Calmodulin and cell cycle control

Identification of the Calmodulin-Binding Domains of Fas Death Receptor

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated by binding of a Fas ligand to the ectodomain of the surface death receptor Fas protein. Subsequently, the intracellular death domain of Fas (FasDD) and that of the Fas-associated protein (FADD) interact to form the core of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), a crucial step for activation of caspases that induce cell death. Previous studies have shown that calmodulin (CaM) is recruited into the DISC in cholangiocarcinoma cells and specifically interacts with FasDD to regulate the apoptotic/survival signaling pathway. Inhibition of CaM activity in DISC stimulates apoptosis significantly. We have recently shown that CaM forms a ternary complex with FasDD (2:1 CaM:FasDD). However, the molecular mechanism by which CaM binds to two distinct FasDD motifs is not fully understood. Here, we employed mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), biophysical, and biochemical methods to identify the binding regions of FasDD and provide a molecular basis for the role of CaM in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Proteolytic digestion and mass spectrometry data revealed that peptides spanning residues 209-239 (Fas-Pep1) and 251-288 (Fas-Pep2) constitute the two CaM-binding regions of FasDD. To determine the molecular mechanism of interaction, we have characterized the binding of recombinant/synthetic Fas-Pep1 and Fas-Pep2 peptides with CaM. Our data show that both peptides engage the N- and C-terminal lobes of CaM simultaneously. Binding of Fas-Pep1 to CaM is entropically driven while that of Fas-Pep2 to CaM is enthalpically driven, indicating that a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic forces contribute to the stabilization of the FasDD-CaM complex. Our data suggest that because Fas-Pep1 and Fas-Pep2 are involved in extensive intermolecular contacts with the death domain of FADD, binding of CaM to these regions may hinder its ability to bind to FADD, thus greatly inhibiting the initiation of apoptotic signaling pathway.

Structural and biophysical characterization of the interactions between the death domain of Fas receptor and calmodulin

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated by cell surface death receptors such as Fas. Engagement of Fas by Fas ligand triggers a conformational change that allows Fas to interact with adaptor protein Fas-associated death domain (FADD) via the death domain, which recruits downstream signaling proteins to form the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). Previous studies have shown that calmodulin (CaM) is recruited into the DISC in cholangiocarcinoma cells, suggesting a novel role of CaM in Fas-mediated signaling. CaM antagonists induce apoptosis through a Fas-related mechanism in cholangiocarcinoma and other cancer cell lines possibly by inhibiting Fas-CaM interactions. The structural determinants of Fas-CaM interaction and the underlying molecular mechanisms of inhibition, however, are unknown. Here we employed NMR and biophysical techniques to elucidate these mechanisms. Our data show that CaM binds to the death domain of Fas (FasDD) with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of ~2 μM and 2:1 CaM:FasDD stoichiometry. The interactions between FasDD and CaM are endothermic and entropically driven, suggesting that hydrophobic contacts are critical for binding. We also show that both the N- and C-terminal lobes of CaM are important for binding. NMR and surface plasmon resonance data show that three CaM antagonists (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide, tamoxifen, and trifluoperazine) greatly inhibit Fas-CaM interactions by blocking the Fas-binding site on CaM. Our findings provide the first structural evidence for Fas-CaM interactions and mechanism of inhibition and provide new insight into the molecular basis for a novel role of CaM in regulating Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Coevolution of morphology and virulence in Candida species

Many of the major human fungal pathogens are known to undergo morphological changes, which in certain cases are associated with virulence. Although there has been an intense research focus on morphology in fungi, very little is known about how morphology evolved in conjunction with a variety of other virulence properties. However, several recent important discoveries, primarily in Candida species, are beginning to shed light on this important area and answer many longstanding questions. In this minireview, we first provide a description of the major fungal morphologies, as well as the roles of morphology and morphology-associated gene expression in virulence. Next, focusing largely on Candida species, we examine the evolutionary relationships among specific morphological forms. Finally, drawing on recent findings, we begin to address the question of how specific morphological changes came to be associated with virulence of Candida species during evolution.

