Vasopressin-activated calcium-mobilizing (VACM-1) receptor mRNA is present in peripheral organs and the central nervous system of the laboratory rat

Comparative Analysis of cul5 and rbx2 Expression in the Developing and Adult Murine Brain and Their Essentiality During Mouse Embryogenesis

BACKGROUND

The E3 Cullin 5-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL5) is a multiprotein complex that has recently been highlighted as a major regulator of central nervous system development. Cullin 5 (Cul5) and the RING finger protein Rbx2 are two CRL5 core components required for CRL5 function in the brain, but their full expression patterns and developmental functions have not been described in detail.

RESULTS

Using a gene-trap mouse model for Cul5 and a knock-in-knockout mouse model for Rbx2, we show that lack of Cul5, but not Rbx2, disrupts blastocyst formation. However, Rbx2 is required for embryo survival at later embryonic stages. We also show that cul5 is expressed in the embryo proper as early as E7.5 and its expression is mostly restricted to the central nervous system and limbs at later time points. Finally, we show that rbx2 and cul5 are co-expressed in most areas of the brain during development and in the adult.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that Cul5, but not Rbx2, is required during early embryogenesis and suggests that Cul5 has Rbx2-independent functions in early development. In the brain, Cul5 and Rbx2 are expressed in a similar fashion, allowing the nucleation of an active CRL5 complex. Developmental Dynamics 247:1227-1236, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The role of cullin 5-containing ubiquitin ligases

The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) box consists of the BC box and the cullin 5 (Cul5) box, which interact with Elongin BC and Cul5, respectively. SOCS box-containing proteins have ubiquitin ligase activity mediated by the formation of a complex with the scaffold protein Cul5 and the RING domain protein Rbx2, and are thereby members of the cullin RING ligase superfamily. Cul5-type ubiquitin ligases have a variety of substrates that are targeted for polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Here, we review the current knowledge on the identification of Cul5 and the regulation of its expression, as well as the signaling pathways regulated by Cul5 and how viruses highjack the Cul5 system to overcome antiviral responses.

Analysis of the Cullin binding sites of the E4orf6 proteins of human adenovirus E3 ubiquitin ligases

E4orf6 proteins of human adenoviruses form Cullin-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes that degrade cellular proteins, which impedes efficient viral replication. These complexes also include the viral E1B55K product, which is believed to recruit most substrates for ubiquitination. Heterogeneity in the composition of these ligases exists, as serotypes representing some species form Cul5-based complexes (species B2, C, D, and E), whereas others utilize Cul2 (species A and F). Adenovirus type 16 (Ad16; species B1) binds significant levels of both. In this report, we show that the Cul2 binding sequence in E4orf6 of Ad12 (species A) and Ad40 (species F) resembles the cellular consensus Cul2 box. Mutation within this Cul2 box prevents binding not only of Cul2 but also in some cases Elongin C and reduces the ability to degrade target proteins, such as Mre11 and p53. A comparable Cul2 box is not present in E4orf6 of Ad5 and other serotypes that bind Cul5; however, creation of this Cul2 box sequence in Ad5 E4orf6 promoted binding to Cul2 and Cul2-dependent degradation of Mre11. E4orf6 of Ad16 also binds Cul2; however, unlike Ad40, it does not contain an Ad12-like Cul2 box, suggesting that Ad16 binds Cul2 in a unique but perhaps nonfunctional manner, as only Cul5 binding complexes appeared able to degrade Mre11. Our extensive analyses have thus far failed to identify a consensus Cul5 binding sequence, suggesting that association occurs via a novel and perhaps complex pattern of protein-protein interactions. Nevertheless, the identification of the Cul2 box may allow prediction of Cullin specificity for all E4orf6-containing Adenoviridae.

IMPORTANCE

The work described in this paper is a continuation of our in-depth studies on the Cullin-based E3 ligase complexes formed by the viral E4orf6 and E1B55K proteins of all human adenoviruses. This complex induces the degradation of a growing series of cellular proteins that impede efficient viral replication. Some human adenovirus species utilize Cul5, whereas others bind Cul2. In this paper, we are the first to identify the E4orf6 Cul2 binding site, which conforms in sequence to a classic cellular Cul2 box. Ours is the first detailed biochemical and genetic analysis of a Cul2-based adenovirus ligase and provides insights into both the cooperative interactions in forming Cullin-based ligases as well as the universality of formation of all adenovirus ligase complexes. Our work now permits future analysis of the evolutionary significance of the ligase complex, work that is currently in progress in our lab.

