The yeast inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase Inp54p localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum via a C-terminal hydrophobic anchoring tail: regulation of secretion from the endoplasmic reticulum

The phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase INPP5K: From gene structure to in vivo functions

INPP5K (Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase K, or SKIP (for Skeletal muscle and Kidney enriched Inositol Phosphatase) is a member of the phosphoinositide 5-phosphatases family. Its protein structure is comprised of a N-terminal catalytic domain which hydrolyses both PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, followed by a SKICH domain at the C-terminus which is responsible for protein-protein interactions and subcellular localization of INPP5K. Strikingly, INPP5K is mostly concentrated in the endoplasmic reticulum, although it is also detected at the plasma membrane, in the cytosol and the nucleus. Recently, mutations in INPP5K have been detected in patients with a rare form of autosomal recessive congenital muscular dystrophy with cataract, short stature and intellectual disability. INPP5K functions extend from control of insulin signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress response and structural integrity, myoblast differentiation, cytoskeleton organization, cell adhesion and migration, renal osmoregulation, to cancer. The goal of this review is thus to summarize and comment recent and less recent data in the literature on INPP5K, in particular on the structure, expression, intracellular localization, interactions and functions of this specific member of the 5-phosphatases family.

FadR-Based Biosensor-Assisted Screening for Genes Enhancing Fatty Acyl-CoA Pools in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Fatty acid-derived compounds have a range of industrial applications, from chemical building blocks to biofuels. Due to the highly dynamic nature of fatty acid metabolism, it is difficult to identify genes modulating fatty acyl-CoA levels using a rational approach. Metabolite biosensors can be used to screen genes from large-scale libraries in vivo in a high throughput manner. Here, a fatty acyl-CoA sensor based on the transcription factor FadR from Escherichia coli was established in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and combined with a gene overexpression library to screen for genes increasing the fatty acyl-CoA pool. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting, followed by data analysis, identified genes enhancing acyl-CoA levels. From these, overexpression of RTC3, GGA2, and LPP1 resulted in about 80% increased fatty alcohol levels. Changes in fatty acid saturation and chain length distribution could also be observed. These results indicate that the use of this acyl-CoA biosensor combined with a gene overexpression library allows for identification of gene targets improving production of fatty acids and derived products.

Expansion and Functional Divergence of Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases in Angiosperms

Inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (5PTase), a key enzyme that hydrolyzes the 5` position of the inositol ring, has essential functions in growth, development, and stress responses in plants, yeasts, and animals. However, the evolutionary history and patterns of 5PTases have not been examined systematically. Here, we report a comprehensive molecular evolutionary analysis of the 5PTase gene family and define four groups. These four groups are different from former classifications, which were based on in vitro substrate specificity. Most orthologous groups appear to be conserved as single or low-copy genes in all lineages in Groups II-IV, whereas 5PTase genes in Group I underwent several duplication events in angiosperm, resulting in multiple gene copies. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) was the main mechanism for 5PTase duplications in angiosperm. Plant 5PTases have more members than that of animals, and most plant 5PTase genes appear to have evolved under strong purifying selection. The paralogs have diverged in substrate specificity and expression pattern, showing evidence of selection pressure. Meanwhile, the increase in 5PTases and divergences in sequence, expression, and substrate might have contributed to the divergent functions of 5PTase genes, allowing the angiosperms to successfully adapt to a great number of ecological niches.

The inositol 5-phosphatase INPP5K participates in the fine control of ER organization

INPP5K (SKIP) is an inositol 5-phosphatase that localizes in part to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We show that recruitment of INPP5K to the ER is mediated by ARL6IP1, which shares features of ER-shaping proteins. Like ARL6IP1, INPP5K is preferentially localized in ER tubules and enriched, relative to other ER resident proteins (Sec61β, VAPB, and Sac1), in newly formed tubules that grow along microtubule tracks. Depletion of either INPP5K or ARL6IP1 results in the increase of ER sheets. In a convergent but independent study, a screen for mutations affecting the distribution of the ER network in dendrites of the PVD neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans led to the isolation of mutants in CIL-1, which encodes the INPP5K worm orthologue. The mutant phenotype was rescued by expression of wild type, but not of catalytically inactive CIL-1. Our results reveal an unexpected role of an ER localized polyphosphoinositide phosphatase in the fine control of ER network organization.

