Sphingomyelin-enriched microdomains at the Golgi complex

Lipid rafts, caveolae, and epidermal growth factor receptor family: friends or foes?

Lipid rafts are dynamic microdomains enriched with cholesterol and sphingolipids that play critical roles in cellular processes by organizing and concentrating specific proteins involved in signal transduction. The interplay between lipid rafts, raft-associated caveolae and the human epidermal growth factor receptors has significant implications in cancer biology, particularly in breast and gastric cancer therapy resistance. This review examines the structural and functional characteristics of lipid rafts, their involvement in EGFR and HER2 signaling, and the impact of lipid rafts/CXCL12/CXCR4/HER2 axis on bone metastasis. We also discuss the potential of targeting lipid rafts and caveolin-1 to enhance therapeutic strategies against HER2-positive cancers and the impact of co-localization of trastuzumab or antibody drug conjugates with caveolin-1 on therapy response. Emerging evidence suggests that disrupting lipid raft integrity or silencing caveolin-1, through several strategies including cholesterol-lowering molecules, can influence HER2 availability and internalization, enhancing anti-HER2 targeted therapy and offering a novel approach to counteract drug resistance and improve treatment efficacy.

Sphingolipids containing very long-chain fatty acids regulate Ypt7 function during the tethering stage of vacuole fusion

Sphingolipids are essential in membrane trafficking and cellular homeostasis. Here, we show that sphingolipids containing very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) promote homotypic vacuolar fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The elongase Elo3 adds the last two carbons to VLCFAs that are incorporated into sphingolipids. Cells lacking Elo3 have fragmented vacuoles, which is also seen when WT cells are treated with the sphingolipid synthesis inhibitor Aureobasidin-A. Isolated elo3Δ vacuoles show acidification defects and increased membrane fluidity, and this correlates with deficient fusion. Fusion arrest occurs at the tethering stage as elo3Δ vacuoles fail to cluster efficiently in vitro. Unlike HOPS and fusogenic lipids, GFP-Ypt7 does not enrich at elo3Δ vertex microdomains, a hallmark of vacuole docking prior to fusion. Pulldown assays using bacterially expressed GST-Ypt7 showed that HOPS from elo3Δ vacuole extracts failed to bind GST-Ypt7 while HOPS from WT extracts interacted strongly with GST-Ypt7. Treatment of WT vacuoles with the fluidizing anesthetic dibucaine recapitulates the elo3Δ phenotype and shows increased membrane fluidity, mislocalized GFP-Ypt7, inhibited fusion, and attenuated acidification. Together these data suggest that sphingolipids contribute to Rab-mediated tethering and docking required for vacuole fusion.

Structure of the flotillin complex in a native membrane environment

In this study, we used cryoelectron microscopy to determine the structures of the Flotillin protein complex, part of the Stomatin, Prohibitin, Flotillin, and HflK/C (SPFH) superfamily, from cell-derived vesicles without detergents. It forms a right-handed helical barrel consisting of 22 pairs of Flotillin1 and Flotillin2 subunits, with a diameter of 32 nm at its wider end and 19 nm at its narrower end. Oligomerization is stabilized by the C terminus, which forms two helical layers linked by a β-strand, and coiled-coil domains that enable strong charge-charge intersubunit interactions. Flotillin interacts with membranes at both ends; through its SPFH1 domains at the wide end and the C terminus at the narrow end, facilitated by hydrophobic interactions and lipidation. The inward tilting of the SPFH domain, likely triggered by phosphorylation, suggests its role in membrane curvature induction, which could be connected to its proposed role in clathrin-independent endocytosis. The structure suggests a shared architecture across the family of SPFH proteins and will promote further research into Flotillin's roles in cell biology.

