Splice variants of intersectin are components of the endocytic machinery in neurons and nonneuronal cells

A clathrin mediated endocytosis scaffolding protein, Intersectin 1, changes in an isoform, brain region, and sex specific manner in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary Tau tangles in the brain. We previously identified a set of candidate AD microRNAs (miRNAs) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and used a target prediction pipeline to identify mRNAs and pathways that could potentially be regulated by the miRNAs. Of these pathways, clathrin mediated endocytosis (CME) was selected for further investigation. CME is altered in multiple brain cell types in AD and is implicated in early cellular phenotypes such as enlarged early endosomes and pathogenic processing of Aβ. However, a comprehensive evaluation of major CME hub proteins in humans with AD across multiple brain regions is lacking. Thus, we used immunoblots to evaluate human post-mortem AD and control (CTL) frontal cortex (FC; AD n = 22, CTL n = 23) and hippocampus (HP; AD n = 34, CTL n = 22) for changes in Intersectin 1 (ITSN1), Phosphatidylinositol Binding Clathrin Assembly Protein gene (PICALM), Clathrin Light Chain (CLT), FCH and Mu Domain Containing Endocytic Adaptor 1 (FCHO1), Adaptor Related Protein Complex 2 (AP2) Subunit Alpha 1 (AP2A1), and Dynamin 2 (DNM2). Of these, we found that in AD, ITSN1-long (ITSN1-L) was decreased in the FC of males and HP of females, while ITSN1-short was increased in the HP of both males and females. We further evaluated ITSN1-L levels in cortex (CTX) and HP of the 5xFAD mouse model of Aβ pathology at different timepoints during aging and disease progression by immunoblot (n = 5-8 per group). At 3 months, female 5xFAD exhibited an increase of ITSN1-L in CTX but a decrease at 6 and 9 months. Additionally, immunofluorescent staining of 5xFAD primary HP neurons showed an increase of ITSN1-L in matured 5xFAD neurons at 21 and 28 days in vitro. Together, our studies show that in AD, isoforms of ITSN1 change in a brain region-and sex-dependent manner. Further, changes in ITSN1-L are transient with levels increasing during early Aβ accumulation and decreasing during later progression. These findings suggest that ITSN1 expression, and consequently CME activity, may change depending on the stage of disease progression.

Intersectin - many facets of a scaffold protein

Intersectin (ITSN) is a multi-domain scaffold protein with a diverse array of functions including regulation of endocytosis, vesicle transport, and activation of various signal transduction pathways. There are two ITSN genes located on chromosomes 21 and 2 encoding for proteins ITSN1 and ITSN2, respectively. Each ITSN gene encodes two major isoforms, ITSN-Long (ITSN-L) and ITSN-Short (ITSN-S), due to alternative splicing. ITSN1 and 2, collectively referred to as ITSN, are implicated in many physiological and pathological processes, such as neuronal maintenance, actin cytoskeletal rearrangement, and tumor progression. ITSN is mis-regulated in many tumors, such as breast, lung, neuroblastomas, and gliomas. Altered expression of ITSN is also found in several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. This review summarizes recent studies on ITSN and provides an overview of the function of this important family of scaffold proteins in various biological processes.

Identification and validation of candidate risk genes in endocytic vesicular trafficking associated with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistulas

Esophageal atresias/tracheoesophageal fistulas (EA/TEF) are rare congenital anomalies caused by aberrant development of the foregut. Previous studies indicate that rare or de novo genetic variants significantly contribute to EA/TEF risk, and most individuals with EA/TEF do not have pathogenic genetic variants in established risk genes. To identify the genetic contributions to EA/TEF, we performed whole genome sequencing of 185 trios (probands and parents) with EA/TEF, including 59 isolated and 126 complex cases with additional congenital anomalies and/or neurodevelopmental disorders. There was a significant burden of protein-altering de novo coding variants in complex cases (p = 3.3 × 10-4), especially in genes that are intolerant of loss-of-function variants in the population. We performed simulation analysis of pathway enrichment based on background mutation rate and identified a number of pathways related to endocytosis and intracellular trafficking that as a group have a significant burden of protein-altering de novo variants. We assessed 18 variants for disease causality using CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis in Xenopus and confirmed 13 with tracheoesophageal phenotypes. Our results implicate disruption of endosome-mediated epithelial remodeling as a potential mechanism of foregut developmental defects. Our results suggest significant genetic heterogeneity of EA/TEF and may have implications for the mechanisms of other rare congenital anomalies.

Synaptic AP2 CCV life cycle regulation by the Eps15, ITSN1, Sgip1/AP2, synaptojanin1 interactome

The AP1/σ1B knockout causes impaired synaptic vesicle recycling and enhanced protein sorting into endosomes, leading to severe intellectual disability. These disturbances in synaptic protein sorting induce as a secondary phenotype the upregulation of AP2 CCV mediated endocytosis. Synapses contain canonical AP2 CCV and AP2 CCV with a more stable coat and thus extended life time. In AP1/σ1B knockout synapses, pool sizes of both CCV classes are doubled. Additionally, stable CCV of the knockout are more stabilised than stable wt CCV. One mechanism responsible for enhanced CCV stabilisation is the reduction of synaptojanin1 CCV levels, the PI-4,5-P2 phosphatase essential for AP2 membrane dissociation. To identify mechanisms regulating synaptojanin1 recruitment, we compared synaptojanin1 CCV protein interactome levels and CCV protein interactions between both CCV classes from wt and knockout mice. We show that ITSN1 determines synaptojanin1 CCV levels. Sgip1/AP2 excess hinders synaptojanin1 binding to ITSN1, further lowering its levels. ITSN1 levels are determined by Eps15, not Eps15L1. In addition, the data reveal that reduced amounts of pacsin1 can be counter balanced by its enhanced activation. These data exemplify the complexity of CCV life cycle regulation and indicate how cargo proteins determine the life cycle of their CCV.

Sex differences in the proliferation of pulmonary artery endothelial cells: implications for plexiform arteriopathy

The sex-biased disease pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by the proliferation and overgrowth of dysfunctional pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). During inflammation associated with PAH, granzyme B cleaves intersectin-1 to produce N-terminal (EH_ITSN) and C-terminal (SH3A-E_ITSN) protein fragments. In a murine model of PAH, EH_ITSN triggers plexiform arteriopathy via p38-ELK1-c-Fos signaling. The SH3A-E_ITSN fragment also influences signaling, having dominant-negative effects on ERK1 and ERK2 (also known as MAPK3 and MAPK1, respectively). Using PAECs engineered to express tagged versions of EH_ITSN and SH3A-E_ITSN, we demonstrate that the two ITSN fragments increase both p38-ELK1 activation and the ratio of p38 to ERK1 and ERK2 activity, leading to PAEC proliferation, with female cells being more responsive than male cells. Furthermore, expression of EH_ITSN substantially upregulates the expression and activity of the long non-coding RNA Xist in female PAECs, which in turn upregulates the X-linked gene ELK1 and represses expression of krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2). These events are recapitulated by the PAECs of female idiopathic PAH patients, and may account for their proliferative phenotype. Thus, upregulation of Xist could be an important factor in explaining sexual dimorphism in the proliferative response of PAECs and the imbalanced sex ratio of PAH.