Phosphoinositides regulate the TCR/CD3 complex membrane dynamics and activation

Phosphoinositides (PIs) play important roles in numerous membrane-based cellular activities. However, their involvement in the mechanism of T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction across the plasma membrane (PM) is poorly defined. Here, we investigate their role, and in particular that of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] in TCR PM dynamics and activity in a mouse T-cell hybridoma upon ectopic expression of a PM-localized inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase (Inp54p). We observed that dephosphorylation of PI(4,5)P2 by the phosphatase increased the TCR/CD3 complex PM lateral mobility prior stimulation. The constitutive and antigen-elicited CD3 phosphorylation as well as the antigen-stimulated early signaling pathways were all found to be significantly augmented in cells expressing the phosphatase. Using state-of-the-art biophotonic approaches, we further showed that PI(4,5)P2 dephosphorylation strongly promoted the CD3ε cytoplasmic domain unbinding from the PM inner leaflet in living cells, thus resulting in an increased CD3 availability for interactions with Lck kinase. This could significantly account for the observed effects of PI(4,5)P2 dephosphorylation on the CD3 phosphorylation. Our data thus suggest that PIs play a key role in the regulation of the TCR/CD3 complex dynamics and activation at the PM.

Inositol polyphosphate phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphatase9 (At5ptase9) controls plant salt tolerance by regulating endocytosis

Phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphatases (5PTases) that hydrolyze the 5' position of the inositol ring are key components of membrane trafficking system. Recently, we reported that mutation in At5PTase7 gene reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased expression of stress-responsive genes, resulting in increased salt sensitivity. Here, we describe an even more salt-sensitive 5ptase mutant, At5ptase9, which also hydrolyzes the 5' phosphate groups specifically from membrane-bound phosphatidylinositides. Interestingly, the mutants were more tolerant to osmotic stress. We analyzed the main cellular processes that may be affected by the mutation, such as production of ROS, influx of calcium, and induction of salt-response genes. The At5ptase9 mutants showed reduced ROS production and Ca(2+) influx, as well as decreased fluid-phase endocytosis. Inhibition of endocytosis by phenylarsine oxide or Tyrphostin A23 in wild-type plants blocked these responses. Induction of salt-responsive genes in wild-type plants was also suppressed by the endocytosis inhibitors. Thus, inhibition of endocytosis in wild-type plants mimicked the salt stress responses, observed in the At5ptase9 mutants. In summary, our results show a key non-redundant role of At5PTase7 and 9 isozymes, and underscore the localization of membrane-bound PtdIns in regulating plant salt tolerance by coordinating the endocytosis, ROS production, Ca(2+) influx, and induction of stress-responsive genes.

Determination and physiological roles of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol lipid remodelling pathway in yeast

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins play important roles in cell wall biogenesis/assembly and the formation of lipid microdomains. The lipid moieties of mature GPI-anchored proteins in yeast typically contain either ceramide moieties or diacylglycerol. Recent studies have identified that the GPI phospholipase A2 Per1p and O-acyltransferase Gup1p play essential roles in diacylglycerol-type lipid remodelling of GPI-anchored proteins, while Cwh43p is involved in the remodelling of lipid moieties to ceramide. It has been generally proposed that phosphatidylinositol with diacylglycerol containing a C26 saturated fatty acid, which is generated by the sequential activity of Per1p and Gup1p, is converted to inositolphosphoryl-ceramide by Cwh43p. In this report, we constructed double-mutant strains defective in lipid remodelling and investigated their growth phenotypes and the lipid moieties of GPI-anchored proteins. Based on our analyses of single- and double-mutants of proteins involved in lipid remodelling, we demonstrate that an alternative pathway, in which lyso-phosphatidylinositol generated by Per1p is used as a substrate for Cwh43p, is involved in the remodelling of GPI lipid moieties to ceramide when the normal sequential pathway is inhibited. In addition, mass spectrometric analysis of lipid species of Flag-tagged Gas1p revealed that Gas1p contains ceramide moieties in its GPI anchor.

