995267 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine hydroxylase is the rate-limiting enzyme of catecholamine biosynthesis that catalyzes the conversion of L-tyrosine to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. The tyrosine hydroxylase gene is regulated by extracellular signaling molecules such as epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor and steroids. Here, we investigated whether the activity of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene promoter is upregulated by activation of G protein-coupled receptors, the largest group of plasma membrane receptors. We used catecholaminergic neuroblastoma cells as a cellular model and chromatin-integrated tyrosine hydroxylase promoter-luciferase reporter genes. The results show that stimulation of Rαq, a Gαq-coupled designer receptor, triggered transcription of a reporter gene driven by the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter. Transcription was attenuated by overexpression of regulator of G-protein signaling-2, which activates the GTPase activity of the G protein α-subunit, and by a truncated, dominant-negative mutant of phospholipase Cβ3. Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase was identified as the signal transducer. At the transcriptional level, tyrosine hydroxylase promoter activity was found to be controlled by the transcription factor CREB. Expression experiments with the adenoviral regulator protein E1A, an inhibitor of CBP/p300 histone acetyltransferases, showed that transcription of the reporter gene controlled by the tyrosine hydroxylase is under epigenetic control. We identified the protein phosphatases MAP kinase phosphatase-1 and calcineurin as part of a shutdown device of the signaling cascade linking Rαq designer receptor activation to tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription. We conclude that tyrosine hydroxylase promoter activity is controlled by Gαq-coupled receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eriksson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Oliver G Rössler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Gerald Thiel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421, Homburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Thiel G, Backes TM, Guethlein LA, Rössler OG. Critical Protein-Protein Interactions Determine the Biological Activity of Elk-1, a Master Regulator of Stimulus-Induced Gene Transcription. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26206125. [PMID: 34684708 PMCID: PMC8541449 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26206125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Elk-1 is a transcription factor that binds together with a dimer of the serum response factor (SRF) to the serum-response element (SRE), a genetic element that connects cellular stimulation with gene transcription. Elk-1 plays an important role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis, thymocyte development, glucose homeostasis and brain function. The biological function of Elk-1 relies essentially on the interaction with other proteins. Elk-1 binds to SRF and generates a functional ternary complex that is required to activate SRE-mediated gene transcription. Elk-1 is kept in an inactive state under basal conditions via binding of a SUMO-histone deacetylase complex. Phosphorylation by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase or p38 upregulates the transcriptional activity of Elk-1, mediated by binding to the mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription (Mediator) and the transcriptional coactivator p300. Strong and extended phosphorylation of Elk-1 attenuates Mediator and p300 recruitment and allows the binding of the mSin3A-histone deacetylase corepressor complex. The subsequent dephosphorylation of Elk-1, catalyzed by the protein phosphatase calcineurin, facilitates the re-SUMOylation of Elk-1, transforming Elk-1 back to a transcriptionally inactive state. Thus, numerous protein–protein interactions control the activation cycle of Elk-1 and are essential for its biological function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Thiel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany; (T.M.B.); (O.G.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-6841-1626506; Fax: +49-6841-1626500
| | - Tobias M. Backes
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany; (T.M.B.); (O.G.R.)
| | - Lisbeth A. Guethlein
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Oliver G. Rössler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany; (T.M.B.); (O.G.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Thiel G, Wagner L, Ulrich M, Rössler OG. Immediate-early transcriptional response to insulin receptor stimulation. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 192:114696. [PMID: 34302794 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Insulin binding to the insulin receptor triggers intracellular signaling cascades involving the activation of protein and lipid kinases. As a result, multiple biological functions of the cells are changed. Here, we analyzed the regulation and signaling cascades leading to insulin-induced activation of the stimulus-responsive transcription factors. For the analyses, we used chromatin-embedded reporter genes having a cellular nucleosomal organisation, and fibroblasts expressing human insulin receptors (HIRcB cells). The results show that stimulation of the insulin receptor induced the expression of the transcription factor Egr-1. Attenuation of Egr-1 promoter activation was observed following expression of a dominant-negative mutant of the ternary complex factor Elk-1. These data were corroborated by experiments showing that insulin receptor stimulation increased the transcriptional activation potential of Elk-1. In addition, the transcriptional activity of AP-1 was significantly elevated in insulin-stimulated HIRcB cells. Expression of the dominant-negative mutant of Elk-1 reduced insulin-induced activation of AP-1, indicating that Elk-1 controls both serum response element and AP-1-regulated transcription. Moreover, we show that stimulation of the insulin receptor activates cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-controlled transcription, involving the transcription factor CREB. Insulin-induced transcription of Elk-1 and CREB-controlled reporter genes was attenuated by overexpression of MAP kinase phosphatase-1 or a constitutively active mutant of calcineurin A, indicating that both phosphatases are part of a negative feedback loop for reducing insulin-mediated gene transcription. Finally, we show that expression of the adenoviral protein E1A selectively reduced CRE-mediated transcription following stimulation of the insulin receptor. These data indicate that insulin-regulated transcription of CRE-containing genes is under epigenetic control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Thiel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