Investigation of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-Plasma Membrane Interaction in Live Cells and the Influence of GPI Glycan Structure on the Interaction

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) need to interact with other components in the cell membrane to transduce transmembrane signals. A bifunctional GPI probe was employed for photoaffinity-based proximity labelling and identification of GPI-interacting proteins in the cell membrane. This probe contained the entire core structure of GPIs and was functionalized with photoreactive diazirine and clickable alkyne to facilitate its crosslinking with proteins and attachment of an affinity tag. It was disclosed that this probe was more selective than our previously reported probe containing only a part structure of the GPI core for cell membrane incorporation and an improved probe for studying GPI-cell membrane interaction. Eighty-eight unique membrane proteins, many of which are related to GPIs/GPI-anchored proteins, were identified utilizing this probe. The proteomics dataset is a valuable resource for further analyses and data mining to find new GPI-related proteins and signalling pathways. A comparison of these results with those of our previous probe provided direct evidence for the profound impact of GPI glycan structure on its interaction with the cell membrane.

Sphingolipid metabolism, transport, and functions in plants: Recent progress and future perspectives

Sphingolipids, which comprise membrane systems together with other lipids, are ubiquitous in cellular organisms. They show a high degree of diversity across plant species and vary in their structures, properties, and functions. Benefiting from the development of lipidomic techniques, over 300 plant sphingolipids have been identified. Generally divided into free long-chain bases (LCBs), ceramides, glycosylceramides (GlcCers) and glycosyl inositol phosphoceramides (GIPCs), plant sphingolipids exhibit organized aggregation within lipid membranes to form raft domains with sterols. Accumulating evidence has revealed that sphingolipids obey certain trafficking and distribution rules and confer unique properties to membranes. Functional studies using sphingolipid biosynthetic mutants demonstrate that sphingolipids participate in plant developmental regulation, stimulus sensing, and stress responses. Here, we present an updated metabolism/degradation map and summarize the structures of plant sphingolipids, review recent progress in understanding the functions of sphingolipids in plant development and stress responses, and review sphingolipid distribution and trafficking in plant cells. We also highlight some important challenges and issues that we may face during the process of studying sphingolipids.

Inositol triphosphate-triggered calcium release blocks lipid exchange at endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi contact sites

Vesicular traffic and membrane contact sites between organelles enable the exchange of proteins, lipids, and metabolites. Recruitment of tethers to contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane is often triggered by calcium. Here we reveal a function for calcium in the repression of cholesterol export at membrane contact sites between the ER and the Golgi complex. We show that calcium efflux from ER stores induced by inositol-triphosphate [IP₃] accumulation upon loss of the inositol 5-phosphatase INPP5A or receptor signaling triggers depletion of cholesterol and associated Gb3 from the cell surface, resulting in a blockade of clathrin-independent endocytosis (CIE) of Shiga toxin. This phenotype is caused by the calcium-induced dissociation of oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) from the Golgi complex and from VAP-containing membrane contact sites. Our findings reveal a crucial function for INPP5A-mediated IP₃ hydrolysis in the control of lipid exchange at membrane contact sites.

Immunohistochemical staining reveals differential expression of ACSL3 and ACSL4 in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic gastrointestinal metastases

Long-chain fatty acyl CoA synthetases (ACSLs) activate fatty acids by CoA addition thus facilitating their intracellular metabolism. Dysregulated ACSL expression features in several cancers and can affect processes such as ferroptosis, fatty acid β-oxidation, prostaglandin biosynthesis, steroidogenesis and phospholipid acyl chain remodelling. Here we investigate long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 3 (ACSL3) and long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4) expression in liver malignancies. The expression and subcellular localisations of the ACSL3 and ACSL4 isoforms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and hepatic metastases were assessed by immunohistochemical analyses of multiple tumour tissue arrays and by subcellular fractionation of cultured HepG2 cells. The expression of both enzymes was increased in HCC compared with normal liver. Expression of ACSL3 was similar in HCC and hepatic metastases but lower in healthy tissue. Increased ACSL3 expression distinguished HCC from CCA with a sensitivity of 87.2% and a specificity of 75%. ACSL4 expression was significantly greater in HCC than in all other tumours and distinguished HCC from normal liver tissue with a sensitivity of 93.8% and specificity of 93.6%. Combined ACSL3 and ACSL4 staining scores distinguished HCC from hepatic metastases with 80.1% sensitivity and 77.1% specificity. These enzymes had partially overlapping intracellular distributions, ACSL4 localised to the plasma membrane and both isoforms associated with lipid droplets and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In conclusion, analysis of ACSL3 and ACSL4 expression can distinguish different classes of hepatic tumours.