New insights into the mechanism for VACM-1/cul5 expression in vascular tissue in vivo

Vasopressin-activated calcium-mobilizing (VACM-1)/cul5 is the least conserved member of a cullin protein family involved in the formation of E3-specific ligase complexes that are responsible for delivering the ubiquitin protein to their target substrate proteins selected for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. This chapter summarizes work to date that has focused on VACM-1/cul5's tissue-specific expression in vivo and on its potential role in the control of specific cellular signaling pathways in those structures. As mammalian cells may contain hundreds of E3 ligases, identification VACM-1/cul5 as a specific subunit of the system that is expressed in the endothelium and in collecting tubules, structures known for their control of cellular permeability, may have significant implications when designing studies to elucidate the mechanism of water conservation. For example, VACM-1/cul5 expression is affected by water deprivation in some tissues and there is a potential relationship between neddylated VACM-1/cul5 and aquaporins.

Alterations of cerebral cortex and hippocampal proteasome subunit expression and function in a traumatic brain injury rat model

Following cellular stress or tissue injury, the proteasome plays a critical role in protein degradation and signal transduction. The present study examined the beta-subunit expression of constitutive proteasomes (beta1, beta2, and beta5), immunoproteasomes (beta1i, beta2i, and beta5i) and the 11S proteasome activator, PA28alpha, in the rat CNS after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Concomitant measures assessed changes in proteasome activities. Quantitative real time PCR results indicated that beta1 and beta2 mRNA levels were not changed, while beta5 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in injured CNS following TBI. However, beta1i, beta2i, beta5i, and PA28alpha mRNA levels were significantly increased in the injured CNS. Western blotting studies found that beta1, beta2, beta5, beta2i, and beta5i subunit protein levels remained unchanged in the injured CNS, but beta1i and PA28alpha protein levels were significantly elevated in ipsilateral cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Proteasome activity assays found that peptidyl glutamyl peptide hydrolase-like and chymotrypsin-like activity were significantly reduced in the CNS after TBI, and that trypsin-like proteasome activity was increased in the injured cerebral cortex. Our results demonstrated that both proteasome composition and function in the CNS were affected by trauma. Treatments that preserve proteasome function following CNS injury may be beneficial as an approach to cerebral neuroprotection.

Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-conjugated protein expression in the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus following traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Regulation of protein turnover is essential to the survival of eukaryotic cells. This important cellular process is partly regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system through posttranslational modification by the conjugation of ubiquitin chains to proteins targeted for degradation by proteasomes. The present study examined ubiquitin mRNA and protein expression in the CNS of rats that sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results indicated that mRNA levels of ubA52, ubB and ubC in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were significantly decreased on Day 1 post-TBI, that ubC mRNA levels also were significantly lower than control on Day 3 post-TBI, but that by Day 7 post-TBI, ubA52, ubB and ubC mRNA levels had all returned to control levels. In the ipsilateral hippocampus, ubA52 mRNA levels were significantly lower on Days 1-7 post-TBI, while ubB and ubC mRNA levels were less only on Day 1 post-TBI. Western blotting found that free ubiquitin protein levels were significantly reduced in both ipsilateral cerebral cortex and hippocampus on Days 1-7 post-TBI, while there was markedly increased ubiquitin-conjugated protein in ipsilateral cerebral cortex on Day 7 and in hippocampus on Days 3-7 post-TBI. Our study suggests that altered ubiquitin system function in the CNS contributes to the pathological outcomes of TBI.