Metabolism and regulation of glycerolipids in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Due to its genetic tractability and increasing wealth of accessible data, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a model system of choice for the study of the genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology of eukaryotic lipid metabolism. Glycerolipids (e.g., phospholipids and triacylglycerol) and their precursors are synthesized and metabolized by enzymes associated with the cytosol and membranous organelles, including endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and lipid droplets. Genetic and biochemical analyses have revealed that glycerolipids play important roles in cell signaling, membrane trafficking, and anchoring of membrane proteins in addition to membrane structure. The expression of glycerolipid enzymes is controlled by a variety of conditions including growth stage and nutrient availability. Much of this regulation occurs at the transcriptional level and involves the Ino2–Ino4 activation complex and the Opi1 repressor, which interacts with Ino2 to attenuate transcriptional activation of UAS_INO-containing glycerolipid biosynthetic genes. Cellular levels of phosphatidic acid, precursor to all membrane phospholipids and the storage lipid triacylglycerol, regulates transcription of UAS_INO-containing genes by tethering Opi1 to the nuclear/endoplasmic reticulum membrane and controlling its translocation into the nucleus, a mechanism largely controlled by inositol availability. The transcriptional activator Zap1 controls the expression of some phospholipid synthesis genes in response to zinc availability. Regulatory mechanisms also include control of catalytic activity of glycerolipid enzymes by water-soluble precursors, products and lipids, and covalent modification of phosphorylation, while in vivo function of some enzymes is governed by their subcellular location. Genome-wide genetic analysis indicates coordinate regulation between glycerolipid metabolism and a broad spectrum of metabolic pathways.

Phosphoinositide signaling during membrane transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is distinct from other phospholipids, possessing a head group that can be modified by phosphorylation at multiple positions to generate unique signaling molecules collectively known as phosphoinositides. The set of kinases and phosphatases that regulate PI metabolism are conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution, and numerous studies have demonstrated that phosphoinositides regulate a diverse spectrum of cellular processes, including vesicle transport, cell proliferation, and cytoskeleton organization. Over the past two decades, nearly all PI derivatives have been shown to interact directly with cellular proteins to affect their localization and/or activity. Additionally, there is growing evidence, which suggests that phosphoinositides may also affect local membrane topology. Here, we focus on the role of phosphoinositides in membrane trafficking and underscore the significant role that yeast has played in the field.

pHg/pSILBAγ vector system for efficient gene silencing in homobasidiomycetes: optimization of ihpRNA - triggering in the mycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor

pSILBAγ silencing vector was constructed for efficient RNA silencing triggering in the model mycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor. This cloning vector carries the Agaricus bisporus gpdII promoter, two multiple cloning sites separated by a L. bicolor nitrate reductase intron and the Aspergillus nidulans trpC terminator. pSILBAγ allows an easy oriented two‐step PCR cloning of hairpin sequences to be expressed in basidiomycetes. With one further cloning step into pHg, a pCAMBIA1300‐based binary vector carrying a hygromycin resistance cassette, the pHg/pSILBAγ plasmid is used for Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. The pHg/pSILBAγ system results in predominantly single integrations of RNA silencing triggering T‐DNAs in the fungal genome and the integration sites of the transgenes can be resolved by plasmid rescue. pSILBAγ construct and two other pSILBA plasmid variants (pSILBA and pSILBAα) were evaluated for their capacity to silence Laccaria nitrate reductase gene. While all pSILBA variants tested resulted in up to 65–76% of transformants with reduced growth on nitrate, pSILBAγ produced the highest number (65%) of strongly affected fungal strains. The strongly silenced phenotype was shown to correlate with T‐DNA integration in transcriptionally active genomic sites. pHg/pSILBAγ was shown to produce T‐DNAs with minimum CpG methylation in transgene promoter regions which assures the maximum silencing trigger production in Laccaria. Methylation of the target endogene was only slight in RNA silencing triggered with constructs carrying an intronic spacer hairpin sequence. The silencing capacity of the pHg/pSILBAγ was further tested with Laccaria inositol‐1,4,5‐triphosphate 5‐phosphatase gene. Besides its use in silencing triggering, the herein described plasmid system can also be used for transgene expression in Laccaria. pHg/pSILBAγ silencing system is optimized for L. bicolor but it should be highly useful also for other homobasidiomycetes, group of fungi currently lacking molecular tools for RNA silencing.

