A tetanus toxin sensitive protein other than VAMP 2 is required for exocytosis in the pancreatic acinar cell

Decreased dendritic spine density as a consequence of tetanus toxin light chain expression in single neurons in vivo

Tetanus toxin light chain has been used for some time as a genetically-encoded tool to inhibit neurotransmission and thereby dissect mechanisms underlying neural circuit formation and function. In addition to cleaving v-SNARE proteins involved in axonal neurotransmitter release, tetanus toxin light chain can also block activity-dependent dendritic exocytosis. The application of tetanus toxin light chain as a research tool in mammalian models, however, has been limited to a small number of cell types. Here we have induced expression of tetanus toxin light chain in a very small number of fluorescently labeled neurons in many regions of the adult mouse brain. This was achieved by crossing SLICK (single-neuron labeling with inducible cre-mediated knockout) transgenic lines with RC::Ptox mice that have Cre recombinase-controlled expression of the tetanus toxin light chain. Using this system we have examined the cell-autonomous effects of tetanus toxin light chain expression on dendritic spines in vivo. We find that dendritic spine density is reduced by 15% in tetanus toxin expressing hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, while spine morphology is unaltered. This effect is likely to be a consequence of inhibition of activity-dependent dendritic exocytosis and suggests that on-going plasticity-associated exocytosis is required for long-term dendritic spine maintenance in vivo.

Pancreatic acinar cells express vesicle-associated membrane protein 2- and 8-specific populations of zymogen granules with distinct and overlapping roles in secretion

Previous studies have demonstrated roles for vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP 2) and VAMP 8 in Ca(2+)-regulated pancreatic acinar cell secretion, however, their coordinated function in the secretory pathway has not been addressed. Here we provide evidence using immunofluorescence microscopy, cell fractionation, and SNARE protein interaction studies that acinar cells contain two distinct populations of zymogen granules (ZGs) expressing either VAMP 2 or VAMP 8. Further, VAMP 8-positive granules also contain the synaptosome-associated protein 29, whereas VAMP 2-expressing granules do not. Analysis of acinar secretion by Texas red-dextran labeling indicated that VAMP 2-positive ZGs mediate the majority of exocytotic events during constitutive secretion and also participate in Ca(2+)-regulated exocytosis, whereas VAMP 8-positive ZGs are more largely involved in Ca(2+)-stimulated secretion. Previously undefined functional roles for VAMP and syntaxin isoforms in acinar secretion were established by introducing truncated constructs of these proteins into permeabilized acini. VAMP 2 and VAMP 8 constructs each attenuated Ca(2+)-stimulated exocytosis by 50%, whereas the neuronal VAMP 1 had no effects. In comparison, the plasma membrane SNAREs syntaxin 2 and syntaxin 4 each inhibited basal exocytosis, but only syntaxin 4 significantly inhibited Ca(2+)-stimulated secretion. Syntaxin 3, which is expressed on ZGs, had no effects. Collectively, these data demonstrate that individual acinar cells express VAMP 2- and VAMP 8-specific populations of ZGs that orchestrate the constitutive and Ca(2+)-regulated secretory pathways.

Role of VAMP-2, VAMP-7, and VAMP-8 in constitutive exocytosis from HSY cells

We evaluated the role of VAMP-2/synaptobrevin, VAMP-7/TI-VAMP, and VAMP-8/endobrevin in exocytic pathways of HSY cells, a human parotid epithelial cell line, by coexpressing these VAMP proteins tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and human growth hormone (hGH) as a secretory cargo. Exocytosis of hGH was constitutive and the fluorescent signal of hGH-GFP was observed in the Golgi area and small vesicles quickly moving throughout the cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic vesicles containing hGH overlapped well with VAMP-7-GFP, but did so scarcely with VAMP-2-GFP or VAMP-8-GFP. However, when the vesicle transport from the trans-Golgi network to the plasma membrane was arrested by incubation at 20 degrees C for 2 h and then released by warming up to 37 degrees C; VAMP-2-GFP and hGH were clearly colocalized together in small cytoplasmic vesicles. Neither VAMP-7-GFP nor hGH-GFP was colocalized with LAMP-1, a marker for lysosomes and late endosomes. These results suggest that (1) VAMP-2 can be one of the v-SNAREs for constitutive exocytosis; (2) VAMP-7 is involved in the constitutive exocytosis as a slow, minor v-SNARE, but not in the lysosomal transport; and (3) VAMP-8 is unlikely to be a v-SNARE for constitutive exocytosis in HSY cells.

