Type Igamma661 phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase directly interacts with AP2 and regulates endocytosis

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the Control of Membrane Trafficking

Phosphoinositides are membrane lipids generated by phosphorylation on the inositol head group of phosphatidylinositol. By specifically distributed to distinct subcellular membrane locations, different phosphoinositide species play diverse roles in modulating membrane trafficking. Among the seven known phosphoinositide species, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P₂) is the one species most abundant at the plasma membrane. Thus, the PI4,5P₂ function in membrane trafficking is first identified in controlling plasma membrane dynamic-related events including endocytosis and exocytosis. However, recent studies indicate that PI4,5P₂ is also critical in many other membrane trafficking events such as endosomal trafficking, hydrolases sorting to lysosomes, autophagy initiation, and autophagic lysosome reformation. These findings suggest that the role of PI4,5P₂ in membrane trafficking is far beyond just plasma membrane. This review will provide a concise synopsis of how PI4,5P₂ functions in multiple membrane trafficking events. PI4,5P₂, the enzymes responsible for PI4,5P₂ production at specific subcellular locations, and distinct PI4,5P₂ effector proteins compose a regulation network to control the specific membrane trafficking events.

Phosphoinositide lipids in primary cilia biology

Primary cilia are solitary signalling organelles projecting from the surface of most cell types. Although the ciliary membrane is continuous with the plasma membrane it exhibits a unique phospholipid composition, a feature essential for normal cilia formation and function. Recent studies have illustrated that distinct phosphoinositide lipid species localise to specific cilia subdomains, and have begun to build a 'phosphoinositide map' of the cilium. The abundance and localisation of phosphoinositides are tightly regulated by the opposing actions of lipid kinases and lipid phosphatases that have also been recently discovered at cilia. The critical role of phosphoinositides in cilia biology is highlighted by the devastating consequences of genetic defects in cilia-associated phosphoinositide regulatory enzymes leading to ciliopathy phenotypes in humans and experimental mouse and zebrafish models. Here we provide a general introduction to primary cilia and the roles phosphoinositides play in cilia biology. In addition to increasing our understanding of fundamental cilia biology, this rapidly expanding field may inform novel approaches to treat ciliopathy syndromes caused by deregulated phosphoinositide metabolism.

Spoiled for Choice: Diverse Endocytic Pathways Function at the Cell Surface

Endocytosis has long been identified as a key cellular process involved in bringing in nutrients, in clearing cellular debris in tissue, in the regulation of signaling, and in maintaining cell membrane compositional homeostasis. While clathrin-mediated endocytosis has been most extensively studied, a number of clathrin-independent endocytic pathways are continuing to be delineated. Here we provide a current survey of the different types of endocytic pathways available at the cell surface and discuss a new classification and plausible molecular mechanisms for some of the less characterized pathways. Along with an evolutionary perspective of the origins of some of these pathways, we provide an appreciation of the distinct roles that these pathways play in various aspects of cellular physiology, including the control of signaling and membrane tension.

SUMOylation is required for PIPK1γ-driven keratinocyte migration and growth

PIPKIγ, a key member of the type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate kinase (PIPKI) family that regulates the spatial-temporal generation of PIP2, has been implicated in diverse biological processes including cell survival, cell polarity, and cell migration. An essential role of PIPKIγ in tumor cells and nerve cells has been established in previous studies. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of PIPKIγ remains incompletely understood. Here, we showed that PIPKIγ can specifically associate with the SUMO-conjugating (E2) enzyme UBC9 and can be SUMOylated both in vivo and in vitro. We further identified that Lys-591 is the critical SUMO-acceptor site of PIPKIγ and that SUMO conjugation at this site is required for PIPKIγ-driven keratinocyte migration and growth. Mechanistically, SUMOylation deficiency significantly disrupts PIPKIγ-mediated generation of intracellular PIP2, rather than the subcellular translocation and protein stability of PIPKIγ. Our findings reveal that PIPKIγ is a novel SUMOylation target and highlight the essential role of PIPKIγ SUMOylation in human keratinocyte function, providing an important orientation for in-depth study of wound repair.

Localization of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) α, β, γ in the three major salivary glands in situ of mice and their response to β-adrenoceptor stimulation

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K), which is composed of three isozymes (α, β and γ), catalyzes the production of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2). This phospholipid functions in membrane trafficking, as an anchor for actin cytoskeletons and as a regulator of intramembranous channels/transporters. It is also a precursor of such second messengers as diacylglycerol, inositol triphosphate and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate. In the present study, the expression and localization of endogenous PIP5Ks were examined in the three major salivary glands of young adult mice in situ. In western blotting of normal control glands, immunoreactive bands for individual PIP5Ks were detectable, with the highest density in the parotid gland and the weakest density in the submandibular gland. In immuno-light microscopy under non-stimulated condition, weak immunoreactivity for PIP5Kα was confined to the apical plasmalemma in parotid, but not sublingual or submandibular, acinar cells. Immunoreactivity for PIP5Kβ was weak to moderate and confined to ductal cells but not acinar cells, whereas that for PIP5Kγ was selectively and intensely detected in myoepithelial cells but not acinar cells, and it was weak in ductal cells in the three glands. In western blot of the parotid gland stimulated by isoproterenol, a β-adrenoceptor agonist, no changes were seen in the intensity of immunoreactive bands for any of the PIP5Ks. In contrast, in immuno-light microscopy, the apical immunoreactivity for PIP5Kα in parotid acinar cells was transiently and distinctly increased after the stimulation. The increased immunoreactivity was ultrastructurally localized on most apical microvilli and along contiguous plasma membrane, where membranous invaginations of various shapes and small vesicles were frequently found. It was thus suggested that PIP5Kα is involved in post-exocytotic membrane dynamics via microvillous membranes. The present finding further suggests that each of the three isoforms of PIP5K functions through its product PIP2 discretely in different cells of the glands to regulate saliva secretion.

EGFR-induced phosphorylation of type Iγ phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase promotes pancreatic cancer progression

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies and effective treatment has always been lacking. In current study, we investigated how the type Iγ phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIPKIγ) participates in the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for novel therapeutic potentials against this lethal disease. We found that PIPKIγ is up-regulated in all tested PDAC cell lines. The growth factor (including EGFR)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PIPKIγ is significantly elevated in in situ and metastatic PDAC tissues. Loss of PIPKIγ inhibits the aggressiveness of PDAC cells by restraining the activities of AKT and STAT3, as well as MT1-MMP expression. Therefore when planted into the pancreas of nude mice, PIPKIγ-depleted PDAC cells exhibits substantially repressed tumor growth and metastasis comparing to control PDAC cells. Results from further studies showed that the phosphorylation-deficient PIPKIγ mutant, unlike its wild-type counterpart, cannot rescue PDAC progression inhibited by PIPKIγ depletion. These findings indicate that PIPKIγ, functioning downstream of EGFR signaling, is critical to the progression of PDAC, and suggest that PIPKIγ is potentially a valuable therapeutic target for PDAC treatment.