Endothelial cell sprouting driven by RhoJ directly activated by a membrane-anchored Intersectin 1 (ITSN1) RhoGEF module

Endothelial cell sprouting is a critical event in tumor-induced angiogenesis. In melanoma and lung cancer murine models, targeting RhoJ prevents endothelial sprouting, tumor growth and metastasis and enhances the effects of conventional anti-neoplastic therapy. Aiming to understand how RhoJ is activated, we used a gain of function approach to identify constitutively active Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) able to promote RhoJ-dependent actin-driven membrane protrusions. We demonstrate that a membrane-anchored Intersectin 1 (ITSN1) DH-PH construct promotes endothelial cell sprouting via RhoJ. Mechanistically, this is controlled by direct interaction between the catalytic ITSN1 DH-PH module and RhoJ, it is sensitive to phosphorylation by focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and to endosomal trapping of the ITSN1 construct by dominant negative RhoJ. This ITSN1/RhoJ signaling axis is independent of Cdc42, a previously characterized ITSN1 target and a RhoJ close homologue. In conclusion, our results elucidate an ITSN1/RhoJ molecular link able to promote endothelial cell sprouting and set the basis to explore this signaling pathway in the context of tumor-induced angiogenesis.

Lung Endothelial Transcytosis

Transcytosis of macromolecules through lung endothelial cells is the primary route of transport from the vascular compartment into the interstitial space. Endothelial transcytosis is mostly a caveolae-dependent process that combines receptor-mediated endocytosis, vesicle trafficking via actin-cytoskeletal remodeling, and SNARE protein directed vesicle fusion and exocytosis. Herein, we review the current literature on caveolae-mediated endocytosis, the role of actin cytoskeleton in caveolae stabilization at the plasma membrane, actin remodeling during vesicle trafficking, and exocytosis of caveolar vesicles. Next, we provide a concise summary of experimental methods employed to assess transcytosis. Finally, we review evidence that transcytosis contributes to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury. © 2020 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 10:491-508, 2020.

Endophilin-A coordinates priming and fusion of neurosecretory vesicles via intersectin

Endophilins-A are conserved endocytic adaptors with membrane curvature-sensing and -inducing properties. We show here that, independently of their role in endocytosis, endophilin-A1 and endophilin-A2 regulate exocytosis of neurosecretory vesicles. The number and distribution of neurosecretory vesicles were not changed in chromaffin cells lacking endophilin-A, yet fast capacitance and amperometry measurements revealed reduced exocytosis, smaller vesicle pools and altered fusion kinetics. The levels and distributions of the main exocytic and endocytic factors were unchanged, and slow compensatory endocytosis was not robustly affected. Endophilin-A’s role in exocytosis is mediated through its SH3-domain, specifically via a direct interaction with intersectin-1, a coordinator of exocytic and endocytic traffic. Endophilin-A not able to bind intersectin-1, and intersectin-1 not able to bind endophilin-A, resulted in similar exocytic defects in chromaffin cells. Altogether, we report that two endocytic proteins, endophilin-A and intersectin-1, are enriched on neurosecretory vesicles and regulate exocytosis by coordinating neurosecretory vesicle priming and fusion.

Endophilins-A are conserved membrane-associated proteins required for endocytosis. Here, the authors report that endophilins-A also promote exocytosis of neurosecretory vesicles by coordinating priming and fusion through intersectin-1, independently of their roles in different types of endocytosis.

The Long Isoform of Intersectin-1 Has a Role in Learning and Memory

Down syndrome is caused by partial or total trisomy of chromosome 21 and is characterized by intellectual disability and other disorders. Although it is difficult to determine which of the genes over-expressed on the supernumerary chromosome contribute to a specific abnormality, one approach is to study each gene in isolation. This can be accomplished either by using an over-expression model to study increased gene dosage or a gene-deficiency model to study the biological function of the gene. Here, we extend our examination of the function of the chromosome 21 gene, ITSN1. We used mice in which the long isoform of intersectin-1 was knocked out (ITSN1-LKO) to understand how a lack of the long isoform of ITSN1 affects brain function. We examined cognitive and locomotor behavior as well as long term potentiation (LTP) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and 3'-kinase-C2β-AKT (AKT) cell signaling pathways. We also examined the density of dendritic spines on hippocampal pyramidal neurons. We observed that ITSN1-LKO mice had deficits in learning and long term spatial memory. They also exhibited impaired LTP, and no changes in the levels of the phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. The amount of phosphorylated AKT was reduced in the ITSN1-LKO hippocampus and there was a decrease in the number of apical dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons. Our data suggest that the long isoform of ITSN1 plays a part in normal learning and memory.

Alternative splicing-derived intersectin1-L and intersectin1-S exert opposite function in glioma progression

Intersectin1 (ITSN1) contains two isoforms: ITSN1-S and ITSN1-L, which is highly regulated by alternative splicing. However, the alteration of alternative splicing and its importance in cancer is still unknown. In this study, our transcriptome analysis by using a large glioma cohort indicated the two isoforms exerted opposite function in glioma progression. Our previous results had shown ITSN1-S could promote glioma development; however, the function of ITSN1-L remained unknown. In this study, we first confirmed that ITSN1-L exerted an inhibitory role in glioma progression both in vivo and in vitro, which was contrary to the function of ITSN1-S. In additional, we also elucidated the mechanisms of ITSN1-L in inhibiting tumor progression. First, we revealed ITSN1-L could interact with α-tubulin to promote HDAC6-dependent deacetylation of ac-tubulin leading to decreased cell motility. Second, ITSN1-L could attenuate cell-substrate adhesion through FAK/integrin β3 pathway. Third, ITSN1-L was able to strengthen cell-cell adhesion by upregulating N-cadherin expression and its re-localization to membrane by ANXA2 and TUBB3/TUBB4. In conclusion, we found for the first time that two isoforms produced by alternative splicing exerted opposite functions in glioma development. Therefore, upregulation of ITSN1-L expression as well as downregulation of ITSN1-S expression probably was a better strategy in glioma treatment. Our present study laid a foundation for the importance of alternative splicing in glioma progression and raised the possibility of controlling glioma development completely at an alternative splicing level to be a more effective strategy.

The class II phosphoinositide 3-kinases PI3K-C2α and PI3K-C2β differentially regulate clathrin-dependent pinocytosis in human vascular endothelial cells

Pinocytosis is an important fundamental cellular process that is used by the cell to transport fluid and solutes. Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) regulate a diverse array of dynamic membrane events. However, it is not well-understood which PI3K isoforms are involved in specific mechanisms of pinocytosis. We performed knockdown studies of endogenous PI3K isoforms and clathrin heavy chain (CHC) mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA). The results demonstrated that the class II PI3K PI3K-C2α and PI3K-C2β, but not the class I or III PI3K, were required for pinocytosis, based on an evaluation of fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran uptake in endothelial cells. Pinocytosis was partially dependent on both clathrin and dynamin, and both PI3K-C2α and PI3K-C2β were required for clathrin-mediated-but not clathrin-non-mediated-FITC-dextran uptake at the step leading up to its delivery to early endosomes. Both PI3K-C2α and PI3K-C2β were co-localized with clathrin-coated pits and vesicles. However, PI3K-C2β, but not PI3K-C2α, was highly co-localized with actin filament-associated clathrin-coated structures and required for actin filament formation at the clathrin-coated structures. These results indicate that PI3K-C2α and PI3K-C2β play differential, indispensable roles in clathrin-mediated pinocytosis.