Flotillin membrane domains in cancer

Flotillins 1 and 2 are two ubiquitous, highly conserved homologous proteins that assemble to form heterotetramers at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane in cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched domains. Flotillin heterotetramers can assemble into large oligomers to form molecular scaffolds that regulate the clustering of at the plasma membrane and activity of several receptors. Moreover, flotillins are upregulated in many invasive carcinomas and also in sarcoma, and this is associated with poor prognosis and metastasis formation. When upregulated, flotillins promote plasma membrane invagination and induce an endocytic pathway that allows the targeting of cargo proteins in the late endosomal compartment in which flotillins accumulate. These late endosomes are not degradative, and participate in the recycling and secretion of protein cargos. The cargos of this Upregulated Flotillin–Induced Trafficking (UFIT) pathway include molecules involved in signaling, adhesion, and extracellular matrix remodeling, thus favoring the acquisition of an invasive cellular behavior leading to metastasis formation. Thus, flotillin presence from the plasma membrane to the late endosomal compartment influences the activity, and even modifies the trafficking and fate of key protein cargos, favoring the development of diseases, for instance tumors. This review summarizes the current knowledge on flotillins and their role in cancer development focusing on their function in cellular membrane remodeling and vesicular trafficking regulation.

PTRH2: an adhesion regulated molecular switch at the nexus of life, death, and differentiation

Peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase 2 (PTRH2; Bit-1; Bit1) is an underappreciated regulator of adhesion signals and Bcl2 expression. Its key roles in muscle differentiation and integrin-mediated signaling are central to the pathology of a recently identified patient syndrome caused by a cluster of Ptrh2 gene mutations. These loss-of-function mutations were identified in patients presenting with severe deleterious phenotypes of the skeletal muscle, endocrine, and nervous systems resulting in a syndrome called Infantile-onset Multisystem Nervous, Endocrine, and Pancreatic Disease (IMNEPD). In contrast, in cancer PTRH2 is a potential oncogene that promotes malignancy and metastasis. PTRH2 modulates PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling in addition to Bcl2 expression and thereby regulates key cellular processes in response to adhesion including cell survival, growth, and differentiation. In this Review, we discuss the state of the science on this important cell survival, anoikis and differentiation regulator, and opportunities for further investigation and translation. We begin with a brief overview of the structure, regulation, and subcellular localization of PTRH2. We discuss the cluster of gene mutations thus far identified which cause developmental delays and multisystem disease. We then discuss the role of PTRH2 and adhesion in breast, lung, and esophageal cancers focusing on signaling pathways involved in cell survival, cell growth, and cell differentiation.

Methyl-β-cyclodextrin inhibits EV-D68 virus entry by perturbing the accumulation of virus particles and ICAM-5 in lipid rafts

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a member of the Picornavirus family and a causative agent of respiratory diseases in children. The incidence of EV-D68 infection has increased worldwide in recent years. Thus far, there are no approved antiviral agents or vaccines for EV-D68. Here, we show that methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), a common drug that disrupts lipid rafts, specifically inhibits EV-D68 infection without producing significant cytotoxicity at virucidal concentrations. The addition of exogenous cholesterol attenuated the anti-EV-D68 activity of MβCD. MβCD treatment had a weak influence on the attachment of viral particles to the cell membrane but significantly inhibited EV-D68 entry into host cells. We demonstrated that EV-D68 facilitated the translocation of the viral receptor ICAM-5 to membrane rafts in infected cells. The colocalization of viral particles with ICAM-5 in lipid rafts was thoroughly abolished in cells after treatment with MβCD. Finally, we showed that MβCD inhibited the replication of isolated circulating EV-D68 strains. In summary, our results demonstrate that MβCD suppresses EV-D68 replication by perturbing the accumulation of virus particles and ICAM-5 in lipid rafts. This mechanism represents a promising strategy for drug development.