The multifaceted role of PIP2 in leukocyte biology

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) represents about 1 % of plasma membrane phospholipids and behaves as a pleiotropic regulator of a striking number of fundamental cellular processes. In recent years, an increasing body of literature has highlighted an essential role of PIP2 in multiple aspects of leukocyte biology. In this emerging picture, PIP2 is envisaged as a signalling intermediate itself and as a membrane-bound regulator and a scaffold of proteins with specific PIP2 binding domains. Indeed PIP2 plays a key role in several functions. These include directional migration in neutrophils, integrin-dependent adhesion in T lymphocytes, phagocytosis in macrophages, lysosomes secretion and trafficking at immune synapse in cytolytic effectors and secretory cells, calcium signals and gene transcription in B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and mast cells. The coordination of these different aspects relies on the spatio-temporal organisation of distinct PIP2 pools, generated by the main PIP2 generating enzyme, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K). Three different isoforms of PIP5K, named α, β and γ, and different splice variants have been described in leukocyte populations. The isoform-specific coupling of specific isoforms of PIP5K to different families of activating receptors, including integrins, Fc receptors, toll-like receptors and chemokine receptors, is starting to be reported. Furthermore, PIP2 is turned over by multiple metabolising enzymes including phospholipase C (PLC) γ and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) which, along with Rho family small G proteins, is widely involved in strategic functions within the immune system. The interplay between PIP2, lipid-modifying enzymes and small G protein-regulated signals is also discussed.

Lipid kinases as therapeutic targets for chronic pain

Existing analgesics are not efficacious in treating all patients with chronic pain and have harmful side effects when used long term. A deeper understanding of pain signaling and sensitization could lead to the development of more efficacious analgesics. Nociceptor sensitization occurs under conditions of inflammation and nerve injury where diverse chemicals are released and signal through receptors to reduce the activation threshold of ion channels, leading to an overall increase in neuronal excitability. Drugs that inhibit specific receptors have so far been unsuccessful in alleviating pain, possibly because they do not simultaneously target the diverse receptors that contribute to nociceptor sensitization. Hence, the focus has shifted toward targeting downstream convergence points of nociceptive signaling. Lipid mediators, including phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), are attractive targets, as these molecules are required for signaling downstream of G-protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases. Furthermore, PIP2 regulates the activity of various ion channels. Thus, PIP2 sits at a critical convergence point for multiple receptors, ion channels, and signaling pathways that promote and maintain chronic pain. Decreasing the amount of PIP2 in neurons was recently shown to attenuate pronociceptive signaling and could provide a novel approach for treating pain. Here, we review the lipid kinases that are known to regulate pain signaling and sensitization and speculate on which additional lipid kinases might regulate signaling in nociceptive neurons.

Emerging roles of PtdIns(4,5)P2--beyond the plasma membrane

Phosphoinositides are a collection of lipid messengers that regulate most subcellular processes. Amongst the seven phosphoinositide species, the roles for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] at the plasma membrane, such as in endocytosis, exocytosis, actin polymerization and focal adhesion assembly, have been extensively studied. Recent studies have argued for the existence of PtdIns(4,5)P2 at multiple intracellular compartments, including the nucleus, endosomes, lysosomes, autolysosomes, autophagic precursor membranes, ER, mitochondria and the Golgi complex. Although the generation, regulation and functions of PtdIns(4,5)P2 are less well-defined in most other intracellular compartments, accumulating evidence demonstrates crucial roles for PtdIns(4,5)P2 in endolysosomal trafficking, endosomal recycling, as well as autophagosomal pathways, which are the focus of this Commentary. We summarize and discuss how phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases, PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns(4,5)P2-effectors regulate these intracellular protein and membrane trafficking events.

Resolution of structure of PIP5K1A reveals molecular mechanism for its regulation by dimerization and dishevelled

Type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIP5K1) phosphorylates the head group of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) to generate PtdIns4,5P₂, which plays important roles in a wide range of cellular functions including Wnt signalling. However, the lack of its structural information has hindered the understanding of its regulation. Here we report the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of zebrafish PIP5K1A at 3.3 Å resolution. This molecule forms a side-to-side dimer. Mutagenesis study of PIP5K1A reveals two adjacent interfaces for the dimerization and interaction with the DIX domain of the Wnt signalling molecule dishevelled. Although these interfaces are located distally to the catalytic/substrate-binding site, binding to these interfaces either through dimerization or the interaction with DIX stimulates PIP5K1 catalytic activity. DIX binding additionally enhances PIP5K1 substrate binding. Thus, this study elucidates regulatory mechanisms for this lipid kinase and provides a paradigm for the understanding of PIP5K1 regulation by their interacting molecules.

Type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase is an important component of many cellular pathways, including Wnt signalling. Here the authors report the crystal structure of the zebrafish protein along with in vitro assays that help to elucidate the regulation and function of this kinase.

PIP kinases define PI4,5P₂signaling specificity by association with effectors

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P₂) is an essential lipid messenger with roles in all eukaryotes and most aspects of human physiology. By controlling the targeting and activity of its effectors, PI4,5P₂modulates processes, such as cell migration, vesicular trafficking, cellular morphogenesis, signaling and gene expression. In cells, PI4,5P₂has a much higher concentration than other phosphoinositide species and its total content is largely unchanged in response to extracellular stimuli. The discovery of a vast array of PI4,5P₂ binding proteins is consistent with data showing that the majority of cellular PI4,5P₂is sequestered. This supports a mechanism where PI4,5P₂functions as a localized and highly specific messenger. Further support of this mechanism comes from the de novo synthesis of PI4,5P₂which is often linked with PIP kinase interaction with PI4,5P₂effectors and is a mechanism to define specificity of PI4,5P₂signaling. The association of PI4,5P₂-generating enzymes with PI4,5P₂effectors regulate effector function both temporally and spatially in cells. In this review, the PI4,5P₂effectors whose functions are tightly regulated by associations with PI4,5P₂-generating enzymes will be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phosphoinositides.

Type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase homo- and heterodimerization determines its membrane localization and activity

Type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinases (PIP5KIs; α, β, and γ) are a family of isoenzymes that produce phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] using phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate as substrate. Their structural homology with the class II lipid kinases [type II phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase (PIP4KII)] suggests that PIP5KI dimerizes, although this has not been formally demonstrated. Neither the hypothetical structural dimerization determinants nor the functional consequences of dimerization have been studied. Here, we used Förster resonance energy transfer, coprecipitation, and ELISA to show that PIP5KIβ forms homo- and heterodimers with PIP5KIγ_i2 in vitro and in live human cells. Dimerization appears to be a general phenomenon for PIP5KI isoenzymes because PIP5KIβ/PIP5KIα heterodimers were also detected by mass spectrometry. Dimerization was independent of actin cytoskeleton remodeling and was also observed using purified proteins. Mutagenesis studies of PIP5KIβ located the dimerization motif at the N terminus, in a region homologous to that implicated in PIP4KII dimerization. PIP5KIβ mutants whose dimerization was impaired showed a severe decrease in PI(4,5)P2 production and plasma membrane delocalization, although their association to lipid monolayers was unaltered. Our results identify dimerization as an integral feature of PIP5K proteins and a central determinant of their enzyme activity.