WIP/ITSN1 complex is involved in cellular vesicle trafficking and formation of filopodia-like protrusions

WIP (WASP interacting protein) together with N-WASP (neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) regulates actin polymerization that is crucial for invadopodia and filopodia formation. Recently, we reported the WIP interaction with ITSN1 which is highly implicated in endo-/exocytosis, apoptosis, mitogenic signaling and cytoskeleton rearrangements. Here we demonstrate that the WIP/ITSN1 complex is involved in the transferrin receptor recycling and partially co-localizes with a marker of the fast recycling endosomes, RAB4. Moreover, ITSN1 recruits WIP to RAB4-positive vesicles upon overexpression. Our data indicate that WIP enhances the interaction of N-WASP with ITSN1 and promotes ITSN1/β-actin association. Moreover, the WIP/ITSN1-L complex facilitates formation of filopodia-like protrusions in MCF-7 cells. Thus, WIP/ITSN1 complex is involved in the cellular vesicle trafficking and actin-dependent membrane processes.

Ubiquitin-ligase AIP4 controls differential ubiquitination and stability of isoforms of the scaffold protein ITSN1

At present, the role of ubiquitination of cargoes internalized from the plasma membrane is better understood than the consequences of ubiquitination of proteins comprising the endocytic machinery. Here, we show that the E3 ubiquitin ligase AIP4/ITCH contributes to the differential ubiquitination of isoforms of the endocytic scaffold protein intersectin1 (ITSN1). The major isoform ITSN1-s is monoubiquitinated, whereas the minor one, ITSN1-22a undergoes a combination of mono- and oligoubiquitination. The monoubiquitination is required for ITSN1-s stability, whereas the oligoubiquitination of ITSN1-22a causes its proteasomal degradation. This explains the observed low abundance of the minor isoform in cells. Thus, different modes of ubiquitination regulated by AIP4 have opposite effects on ITSN1 isoform stability.

Intersectin-s interaction with DENND2B facilitates recycling of epidermal growth factor receptor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates the EGF receptor (EGFR) and stimulates its internalization and trafficking to lysosomes for degradation. However, a percentage of EGFR undergoes ligand-independent endocytosis and is rapidly recycled back to the plasma membrane. Importantly, alterations in EGFR recycling are a common hallmark of cancer, and yet, our understanding of the machineries controlling the fate of endocytosed EGFR is incomplete. Intersectin-s is a multi-domain adaptor protein that is required for internalization of EGFR Here, we discover that intersectin-s binds DENND2B, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the exocytic GTPase Rab13, and this interaction promotes recycling of ligand-free EGFR to the cell surface. Intriguingly, upon EGF treatment, DENND2B is phosphorylated by protein kinase D and dissociates from intersectin-s, allowing for receptor targeting to degradation. Our study thus reveals a novel mechanism controlling the fate of internalized EGFR with important implications for cancer.

cTag-PAPERCLIP Reveals Alternative Polyadenylation Promotes Cell-Type Specific Protein Diversity and Shifts Araf Isoforms with Microglia Activation

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is increasingly recognized to regulate gene expression across different cell types, but obtaining APA maps from individual cell types typically requires prior purification, a stressful procedure that can itself alter cellular states. Here, we describe a new platform, cTag-PAPERCLIP, that generates APA profiles from single cell populations in intact tissues; cTag-PAPERCLIP requires no tissue dissociation and preserves transcripts in native states. Applying cTag-PAPERCLIP to profile four major cell types in the mouse brain revealed common APA preferences between excitatory and inhibitory neurons distinct from astrocytes and microglia, regulated in part by neuron-specific RNA-binding proteins NOVA2 and PTBP2. We further identified a role of APA in switching Araf protein isoforms during microglia activation, impacting production of downstream inflammatory cytokines. Our results demonstrate the broad applicability of cTag-PAPERCLIP and a previously undiscovered role of APA in contributing to protein diversity between different cell types and cellular states within the brain.

Intersectin-1s deficiency in pulmonary pathogenesis

Intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s), a multidomain adaptor protein, plays a vital role in endocytosis, cytoskeleton rearrangement and cell signaling. Recent studies have demonstrated that deficiency of ITSN-1s is a crucial early event in pulmonary pathogenesis. In lung cancer, ITSN-1s deficiency impairs Eps8 ubiquitination and favors Eps8-mSos1 interaction which activates Rac1 leading to enhanced lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and metastasis. Restoring ITSN-1s deficiency in lung cancer cells facilitates cytoskeleton changes favoring mesenchymal to epithelial transformation and impairs lung cancer progression. ITSN-1s deficiency in acute lung injury leads to impaired endocytosis which leads to ubiquitination and degradation of growth factor receptors such as Alk5. This deficiency is counterbalanced by microparticles which, via paracrine effects, transfer Alk5/TGFβRII complex to non-apoptotic cells. In the presence of ITSN-1s deficiency, Alk5-restored cells signal via Erk1/2 MAPK pathway leading to restoration and repair of lung architecture. In inflammatory conditions such as pulmonary artery hypertension, ITSN-1s full length protein is cleaved by granzyme B into EH_ITSN and SH3A-E_ITSN fragments. The EH_ITSN fragment leads to pulmonary cell proliferation via activation of p38 MAPK and Elk-1/c-Fos signaling. In vivo, ITSN-1s deficient mice transduced with EH_ITSN plasmid develop pulmonary vascular obliteration and plexiform lesions consistent with pathological findings seen in severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. These novel findings have significantly contributed to understanding the mechanisms and pathogenesis involved in pulmonary pathology. As demonstrated in these studies, genetically modified ITSN-1s expression mouse models will be a valuable tool to further advance our understanding of pulmonary pathology and lead to novel targets for treating these conditions.

Measurement of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Derived Signals Within Plasma Membrane Clathrin Structures

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) is an important regulator of cell growth, proliferation, survival, migration, and metabolism. EGF binding to EGFR triggers the activation of the receptor's intrinsic kinase activity, in turn eliciting the recruitment of many secondary signaling proteins and activation of downstream signals, such as the activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt, a process requiring the phosphorylation of Gab1. While the identity of many signals that can be activated by EGFR has been revealed, how the spatiotemporal organization of EGFR signaling within cells controls receptor outcome remains poorly understood. Upon EGF binding at the plasma membrane, EGFR is internalized by clathrin-mediated endocytosis following recruitment to clathrin-coated pits (CCPs). Further, plasma membrane CCPs, but not EGFR internalization, are required for EGF-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. Signaling intermediates such as phosphorylated Gab1, which lead to Akt phosphorylation, are enriched within CCPs upon EGF stimulation. These findings indicate that some plasma membrane CCPs also serve as signaling microdomains required for certain facets of EGFR signaling and are enriched in key EGFR signaling intermediates. Understanding how the spatiotemporal organization of EGFR signals within CCP microdomains controls receptor signaling outcome requires imaging methods that can systematically resolve and analyze the properties of CCPs, EGFR and key signaling intermediates. Here, we describe methods using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy imaging and analysis to systematically study the enrichment of EGFR and key EGFR-derived signals within CCPs.