The role of the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases in cellular function and human disease

Phosphoinositides are membrane-bound signalling molecules that regulate cell proliferation and survival, cytoskeletal reorganization and vesicular trafficking by recruiting effector proteins to cellular membranes. Growth factor or insulin stimulation induces a canonical cascade resulting in the transient phosphorylation of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) by PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) to form PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3), which is rapidly dephosphorylated either by PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) back to PtdIns(4,5)P(2), or by the 5-ptases (inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases), generating PtdIns(3,4)P(2). The 5-ptases also hydrolyse PtdIns(4,5)P(2), forming PtdIns4P. Ten mammalian 5-ptases have been identified, which share a catalytic mechanism similar to that of the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases. Gene-targeted deletion of 5-ptases in mice has revealed that these enzymes regulate haemopoietic cell proliferation, synaptic vesicle recycling, insulin signalling, endocytosis, vesicular trafficking and actin polymerization. Several studies have revealed that the molecular basis of Lowe's syndrome is due to mutations in the 5-ptase OCRL (oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe). Futhermore, the 5-ptases SHIP [SH2 (Src homology 2)-domain-containing inositol phosphatase] 2, SKIP (skeletal muscle- and kidney-enriched inositol phosphatase) and 72-5ptase (72 kDa 5-ptase)/Type IV/Inpp5e (inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase E) are implicated in negatively regulating insulin signalling and glucose homoeostasis in specific tissues. SHIP2 polymorphisms are associated with a predisposition to insulin resistance. Gene profiling studies have identified changes in the expression of various 5-ptases in specific cancers. In addition, 5-ptases such as SHIP1, SHIP2 and 72-5ptase/Type IV/Inpp5e regulate macrophage phagocytosis, and SHIP1 also controls haemopoietic cell proliferation. Therefore the 5-ptases are a significant family of signal-modulating enzymes that govern a plethora of cellular functions by regulating the levels of specific phosphoinositides. Emerging studies have implicated their loss or gain of function in human disease.

Compartmentalization of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate signaling evidenced using targeted phosphatases

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) is a prevalent phosphoinositide in cell membranes, with important functions in cell signaling and activation. A large fraction of PIP(2) associates with the detergent-resistant membrane "raft" fraction, but the functional significance of this association remains controversial. To measure the properties of raft and nonraft PIP(2) in cell signaling, we targeted the PIP(2)-specific phosphatase Inp54p to either the raft or nonraft membrane fraction using minimal membrane anchors. Interestingly, we observed that targeting Inp54p to the nonraft fraction resulted in an enrichment of raft-associated PIP(2) and striking changes in cell morphology, including a wortmannin-sensitive increase in cell filopodia and cell spreading. In contrast, raft-targeted Inp54p depleted the raft pool of PIP(2) and produced smooth T cells void of membrane ruffling and filopodia. Furthermore, raft-targeted Inp54p inhibited capping in T cells stimulated by cross-linking the T cell receptor, but without affecting the T cell receptor-dependent Ca(2+) flux. Altogether, these results provide evidence of compartmentalization of PIP(2)-dependent signaling in cell membranes such as predicted by the membrane raft model.