LAPTM4B is a PtdIns(4,5)P2 effector that regulates EGFR signaling, lysosomal sorting, and degradation

Lysosomal degradation is essential for the termination of EGF-stimulated EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling. This requires EGFR sorting to the intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) of multi-vesicular endosomes (MVEs). Cytosolic proteins including the ESCRT machineries are key regulators of EGFR intraluminal sorting, but roles for endosomal transmembrane proteins in receptor sorting are poorly defined. Here, we show that LAPTM4B, an endosomal transmembrane oncoprotein, inhibits EGF-induced EGFR intraluminal sorting and lysosomal degradation, leading to enhanced and prolonged EGFR signaling. LAPTM4B blocks EGFR sorting by promoting ubiquitination of Hrs (an ESCRT-0 subunit), which inhibits the Hrs association with ubiquitinated EGFR. This is counteracted by the endosomal PIP kinase, PIPKIγi5, which directly binds LAPTM4B and neutralizes the inhibitory function of LAPTM4B in EGFR sorting by generating PtdIns(4,5)P2 and recruiting SNX5. PtdIns(4,5)P2 and SNX5 function together to protect Hrs from ubiquitination, thereby promoting EGFR intraluminal sorting. These results reveal an essential layer of EGFR trafficking regulated by LAPTM4B, PtdIns(4,5)P2 signaling, and the ESCRT complex and define a mechanism by which the oncoprotein LAPTM4B can transform cells and promote tumor progression.

Development of a High-Throughput Screening Assay to Identify Inhibitors of the Lipid Kinase PIP5K1C

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinases (PIP5Ks) regulate a variety of cellular processes, including signaling through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), endocytosis, exocytosis, and cell migration. These lipid kinases synthesize phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) from phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PI(4)P]. Because small-molecule inhibitors of these lipid kinases did not exist, molecular and genetic approaches were predominantly used to study PIP5K1 regulation of these cellular processes. Moreover, standard radioisotope-based lipid kinase assays cannot be easily adapted for high-throughput screening. Here, we report a novel, high-throughput, microfluidic mobility shift assay to identify inhibitors of PIP5K1C. This assay uses fluorescently labeled phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate as the substrate and recombinant human PIP5K1C. Our assay exhibited high reproducibility, had a calculated adenosine triphosphate Michaelis constant (Km) of 15 µM, performed with z' values >0.7, and was used to screen a kinase-focused library of ~4700 compounds. From this screen, we identified several potent inhibitors of PIP5K1C, including UNC3230, a compound that we recently found can reduce nociceptive sensitization in animal models of chronic pain. This novel assay will allow continued drug discovery efforts for PIP5K1C and can be adapted easily to screen additional lipid kinases.

Isoform 5 of PIPKIγ regulates the endosomal trafficking and degradation of E-cadherin

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) have distinct cellular targeting, allowing for site-specific synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] to activate specific signaling cascades required for cellular processes. Several C-terminal splice variants of PIPKIγ (also known as PIP5K1C) exist, and have been implicated in a multitude of cellular roles. PI(4,5)P2 serves as a fundamental regulator of E-cadherin transport, and PI(4,5)P2-generating enzymes are important signaling relays in these pathways. We present evidence that the isoform 5 splice variant of PIPKIγ (PIPKIγi5) associates with E-cadherin and promotes its lysosomal degradation. Additionally, we show that the endosomal trafficking proteins SNX5 and SNX6 associate with PIPKIγi5 and inhibit PIPKIγi5-mediated E-cadherin degradation. Following HGF stimulation, activated Src directly phosphorylates PIPKIγi5. Phosphorylation of the PIPKIγi5 C-terminus regulates its association with SNX5 and, consequently, E-cadherin degradation. Additionally, this PIPKIγi5-mediated pathway requires Rab7 to promote degradation of internalized E-cadherin. Taken together, the data indicate that PIPKIγi5 and SNX5 are crucial regulators of E-cadherin sorting and degradation. PIPKIγi5, SNX and phosphoinositide regulation of lysosomal sorting represent a novel area of PI(4,5)P2 signaling and research. PIPKIγi5 regulation of E-cadherin sorting for degradation might have broad implications in development and tissue maintenance, and enhanced PIPKIγi5 function might have pathogenic consequences due to downregulation of E-cadherin.

PIPKIγ targets to the centrosome and restrains centriole duplication

Centriole biogenesis depends on the polo-like kinase (PLK4) and a small group of structural proteins. The spatiotemporal regulation of these proteins at pre-existing centrioles is essential to ensure that centriole duplication occurs once per cell cycle. Here, we report that phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type-1 gamma (PIP5K1C, hereafter referred to as PIPKIγ) plays an important role in centriole fidelity. PIPKIγ localized in a ring-like pattern in the intermediate pericentriolar materials around the proximal end of the centriole in G1, S and G2 phases, but not in M phase. This localization was dependent upon an association with centrosomal protein of 152 KDa (CEP152). Without detaining cells in S or M phase, the depletion of PIPKIγ led to centriole amplification in a manner that was dependent upon PLK4 and spindle assembly abnormal protein 6 homolog (SAS6). The expression of exogenous PIPKIγ reduced centriole amplification that occurred as a result of endogenous PIPKIγ depletion, hydroxyurea treatment or PLK4 overexpression, suggesting that PIPKIγ is likely to function at the PLK4 level to restrain centriole duplication. Importantly, we found that PIPKIγ bound to the cryptic polo-box domain of PLK4 and that this binding reduced the kinase activity of PLK4. Together, our findings suggest that PIPKIγ is a novel negative regulator of centriole duplication, which acts by modulating the homeostasis of PLK4 activity.

LMBD1 protein serves as a specific adaptor for insulin receptor internalization

Energy homeostasis is crucial for maintaining normally functioning cells; disturbances in this balance often cause various diseases. The limb region 1 (LMBR1) domain containing 1 gene (lmbrd1) encodes the LMBD1 protein that possesses 9 putative transmembrane domains. LMBD1 has been suggested to be involved in the lysosome in aiding the export of cobalamin. In this study, we determined that LMBD1 plays a regulatory role in the plasma membrane. A micro-positron emission tomography analysis showed that a single-allele knock-out of lmbrd1 increased the (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in murine hearts. In addition, the knockdown of lmbrd1 resulted in an up-regulated signaling of the insulin receptor (IR) and its downstream signaling molecule, Akt. Confocal and live total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy showed that LMBD1 co-localized and co-internalized with clathrin and the IR, but not with the transferrin receptor. The results of the mutation analysis and phenotypic rescue experiments indicate that LMBD1 interacts with adaptor protein-2 and is involved in the unique clathrin-mediated endocytosis of the IR. LMBD1 selectively interacts with the IR. The knockdown of lmbrd1 attenuated IR endocytosis, resulting in the perturbation of the IR recycling pathway and consequential enhancement of the IR signaling cascade. In summary, LMBD1 plays an imperative role in mediating and regulating the endocytosis of the IR.