Intersectin scaffold proteins and their role in cell signaling and endocytosis

Intersectins (ITSNs) are a family of multi-domain proteins involved in regulation of diverse cellular pathways. These scaffold proteins are well known for regulating endocytosis but also play important roles in cell signaling pathways including kinase regulation and Ras activation. ITSNs participate in several human cancers, such as neuroblastomas and glioblastomas, while their downregulation is associated with lung injury. Alterations in ITSN expression have been found in neurodegenerative diseases such as Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Binding proteins for ITSNs include endocytic regulatory factors, cytoskeleton related proteins (i.e. actin or dynamin), signaling proteins as well as herpes virus proteins. This review will summarize recent studies on ITSNs, highlighting the importance of these scaffold proteins in the aforementioned processes.

Rac1-mediated cytoskeleton rearrangements induced by intersectin-1s deficiency promotes lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and metastasis

Background

The mechanisms involved in lung cancer (LC) progression are poorly understood making discovery of successful therapies difficult. Adaptor proteins play a crucial role in cancer as they link cell surface receptors to specific intracellular pathways. Intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s) is an important multidomain adaptor protein implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous pulmonary diseases. To date, the role of ITSN-1s in LC has not been studied.

Methods

Human LC cells, human LC tissue and A549 LC cells stable transfected with myc-ITSN-1s construct (A549 + ITSN-1s) were used in correlation with biochemical, molecular biology and morphological studies. In addition scratch assay with time lapse microscopy and in vivo xenograft tumor and mouse metastasis assays were performed.

Results

ITSN-1s, a prevalent protein of lung tissue, is significantly downregulated in human LC cells and LC tissue. Restoring ITSN-1s protein level decreases LC cell proliferation and clonogenic potential. In vivo studies indicate that immunodeficient mice injected with A549 + ITSN-1s cells develop less and smaller metastatic tumors compared to mice injected with A549 cells. Our studies also show that restoring ITSN-1s protein level increases the interaction between Cbl E3 ubiquitin ligase and Eps8 resulting in enhanced ubiquitination of the Eps8 oncoprotein. Subsequently, downstream unproductive assembly of the Eps8-mSos1 complex leads to impaired activation of the small GTPase Rac1. Impaired Rac1 activation mediated by ITSN-1s reorganizes the cytoskeleton (increased thick actin bundles and focal adhesion (FA) complexes as well as collapse of the vimentin filament network) in favor of decreased LC cell migration and metastasis.

Conclusion

ITSN-1s induced Eps8 ubiquitination and impaired Eps8-mSos1 complex formation, leading to impaired activation of Rac1, is a novel signaling mechanism crucial for abolishing the progression and metastatic potential of LC cells.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12943-016-0543-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Novel insights on ENTH domain-containing proteins in apicomplexan parasites

The phylum Apicomplexa includes a large group of early branching eukaryotes having significant medical and economical importance. The molecular machinery responsible for protein trafficking is poorly understood in these apicomplexans. One of the most important proteins involved in clathrin-mediated protein trafficking is Epsin, which contains ENTH domain, a conserved domain crucial for membrane bending leading to vesicle formation. We undertook homology searching and phylogenetic analyses to produce a rigorously annotated set of Epsin homologs retrieved from diverse apicomplexan genomes. Genomic and phylogenetic comparisons revealed that apicomplexans contain unusual Epsin homologs that are distinct from those observed in mammals and yeast. Although there are four Epsin genes in mammalian system and five in the yeast genome, apicomplexan parasites consist only a single Epsin gene. The apicomplexan Epsin contains the conserved ENTH domain consisting of phosphoinositide (PtdIns)-binding sites which indicate about their functional significance in the formation of vesicles; however, the absence of ubiquitin-interacting motif (UIM) suggests a possible different mechanism for protein trafficking. The existence of dileucine motif in Plasmodium, Cryptosporidum parvum and Eimeria tenella Epsins might solve their functionality while lacking a lot of conserved motifs as this motif is known to interact with different adaptor protein complexes (AP1, AP2 and AP3). Other Epsin homologs are also shown to have different peptide motifs reported for possible interaction with α-ear appendage, γ-ear appendage and EH domain present in different adaptors. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses suggest that the apicomplexan Epsins have unusual functionality from that of the mammalian Epsins. This detailed study may greatly facilitate future molecular cell biological investigation for the role of Epsins in these parasites.

ITSN2L Interacts with and Negatively Regulates RABEP1

Intersectin-2Long (ITSN2L) is a multi-domain protein participating in endocytosis and exocytosis. In this study, RABEP1 was identified as a novel ITSN2L interacting protein using a yeast two-hybrid screen from a human brain cDNA library and this interaction, specifically involving the ITSN2L CC domain and RABEP1 CC3 regions, was further confirmed by in vitro GST (glutathione-S-transferase) pull-down and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation assays. Corroboratively, we observed that these two proteins co-localize in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. Furthermore, over-expression of ITSN2L promotes RABEP1 degradation and represses RABEP1-enhanced endosome aggregation, indicating that ITSN2L acts as a negative regulator of RABEP1. Finally, we showed that ITSN2L and RABEP1 play opposite roles in regulating endocytosis. Taken together, our results indicate that ITSN2L interacts with RABEP1 and stimulates its degradation in regulation of endocytosis.

Intersectin adaptor proteins are associated with actin-regulating protein WIP in invadopodia

Invasive cancer cells form actin-rich membrane protrusions called invadopodia that degrade extracellular matrix and facilitate cell invasion and metastasis. WIP (WASP-interacting protein) together with N-WASP (neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) are localized in invadopodia and play a crucial role in their formation. Here we show that WIP interacts with endocytic adaptor proteins of the intersectin (ITSN) family, ITSN1 and ITSN2. The interaction is mediated by the SH3 domains of ITSNs and the middle part of the WIP proline-rich motifs. We have also demonstrated that ITSN1, WIP and N-WASP can form a complex in cells. Endogenous ITSN1 and ITSN2 are located in invasive protrusions of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Moreover, data from immunofluorescent analysis revealed co-localization of ITSN1 and WIP at sites of invadopodia formation and in clathrin-coated pits. Together, these findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of invadopodia formation and identify ITSNs as scaffold proteins involved in this process.

Pan1 regulates transitions between stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae endocytic protein Pan1 is critical for coat interactions during three transitions of the endocytic pathway. Pan1 depletion arrests endocytosis and causes actin misregulation, leading to actin flares that are connected to the coat but not the membrane. The Pan1 central region is critical for endocytic and essential functions.