Cullin 5 gene expression in the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus following traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Cullin-5 (Cul-5), a member of the cullin gene family of scaffold proteins of E3 ubiquitin-ligase complexes, has a role in proteolysis and cell cycle regulation. We recently demonstrated that cul-5 mRNA is ubiquitously expressed in the central nervous system. The present study used quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting to measure changes in cul-5 mRNA and Cul-5 protein expression, respectively, in the injured CNS in response to traumatic brain injury (TBI). cul-5 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the ipsilateral rat cerebral cortex on Days 1 and 7, but not on Day 3 following TBI. In the ipsilateral hippocampus, cul-5 mRNA was significantly reduced on Day 1 after TBI. Cul-5 protein levels were significantly decreased in the ipsilateral rat cerebral cortex on Days 1-7 post-TBI while levels were significantly lower in the ipsilateral hippocampus on Days 3-7 post-TBI. Since Cul-5 is ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells and is linked to proteasome-mediated protein degradation, it may have a role in CNS cell fate determination under conditions of traumatic stress.

Vasotocin and vasopressin stimulation of the chloride secretion in the human bronchial epithelial cell line, 16HBE14o-

1. Effects of neuropeptides of the vasopressin family on Cl(-) secretion have not yet been reported in lung. Using the 16HBE14o- bronchial epithelial cell line, we investigated their action on Cl(-) secretion. 2. In symmetrical Cl(-) solutions, basolateral application of arginine vasotocin (AVT), oxytocin or isotocin induced a transient I(sc) stimulation (I(peak)), whereas arginine vasopressin (AVP) did not. The effects of different Cl(-) channel blockers and of a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor suggest that CFTR is involved in I(peak). The calcium-activated K(+) channel (SK4) and the Cl(-)/HCO(-)(3) exchanger favor the driving force for AVT-mediated Cl(-) secretion. The antagonists of V1a (SR49059)- and V1b (SSR149415)-receptors blocked I(peak), while SR121463B, a V2 receptor antagonist, did not. These results point to the stimulation of a V1-like receptor mediating I(peak) and presenting an efficacy order, AVT>oxytocin>isotocin>>AVP. 3. When a serosal to mucosal Cl(-) gradient was applied, AVT and AVP both stimulated I(sc) according to a biphasic profile, I(peak) being followed by a plateau phase (I(plateau)). The pharmacology of I(plateau) suggests that CFTR channels are involved and that Na(+)/K(+)/2Cl(-) is the only transporter associated with I(plateau). dDAVP, a V2 receptor agonist-induced I(plateau) with the same potency as AVP, suggesting the involvement of V2 receptors in the AVP-induced I(plateau). V2 receptors are present on both opposite membranes, while V1-like receptors are mainly expressed on the basolateral membranes. RT-PCR experiments show the expression of V1a, V1b, V2 and vasopressin-activated calcium-mobilizing (VACM) receptors mRNAs.

Progesterone Differentially Regulates Pro- and Anti-Apoptotic Gene Expression in Cerebral Cortex Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

Although the administration of progesterone has been shown to be neuroprotective in experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the mechanisms for this beneficial effect are still poorly understood. The present study examined the effects of progesterone on mRNA and protein levels of the Bcl-2 apoptosis regulatory genes, bax, bad, bcl-2, and bcl-x(L), in cerebral cortex after TBI. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to either sham surgery or lateral fluid percussion brain injury of moderate severity (2.4-2.6 atm). Within 1 h post-surgery, progesterone (4 mg/kg) or vehicle (corn oil) administration was initiated for 1-7 days postoperatively. Our results indicate that bax and bad mRNA levels and Bax and Bad protein expression in the ipsilateral, injured cerebral cortex were significantly elevated post-TBI, while mRNA levels of bcl-2 and bcl-x(L) or Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) protein expression were not changed. Under the sham-treated condition, progesterone significantly increased mRNA levels of the anti-apoptotic gene, bcl-2, but down-regulated pro-apoptotic gene expression (bax and bad) in cerebral cortex. After TBI, progesterone treatment reduced bax and bad mRNA levels in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex of TBI rats, and decreased Bax and Bad protein levels. In addition, bcl-2 and bcl-x(L) mRNA levels, as well as Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) protein expression, were increased by progesterone in TBI injured cortex. These data indicate that one of the neuroprotective mechanisms of progesterone may be related to its differential regulation of apoptotic signals.