Determinants of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type Iγ90 uropod location in T-lymphocytes and its role in uropod formation

We have previously identified phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type I (PIPKI)γ90 as a T cell uropod component. However, the molecular determinants and functional consequences of its localization remain unknown. In this report, we seek to better understand the mechanisms involved in PIPKIγ90 uropod targeting and the role that PIPKIγ90 plays in T cell uropod formation. During T cell activation, PIPKIγ90 cocaps with the membrane microdomain-associated proteins flotillin-1 and -2 and accumulates in the uropod. We report that the C-terminal 26 amino acid extension of PIPKIγ90 is required for its localization to the uropod. We further use T cells from PIPKIγ90(-/-) mice and human T cells expressing a kinase-dead PIPKIγ90 mutant to examine the role of PIPKIγ90 in a T cell uropod formation. We find that PIPKIγ90 deficient T cells have elongated uropods on ICAM-1. Moreover, in human T cells overexpression of PIPKIγ87, a naturally occurring isoform lacking the last 26 amino acids, suppresses uropod formation and impairs capping of uropod proteins such as flotillins. Transfection of human T cells with a dominant-negative mutant of flotillin-2 in turn attenuates capping of PIPKIγ90. Our data contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate T cell uropod formation.

IQGAP1 is a novel phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate effector in regulation of directional cell migration

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP₂) is a key lipid messenger for regulation of cell migration. PIP₂ modulates many effectors, but the specificity of PIP₂ signalling can be defined by interactions of PIP₂-generating enzymes with PIP₂ effectors. Here, we show that type Iγ phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPKIγ) interacts with the cytoskeleton regulator, IQGAP1, and modulates IQGAP1 function in migration. We reveal that PIPKIγ is required for IQGAP1 recruitment to the leading edge membrane in response to integrin or growth factor receptor activation. Moreover, IQGAP1 is a PIP₂ effector that directly binds PIP₂ through a polybasic motif and PIP₂ binding activates IQGAP1, facilitating actin polymerization. IQGAP1 mutants that lack PIPKIγ or PIP₂ binding lose the ability to control directional cell migration. Collectively, these data reveal a synergy between PIPKIγ and IQGAP1 in the control of cell migration.

Phosphoinositides: tiny lipids with giant impact on cell regulation

Phosphoinositides (PIs) make up only a small fraction of cellular phospholipids, yet they control almost all aspects of a cell's life and death. These lipids gained tremendous research interest as plasma membrane signaling molecules when discovered in the 1970s and 1980s. Research in the last 15 years has added a wide range of biological processes regulated by PIs, turning these lipids into one of the most universal signaling entities in eukaryotic cells. PIs control organelle biology by regulating vesicular trafficking, but they also modulate lipid distribution and metabolism via their close relationship with lipid transfer proteins. PIs regulate ion channels, pumps, and transporters and control both endocytic and exocytic processes. The nuclear phosphoinositides have grown from being an epiphenomenon to a research area of its own. As expected from such pleiotropic regulators, derangements of phosphoinositide metabolism are responsible for a number of human diseases ranging from rare genetic disorders to the most common ones such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Moreover, it is increasingly evident that a number of infectious agents hijack the PI regulatory systems of host cells for their intracellular movements, replication, and assembly. As a result, PI converting enzymes began to be noticed by pharmaceutical companies as potential therapeutic targets. This review is an attempt to give an overview of this enormous research field focusing on major developments in diverse areas of basic science linked to cellular physiology and disease.

Endosomal type Iγ PIP 5-kinase controls EGF receptor lysosomal sorting

Endosomal trafficking and degradation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) play an essential role in the control of its signaling. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns4,5P(2)) is an established regulator of endocytosis, whereas PtdIns3P modulates endosomal trafficking. However, we demonstrate here that type I gamma phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase i5 (PIPKIγi5), an enzyme that synthesizes PtdIns4,5P(2), controls endosome-to-lysosome sorting of EGFR. In this pathway, PIPKIγi5 interacts with sorting nexin 5 (SNX5), a protein that binds PtdIns4,5P(2) and other phosphoinositides. PIPKIγi5 and SNX5 localize to endosomes, and loss of either protein blocks EGFR sorting into intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) of the multivesicular body. Loss of ILV sorting greatly enhances and prolongs EGFR signaling. PIPKIγi5 and SNX5 prevent Hrs ubiquitination, and this facilitates the Hrs association with EGFR that is required for ILV sorting. These findings reveal that PIPKIγi5 and SNX5 form a signaling nexus that controls EGFR endosomal sorting, degradation, and signaling.

ARF6 regulates neuron differentiation through glucosylceramide synthase

The small GTPase ADP ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) mediates endocytosis and has in addition been shown to regulate neuron differentiation. Here we investigated whether ARF6 promotes differentiation of Neuro-2a neuronal cells by modifying the cellular lipid composition. We showed that knockdown of ARF6 by siRNA in Neuro-2a cells increased neuronal outgrowth as expected. ARF6 knockdown also resulted in increased glucosylceramide levels and decreased sphingomyelin levels, but did not affect the levels of ceramide or phospholipids. We speculated that the ARF6 knockdown-induced increase in glucosylceramide was caused by an effect on glucosylceramide synthase and, in agreement, showed that ARF6 knockdown increased the mRNA levels and activity of glucosylceramide synthase. Finally, we showed that incubation of Neuro-2a cells with the glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-PDMP) normalized the increased neuronal outgrowth induced by ARF6 knockdown. Our results thus show that ARF6 regulates neuronal differentiation through an effect on glucosylceramide synthase and glucosylceramide levels.

PIP5KIβ selectively modulates apical endocytosis in polarized renal epithelial cells

Localized synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P₂] at clathrin coated pits (CCPs) is crucial for the recruitment of adaptors and other components of the internalization machinery, as well as for regulating actin dynamics during endocytosis. PtdIns(4,5)P₂ is synthesized from phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate by any of three phosphatidylinositol 5-kinase type I (PIP5KI) isoforms (α, β or γ). PIP5KIβ localizes almost exclusively to the apical surface in polarized mouse cortical collecting duct cells, whereas the other isoforms have a less polarized membrane distribution. We therefore investigated the role of PIP5KI isoforms in endocytosis at the apical and basolateral domains. Endocytosis at the apical surface is known to occur more slowly than at the basolateral surface. Apical endocytosis was selectively stimulated by overexpression of PIP5KIβ whereas the other isoforms had no effect on either apical or basolateral internalization. We found no difference in the affinity for PtdIns(4,5)P₂-containing liposomes of the PtdIns(4,5)P₂ binding domains of epsin and Dab2, consistent with a generic effect of elevated PtdIns(4,5)P₂ on apical endocytosis. Additionally, using apical total internal reflection fluorescence imaging and electron microscopy we found that cells overexpressing PIP5KIβ have fewer apical CCPs but more internalized coated structures than control cells, consistent with enhanced maturation of apical CCPs. Together, our results suggest that synthesis of PtdIns(4,5)P₂ mediated by PIP5KIβ is rate limiting for apical but not basolateral endocytosis in polarized kidney cells. PtdIns(4,5)P₂ may be required to overcome specific structural constraints that limit the efficiency of apical endocytosis.