Endocytosis is a well-conserved process by which cells invaginate small portions of the plasma membrane to create vesicles containing extracellular and transmembrane cargo proteins. Dozens of proteins and hundreds of specific binding interactions are needed to coordinate and regulate these events. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful model system with which to study clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). Pan1 is believed to be a scaffolding protein due to its interactions with numerous proteins that act throughout the endocytic process. Previous research characterized many Pan1 binding interactions, but due to Pan1's essential nature, the exact mechanisms of Pan1's function in endocytosis have been difficult to define. We created a novel Pan1-degron allele, Pan1-AID, in which Pan1 can be specifically and efficiently degraded in <1 h upon addition of the plant hormone auxin. The loss of Pan1 caused a delay in endocytic progression and weakened connections between the coat/actin machinery and the membrane, leading to arrest in CME. In addition, we determined a critical role for the central region of Pan1 in endocytosis and viability. The regions important for endocytosis and viability can be separated, suggesting that Pan1 may have a distinct role in the cell that is essential for viability.

Cdc42 and the Rho GEF intersectin-1 collaborate with Nck to promote N-WASP-dependent actin polymerisation

Vaccinia virus enhances its cell-to-cell spread by inducing Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerisation. This process is initiated by Src- and Abl-mediated phosphorylation of the viral transmembrane protein A36, leading to recruitment of a signalling network consisting of Grb2, Nck, WIP and N-WASP. Nck is a potent activator of N-WASP-Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerisation. However, recent observations demonstrate that an interaction between Nck and N-WASP is not required for vaccinia actin tail formation. We found that Cdc42 cooperates with Nck to promote actin tail formation by stabilising N-WASP beneath the virus. Cdc42 activation is mediated by the Rho guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor (GEF) intersectin-1 (ITSN1), which is recruited to the virus prior to its actin-based motility. Moreover, Cdc42, ITSN1 and N-WASP function collaboratively in a feed-forward loop to promote vaccinia-induced actin polymerisation. Outside the context of infection, we demonstrate that ITSN1 also functions together with Cdc42, Nck and N-WASP during phagocytosis mediated by the Fc gamma receptor. Our observations suggest that ITSN1 is an important general regulator of Cdc42-, Nck- and N-WASP-dependent actin polymerisation.

In vivo knockdown of intersectin-1s alters endothelial cell phenotype and causes microvascular remodeling in the mouse lungs

Intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s) is a general endocytic protein involved in regulating lung vascular permeability and endothelial cells (ECs) survival, via MEK/Erk1/2^MAPK signaling. To investigate the in vivo effects of ITSN-1s deficiency and the resulting ECs apoptosis on pulmonary vasculature and lung homeostasis, we used an ITSN-1s knocked-down (KD_ITSN) mouse generated by repeated delivery of a specific siRNA targeting ITSN-1 gene (siRNA_ITSN). Biochemical and histological analyses as well as electron microscopy (EM) revealed that acute KD_ITSN [3-days (3d) post-siRNA_ITSN treatment] inhibited Erk1/2^MAPK pro-survival signaling, causing significant ECs apoptosis and lung injury; at 10d of KD_ITSN, caspase-3 activation was at peak, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive ECs showed 3.4-fold increase, the mean linear intercept (MLI) showed 48 % augment and pulmonary microvessel density as revealed by aquaporin-1 staining (AQP-1) decreased by 30 %, all compared to controls; pulmonary function was altered. Concomitantly, expression of several growth factors known to activate Erk1/2^MAPK and suppress Bad pro-apoptotic activity increased. KD_ITSN altered Smads activity, downstream of the transforming growth factor beta-receptor-1 (TβR1), as shown by subcellular fractionation and immunoblot analyses. Moreover, 24d post-siRNA_ITSN, surviving ECs became hyper-proliferative and apoptotic-resistant against ITSN-1s deficiency, as demonstrated by EM imaging, 5-bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and Bad-Ser^112/155 phosphorylation, respectively, leading to increased microvessel density and repair of the injured lungs, as well as matrix deposition. In sum, ECs endocytic dysfunction and apoptotic death caused by KD_ITSN contribute to the initial lung injury and microvascular loss, followed by endothelial phenotypic changes and microvascular remodeling in the remaining murine pulmonary microvascular bed.

Predicting the host protein interactors of Chandipura virus using a structural similarity-based approach

Chandipura virus (CHPV), alike other pathogens, exploits the cellular infrastructure of their hosts through complex network of interactions for successful infection. CHPV being a recently emerged pediatric encephalitic virus, the mechanisms involved in the establishment of viral persistence are still ill defined. Because the protein interface between CHPV and its host provides one means by which the virus invades and seize control of their human host machinery, the authors in this study have employed computational methods to create a network of putative protein-protein interactions between CHPV and its human host to shed light on the hitherto less-known CHPV biology. On the basis of the 2105 potential interactions predicted among 1650 human proteins and the five proteins of CHPV, the authors decipher the probable mode by which the virus manipulates the biological pathways of its host toward its own end and replicates while evading the immune system. Identification of such conserved set of putative interactions that allow the virus to take control of the host has the potential to deepen our understanding of the virus-specific remodeling processes of the host cell and illuminate new arenas of disease intervention.

A novel p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/Elk-1 transcription factor-dependent molecular mechanism underlying abnormal endothelial cell proliferation in plexogenic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Plexiform lesions (PLs), the hallmark of plexogenic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), contain phenotypically altered, proliferative endothelial cells (ECs). The molecular mechanism that contributes to EC proliferation and formation of PLs is poorly understood. We now show that a decrease in intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s) expression due to granzyme B (GrB) cleavage during inflammation associated with PAH and the high p38/Erk1/2(MAPK) activity ratio caused by the GrB/ITSN cleavage products lead to EC proliferation and selection of a proliferative/plexiform EC phenotype. We used human pulmonary artery ECs of PAH subjects (EC(PAH)), paraffin-embedded and frozen human lung tissue, and animal models of PAH in conjunction with microscopy imaging, biochemical, and molecular biology approaches to demonstrate that GrB cleaves ITSN-1s, a prosurvival protein of lung ECs, and generates two biologically active fragments, an N-terminal fragment (GrB-EH(ITSN)) with EC proliferative potential and a C-terminal product with dominant negative effects on Ras/Erk1/2. The proliferative potential of GrB-EH(ITSN) is mediated via sustained phosphorylation of p38(MAPK) and Elk-1 transcription factor and abolished by chemical inhibition of p38(MAPK). Moreover, lung tissue of PAH animal models and human specimens and EC(PAH) express lower levels of ITSN-1s compared with controls and the GrB-EH(ITSN) cleavage product. Moreover, GrB immunoreactivity is associated with PLs in PAH lungs. The concurrent expression of the two cleavage products results in a high p38/Erk1/2(MAPK) activity ratio, which is critical for EC proliferation. Our findings identify a novel GrB-EH(ITSN)-dependent pathogenic p38(MAPK)/Elk-1 signaling pathway involved in the poorly understood process of PL formation in severe PAH.

Dynamin contributes to cytokinesis by stabilizing actin filaments in the contractile ring

Dynamin has been proposed to play an important role in cytokinesis, although the nature of its contribution has remained unclear. Dictyostelium discoideum has five dynamin-like proteins: DymA, DymB, DlpA, DlpB and DlpC. Cells mutant for dymA, dlpA or dlpB presented defects in cytokinesis that resulted in multinucleation when the cells were cultured in suspension. However, the cells could divide normally when attached to the substratum; this latter process depends on traction-mediated cytokinesis B. A dynamin GTPase inhibitor also blocked cytokinesis in suspension, suggesting an important role for dynamin in cytokinesis A, which requires a contractile ring powered by myosin II. Myosin II did not properly localize to the cleavage furrow in dynamin mutant cells, and the furrow shape was distorted. DymA and DlpA were associated with actin filaments at the furrow. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and a DNase I binding assay showed that actin filaments in the contractile ring were significantly fragmented in mutant cells. Dynamin is therefore involved in the stabilization of actin filaments in the furrow, which, in turn, maintain proper myosin II organization. We conclude that the lack of these dynamins disrupts proper actomyosin organization and thereby disables cytokinesis A.