Cross-talks of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis with glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and ER-associated degradation

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins and glycosphingolipids interact with each other in the mammalian plasma membranes, forming dynamic microdomains. How their interaction starts in the cells has been unclear. Here, based on a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screen for genes required for GPI side-chain modification by galactose in the Golgi apparatus, we report that β1,3-galactosyltransferase 4 (B3GALT4), the previously characterized GM1 ganglioside synthase, additionally functions in transferring galactose to the N-acetylgalactosamine side-chain of GPI. Furthermore, B3GALT4 requires lactosylceramide for the efficient GPI side-chain galactosylation. Thus, our work demonstrates previously unexpected functional relationships between GPI-anchored proteins and glycosphingolipids in the Golgi. Through the same screening, we also show that GPI biosynthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is severely suppressed by ER-associated degradation to prevent GPI accumulation when the transfer of synthesized GPI to proteins is defective. Our data demonstrates cross-talks of GPI biosynthesis with glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and the ER quality control system.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors are found on many cell surface proteins but their biosynthesis is not fully understood. Here, the authors identify genes involved in GPI galactosylation and reveal functional connections between GPI processing, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and ER-associated degradation.

Protein phosphatase 2A-mediated flotillin-1 dephosphorylation up-regulates endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis regulation

Endothelial cells have key functions in endothelial barrier integrity and in responses to angiogenic signals that promote cell proliferation, cell migration, cytoskeletal reorganization, and formation of new blood vessels. These functions highly depend on protein-protein interactions in cell-cell junction and cell attachment complexes and on interactions with cytoskeletal proteins. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) dephosphorylates several target proteins involved in cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion. Our goal was to find new interacting and substrate proteins of the PP2A-B55α holoenzyme in bovine pulmonary endothelial cells. Using LC-MS/MS analysis, we identified flotillin-1 as a protein that binds recombinant GSH S-transferase-tagged PP2A-B55α. Immunoprecipitation experiments, proximity ligation assays, and immunofluorescent staining confirmed the interaction between these two endogenous proteins in endothelial cells. Originally, flotillins were described as regulatory proteins for axon regeneration, but they appear to function in many cellular processes, such as membrane receptor signaling, endocytosis, and cell adhesion. Ser³¹⁵ is a known PKC-targeted site in flotillin-1. Utilizing phosphomutants of flotillin-1 and the NanoBiT luciferase assay, we show here that phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of Ser³¹⁵ in flotillin-1 significantly affects its interaction with PP2A-B55α and that PP2A-B55α dephosphorylates phospho-Ser³¹⁵ Spreading, attachment, migration, and in vitro tube formation rates of S315A variant-overexpressing cells were faster than those of nontransfected or S315D-transfected cells. These results indicate that the PP2A-flotillin-1 interaction identified here affects major physiological activities of pulmonary endothelial cells.

Antigen Receptor Function in the Context of the Nanoscale Organization of the B Cell Membrane

The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) plays a central role in the self/nonself selection of B lymphocytes and in their activation by cognate antigen during the clonal selection process. It was long thought that most cell surface receptors, including the BCR, were freely diffusing and randomly distributed. Since the advent of superresolution techniques, it has become clear that the plasma membrane is compartmentalized and highly organized at the nanometer scale. Hence, a complete understanding of the precise conformation and activation mechanism of the BCR must take into account the organization of the B cell plasma membrane. We review here the recent literature on the nanoscale organization of the lymphocyte membrane and discuss how this new information influences our view of the conformational changes that the BCR undergoes during activation.

Flotillins in the intercalated disc are potential modulators of cardiac excitability

BACKGROUND

The intercalated disc (ID) is important for cardiac remodeling and has become a subject of intensive research efforts. However, as yet the composition of the ID has still not been conclusively resolved and the role of many proteins identified in the ID, like Flotillin-2, is often unknown. The Flotillin proteins are known to be involved in the stabilization of cadherins and desmosomes in the epidermis and upon cancer development. However, their role in the heart has so far not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed at identifying the role of Flotillin-1 and Flotillin-2 in the cardiac ID.