Comparative phenotypic analysis of the two major splice isoforms of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase type Iγ in vivo

Localized production of polyphosphoinositides is critical for their signaling function. To examine the biological relevance of specific pools of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate we compared the consequences of genetically ablating all isoforms of phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) kinase type Iγ (PIPKIγ), encoded by the gene Pip5k1c, versus ablation of a specific splice isoform, PIPKIγ_i2, with respect to three reported PIPKIγ functions. Ablation of PIPKIγ_i2 caused a neuron-specific endocytosis defect similar to that found in PIPKIγ(-/-) mice, while agonist-induced calcium signaling was reduced in PIPKIγ(-/-) cells, but was not affected in the absence of PIPKIγ_i2. A reported contribution of PIPKIγ to epithelial integrity was not evident in PIPKIγ(-/-) mice. Given that mice lacking PIPKIγ_i2 live a normal lifespan whereas PIPKIγ(-/-) mice die shortly after birth, we propose that PIPKIγ-mediated metabotropic calcium signaling may represent an essential function of PIPKIγ, whereas functions specific to the PIPKIγ_i2 splice isoform are not essential for survival.

A C-terminal tyrosine-based motif in the bile salt export pump directs clathrin-dependent endocytosis

The liver-specific bile salt export pump (BSEP) is crucial for bile acid-dependent bile flow at the apical membrane. BSEP, a member of the family of structurally related adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) proteins, is composed of 12 transmembrane segments (TMS) and two large cytoplasmic nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). The regulation of trafficking of BSEP to and from the cell surface is not well understood, but is believed to play an important role in cholestatic liver diseases such as primary familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2 (PFIC2). To address this issue, BSEP endocytosis was studied by immunofluorescence and a cell surface enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) endocytosis reporter system using a chimera of the interleukin-2 receptor α (previously referred to as Tac) and the C-terminal tail of BSEP (TacCterm). An autonomous endocytosis motif in the carboxyl cytoplasmic terminus of BSEP was identified. We define this endocytic motif by site-directed mutagenesis as a canonical tyrosine-based motif (1310) YYKLV(1314) (YxxØ). When expressed in HEK293T cells, TacCterm is constitutively internalized via a dynamin- and clathrin-dependent pathway. Mutation of the Y(1310) Y(1311) amino acids in TacCterm and in full-length human BSEP blocks the internalization. Subsequent sequence analysis reveals this motif to be highly conserved between the closely related ABCB subfamily members that mediate ATP-dependent transport of broad substrate specificity.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that constitutive internalization of BSEP is clathrin-mediated and dependent on the tyrosine-based endocytic motif at the C-terminal end of BSEP.

Harnessing the power of the endosome to regulate neural development

Endocytosis and endosomal trafficking play a multitude of roles in cellular function beyond regulating entry of essential nutrients. In this review, we discuss the cell biological principles of endosomal trafficking, the neuronal adaptations to endosomal organization, and the role of endosomal trafficking in neural development. In particular, we consider how cell fate decisions, polarity, migration, and axon outgrowth and guidance are influenced by five endosomal tricks: dynamic modulation of receptor levels by endocytosis and recycling, cargo-specific responses via cargo-specific endocytic regulators, cell-type-specific endocytic regulation, ligand-specific endocytic regulation, and endosomal regulation of ligand processing and trafficking.

Phosphoinositide signaling regulates the exocyst complex and polarized integrin trafficking in directionally migrating cells

Polarized delivery of signaling and adhesion molecules to the leading edge is required for directional migration of cells. Here, we describe a role for the PIP(2)-synthesizing enzyme, PIPKIγi2, in regulation of exocyst complex control of cell polarity and polarized integrin trafficking during migration. Loss of PIPKIγi2 impaired directional migration, formation of cell polarity, and integrin trafficking to the leading edge. Upon initiation of directional migration, PIPKIγi2 via PIP(2) generation controls the integration of the exocyst complex into an integrin-containing trafficking compartment that requires the talin-binding ability of PIPKIγi2, and talin for integrin recruitment to the leading edge. A PIP(2) requirement is further emphasized by inhibition of PIPKIγi2-regulated directional migration by an Exo70 mutant deficient in PIP(2) binding. These results reveal how phosphoinositide generation orchestrates polarized trafficking of integrin in coordination with talin that links integrins to the actin cytoskeleton, processes that are required for directional migration.

Endocytosis and signaling: cell logistics shape the eukaryotic cell plan

Our understanding of endocytosis has evolved remarkably in little more than a decade. This is the result not only of advances in our knowledge of its molecular and biological workings, but also of a true paradigm shift in our understanding of what really constitutes endocytosis and of its role in homeostasis. Although endocytosis was initially discovered and studied as a relatively simple process to transport molecules across the plasma membrane, it was subsequently found to be inextricably linked with almost all aspects of cellular signaling. This led to the notion that endocytosis is actually the master organizer of cellular signaling, providing the cell with understandable messages that have been resolved in space and time. In essence, endocytosis provides the communications and supply routes (the logistics) of the cell. Although this may seem revolutionary, it is still likely to be only a small part of the entire story. A wealth of new evidence is uncovering the surprisingly pervasive nature of endocytosis in essentially all aspects of cellular regulation. In addition, many newly discovered functions of endocytic proteins are not immediately interpretable within the classical view of endocytosis. A possible framework, to rationalize all this new knowledge, requires us to "upgrade" our vision of endocytosis. By combining the analysis of biochemical, biological, and evolutionary evidence, we propose herein that endocytosis constitutes one of the major enabling conditions that in the history of life permitted the development of a higher level of organization, leading to the actuation of the eukaryotic cell plan.

Acute depletion of plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate impairs specific steps in endocytosis of the G-protein-coupled receptor

Receptor endocytosis plays an important role in regulating the responsiveness of cells to specific ligands. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P(2)] has been shown to be crucial for endocytosis of some cell surface receptors, such as EGF and transferrin receptors, but its role in G-protein-coupled receptor internalization has not been investigated. By using luciferase-labeled type 1 angiotensin II (AT1R), type 2C serotonin (5HT2CR) or β(2) adrenergic (β2AR) receptors and fluorescently tagged proteins (β-arrestin-2, plasma-membrane-targeted Venus, Rab5) we were able to follow the sequence of molecular interactions along the endocytic route of the receptors in HEK293 cells using the highly sensitive method of bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and confocal microscopy. To study the role of plasma membrane PtdIns(4,5)P(2) in receptor endocytosis, we used our previously developed rapamycin-inducible heterodimerization system, in which the recruitment of a 5-phosphatase domain to the plasma membrane degrades PtdIns(4,5)P(2). Here we show that ligand-induced interaction of AT1, 5HT2C and β(2)A receptors with β-arrestin-2 was unaffected by PtdIns(4,5)P(2) depletion. However, trafficking of the receptors to Rab5-positive early endosomes was completely abolished in the absence of PtdIns(4,5)P(2). Remarkably, removal of the receptors from the plasma membrane was reduced but not eliminated after PtdIns(4,5)P(2) depletion. Under these conditions, stimulated AT1 receptors clustered along the plasma membrane, but did not enter the cells. Our data suggest that in the absence of PtdIns(4,5)P(2), these receptors move into clathrin-coated membrane structures, but these are not cleaved efficiently and hence cannot reach the early endosomal compartment.