Endocytic pathways involved in filovirus entry: advances, implications and future directions

Detailed knowledge of the host-virus interactions that accompany filovirus entry into cells is expected to identify determinants of viral virulence and host range, and to yield targets for the development of antiviral therapeutics. While it is generally agreed that filovirus entry into the host cytoplasm requires viral internalization into acidic endosomal compartments and proteolytic cleavage of the envelope glycoprotein by endo/lysosomal cysteine proteases, our understanding of the specific endocytic pathways co-opted by filoviruses remains limited. This review addresses the current knowledge on cellular endocytic pathways implicated in filovirus entry, highlights the consensus as well as controversies, and discusses important remaining questions.

Emerging roles for intersectin (ITSN) in regulating signaling and disease pathways

Intersectins (ITSNs) represent a family of multi-domain adaptor proteins that regulate endocytosis and cell signaling. ITSN genes are highly conserved and present in all metazoan genomes examined thus far. Lower eukaryotes have only one ITSN gene, whereas higher eukaryotes have two ITSN genes. ITSN was first identified as an endocytic scaffold protein, and numerous studies reveal a conserved role for ITSN in endocytosis. Subsequently, ITSNs were found to regulate multiple signaling pathways including receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), GTPases, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Class 2beta (PI3KC2β). ITSN has also been implicated in diseases such as Down Syndrome (DS), Alzheimer Disease (AD), and other neurodegenerative disorders. This review summarizes the evolutionary conservation of ITSN, the latest research on the role of ITSN in endocytosis, the emerging roles of ITSN in regulating cell signaling pathways, and the involvement of ITSN in human diseases such as DS, AD, and cancer.

Intersectin: The Crossroad between Vesicle Exocytosis and Endocytosis

Intersectins (ITSNs) are a family of highly conserved proteins with orthologs from nematodes to mammals. In vertebrates, ITSNs are encoded by two genes (itsn1 and itsn2), which act as scaffolds that were initially discovered as proteins involved in endocytosis. Further investigation demonstrated that ITSN1 is also implicated in several other processes including regulated exocytosis, thereby suggesting a role for ITSN1 in the coupling between exocytosis and endocytosis in excitatory cells. Despite a high degree of conservation amongst orthologs, ITSN function is not so well preserved as they have acquired new properties during evolution. In this review, we will discuss the role of ITSN1 and its orthologs in exo- and endocytosis, in particular in neurons and neuroendocrine cells.

Crystal structure of human Intersectin-2L C2 domain

Intersectin-2L (ITSN-2L) is a long isoform of ITSN family, which is a multimodule scaffolding protein functioning in membrane-associated molecular trafficking and signal transduction pathways. ITSN-2L possesses a carboxy-terminal extension encoding a Dbl homology domain (DH), a pleckstrin homology domain (PH) and a C2 domain, suggesting that it could act as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho-like GTPases. But the role of C2 domain is obscure in this process. Here we report the crystal structure of human ITSN-2L C2 domain at 1.56Å resolution. The sequence and structural alignment of ITSN-2L C2 domain with other members of C2 domain protein family indicate its vital cellular roles in membrane trafficking, the generation of lipid-second messengers and activation of GTPases. Moreover, our data show the possible roles of ITSN-2L C2 domain in regulating the activity of Cdc42.

A new dimension to Ras function: a novel role for nucleotide-free Ras in Class II phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase beta (PI3KC2β) regulation

The intersectin 1 (ITSN1) scaffold stimulates Ras activation on endocytic vesicles without activating classic Ras effectors. The identification of Class II phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase beta, PI3KC2β, as an ITSN1 target on vesicles and the presence of a Ras binding domain (RBD) in PI3KC2β suggests a role for Ras in PI3KC2β activation. Here, we demonstrate that nucleotide-free Ras negatively regulates PI3KC2β activity. PI3KC2β preferentially interacts in vivo with dominant-negative (DN) Ras, which possesses a low affinity for nucleotides. PI3KC2β interaction with DN Ras is disrupted by switch 1 domain mutations in Ras as well as RBD mutations in PI3KC2β. Using purified proteins, we demonstrate that the PI3KC2β-RBD directly binds nucleotide-free Ras in vitro and that this interaction is not disrupted by nucleotide addition. Finally, nucleotide-free Ras but not GTP-loaded Ras inhibits PI3KC2β lipid kinase activity in vitro. Our findings indicate that PI3KC2β interacts with and is regulated by nucleotide-free Ras. These data suggest a novel role for nucleotide-free Ras in cell signaling in which PI3KC2β stabilizes nucleotide-free Ras and that interaction of Ras and PI3KC2β mutually inhibit one another.

Molecular remodeling mechanisms of the neural somatodendritic compartment

Neuronal cells use the process of vesicle trafficking to manipulate the populations of neurotransmitter receptors and other membrane proteins. Long term potentiation (LTP) is a long-lived increase in synaptic strength between neurons and increases postsynaptic dendritic spine size and the concentration of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate-type glutamate receptor (AMPAR) located in the postsynaptic density. AMPAR is removed from the cell surface via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. While the adaptor protein 2 (AP2) complex of endocytosis seems to have the components needed to allow temporal and spatial regulations of internalization, many accessory proteins are involved, such as epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation substrate 15 (Eps15). A sequence of repeats in the Eps15 protein is known as the Eps15 homology (EH) domain. It has affinity for asparagine-proline-phenylalanine (NPF) sequences that are contained within vesicle trafficking proteins such as epsin, Rab11 family interacting protein 2 (Rab11-FIP2), and Numb. After endocytosis, a pool of AMPAR is stored in the endosomal recycling compartment that can be transported to the dendritic spine surface upon stimulation during LTP for lateral diffusion into the postsynaptic density. Rab11 and the Eps15 homologue EHD1 are involved in receptor recycling. EHD family members are also involved in transcytosis of the neuronal cell adhesion molecule neuron-glia cell adhesion molecule (NgCAM) from the somatodendritic compartment to the axon. Neurons have a unique morphology comprising many projections of membrane that is constructed in part by the effects of the Eps15 homologue, intersectin. Morphogenesis in the somatodendritic compartment is becoming better understood, but there is still much exciting territory to explore, especially regarding the roles of various EH domain-NPF interactions in endocytic and recycling processes.