Induction of G2/M phase cell cycle arrest by carnosol and carnosic acid is associated with alteration of cyclin A and cyclin B1 levels

Carnosol and carnosic acid, two antioxidant polyphenols present in Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), were investigated for their antiproliferative properties toward Caco-2 cells. Twenty hours of treatment with both carnosol and carnosic acid inhibited 3H-thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 23 microM and significantly increased the doubling time of Caco-2 cells from 29.5 to 140 and 120 h, respectively. These effects were associated with accumulation of treated cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Carnosol was found to exert its major cell cycle effect after prometaphase, and caused an increase in cyclin B1 protein levels whereas carnosic acid arrested cells prior to prometaphase, and caused a reduction in cyclin A levels. These structurally related phytochemicals, therefore, appear to arrest cells at different phases of the cell cycle possibly through influencing the levels of different cyclin proteins.

Dietary isothiocyanates inhibit Caco-2 cell proliferation and induce G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, and G2/M checkpoint activation

Benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate, two aromatic phytochemicals present in substantial concentrations in edible vegetables of the genus Brassica, were investigated for their effects on Caco-2 cell proliferation. Benzyl and phenethyl isothiocyanate inhibited DNA synthesis, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 5.1 and 2.4 micromol/L, respectively, and significantly increased the doubling times of Caco-2 cells from 32 h to 220 and 120 h, respectively. There was no adverse effect of either chemical on cell viability in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, but benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate both caused an accumulation of cells in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle, which was maintained for at least 48 h in cells synchronized at prometaphase with nocodazole and subsequently treated with 10 micromol/L benzyl isothiocyanate or phenethyl isothiocyanate. Both benzyl and phenethyl isothiocyanate increased DNA strand breakage, increased phosphorylation of the G(2)/M checkpoint enforcer Chk2, and induced p21 expression. These results suggest that the antiproliferative effects of benzyl and phenethyl isothiocyanates toward Caco-2 cells are due at least in part to the activation of the G(2)/M DNA damage checkpoint, and that sustained G(2)/M phase cell cycle arrest in response to benzyl and phenethyl isothiocyanates may be maintained through upregulation of p21. This study indicates that some dietary isothiocyanates may exert an antiproliferative effect through activation of the G(2)/M DNA damage checkpoint.

Receptor biology and intracellular regulatory mechanisms in pancreatic acinar cells

Continuing progress is being made in understanding the regulation of pancreatic acinar cell function by receptor-activated intracellular signaling mechanisms. Knowledge of how ligands interact at the molecular level with their receptors and activate heterotrimeric G proteins is increasing. In addition to inositol trisphosphate, intracellular messengers include cyclic ADP ribose, nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate, arachidonic acid, and diacylglycerol. Ca signaling involves the interaction of inositol trisphosphate, cyclic ADP ribose, and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate with distinct subcellular Ca stores. Ca signals ultimately induce exocytosis of zymogen granules and identification of the proteins involved on the granule and plasma membrane, and understanding of their roles is continuing. Other receptor-activated signaling pathways primarily regulate nonsecretory events. Considerable progress has been made in understanding how the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway regulates protein synthesis through translation factors and ribosomal proteins. Other pathways in acinar cells include the mitogen-activated protein kinases, the tyrosine kinases, and the transforming growth factor-beta-Smad pathways.