Dihydroartemisinin can inhibit calmodulin, calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase activity and stimulate cellular immune responses

Calmodulin (CaM) is a ubiquitous, calcium-binding protein that regulates several important aspects of cellular metabolism. A number of enzymes such as phosphodiesterase (PDE-1) are stimulated by CaM. In previous studies, our results showed that artemisinin (ART) is a potent inhibitor of CaM and PDE-1 activity. In this study, the effects of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) that is a semisynthesized agent from the ART on CaM structure were investigated. The result showed that DHA increased fluorescence emission of CaM in higher amounts compared with the ART. Also, the effect of DHA on CaM-dependent PDE-1 activity was studied. Kinetic analysis of the DHA-CaM interaction showed that this agent competitively inhibited the activation of PDE-1 without affecting Vmax. Km values of PDE-1 in the presence of ART and DHA were 10 and 15 microM, respectively; DHA increased Km value in higher amounts compared with the ART. The Ki constants for ART and DHA were 10 microM and 7.3 microM, respectively. As a conclusion, CaM and CaM-dependent PDE-1 were inhibited by DHA more than ART. The data indicated that DHA could stimulate the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) against sheep blood cells in Balb/c mice and reduced the tumor growth in vivo against invasive ductal carcinoma in Balb/c mice.

Proteomic analysis of pancreatic endocrine tumor cell lines treated with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A

Effects of the histone-deacetylases inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) on the growth of three different human pancreatic endocrine carcinoma cell lines (CM, BON, and QGP-1) have been assessed via dosage-dependent growth inhibition curves. TSA determined strong inhibition of cell growth with similar IC(50) values for the different cell lines: 80.5 nM (CM), 61.6 nM (BON), and 86 nM (QGP-1), by arresting the cell cycle in G2/M phase and inducing apoptosis. 2DE and nano-RP-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis revealed 34, 33, and 38 unique proteins differentially expressed after TSA treatment in the CM, BON, and QGP-1 cell lines, respectively. The most important groups of modulated proteins belong to cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis classes (such as peroxiredoxins 1 and 2, the diablo protein, and HSP27). Other proteins pertain to processes such as regulation of gene expression (nucleophosmin, oncoprotein dek), signal transduction (calcium-calmodulin), chromatin, and cytoskeleton organization (calgizzarin, dynein, and lamin), RNA splicing (nucleolin, HNRPC), and protein folding (HSP70). The present data are in agreement with previous proteomic analyses performed on pancreatic ductal carcinoma cell lines (Cecconi, D. et al.., Electrophoresis 2003; Cecconi, D. et al., J. Proteome Res. 2005) and place histone-deacetylases inhibitors among the potentially most powerful drugs for the treatment of pancreatic tumors.

The combination of calmodulin antagonists and interferon-gamma induces apoptosis through caspase-dependent and -independent pathways in cholangiocarcinoma cells

Calmodulin (CaM) antagonists have been shown to inhibit tumor cell invasion and metastasis and to induce apoptosis in various tumor models, but the molecular mechanism of CaM antagonist-mediated apoptosis is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that interferon (IFN)-gamma induces susceptibility to CaM antagonist-mediated apoptosis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells weakly expressing Fas (Fas-low cells). During CaM antagonist-mediated apoptosis in IFN-gamma-pretreated Fas-low cells, cleavage of caspases-8, -9, and -3 and Bid, release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and an increase in the free cytosolic calcium concentration were observed. CaM antagonists also caused depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane independent of caspase activation. Although a broad-range caspase inhibitor partially blocked CaM antagonist-mediated apoptosis, the neutralizing Fas antibody had no effect, suggesting that CaM antagonist-mediated apoptosis does not require interaction between CaM antagonists and surface Fas. CaM antagonists induce apoptosis via mechanisms other than inhibition of CaM-dependent protein kinase II and calcineurin, as their inhibitors, KN93 and cyclosporine A, had no effect on apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that CaM antagonists induce apoptosis in both caspase-dependent and -independent manners, and that susceptibility to CaM antagonists is modulated by IFN-gamma. The combination of IFN-gamma and CaM antagonists, including tamoxifen, may be a potential therapeutic modality for cholangiocarcinoma and possibly other malignancies.

Calmodulin-containing substructures of the centrosomal matrix released by microtubule perturbation