| | - Lara Wagner
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Myriam Ulrich
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Oliver G Rössler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Thiel G, Backes TM, Guethlein LA, Rössler OG. Chromatin-embedded reporter genes: Quantification of stimulus-induced gene transcription. Gene 2021; 787:145645. [PMID: 33848575 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Receptors and ion channels expressed on the cell surface ensure proper communication between the cells and the environment. In multicellular organism, stimulus-regulated gene transcription is the basis for communication with the environment allowing individual cells to respond to stimuli such as nutrients, chemical stressors and signaling molecules released by other cells of the organism. Hormones, cytokines, and mitogens bind to receptors and ion channels and induce intracellular signaling cascades involving second messengers, kinases, phosphatases, and changes in the concentration of particular ions. Ultimately, the signaling cascades reach the nucleus. Transcription factors are activated that respond to cellular stimulation and induce changes in gene transcription. Investigating stimulus-transcription coupling combines cell biology with genetics. In this review, we discuss the molecular biology of stimulus-induced transcriptional activators and their responsiveness to extracellular and intracellular signaling molecules and to epigenetic regulators. Stimulus-induced gene expression is measured by several methods, including detection of nuclear translocation of transcription factors, phosphorylation or DNA binding. In this article, we emphasize that the most reliable method to directly measure transcriptional activation involves the use of chromatin-embedded reporter genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Thiel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
| | - Tobias M Backes
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Lisbeth A Guethlein
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Oliver G Rössler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Thiel G, Schmidt T, Rössler OG. Ca 2+ Microdomains, Calcineurin and the Regulation of Gene Transcription. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040875. [PMID: 33921430 PMCID: PMC8068893 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ ions function as second messengers regulating many intracellular events, including neurotransmitter release, exocytosis, muscle contraction, metabolism and gene transcription. Cells of a multicellular organism express a variety of cell-surface receptors and channels that trigger an increase of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration upon stimulation. The elevated Ca2+ concentration is not uniformly distributed within the cytoplasm but is organized in subcellular microdomains with high and low concentrations of Ca2+ at different locations in the cell. Ca2+ ions are stored and released by intracellular organelles that change the concentration and distribution of Ca2+ ions. A major function of the rise in intracellular Ca2+ is the change of the genetic expression pattern of the cell via the activation of Ca2+-responsive transcription factors. It has been proposed that Ca2+-responsive transcription factors are differently affected by a rise in cytoplasmic versus nuclear Ca2+. Moreover, it has been suggested that the mode of entry determines whether an influx of Ca2+ leads to the stimulation of gene transcription. A rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ induces an intracellular signaling cascade, involving the activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin and various protein kinases (protein kinase C, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases). In this review article, we discuss the concept of gene regulation via elevated Ca2+ concentration in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, the role of Ca2+ entry and the role of enzymes as signal transducers. We give particular emphasis to the regulation of gene transcription by calcineurin, linking protein dephosphorylation with Ca2+ signaling and gene expression.
Collapse
|
9
|
Loviscach L, Backes TM, Langfermann DS, Ulrich M, Thiel G. Zn 2+ ions inhibit gene transcription following stimulation of the Ca 2+ channels Ca v1.2 and TRPM3. Metallomics 2020; 12:1735-1747. [PMID: 33030499 DOI: 10.1039/d0mt00180e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Zinc, a trace element, is necessary for the correct structure and function of many proteins. Therefore, Zn2+ has to be taken up by the cells, using specific Zn2+ transporters or Ca2+ channels. In this study, we have focused on two Ca2+ channels, the L-type voltage-gated Cav1.2 channel and the transient receptor potential channel TRPM3. Stimulation of either channel induces an intracellular signaling cascade leading to the activation of the transcription factor AP-1. The influx of Ca2+ ions into the cytoplasm is essential for this activity. We asked whether extracellular Zn2+ ions affect Cav1.2 or TRPM3-induced gene transcription following stimulation of the channels. The results show that extracellular Zn2+ ions reduced the activation of AP-1 by more than 80% following stimulation of either voltage-gated Cav1.2 channels or TRPM3 channels. Experiments performed with cells maintained in Ca2+-free medium revealed that Zn2+ ions cannot replace Ca2+ ions in inducing gene transcription via stimulation of Cav1.2 and TRPM3 channels. Re-addition of Ca2+ ions to the cell culture medium, however, restored the ability of these Ca2+ channels to induce a signaling cascade leading to the activation of AP-1. Secretory cells, including neurons and pancreatic β-cells, release Zn2+ ions during exocytosis. We propose that the released Zn2+ ions function as a negative feedback loop for stimulus-induced exocytosis by inhibiting Ca2+ channel signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louisa Loviscach
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical Faculty, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|