METHODS

Location of Flotillins in human and murine cardiac tissue was evaluated by fluorescent immunolabeling and co-immunoprecipitation. In addition, the effect of Flotillin knockout (KO) on proteins of the ID and in electrical excitation and conduction was investigated in cardiac samples of wildtype (WT), Flotillin-1 KO, Flotilin-2 KO and Flotilin-1/2 double KO mice. Consequences of Flotillin knockdown (KD) on cardiac function were studied (patch clamp and Multi Electrode Array (MEA)) in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) transfected with siRNAs against Flotillin-1 and/or Flotillin-2.

RESULTS

First, we confirmed presence in the ID and mutual binding of Flotillin-1 and Flotillin-2 in murine and human cardiac tissue. Flotillin KO mice did not show cardiac fibrosis, nor hypertrophy or changes in expression of the desmosomal ID proteins. However, protein expression of the cardiac sodium channel Na_V1.5 was significantly decreased in Flotillin-1 and Flotillin-1/2 KO mice compared to WT mice. In addition, sodium current density showed a significant decrease upon Flotillin-1/2 KD in NRCMs as compared to scrambled siRNA-transfected NRCMs. MEA recordings of Flotillin-2 KD NRCM cultures showed a significantly decreased spike amplitude and a tendency of a reduced spike slope when compared to control and scrambled siRNA-transfected cultures.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we demonstrate the presence of Flotillin-1, in addition to Flotillin-2 in the cardiac ID. Our findings indicate a modulatory role of Flotillins on Na_V1.5 expression at the ID, with potential consequences for cardiac excitation.

More than just sugars: Conserved oligomeric Golgi complex deficiency causes glycosylation-independent cellular defects

The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex controls membrane trafficking and ensures Golgi homeostasis by orchestrating retrograde vesicle trafficking within the Golgi. Human COG defects lead to severe multisystemic diseases known as COG-congenital disorders of glycosylation (COG-CDG). To gain better understanding of COG-CDGs, we compared COG knockout cells with cells deficient to 2 key enzymes, Alpha-1,3-mannosyl-glycoprotein 2-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase and uridine diphosphate-glucose 4-epimerase (GALE), which contribute to proper N- and O-glycosylation. While all knockout cells share similar defects in glycosylation, these defects only account for a small fraction of observed COG knockout phenotypes. Glycosylation deficiencies were not associated with the fragmented Golgi, abnormal endolysosomes, defective sorting and secretion or delayed retrograde trafficking, indicating that these phenotypes are probably not due to hypoglycosylation, but to other specific interactions or roles of the COG complex. Importantly, these COG deficiency specific phenotypes were also apparent in COG7-CDG patient fibroblasts, proving the human disease relevance of our CRISPR knockout findings. The knowledge gained from this study has important implications, both for understanding the physiological role of COG complex in Golgi homeostasis in eukaryotic cells, and for better understanding human diseases associated with COG/Golgi impairment.

The inhibition of sphingomyelin synthase 1 activity induces collecting duct cells to lose their epithelial phenotype

Epithelial tissue requires that cells attach to each other and to the extracellular matrix by the assembly of adherens junctions (AJ) and focal adhesions (FA) respectively. We have previously shown that, in renal papillary collecting duct (CD) cells, both AJ and FA are located in sphingomyelin (SM)-enriched plasma membrane microdomains. In the present work, we investigated the involvement of SM metabolism in the preservation of the epithelial cell phenotype and tissue organization. To this end, primary cultures of renal papillary CD cells were performed. Cultured cells preserved the fully differentiated epithelial phenotype as reflected by the presence of primary cilia. Cells were then incubated for 24h with increasing concentrations of D609, a SM synthase (SMS) inhibitor. Knock-down experiments silencing SMS 1 and 2 were also performed. By combining biochemical and immunofluorescence studies, we found experimental evidences suggesting that, in CD cells, SMS 1 activity is essential for the preservation of cell-cell adhesion structures and therefore for the maintenance of CD tissue/tubular organization. The inhibition of SMS 1 activity induced CD cells to lose their epithelial phenotype and to undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process.