PIP2-dependent regulation of Munc13-4 endocytic recycling: impact on the cytolytic secretory pathway

Cytotoxic lymphocytes clear infected and transformed cells by releasing the content of lytic granules at cytolytic synapses, and the ability of cytolytic effectors to kill in an iterative manner has been documented previously. Although bidirectional trafficking of cytolytic machinery components along the endosomal pathway has begun to be elucidated, the molecular mechanisms coordinating granule retrieval remain completely unexplored. In the present study, we focus on the lytic granule priming factor Munc13-4, the mutation of which in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 3 results in a profound defect of cytotoxic function. We addressed the role of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) in the regulation of Munc13-4 compartmentalization. We observed that in human natural killer cells, PIP2 is highly enriched in membrane rafts. Granule secretion triggering induces a transient Munc13-4 raft recruitment, followed by AP-2/clathrin-dependent internalization. Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) γ gene silencing leads to the impairment of granule secretion associated with increased levels of raft-associated Munc13-4, which is attributable to a defect in AP-2 membrane recruitment. In such conditions, the ability to subsequently kill multiple targets was significantly impaired. These observations indicate that Munc13-4 reinternalization is required for the maintenance of an intracellular pool that is functional to guarantee the serial killing potential.

Integrin adhesion and force coupling are independently regulated by localized PtdIns(4,5)2 synthesis

The 90-kDa isoform of the lipid kinase PIP kinase Type I γ (PIPKIγ) localizes to focal adhesions (FAs), where it provides a local source of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)). Although PtdIns(4,5)P(2) regulates the function of several FA-associated molecules, the role of the FA-specific pool of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) is not known. We report that the genetic ablation of PIPKIγ specifically from FAs results in defective integrin-mediated adhesion and force coupling. Adhesion defects in cells deficient in FAPtdIns(4,5)P(2) synthesis are corrected within minutes while integrin-actin force coupling remains defective over a longer period. Talin and vinculin, but not kindlin, are less efficiently recruited to new adhesions in these cells. These data demonstrate that the specific depletion of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) from FAs temporally separates integrin-ligand binding from integrin-actin force coupling by regulating talin and vinculin recruitment. Furthermore, it suggests that force coupling relies heavily on locally generated PtdIns(4,5)P(2) rather than bulk membrane PtdIns(4,5)P(2).

PIP kinases from the cell membrane to the nucleus

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) is a membrane bound lipid molecule with capabilities to affect a wide array of signaling pathways to regulate very different cellular processes. PIP(2) is used as a precursor to generate the second messengers PIP(3), DAG and IP(3), indispensable molecules for signaling events generated by membrane receptors. However, PIP(2) can also directly regulate a vast array of proteins and is emerging as a crucial messenger with the potential to distinctly modulate biological processes critical for both normal and pathogenic cell physiology. PIP(2) directly associates with effector proteins via unique phosphoinositide binding domains, altering their localization and/or enzymatic activity. The spatial and temporal generation of PIP(2) synthesized by the phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) tightly regulates the activation of receptor signaling pathways, endocytosis and vesicle trafficking, cell polarity, focal adhesion dynamics, actin assembly and 3' mRNA processing. Here we discuss our current understanding of PIPKs in the regulation of cellular processes from the plasma membrane to the nucleus.

Role of phosphoinositides at the neuronal synapse

Synaptic transmission is amongst the most sophisticated and tightly controlled biological phenomena in higher eukaryotes. In the past few decades, tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying multiple facets of neurotransmission, both pre- and postsynaptically. Brought under the spotlight by pioneer studies in the areas of secretion and signal transduction, phosphoinositides and their metabolizing enzymes have been increasingly recognized as key protagonists in fundamental aspects of neurotransmission. Not surprisingly, dysregulation of phosphoinositide metabolism has also been implicated in synaptic malfunction associated with a variety of brain disorders. In the present chapter, we summarize current knowledge on the role of phosphoinositides at the neuronal synapse and highlight some of the outstanding questions in this research field.

An association between type Iγ PI4P 5-kinase and Exo70 directs E-cadherin clustering and epithelial polarization

E-Cadherin-mediated formation of adherens junctions (AJs) is essential for the morphogenesis of epithelial cells. However, the mechanisms underlying E-cadherin clustering and AJ maturation are not fully understood. Here we report that type Iγ phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPKIγ) associates with the exocyst via a direct interaction with Exo70, the exocyst subunit that guides the polarized targeting of exocyst to the plasma membrane. By means of this interaction, PIPKIγ mediates the association between E-cadherin and Exo70 and determines the targeting of Exo70 to AJs. Further investigation revealed that Exo70 is necessary for clustering of E-cadherin on the plasma membrane and extension of nascent E-cadherin adhesions, which are critical for the maturation of cohesive AJs. In addition, we observed phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P(2)) accumulation at E-cadherin clusters during the assembly of E-cadherin adhesions. PIPKIγ-generated PI4,5P(2) is required for recruiting Exo70 to newly formed E-cadherin junctions and facilitates the assembly and maturation of AJs. These results support a model in which PIPKIγ and PIPKIγ-generated PI4,5P(2) pools at nascent E-cadherin contacts cue Exo70 targeting and orient the tethering of exocyst-associated E-cadherin. This could be an important mechanism that regulates E-cadherin clustering and AJ maturation, which is essential for the establishment of solid, polarized epithelial structures.

A calmodulin-related light chain from fission yeast that functions with myosin-I and PI 4-kinase

Fission yeast myosin-I (Myo1p) not only associates with calmodulin, but also employs a second light chain called Cam2p. cam2Δ cells exhibit defects in cell polarity and growth consistent with a loss of Myo1p function. Loss of Cam2p leads to a reduction in Myo1p levels at endocytic patches and a 50% drop in the rates of Myo1p-driven actin filament motility. Thus, Cam2p plays a significant role in Myo1p function. However, further studies indicated the existence of an additional Cam2p-binding partner. Cam2p was still present at cortical patches in myo1Δ cells (or in myo1-IQ2 mutants, which lack an intact Cam2p-binding motif), whereas a cam2 null (cam2Δ) suppressed cytokinesis defects of an essential light chain (ELC) mutant known to be impaired in binding to PI 4-kinase (Pik1p). Binding studies revealed that Cam2p and the ELC compete for Pik1p. Cortical localization of Cam2p in the myo1Δ background relied on its association with Pik1p, whereas overexpression studies indicated that Cam2p, in turn, contributes to Pik1p function. The fact that the Myo1p-associated defects of a cam2Δ mutant are more potent than those of a myo1-IQ2 mutant suggests that myosin light chains can contribute to actomyosin function both directly and indirectly (via phospholipid synthesis at sites of polarized growth).

Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate regulates clathrin-coated pit initiation, stabilization, and size

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is the major mechanism for internalization in mammalian cells. CME initiates by recruitment of adaptors and clathrin to form clathrin-coated pits (CCPs). Nearly half of nascent CCPs abort, whereas others are stabilized by unknown mechanisms and undergo further maturation before pinching off to form clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), the main lipid binding partner of endocytic proteins, is required for CCP assembly, but little is currently known about its contribution(s) to later events in CCV formation. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown and overexpression, we have analyzed the effects of manipulating PIP(2) synthesis and turnover on CME by quantitative total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and computational analysis. Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase cannot be detected within CCPs but functions in initiation and controls the rate and extent of CCP growth. In contrast, the 5'-inositol phosphatase synaptojanin 1 localizes to CCPs and controls early stabilization and maturation efficiency. Together these results suggest that the balance of PIP(2) synthesis in the bulk plasma membrane and its local turnover within CCPs control multiple stages of CCV formation.

Regulation of PIP5K activity by Arf6 and its physiological significance

The phospholipid kinase phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) catalyzes the phosphorylation of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate to generate the pleiotropic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2) ]. To date, three mammalian PIP5K isozymes, α, β, and γ, and several splicing variants of the γ isozyme have been identified. These PIP5K isozymes and PIP5Kγ variants play critical roles in various cellular functions through their product PI(4,5)P(2) . The small GTPase Arf6 is one of the key activators of PIP5K. Increasing evidence suggests that PIP5K functions as a downstream effector of Arf6 to regulate a wide variety of cellular functions, such as exocytosis, endocytosis, endosomal recycling, membrane ruffle formation, immune response, and bacterial invasion. In this review, we place our focus on the recent advances in Arf6/PIP5K signaling and its linkage to cellular functions.

One lipid, multiple functions: how various pools of PI(4,5)P(2) are created in the plasma membrane

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2)] is a minor lipid of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane that controls the activity of numerous proteins and serves as a source of second messengers. This multifunctionality of PI(4,5)P(2) relies on mechanisms ensuring transient appearance of PI(4,5)P(2) clusters in the plasma membrane. One such mechanism involves phosphorylation of PI(4)P to PI(4,5)P(2) by the type I phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinases (PIP5KI) at discrete membrane locations coupled with PI(4)P delivery/synthesis at the plasma membrane. Simultaneously, both PI(4)P and PI(4,5)P(2) participate in anchoring PIP5KI at the plasma membrane via electrostatic bonds. PIP5KI isoforms are also selectively recruited and activated at the plasma membrane by Rac1, talin, or AP-2 to generate PI(4,5)P(2) in ruffles and lamellipodia, focal contacts, and clathrin-coated pits. In addition, PI(4,5)P(2) can accumulate at sphingolipid/cholesterol-based rafts following activation of distinct membrane receptors or be sequestered in a reversible manner due to electrostatic constrains posed by proteins like MARCKS.

PIPKI gamma 90 negatively regulates LFA-1-mediated adhesion and activation in antigen-induced CD4+ T cells

T cell activation requires the formation and maintenance of stable interactions between T cells and APCs. The formation of stable T cell-APC contacts depends on the activation of the integrin LFA-1 (CD11aCD18). Several positive regulators of LFA-1 activation downstream of proximal TCR signaling have been identified, including talin; however, negative regulators of LFA-1 activity remain largely unexplored. Extended isoform of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase type I γ (PIPKIγ90) is a member of the type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase family that has been shown previously to modulate talin activation of integrins through production of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and direct binding to talin. In this study, we show that PIPKIγ90 negatively regulates LFA-1-mediated adhesion and activation of T cells. Using CD4(+) T cells from PIPKIγ90-deficient mice, we show that CD4(+) T cells exhibit increased LFA-1-dependent adhesion to ICAM-1 and increased rates of T cell-APC conjugate formation with enhanced LFA-1 polarization at the synapse. In addition to increased adhesiveness, PIPKIγ90-deficient T cells exhibit increased proliferation both in vitro and in vivo and increased production of IFN-γ and IL-2. Together, these results demonstrate that PIPKIγ90 is a negative regulator of Ag-induced T cell adhesion and activation.

The inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP2 regulates endocytic clathrin-coated pit dynamics

SHIP2 is recruited early to clathrin-coated pits by the scaffold protein intersectin and dissociates before fission.

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P₂) and its phosphorylated product PI 3,4,5-triphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P₃) are two major phosphoinositides concentrated at the plasma membrane. Their levels, which are tightly controlled by kinases, phospholipases, and phosphatases, regulate a variety of cellular functions, including clathrin-mediated endocytosis and receptor signaling. In this study, we show that the inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP2, a negative regulator of PI(3,4,5)P₃-dependent signaling, also negatively regulates PI(4,5)P₂ levels and is concentrated at endocytic clathrin-coated pits (CCPs) via interactions with the scaffold protein intersectin. SHIP2 is recruited early at the pits and dissociates before fission. Both knockdown of SHIP2 expression and acute production of PI(3,4,5)P₃ shorten CCP lifetime by enhancing the rate of pit maturation, which is consistent with a positive role of both SHIP2 substrates, PI(4,5)P₂ and PI(3,4,5)P₃, on coat assembly. Because SHIP2 is a negative regulator of insulin signaling, our findings suggest the importance of the phosphoinositide metabolism at CCPs in the regulation of insulin signal output.

Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinases and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate synthesis in the brain

The predominant pathway for phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) synthesis is thought to be phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate at the 5 position of the inositol ring by type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPK): PIPKIalpha, PIPKIbeta, and PIPKIgamma. PIPKIgamma has been shown to play a role in PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis in brain, and the absence of PIPKIgamma is incompatible with postnatal life. Conversely, mice lacking PIPKIalpha or PIPKIbeta (isoforms are referred to according to the nomenclature of human PIPKIs) live to adulthood, although functional effects in specific cell types are observed. To determine the contribution of PIPKIalpha and PIPKIbeta to PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis in brain, we investigated the impact of disrupting multiple PIPKI genes. Our results show that a single allele of PIPKIgamma, in the absence of both PIPKIalpha and PIPKIbeta, can support life to adulthood. In addition, PIPKIalpha alone, but not PIPKIbeta alone, can support prenatal development, indicating an essential and partially overlapping function of PIPKIalpha and PIPKIgamma during embryogenesis. This is consistent with early embryonic expression of PIPKIalpha and PIPKIgamma but not of PIPKIbeta. PIPKIbeta expression in brain correlates with neuronal differentiation. The absence of PIPKIbeta does not impact embryonic development in the PIPKIgamma knock-out (KO) background but worsens the early postnatal phenotype of the PIPKIgamma KO (death occurs within minutes rather than hours). Analysis of PIP(2) in brain reveals that only the absence of PIPKIgamma significantly impacts its levels. Collectively, our results provide new evidence for the dominant importance of PIPKIgamma in mammals and imply that PIPKIalpha and PIPKIbeta function in the generation of specific PI(4,5)P(2) pools that, at least in brain, do not have a major impact on overall PI(4,5)P(2) levels.