Calmodulin redistribution in MDCK and HeLa cells subjected to microtubule perturbations by antimitotic drugs was followed using a calmodulin-EGFP fusion protein that preserves the Ca2+ affinity, target binding and activation properties of native calmodulin. CaM-EGFP targeting to spindle structures in normal cell division and upon spindle microtubule disruption allows evaluation of the dynamic redistribution of calmodulin in cell division. Under progressive treatment of stably transfected mammalian cells with nocodazole or vinblastine, the centrosomal matrix at the mitotic poles subdivides into numerous small `star-like' structures, with the calmodulin concentrated centrally, and partially distinct from the reduced microtubule mass to which kinetochores and chromosomes are attached. Prolonged vinblastine treatment causes the release of localised calmodulin into a uniform cytoplasmic distribution, and tubulin paracrystal formation. By contrast,paclitaxel treatment of metaphase cells apparently causes limited disassembly of the pericentriolar material into a number of multipolar `ring-like'structures containing calmodulin, each one having multiple attached microtubules terminating in the partially disordered kinetochore/chromosome complex. Thus drugs with opposite effects in either destabilising or stabilising mitotic microtubules cause subdivision of the centrosomal matrix into two distinctive calmodulin-containing structures, namely small punctate`stars' or larger polar `rings' respectively. The `star-like' structures may represent an integral subcomponent for the attachment of kinetochore microtubules to the metaphase centrosome complex. The results imply that microtubules have a role in stabilising the structure of the pericentriolar matrix, involving interaction, either direct or indirect, with one or more proteins that are targets for binding of calmodulin. Possible candidates include the pericentriolar matrix-associated coiled-coil proteins containing calmodulin-binding motifs, such as myosin V, kendrin (PCNT2) and AKAP450.

Structure, expression, and functional analysis of the gene coding for calmodulin in the chytridiomycete Blastocladiella emersonii

The single calmodulin (CaM) gene and the corresponding cDNA of the chytridiomycete Blastocladiella emersonii were isolated and characterized. The CaM gene is interrupted by three introns and transcribed in a single 0.7-kb mRNA species encoding a predicted protein 91% identical to human CaM. B. emersonii CaM has been expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with gluthatione S-transferase (GST) and purified by affinity chromatography and cleavage from the GST portion using a site-specific protease. In the presence of Ca(2+), B. emersonii CaM exhibited a shift in apparent molecular mass similar to that observed with bovine CaM and was able to activate the autophosphorylation of CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) from rat brain. CaM expression is developmentally regulated in B. emersonii, with CaM mRNA and protein concentrations increasing during sporulation to maximum levels observed just prior to the release of the zoospores into the medium. Both CaM protein and mRNA levels decrease drastically at the zoospore stage, increasing again during germination. The CaM antagonists compound 48/80, calmidazolium, and W7 were shown to completely inhibit B. emersonii sporulation when added to the cultures at least 120, 150, and 180 min after induction, respectively. All these drugs also inhibited growth and zoospore production in this fungus. The Ca(2+) channel blocker TMB-8 and the CaMKII inhibitor KN93 completely inhibited sporulation if added up to 60 min after induction of this stage, but only KN93 affected fungal growth. The data presented suggest that the Ca(2+)-CaM complex and CaMKII play an important role during growth and sporulation in B. emersonii.

Dynamic redistribution of calmodulin in HeLa cells during cell division as revealed by a GFP-calmodulin fusion protein technique

It has been suggested by many studies that Ca2+ signaling plays an important role in regulating key steps in cell division. In order to study the down stream components of calcium signaling, we have fused the gene of calmodulin (CaM) with that of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and expressed it in HeLa cells. The GFP-CaM protein was found to have similar biochemical properties as the wild-type CaM, and its distribution was also similar to that of the endogenous CaM. Using this GFP-tagged CaM as a probe, we have conducted a detailed examination of the spatial- and temporal-dependent redistribution of calmodulin in living mammalian cells during cell division. Our major findings are: (1) high density of CaM was found to distribute in two sub-cellular locations during mitosis; one fraction was concentrated in the spindle poles, while the other was concentrated in the sub-membrane region around the cell. (2) The sub-membrane fraction of CaM became aggregated at the equatorial region where the cleavage furrow was about to form. The timing of this localized aggregation of CaM was closely associated with the onset of cytokinesis. (3) Using a TA-CaM probe, we found that the sub-membrane fraction of CaM near the cleavage furrow was selectively activated during cell division. (4) When we injected a CaM-specific inhibitory peptide into early anaphase cells, cytokinesis was either blocked or severely delayed. These findings suggest that, in addition to Ca2+ ion, CaM may represent a second signal that can also play an active role in determining the positioning and timing of the cleavage furrow formation.

Calcium and mitosis

Calcium signals often accompany mitosis. The most obvious example of calcium as a mitotic signal is at fertilization in vertebrate eggs, where the calcium transient induces anaphase onset. New imaging methods have demonstrated smaller calcium signals that control mitosis entry and mitosis exit in sea urchin embryos. Other experiments in mouse and frog embryos indicate that similar signals with similar function may play a part in these embryos, too. The links between these calcium control signals and mitotic kinase activation are adumbrated. It appears that calcium oscillations are a property of the mitotic state. A case is made that calcium may be a universal mitotic signal, with the possible exception of early meiotic events in oocytes.