Sphingomyelin metabolism controls the shape and function of the Golgi cisternae

The flat Golgi cisterna is a highly conserved feature of eukaryotic cells, but how is this morphology achieved and is it related to its function in cargo sorting and export? A physical model of cisterna morphology led us to propose that sphingomyelin (SM) metabolism at the trans-Golgi membranes in mammalian cells essentially controls the structural features of a Golgi cisterna by regulating its association to curvature-generating proteins. An experimental test of this hypothesis revealed that affecting SM homeostasis converted flat cisternae into highly curled membranes with a concomitant dissociation of membrane curvature-generating proteins. These data lend support to our hypothesis that SM metabolism controls the structural organization of a Golgi cisterna. Together with our previously presented role of SM in controlling the location of proteins involved in glycosylation and vesicle formation, our data reveal the significance of SM metabolism in the structural organization and function of Golgi cisternae.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24603.001

The Golgi complex is a hub inside cells that transports many proteins to various parts of the cell. It also receives freshly made proteins and modifies them to help them mature into their final active forms. The complex is made up of a stack of disc-like membrane structures called cisternae.

Are the shapes of the cisternae important for the Golgi complex to work properly? Membranes are made of mixtures of molecules known as lipids and proteins. Previous experiments show that when the mixture of lipids in the Golgi membranes changes in a specific manner, the cisternae curl into an onion-like shape and the Golgi cannot process or send out proteins anymore.

Campelo et al. used mathematics and experimental approaches to investigate what causes the Golgi to change shape when the lipid mixture of the cisternae changes. A mathematical description of the shape of the Golgi predicted that some proteins keep the cisternae flat by holding the membrane rim that connects the two faces of a cisterna. To test this prediction, Campelo et al. performed experiments in human cells, which showed that when the mixture of lipids in the Golgi membranes changes, certain proteins jump from the rim, causing the cisternae to curl. These same proteins are also needed to transport cargo proteins out of the Golgi, meaning that there is a connection between the shape of the Golgi and the tasks it carries out.

The shape of the Golgi complex is altered in Alzheimer’s disease and many other neurodegenerative diseases. The next challenges are to understand how these shape changes happen, how this affects cells, and if it could be possible to develop drugs that prevent these changes from occurring in patients.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24603.002

Psychosine-triggered endomitosis is modulated by membrane sphingolipids through regulation of phosphoinositide 4,5-bisphosphate production at the cleavage furrow

Endomitosis is a special type of mitosis in which only cytokinesis-the final step of the cell division cycle-is defective, resulting in polyploid cells. Although endomitosis is biologically important, its regulatory aspects remain elusive. Psychosine, a lysogalactosylceramide, prevents proper cytokinesis when supplemented to proliferating cells. Cytokinetic inhibition by psychosine does not inhibit genome duplication. Consequently cells undergo multiple rounds of endomitotic cell cycles, resulting in the formation of giant multiploid cells. Here we successfully quantified psychosine-triggered multiploid cell formation, showing that membrane sphingolipids ratios modulate psychosine-triggered polyploidy in Namalwa cells. Among enzymes that experimentally remodel cellular sphingolipids, overexpression of glucosylceramide synthase to biosynthesize glycosylsphingolipids (GSLs) and neutral sphingomyelinase 2 to hydrolyze sphingomyelin (SM) additively enhanced psychosine-triggered multiploidy; almost all of the cells became polyploid. In the presence of psychosine, Namalwa cells showed attenuated cell surface SM clustering and suppression of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate production at the cleavage furrow, both important processes for cytokinesis. Depending on the sphingolipid balance between GSLs and SM, Namalwa cells could be effectively converted to viable multiploid cells with psychosine.

NEU3 Sialidase Protein Interactors in the Plasma Membrane and in the Endosomes

NEU3 sialidase has been shown to be a key player in many physio- and pathological processes, including cell differentiation, cellular response to hypoxic stress, and carcinogenesis. The enzyme, peculiarly localized on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, has been shown to be able to remove sialic acid residues from the gangliosides present on adjacent cells, thus creating cell to cell interactions. Nonetheless, herein we report that the enzyme localization is dynamically regulated between the plasma membrane and the endosomes, where a substantial amount of NEU3 is stored with low enzymatic activity. However, under opportune stimuli, NEU3 is shifted from the endosomes to the plasma membrane, where it greatly increases the sialidase activity. Finally, we found that NEU3 possesses also the ability to interact with specific proteins, many of which are different in each cell compartment. They were identified by mass spectrometry, and some selected ones were also confirmed by cross-immunoprecipitation with the enzyme, supporting NEU3 involvement in the cell stress response, protein folding, and intracellular trafficking.