Lipid remodeling of GPI-anchored proteins and its function

Many proteins are attached to the cell surface via a conserved post-translational modification, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. GPI-anchored proteins are functionally diverse, but one of their most striking features is their association with lipid microdomains, which consist mainly of sphingolipids and sterols. GPI-anchored proteins modulate various biological functions when they are incorporated into these specialized domains. The biosynthesis of GPI and its attachment to proteins occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. The lipid moieties of GPI-anchored proteins are further modified during their transport to the cell surface, and these remodeling processes are essential for the association of proteins with lipid microdomains. Recently, several genes required for GPI lipid remodeling have been identified in yeast and mammalian cells. In this review, we describe the pathways for lipid remodeling of GPI-anchored proteins in yeast and mammalian cells, and discuss how lipid remodeling affects the association of GPI-anchored proteins with microdomains in cellular events.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae CWH43 is involved in the remodeling of the lipid moiety of GPI anchors to ceramides

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins are subjected to lipid remodeling during their biosynthesis. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mature GPI-anchored proteins contain mainly ceramide or diacylglycerol with a saturated long-fatty acid, whereas conventional phosphatidylinositol (PI) used for GPI biosynthesis contains an unsaturated fatty acid. Here, we report that S. cerevisiae Cwh43p, whose N-terminal region contains a sequence homologous to mammalian PGAP2, is involved in the remodeling of the lipid moiety of GPI anchors to ceramides. In cwh43 disruptant cells, the PI moiety of the GPI-anchored protein contains a saturated long fatty acid and lyso-PI but not inositolphosphorylceramides, which are the main lipid moieties of GPI-anchored proteins from wild-type cells. Moreover, the C-terminal region of Cwh43p (Cwh43-C), which is not present in PGAP2, is essential for the ability to remodel GPI lipids to ceramides. The N-terminal region of Cwh43p (Cwh43-N) is associated with Cwh43-C, and it enhanced the lipid remodeling to ceramides by Cwh43-C. Our results also indicate that mouse FRAG1 and C130090K23, which are homologous to Cwh43-N and -C, respectively, share these activities.

Inactivation of the Phosphoinositide Phosphatases Sac1p and Inp54p Leads to Accumulation of Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate on Vacuole Membranes and Vacuolar Fusion Defects

Phosphoinositides direct membrane trafficking, facilitating the recruitment of effectors to specific membranes. In yeast phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) isproposed to regulate vacuolar fusion; however, in intact cells this phosphoinositide can only be detected at the plasma membrane. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the 5-phosphatase, Inp54p, dephosphorylates PtdIns(4,5)P2 forming PtdIns(4)P, a substrate for the phosphatase Sac1p, which hydrolyzes (PtdIns(4)P). We investigated the role these phosphatases in regulating PtdIns(4,5)P2 subcellular distribution. PtdIns(4,5)P2 bioprobes exhibited loss of plasma membrane localization and instead labeled a subset of fragmented vacuoles in Deltasac1 Deltainp54 and sac1ts Deltainp54 mutants. Furthermore, sac1ts Deltainp54 mutants exhibited vacuolar fusion defects, which were rescued by latrunculin A treatment, or by inactivation of Mss4p, a PtdIns(4)P 5-kinase that synthesizes plasma membrane PtdIns(4,5)P2. Under these conditions PtdIns(4,5)P2 was not detected on vacuole membranes, and vacuole morphology was normal, indicating vacuolar PtdIns(4,5)P2 derives from Mss4p-generated plasma membrane PtdIns(4,5)P2. Deltasac1 Deltainp54 mutants exhibited delayed carboxypeptidase Y sorting, cargo-selective secretion defects, and defects in vacuole function. These studies reveal PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis by lipid phosphatases governs its spatial distribution, and loss of phosphatase activity may result in PtdIns(4,5)P2 accumulation on vacuole membranes leading to vacuolar fragmentation/fusion defects.

Synthesis and function of membrane phosphoinositides in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

It is now well appreciated that derivatives of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) are key regulators of many cellular processes in eukaryotes. Of particular interest are phosphoinositides (mono- and polyphosphorylated adducts to the inositol ring in PtdIns), which are located at the cytoplasmic face of cellular membranes. Phosphoinositides serve both a structural and a signaling role via their recruitment of proteins that contain phosphoinositide-binding domains. Phosphoinositides also have a role as precursors of several types of second messengers for certain intracellular signaling pathways. Realization of the importance of phosphoinositides has brought increased attention to characterization of the enzymes that regulate their synthesis, interconversion, and turnover. Here we review the current state of our knowledge about the properties and regulation of the ATP-dependent lipid kinases responsible for synthesis of phosphoinositides and also the additional temporal and spatial controls exerted by the phosphatases and a phospholipase that act on phosphoinositides in yeast.