Analysis of CUL-5 expression in breast epithelial cells, breast cancer cell lines, normal tissues and tumor tissues

Background

The chromosomal location of CUL-5 (11q 22-23) is associated with LOH in breast cancer, suggesting that CUL-5 may be a tumor suppressor. The purpose of this research was to determine if there is differential expression of CUL-5 in breast epithelial cells versus breast cancer cell lines, and normal human tissues versus human tumors. The expression of CUL-5 in breast epithelial cells (HMEC, MCF-10A), and breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) was examined using RT-PCR, Northern blot analysis, and Western blot analysis. The expression of mRNA for other CUL family members (CUL-1, -2, -3, -4A, and -4B) in these cells was evaluated by RT-PCR. A normal human tissue expression array and a cancer profiling array were used to examine CUL-5 expression in normal human tissues and matched normal tissues versus tumor tissues, respectively.

Results

CUL-5 is expressed at the mRNA and protein levels by breast epithelial cells (HMEC, MCF-10A) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231). These cells also express mRNA for other CUL family members. The normal human tissue expression array revealed that CUL-5 is widely expressed. The cancer profiling array revealed that 82% (41/50) of the breast cancers demonstrated a decrease in CUL-5 expression versus the matched normal tissue. For the 50 cases of matched breast tissue there was a statistically significant ~2.2 fold decreased expression of CUL-5 in tumor tissue versus normal tissue (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The data demonstrate no apparent decrease in CUL-5 expression in the breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) versus the breast epithelial cells (HMEC, MCF-10A). The decrease in CUL-5 expression in breast tumor tissue versus matched normal tissue supports the hypothesis that decreased expression of CUL-5 may play a role in breast tumorigenesis.

Cullin-5 is ubiquitous in the rat brain

Cullin-5 (Cul-5), an E3 ubiquitin ligase that covalently binds ubiquitin to proteins targeted for degradation via the proteasome, was examined for its localization and distribution in the rat central nervous system (CNS). We showed cul-5 mRNA expression in rat neuronal, glial, and vascular endothelial cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and corroborated these data by Cul-5 immunostaining in neurons, astrocytes, blood vessels, and choroid plexus of the laboratory rat. Widespread and ubiquitous expression of Cul-5 in the brain suggests that it may have a vital role(s) in cellular activities of the CNS.

Osmotic stress increases cullin-5 (cul-5) mRNA in the rat cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and kidney

Cullin-5 (cul-5), a member of the cullin gene family, may have a role in proteolysis and cell cycle regulation. Our recent study demonstrated that cul-5 mRNA is ubiquitously expressed in the central nervous system and many peripheral organs. The present study used quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction to measure changes in cul-5 mRNA expression as a consequence of osmotic stress in vivo. Cul-5 mRNA levels were significantly increased in the rat cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and kidney following 48 h of water deprivation. Water deprivation for a shorter time period (24 h) or rehydration (24 h access to water following 48 h of water deprivation) also elevated kidney cul-5 mRNA levels. Water deprivation did not significantly alter cul-5 mRNA levels in the brainstem, cerebellum, hippocampus, lung or liver. Since cul-5 appears to be linked to proteosome-mediated protein degradation, it may have a role in protein regulation under conditions of osmotic stress.

Alterations of cullin-5 mRNA levels in the rat central nervous system following hemorrhagic shock

Hemorrhagic shock is a clinical syndrome that manifests as hypoperfusion, hypoxia, and ischemia initiating various cellular stress responses involved in the synthesis and release of an assortment of pro-inflammatory molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxidant species (ROS). The ROS have been shown to oxidize and damage proteins making them targets for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Cullin-5 (cul-5), an E3 ligase that binds ubiquitin to proteins targeted for degradation via the proteasome, was investigated for its gene expression during hemorrhagic shock. Male Long-Evans rats were subjected to volume controlled (27 ml kg-1) hemorrhage over 10 min and kept in shock for 60 min. Quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction showed cul-5 mRNA levels were significantly increased in the brainstem and cerebellum, and decreased in the hypothalamus of rats as a result of hemorrhagic shock (n = 6) compared to sham-treated rats (n = 6). Cul-5 mRNA levels in the cerebral cortex, small intestine, kidney, liver, lung, or pituitary gland did not significantly change after hemorrhagic shock. This is the first report of cul-5 mRNA regulation by hemorrhagic shock. Evidence indicates this protein may have a regulatory role in ubiquitin-proteasomal protein degradation in response to hemorrhagic shock.