Actin Filaments Are Involved in the Coupling of V0-V1 Domains of Vacuolar H+-ATPase at the Golgi Complex

We previously reported that actin-depolymerizing agents promote the alkalization of the Golgi stack and thetrans-Golgi network. The main determinant of acidic pH at the Golgi is the vacuolar-type H(+)-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase), whose V1domain subunitsBandCbind actin. We have generated a GFP-tagged subunitB2construct (GFP-B2) that is incorporated into the V1domain, which in turn is coupled to the V0sector. GFP-B2 subunit is enriched at distal Golgi compartments in HeLa cells. Subcellular fractionation, immunoprecipitation, and inversal FRAP experiments show that the actin depolymerization promotes the dissociation of V1-V0domains, which entails subunitB2translocation from Golgi membranes to the cytosol. Moreover, molecular interaction between subunitsB2andC1and actin were detected. In addition, Golgi membrane lipid order disruption byd-ceramide-C6 causes Golgi pH alkalization. We conclude that actin regulates the Golgi pH homeostasis maintaining the coupling of V1-V0domains of V-ATPase through the binding of microfilaments to subunitsBandCand preserving the integrity of detergent-resistant membrane organization. These results establish the Golgi-associated V-ATPase activity as the molecular link between actin and the Golgi pH.

Proximity of SCG10 and prion protein in membrane rafts

The conversion of normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) into its pathogenic isoform (PrPSc) is an essential event in prion pathogenesis. In culture models, membrane rafts are suggested to play a critical role in PrPSc formation. To identify the candidate molecules capable of interacting with PrPC and facilitating PrPSc formation in membrane rafts, we applied a novel biochemical labeling method termed enzyme-mediated activation of radical sources. Enzyme-mediated activation of radical sources was applied to the Lubrol WX insoluble detergent-resistant membrane fractions from mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) cells in which the surface PrPC was labeled with HRP-conjugated anti-PrP antibody. Two-dimensional western blots of these preparations revealed biotinylated spots of approximately 20 kDa with an isoelectric point of 8.0-9.0. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis resulted in the identification of peptides containing SCG10, the neuron-specific microtubule regulator. Proximity of SCG10 and PrPC was confirmed using proximity ligation assay and co-immunoprecipitation assay. Transfection of persistently 22L prion-infected N2a cells with SCG10 small interfering RNA reduced SCG10 expression, but did not prevent PrPSc accumulation, indicating that SCG10 appears to be unrelated to PrPSc formation of 22L prion. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses showed reduced levels of SCG10 in the hippocampus of prion-infected mice, suggesting a possible association between SCG10 levels and the prion neuropathogenesis. By applying a novel biochemical labeling method against detergent-resistant membrane fractions from mouse neuroblastoma cells, the neuron-specific microtubule-destabilization protein, SCG10 was identified as a novel candidate that is proximate to normal prion protein (PrP) in membrane rafts. SCG10 seemed unrelated to disease-related PrP formation under certain conditions, while there is a possible association between SCG10 levels and prion neuropathogenesis. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13310.

CARTS biogenesis requires VAP-lipid transfer protein complexes functioning at the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi interface

Biogenesis of the TGN-derived transport carriers CARTS requires the ER protein VAP and Golgi lipid transfer proteins, ceramide transfer protein and OSBP. Sac1 lipid phosphatase is recruited to a VAP–OSBP complex formed at an ER subdomain closely apposed to the trans-Golgi/TGN. Association–dissociation dynamics of ER–Golgi contacts are important for CARTS formation.