Intracellular distribution and functional importance of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 in gastric parietal cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Acid secretion by parietal cells involves secretagogue-dependent recycling of the H+-K+-ATPase. Proteins called soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) have been implicated as participants in membrane trafficking, docking, and fusing processes. Here we studied the intracellular distribution and functional importance of one SNARE protein, vesicle associated membrane protein-2 (VAMP-2), in gastric parietal cells.

METHODS

Using an adenoviral recombinant expression system encoding VAMP-2 (synaptobrevin-2) fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP), we expressed the GFP-VAMP-2 protein in primary cultures of rabbit parietal cells, which enables us to visualize the dynamics of GFP-VAMP-2 in a variety of functional states by fluorescence microscopy. To ascertain the function of VAMP-2 in parietal cell activation, streptolysin-O permeabilized gastric glands were treated with tetanus toxin, a potent and preferential protease for VAMP-2, and acid secretion was measured.

RESULTS

In resting parietal cells GFP was detected throughout the cytoplasm in a pattern of distribution that was very similar to that of H+-K+-ATPase. After stimulation, we observed that the GFP-VAMP-2 translocated to the apical plasma membrane along with the H+-K+-ATPase. A relatively high degree of co-localization was detected between GFP-VAMP-2 and H+-K+-ATPase. Tetanus toxin inhibited cAMP/ATP-stimulated acid secretion by about 45% in permeabilized gastric glands with a concomitant reduction in the level of immunoreactive VAMP-2.

CONCLUSIONS

Adenovirus-based GFP reporter fusion proteins can be used to efficiently study the functional dynamics of SNAREs. VAMP-2 is associated with tubulovesicle membranes in the parietal cell and plays a role in stimulation-associated membrane recruitment and acid secretion.

CRHSP-28 regulates Ca(2+)-stimulated secretion in permeabilized acinar cells

CRHSP-28 is a Ca(2+)-regulated heat-stable phosphoprotein, abundant in the apical cytoplasm of epithelial cells that are specialized in exocrine protein secretion. To define a functional role for the protein in pancreatic secretion, recombinant CRHSP-28 (rCRHSP-28) was introduced into streptolysin-O-permeabilized acinar cells, and amylase secretion in response to elevated Ca(2+) was determined. Secretion was enhanced markedly by rCRHSP-28 over a time course that closely corresponded with the loss of the native protein from the intracellular compartment. No effects of rCRHSP-28 were detected until approximately 50% of the native protein was lost from the cytosol. Secretion was enhanced by rCRHSP-28 over a physiological range of Ca(2+) concentrations with 2-3-fold increases in amylase release occurring in response to low micromolar levels of free Ca(2+). Further, rCRHSP-28 augmented secretion in a concentration-dependent manner with minimal and maximal effects occurring at 1 and 25 microg/ml, respectively. Covalent cross-linking experiments demonstrated that native CRHSP-28 was present in a 60-kDa complex in cytosolic fractions and in a high molecular mass complex in particulate fractions, consistent with the slow leak rate of the protein from streptolysin-O-permeabilized cells. Probing acinar lysates with rCRHSP-28 in a gel-overlay assay identified two CRHSP-28-binding proteins of 35 (pp35) and 70 kDa (pp70). Interestingly, preparation of lysates in the presence of 1 mm Ca(2+) resulted in a marked redistribution of both proteins from a cytosolic to a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction, suggesting a Ca(2+)-sensitive interaction of these proteins with the acinar cell cytoskeleton. In agreement with our previous study immunohistochemically localizing CRHSP-28 around secretory granules in acinar cells, gel-overlay analysis revealed pp70 copurified with acinar cell secretory granule membranes. These findings demonstrate an important cell physiological function for CRHSP-28 in the Ca(2+)-regulated secretory pathway of acinar cells.