The clathrin adaptor Dab2 recruits EH domain scaffold proteins to regulate integrin β1 endocytosis

Endocytic adaptor proteins facilitate cargo recruitment and clathrin-coated pit nucleation. The prototypical clathrin adaptor AP2 mediates cargo recruitment, maturation, and scission of the pit by binding cargo, clathrin, and accessory proteins, including the Eps-homology (EH) domain proteins Eps15 and intersectin. However, clathrin-mediated endocytosis of some cargoes proceeds efficiently in AP2-depleted cells. We found that Dab2, another endocytic adaptor, also binds to Eps15 and intersectin. Depletion of EH domain proteins altered the number and size of clathrin structures and impaired the endocytosis of the Dab2- and AP2-dependent cargoes, integrin β1 and transferrin receptor, respectively. To test the importance of Dab2 binding to EH domain proteins for endocytosis, we mutated the EH domain-binding sites. This mutant localized to clathrin structures with integrin β1, AP2, and reduced amounts of Eps15. Of interest, although integrin β1 endocytosis was impaired, transferrin receptor internalization was unaffected. Surprisingly, whereas clathrin structures contain both Dab2 and AP2, integrin β1 and transferrin localize in separate pits. These data suggest that Dab2-mediated recruitment of EH domain proteins selectively drives the internalization of the Dab2 cargo, integrin β1. We propose that adaptors may need to be bound to their cargo to regulate EH domain proteins and internalize efficiently.

Regulation of dynamin-2 assembly-disassembly and function through the SH3A domain of intersectin-1s

Intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s), a five Src homology 3 (SH3) domain-containing protein, is critically required for caveolae and clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), due to its interactions with dynamin (dyn). Of the five SH3A-E domains, SH3A is unique because of its high affinity for dyn and potent inhibition of CME. However, the molecular mechanism by which SH3A integrates in the overall function of ITSN-1s to regulate the endocytic process is not understood. Using biochemical and functional approaches as well as high-resolution electron microscopy, we show that SH3A exogenously expressed in human lung endothelial cells caused abnormal endocytic structures, distorted caveolae clusters, frequent staining-dense rings around the caveolar necks and 60% inhibition of caveolae internalization. In vitro studies further revealed that SH3A, similar to full-length ITSN-1s stimulates dyn2 oligomerization and guanosine triphosphatase (GTP)ase activity, effects not detected when other SH3 domains of ITSN-1s were used as controls. Strikingly, in the presence of SH3A, dyn2-dyn2 interactions are stabilized and despite continuous GTP hydrolysis, dyn2 oligomers cannot disassemble. SH3A may hold up caveolae release from the plasma membrane and formation of free-transport vesicles, by prolonging the lifetime of assembled dyn2. Altogether, our results indicate that ITSN-1s, via its SH3A has the unique ability to regulate dyn2 assembly-disassembly and function during endocytosis.

Secretory carrier membrane proteins

Secretory carrier membrane proteins (SCAMPs) are a family of integral membrane proteins that play roles in mediating exocytosis in animal cells. However, relatively little is known about the subcellular localization, trafficking, and function of SCAMPs in plants. Several recent studies in plant cells indicate that plant SCAMPs share many similarities with their mammalian homologs although there are differences. In this review, we will first summarize and compare animal and plant SCAMPs in terms of their subcellular localization, trafficking, and possible functions. We will then present a phylogenetic analysis of plant and animal SCAMPs. Finally, we will present expression analysis on selective Arabidopsis SCAMPs in the hope of pointing to directions for functional characterization of plant SCAMPs in the future.

Impaired caveolae function and upregulation of alternative endocytic pathways induced by experimental modulation of intersectin-1s expression in mouse lung endothelium

Intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s), a protein containing five SH3 (A-E) domains, regulates via the SH3A the function of dynamin-2 (dyn2) at the endocytic site. ITSN-1s expression was modulated in mouse lung endothelium by liposome delivery of either a plasmid cDNA encoding myc-SH3A or a specific siRNA targeting ITSN-1 gene. The lung vasculature of SH3A-transduced and ITSN-1s- deficient mice was perfused with gold albumin (Au-BSA) to analyze by electron microscopy the morphological intermediates and pathways involved in transendothelial transport or with dinitrophenylated (DNP)-BSA to quantify by ELISA its transport. Acute modulation of ITSN-1s expression decreased the number of caveolae, impaired their transport, and opened the interendothelial junctions, while upregulating compensatory nonconventional endocytic/transcytotic structures. Chronic inhibition of ITSN-1s further increased the occurrence of nonconventional intermediates and partially restored the junctional integrity. These findings indicate that ITSN-1s expression is required for caveolae function and efficient transendothelial transport. Moreover, our results demonstrate that ECs are highly adapted to perform their transport function while maintaining lung homeostasis.

RHGF-2 is an essential Rho-1 specific RhoGEF that binds to the multi-PDZ domain scaffold protein MPZ-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans

RhoGEF proteins activate the Rho family of small GTPases and thus play a key role in regulating fundamental cellular processes such as cell morphology and polarity, cell cycle progression and gene transcription. We identified a Caenorhabditis elegans RhoGEF protein, RHGF-2, as a binding partner of the C. elegans multi-PDZ domain scaffold protein MPZ-1 (MUPP1 in mammals). RHGF-2 exhibits significant identity to the mammalian RhoGEFs PLEKHG5/Tech/Syx and contains a class I C-terminal PDZ binding motif (SDV) that interacts most strongly to MPZ-1 PDZ domain eight. RHGF-2 RhoGEF activity is specific to the C. elegans RhoA homolog RHO-1 as determined by direct binding, GDP/GTP exchange and serum response element-driven reporter activity. rhgf-2 is an essential gene since rhgf-2 deletion mutants do not elongate during embryogenesis and hatch as short immobile animals that arrest development. Interestingly, the expression of a functional rhgf-2::gfp transgene appears to be exclusively neuronal and rhgf-2 overexpression results in loopy movement with exaggerated body bends. Transient expression of RHGF-2 in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells prevents neurite outgrowth similar to constitutive RhoA activation in these cells. Together, these observations indicate neuronally expressed RHGF-2 is an essential RHO-1 specific RhoGEF that binds most strongly to MPZ-1 PDZ domain eight and is required for wild-type C. elegans morphology and growth.

FCH domain only-2 organizes clathrin-coated structures and interacts with Disabled-2 for low-density lipoprotein receptor endocytosis

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis regulates the internalization of many nutrient and signaling receptors. Clathrin and endocytic accessory proteins are recruited to receptors by specific adaptors. The adaptor Disabled-2 (Dab2) recruits its cargoes, including the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and mediates endocytosis, even when the major adaptor protein AP2 is depleted. We hypothesized that the accessory proteins normally recruited by AP2 may be recruited by Dab2 if AP2 is absent. We identified one such accessory protein, the F-BAR protein FCH domain only-2 (FCHO2), as a major Dab2-interacting protein. The μ-homology domain (μHD) of FCHO2 binds directly to DPF sequences in Dab2 that also bind AP2. Disrupting the Dab2-FCHO2 interaction inhibited Dab2-mediated LDLR endocytosis in AP2-depleted cells. Depleting FCHO2 reduced the number but increased the size of clathrin structures on the adherent surface of HeLa cells and inhibited LDLR and transferrin receptor clustering. However, LDLR was internalized efficiently by FCHO2-deficient cells when additional time was provided for LDLR to enter the enlarged structures before budding, suggesting that later steps of endocytosis are normal under these conditions. These results indicate FCHO2 regulates the size of clathrin structures, and its interaction with Dab2 is needed for LDLR endocytosis under conditions of low AP2.