Phosphoinositides in Constitutive Membrane Traffic

Proteins that make, consume, and bind to phosphoinositides are important for constitutive membrane traffic. Different phosphoinositides are concentrated in different parts of the central vacuolar pathway, with phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate predominate on Golgi, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate predominate at the plasma membrane, phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate the major phosphoinositide on early endosomes, and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate found on late endocytic organelles. This spatial segregation may be the mechanism by which the direction of membrane traffic is controlled. Phosphoinositides increase the affinity of membranes for peripheral membrane proteins that function for sorting protein cargo or for the docking and fusion of transport vesicles. This implies that constitutive membrane traffic may be regulated by the mechanisms that control the activity of the enzymes that produce and consume phosphoinositides. Although the lipid kinases and phosphatases that function in constitutive membrane traffic are beginning to be identified, their regulation is poorly understood.

Identification of a novel domain in two mammalian inositol-polyphosphate 5-phosphatases that mediates membrane ruffle localization. The inositol 5-phosphatase skip localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and translocates to membrane ruffles following epidermal growth factor stimulation

SKIP (skeletal muscle and kidney enriched inositol phosphatase) is a recently identified phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate- and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-specific 5-phosphatase. In this study, we investigated the intracellular localization of SKIP. Indirect immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation showed that, in serum-starved cells, both endogenous and recombinant SKIP colocalized with markers of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Following epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation, SKIP transiently translocated to plasma membrane ruffles and colocalized with submembranous actin. Data base searching demonstrated a novel 128-amino acid domain in the C terminus of SKIP, designated SKICH for SKIP carboxyl homology, which is also found in the 107-kDa 5-phosphatase PIPP and in members of the TRAF6-binding protein family. Recombinant SKIP lacking the SKICH domain localized to the ER, but did not translocate to membrane ruffles following EGF stimulation. The SKIP SKICH domain showed perinuclear localization and mediated EGF-stimulated plasma membrane ruffle localization. The SKICH domain of the 5-phosphatase PIPP also mediated plasma membrane ruffle localization. Mutational analysis identified the core sequence within the SKICH domain that mediated constitutive membrane association and C-terminal sequences unique to SKIP that contributed to ER localization. Collectively, these studies demonstrate a novel membrane-targeting domain that serves to recruit SKIP and PIPP to membrane ruffles.

Inositol phospholipid metabolism in Arabidopsis. Characterized and putative isoforms of inositol phospholipid kinase and phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C

Phosphoinositides (PIs) constitute a minor fraction of total cellular lipids in all eukaryotic cells. They fulfill many important functions through interaction with a wide range of cellular proteins. Members of distinct inositol lipid kinase families catalyze the synthesis of these phospholipids from phosphatidylinositol. The hydrolysis of PIs involves phosphatases and isoforms of PI-specific phospholipase C. Although our knowledge of the roles played by plant PIs is clearly limited at present, there is no doubt that they are involved in many physiological processes during plant growth and development. In this review, we concentrate on inositol lipid-metabolizing enzymes from the model plant Arabidopsis for which biochemical characterization data are available, namely the inositol lipid kinases and PI-specific phospholipase Cs. The biochemical properties and structure of characterized and genome-predicted isoforms are presented and compared with those of the animal enzymes to show that the plant enzymes have some features clearly unique to this kingdom.