Advanced glycation end products inhibit Na+ K+ ATPase in proximal tubule epithelial cells: role of cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase gamma

Chronic hyperglycaemia during diabetes leads to non-enzymatic glycation of proteins to form advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that contribute to nephropathy. In diabetes, renal Na+ K+ ATPase (NKA) activity is downregulated and phosphoinositide metabolism is upregulated. We examined the effects of AGEs on NKA activity in porcine LLC-PK1 and human HK2 proximal tubule epithelial cells. AGE-BSA increased cellular phosphoinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP2) production as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy and thin layer chromatography. AGE-BSA (40 microM) induced 3H-arachidonic acid release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production via cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activation. Within minutes, AGE-BSA significantly inhibited NKA surface expression and activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner as determined by immunofluorescence staining and [86Rb+] uptake, respectively, suggesting AGEs inhibit NKA by stimulating its endocytosis. The AGE-BSA-induced decrease in cell surface NKA was reversed by a cPLA2alpha inhibitor, neomycin, a PIP2 inhibitor, and PP2, a Src inhibitor. AGE-BSA increased binding of NKA to the alpha-adaptin but not beta2- or mu2-adaptin subunits of the AP-2 clathrin pit adaptor complex. Transfection of HK2 cells with PIP5Kgamma siRNA prevented AGE-BSA inhibition of NKA activity. AGEs may stimulate PIP5Kgamma to increase PIP2 production, which may enhance AP-2 localisation to clathrin pits, increase clathrin pit formation, enhance NKA cargo recognition by AP-2 and/or stimulate cPLA2alpha activity. These results suggest AGEs modulate arachidonic acid and phosphoinositide metabolism to inhibit NKA via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Elucidation of new intracellular AGE signaling pathways may lead to improved therapies for diabetic nephropathy.

Molecular basis for association of PIPKI gamma-p90 with clathrin adaptor AP-2

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) is an essential determinant in clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). In mammals three type I phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPK) enzymes are expressed, with the I gamma-p90 isoform being highly expressed in the brain where it regulates synaptic vesicle (SV) exo-/endocytosis at nerve terminals. How precisely PI(4,5)P(2) metabolism is controlled spatially and temporally is still uncertain, but recent data indicate that direct interactions between type I PIPK and components of the endocytic machinery, in particular the AP-2 adaptor complex, are involved. Here we demonstrated that PIPKI gamma-p90 associates with both the mu and beta2 subunits of AP-2 via multiple sites. Crystallographic data show that a peptide derived from the splice insert of the human PIPKI gamma-p90 tail binds to a cognate recognition site on the sandwich subdomain of the beta2 appendage. Partly overlapping aromatic and hydrophobic residues within the same peptide also can engage the C-terminal sorting signal binding domain of AP-2mu, thereby potentially competing with the sorting of conventional YXXØ motif-containing cargo. Biochemical and structure-based mutagenesis analysis revealed that association of the tail domain of PIPKI gamma-p90 with AP-2 involves both of these sites. Accordingly the ability of overexpressed PIPKI gamma tail to impair endocytosis of SVs in primary neurons largely depends on its association with AP-2 beta and AP-2mu. Our data also suggest that interactions between AP-2 and the tail domain of PIPKI gamma-p90 may serve to regulate complex formation and enzymatic activity. We postulate a model according to which multiple interactions between PIPKI gamma-p90 and AP-2 lead to spatiotemporally controlled PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis during clathrin-mediated SV endocytosis.

Type I gamma phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase modulates invasion and proliferation and its expression correlates with poor prognosis in breast cancer

Introduction

The loss of E-cadherin based cell-cell contacts and tumor cell migration to the vasculature and lymphatic system are hallmarks of metastasis of epithelial cancers. Type I gamma phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIPKIγ), an enzyme that generates phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P₂) a lipid messenger and precursor to many additional second messengers, was found to regulate E-cadherin cell-cell contacts and growth factor-stimulated directional cell migration, indicating that PIPKIγ regulates key steps in metastasis. Here, we assess the expression of PIPKIγ in breast cancers and have shown that expression correlated with disease progression and outcome.

Methods

Using a tissue microarray, we analyzed 438 breast carcinomas for the levels of PIPKIγ and investigated the correlation of PIPKIγ expression with patient survival via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Moreover, via knockdown of the expression of PIPKIγ in cultured breast cancer cells with siRNA, the roles of PIPKIγ in breast cancer migration, invasion, and proliferation were examined.

Results

Tissue microarray data shows that ~18% of the cohort immunostained showed high expression of PIPKIγ. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between strong PIPKIγ expression and overall patient survival. Expression of PIPKIγ correlated positively with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, which regulates breast cancer progression and metastasis. In cultured breast cancer cells, PIPKIγ is required for growth factor stimulated migration, invasion, and proliferation of cells.

Conclusions

The results reveal a significant correlation between PIPKIγ expression and the progression of breast cancer. This is consistent with PIPKIγ 's role in breast cancer cell migration, invasion, and proliferation.

Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate localization in recycling endosomes is necessary for AP-1B-dependent sorting in polarized epithelial cells

Polarized epithelial cells coexpress two almost identical AP-1 clathrin adaptor complexes: the ubiquitously expressed AP-1A and the epithelial cell-specific AP-1B. The only difference between the two complexes is the incorporation of the respective medium subunits micro1A or micro1B, which are responsible for the different functions of AP-1A and AP-1B in TGN to endosome or endosome to basolateral membrane targeting, respectively. Here we demonstrate that the C-terminus of micro1B is important for AP-1B recruitment onto recycling endosomes. We define a patch of three amino acid residues in micro1B that are necessary for recruitment of AP-1B onto recycling endosomes containing phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P(3)]. We found this lipid enriched in recycling endosomes of epithelial cells only when AP-1B is expressed. Interfering with PI(3,4,5)P(3) formation leads to displacement of AP-1B from recycling endosomes and missorting of AP-1B-dependent cargo to the apical plasma membrane. In conclusion, PI(3,4,5)P(3) formation in recycling endosomes is essential for AP-1B function.

Two novel phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type Igamma splice variants expressed in human cells display distinctive cellular targeting

The generation of various phosphoinositide messenger molecules at distinct locations within the cell is mediated via the specific targeting of different isoforms and splice variants of phosphoinositide kinases. The lipid messenger PtdIns(4,5)P₂ is generated by several of these enzymes when targeted to distinct cellular compartments. Several splice variants of the type Iγ isoform of PIPK (PtdIns4P 5-kinase), which generate PtdIns(4,5)P₂, have been identified, and each splice variant is thought to serve a unique functional role within cells. Here, we have identified two novel C-terminal splice variants of PIPKIγ in human cells consisting of 700 and 707 amino acids. These two splice variants are expressed in multiple tissue types and display PIPK activity in vitro. Interestingly, both of these novel splice variants display distinct subcellular targeting. With the addition of these two new splice isoforms, there are minimally five PIPKIγ splice variants that have been identified in mammals. Therefore, we propose the use of the HUGO (Human Genome Organization) nomenclature in the naming of the splice isoforms. PIPKIγ_i4 (700 amino acids) is present in the nucleus, a targeting pattern that has not been previously observed in any PIPKIγ splice variant. PIPKIγ_i5 (707 amino acids) is targeted to intracellular vesicle-like structures, where it co-localizes with markers of several types of endosomal compartments. As occurs with other PIPKIγ splice variants, the distinctive C-terminal sequences of PIPKIγ_i4 and PIPKIγ_i5 may facilitate association with unique protein targeting factors, thereby localizing the kinases to their appropriate cellular subdomains for the site-specific generation of PtdIns(4,5)P₂.