Differential requirements for clathrin endocytic pathway components in cellular entry by Ebola and Marburg glycoprotein pseudovirions

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis was previously implicated as one of the cellular pathways involved in filoviral glycoprotein mediated viral entry into target cells. Here we have further dissected the requirements for different components of this pathway in Ebola versus Marburg virus glycoprotein (GP) mediated viral infection. Although a number of these components were involved in both cases; Ebola GP-dependent viral entry specifically required the cargo recognition proteins Eps15 and DAB2 as well as the clathrin adaptor protein AP-2. In contrast, Marburg GP-mediated infection was independent of these three proteins and instead required beta-arrestin 1 (ARRB1). These findings have revealed an unexpected difference between the clathrin pathway requirements for Ebola GP versus Marburg GP pseudovirion infection. Anthrax toxin also uses a clathrin-, and ARRB1-dependent pathway for cellular entry, indicating that the mechanism used by Marburg GP pseudovirions may be more generally important for pathogen entry.

Compartmentalized Ras proteins transform NIH 3T3 cells with different efficiencies

Ras GTPases were long thought to function exclusively from the plasma membrane (PM). However, a current model suggests that Ras proteins can compartmentalize to regulate different functions, and an oncogenic H-Ras mutant that is restricted to the endomembrane can still transform cells. In this study, we demonstrated that cells transformed by endomembrane-restricted oncogenic H-Ras formed tumors in nude mice. To define downstream targets of endomembrane Ras pathways, we analyzed Cdc42, which concentrates in the endomembrane and has been shown to act downstream of Ras in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Our data show that cell transformation induced by endomembrane-restricted oncogenic H-Ras was blocked when Cdc42 activity was inhibited. Moreover, H-Ras formed a complex with Cdc42 on the endomembrane, and this interaction was enhanced when H-Ras was GTP bound or when cells were stimulated by growth factors. H-Ras binding evidently induced Cdc42 activation by recruiting and/or activating Cdc42 exchange factors. In contrast, when constitutively active H-Ras was restricted to the PM by fusing to a PM localization signal from the Rit GTPase, the resulting protein did not detectably activate Cdc42 although it activated Raf-1 and efficiently induced hallmarks of Ras-induced senescence in human BJ foreskin fibroblasts. Surprisingly, PM-restricted oncogenic Ras when expressed alone could only weakly transform NIH 3T3 cells; however, when constitutively active Cdc42 was coexpressed, together they transformed cells much more efficiently than either one alone. These data suggest that efficient cell transformation requires Ras proteins to interact with Cdc42 on the endomembrane and that in order for a given Ras protein to fully transform cells, multiple compartment-specific Ras pathways need to work cooperatively.

Intersecting pathways in cell biology

The endocytic pathway is involved in activation and inhibition of cellular signaling. Thus, defining the regulatory mechanisms that link endocytosis and cellular signaling is of interest. An emerging link between these processes is a family of proteins called intersectins (ITSNs). These multidomain proteins serve as scaffolds in the assembly of endocytic vesicles and also regulate components of various signaling pathways, including kinases, guanosine triphosphatases, and ubiquitin ligases. This review summarizes research on the role of ITSNs in regulating both endocytic and signal transduction pathways, discusses the link between ITSNs and human disease, and highlights future directions in the study of ITSNs.

MINK and TNIK differentially act on Rap2-mediated signal transduction to regulate neuronal structure and AMPA receptor function

Misshapen/NIKs (Nck-interacting kinases)-related kinase (MINK) and closely related TRAF2/Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) are proteins that specifically bind to activated Rap2 and are thus hypothesized to relay its downstream signal transduction. Activated Rap2 has been found to stimulate dendritic pruning, reduce synaptic density and cause removal of synaptic AMPA receptors (AMPA-Rs) (Zhu et al., 2005; Fu et al., 2007). Here we report that MINK and TNIK are postsynaptically enriched proteins whose clustering within dendrites is bidirectionally regulated by the activation state of Rap2. Expression of MINK and TNIK in neurons is required for normal dendritic arborization and surface expression of AMPA receptors. Overexpression of a truncated MINK mutant unable to interact with Rap2 leads to reduced dendritic branching and this MINK-mediated effect on neuronal morphology is dependent upon Rap2 activation. While similarly truncated TNIK also reduces neuronal complexity, its effect does not require Rap2 activity. Furthermore, Rap2-mediated removal of surface AMPA-Rs from spines is entirely abrogated by coexpression of MINK, but not TNIK. Thus, although both MINK and TNIK bind GTP-bound Rap2, these kinases employ distinct mechanisms to modulate Rap2-mediated signaling. MINK appears to antagonize Rap2 signal transduction by binding to activated Rap2. We suggest that MINK interaction with Rap2 plays a critical role in maintaining the morphological integrity of dendrites and synaptic transmission.

Intersectin 1 forms complexes with SGIP1 and Reps1 in clathrin-coated pits

Intersectin 1 (ITSN1) is an evolutionarily conserved adaptor protein involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, cellular signaling and cytoskeleton rearrangement. ITSN1 gene is located on human chromosome 21 in Down syndrome critical region. Several studies confirmed role of ITSN1 in Down syndrome phenotype. Here we report the identification of novel interconnections in the interaction network of this endocytic adaptor. We show that the membrane-deforming protein SGIP1 (Src homology 3-domain growth factor receptor-bound 2-like (endophilin) interacting protein 1) and the signaling adaptor Reps1 (RalBP associated Eps15-homology domain protein) interact with ITSN1 in vivo. Both interactions are mediated by the SH3 domains of ITSN1 and proline-rich motifs of protein partners. Moreover complexes comprising SGIP1, Reps1 and ITSN1 have been identified. We also identified new interactions between SGIP1, Reps1 and the BAR (Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs) domain-containing protein amphiphysin 1. Immunofluorescent data have demonstrated colocalization of ITSN1 with the newly identified protein partners in clathrin-coated pits. These findings expand the role of ITSN1 as a scaffolding molecule bringing together components of endocytic complexes.

The minimal autoinhibited unit of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor intersectin

Intersectin-1L is a member of the Dbl homology (DH) domain guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEF) which control Rho-family GTPase signaling. Intersectin-1L is a GEF that is specific for Cdc42. It plays an important role in endocytosis, and is regulated by several partners including the actin regulator N-WASP. Intact intersectin-1L shows low Cdc42 exchange activity, although the isolated catalytic DH domain shows high activity. This finding suggests that the molecule is autoinhibited. To investigate the mechanism of autoinhibition we have constructed a series of domain deletions. We find that the five SH3 domains of intersectin are important for autoinhibition, with the fifth domain (SH3(E)) being sufficient for the bulk of the autoinhibitory effect. This SH3 domain appears to primarily interact with the DH domain. We have determined the crystal structure of the SH3(E)-DH domain construct, which shows a domain swapped arrangement in which the SH3 from one monomer interacts with the DH domain of the other monomer. Analytical ultracentrifugation and gel filtration, however, show that under biochemical concentrations, the construct is fully monomeric. Thus we propose that the actual autoinhibited structure contains the related intramolecular SH3(E)-DH interaction. We propose a model in which this intramolecular interaction may block or distort the GTPase binding region of the DH domain.