Subcellular localization of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate using the pleckstrin homology domain of phospholipase C delta1

Ptd(4,5)P(2) is thought to promote and organize a wide range of cellular functions, including vesicular membrane traffic and cytoskeletal dynamics, by recruiting functional protein complexes to restricted locations in cellular membranes. However, little is known about the distribution of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) in the cell at high resolution. We have used the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of phospholipase delta(1) (PLCdelta(1)), narrowly specific for PtdIns(4,5)P(2), to map the distribution of the lipid in astrocytoma and A431 cells. We applied the glutathione S-transferase-tagged PLCdelta(1) PH domain (PLCdelta(1)PH-GST) in an on-section labelling approach which avoids transfection procedures. Here we demonstrate PtdIns(4,5)P(2) labelling in the plasma membrane, and also in intracellular membranes, including Golgi (mainly stack), endosomes and endoplasmic reticulum, as well as in electron-dense structures within the nucleus. At the plasma membrane, labelling was more concentrated over lamellipodia, but not in caveolae, which contained less than 10% of the total cell-surface labelling. A dramatic decrease in signal over labelled compartments was observed on preincubation with the cognate headgroup [Ins(1,4,5)P(3)], and plasma-membrane labelling was substantially decreased after stimulation with thrombin-receptor-activating peptide (SFLLRN in the one-letter amino acid code), a treatment which markedly diminishes PtdIns(4,5)P(2) levels. Thus we have developed a highly selective method for mapping the PtdIns(4,5)P(2) distribution within cells at high resolution, and our data provide direct evidence for this lipid at key functional locations.

Regulation of Fab1 phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate 5-kinase pathway by Vac7 protein and Fig4, a polyphosphoinositide phosphatase family member

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae FAB1 gene encodes the sole phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P] 5-kinase responsible for synthesis of the polyphosphoinositide PtdIns(3,5)P(2). VAC7 encodes a 128-kDa transmembrane protein that localizes to vacuolar membranes. Both vac7 and fab1 null mutants have dramatically enlarged vacuoles and cannot grow at elevated temperatures. Additionally, vac7Delta mutants have nearly undetectable levels of PtdIns(3,5)P(2), suggesting that Vac7 functions to regulate Fab1 kinase activity. To test this hypothesis, we isolated a fab1 mutant allele that bypasses the requirement for Vac7 in PtdIns(3,5)P(2) production. Expression of this fab1 allele in vac7Delta mutant cells suppresses the temperature sensitivity, vacuolar morphology, and PtdIns(3,5)P(2) defects normally exhibited by vac7Delta mutants. We also identified a mutant allele of FIG4, whose gene product contains a Sac1 polyphosphoinositide phosphatase domain, which suppresses vac7Delta mutant phenotypes. Deletion of FIG4 in vac7Delta mutant cells suppresses the temperature sensitivity and vacuolar morphology defects, and dramatically restores PtdIns(3,5)P(2) levels. These results suggest that generation of PtdIns(3,5)P(2) by the Fab1 lipid kinase is regulated by Vac7, whereas turnover of PtdIns(3,5)P(2) is mediated in part by the Sac1 polyphosphoinositide phosphatase family member Fig4.

The yeast synaptojanin-like proteins control the cellular distribution of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate

Phosphoinositides (PI) are synthesized and turned over by specific kinases, phosphatases, and lipases that ensure the proper localization of discrete PI isoforms at distinct membranes. We analyzed the role of the yeast synaptojanin-like proteins using a strain that expressed only a temperature-conditional allele of SJL2. Our analysis demonstrated that inactivation of the yeast synaptojanins leads to increased cellular levels of phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)), accompanied by defects in actin organization, endocytosis, and clathrin-mediated sorting between the Golgi and endosomes. The phenotypes observed in synaptojanin-deficient cells correlated with accumulation of PtdIns(4,5)P(2), because these effects were rescued by mutations in MSS4 or a mutant form of Sjl2p that harbors only PI 5-phosphatase activity. We utilized green fluorescent protein-pleckstrin homology domain chimeras (termed FLAREs for fluorescent lipid-associated reporters) with distinct PI-binding specificities to visualize pools of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in yeast. PtdIns(4,5)P(2) localized to the plasma membrane in a manner dependent on Mss4p activity. On inactivation of the yeast synaptojanins, PtdIns(4,5)P(2) accumulated in intracellular compartments, as well as the cell surface. In contrast, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate generated by Pik1p localized in intracellular compartments. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the yeast synaptojanins control the localization of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) in vivo and provide further evidence for the compartmentalization of different PI species.