Vesicle-associated membrane protein–associated protein (VAP) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident integral membrane protein that controls a nonvesicular mode of ceramide and cholesterol transfer from the ER to the Golgi complex by interacting with ceramide transfer protein and oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP), respectively. We report that VAP and its interacting proteins are required for the processing and secretion of pancreatic adenocarcinoma up-regulated factor, whose transport from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the cell surface is mediated by transport carriers called “carriers of the trans-Golgi network to the cell surface” (CARTS). In VAP-depleted cells, diacylglycerol level at the TGN was decreased and CARTS formation was impaired. We found that VAP forms a complex with not only OSBP but also Sac1 phosphoinositide phosphatase at specialized ER subdomains that are closely apposed to the trans-Golgi/TGN, most likely reflecting membrane contact sites. Immobilization of ER–Golgi contacts dramatically reduced CARTS production, indicating that association–dissociation dynamics of the two membranes are important. On the basis of these findings, we propose that the ER–Golgi contacts play a pivotal role in lipid metabolism to control the biogenesis of transport carriers from the TGN.

Ultrastructure and lipid composition of detergent-resistant membranes derived from mammalian sperm and two types of epithelial cells

Lipid rafts are micro-domains of ordered lipids (L_o phase) in biological membranes. The L_o phase of cellular membranes can be isolated from disordered lipids (L_d phase) after treatment with 1 % Triton  X-100 at 4 °C in which the L_o phase forms the detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) fraction. The lipid composition of DRM derived from Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, McArdle cells and porcine sperm is compared with that of the whole cell. Remarkably, the unsaturation and chain length degree of aliphatic chains attached to phospholipids is virtually the same between DRM and whole cells. Cholesterol and sphingomyelin were enriched in DRMs but to a cell-specific molar ratio. Sulfatides (sphingolipids from MDCK cells) were enriched in the DRM while a seminolipid (an alkylacylglycerolipid from sperm) was depleted from the DRM. Treatment with <5 mM methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MBCD) caused cholesterol removal from the DRM without affecting the composition and amount of the phospholipid while higher levels disrupted the DRM. The substantial amount of (poly)unsaturated phospholipids in DRMs as well as a low stoichiometric amount of cholesterol suggest that lipid rafts in biological membranes are more fluid and dynamic than previously anticipated. Using negative staining, ultrastructural features of DRM were monitored and in all three cell types the DRMs appeared as multi-lamellar vesicular structures with a similar morphology. The detergent resistance is a result of protein–cholesterol and sphingolipid interactions allowing a relatively passive attraction of phospholipids to maintain the L_o phase. For this special issue, the relevance of our findings is discussed in a sperm physiological context.

A New Membrane Lipid Raft Gene SpFLT-1 Facilitating the Endocytosis of Vibrio alginolyticus in the Crab Scylla paramamosain

Pathogens can enter their host cells by way of endocytosis in which the membrane lipid raft gene flotillins are probably involved in the invasion process and this is an important way to cause infection. In this study, a new gene SpFLT-1 was identified in Scylla paramamosain, which shared high identity with the flotillin-1 of other species. The SpFLT-1 gene was widely distributed in tissues and showed the highest level of mRNA transcripts in the hemocytes. This gene might be a maternal gene based on the evident results that it was highly expressed in maternal ovaries and in the early developmental stages of the zygote and early embryo stage whereas it gradually decreased in zoea 1. SpFLT-1 positively responded to the challenge of Vibrio alginolyticus with a significantly increased level of mRNA expression in the hemocytes and gills at 3 hours post infection (hpi). The SpFLT-1 protein was detected densely in the same fraction layer where the Vibrio protein was most present in the hemocytes and gills at 3 hpi. Furthermore, it was found that the expression of SpFLT-1 decreased to the base level following disappearance of the Vibrio protein at 6 hpi in the gills. Silencing SpFLT-1 inhibited the endocytosis rate of V. alginolyticus but overexpression of the gene could facilitate bacterial entry into the epithelioma papulosum cyprinid cells. Our study indicated that SpFLT-1 may act as a key protein involved in the process of bacterial infection and this sheds light on clarifying the pathogenesis of pathogens infecting S. paramamosain.

A cholesterol consensus motif is required for efficient intracellular transport and raft association of a group 2 HA from influenza virus

The external part of the transmembrane region of HA (haemagglutinin) of influenza virus contains a cholesterol consensus motif originally identified in G-protein-coupled receptors. Various mutations in this motif retard transport of HA through the Golgi and reduce raft association.

Sphingomyelin homeostasis is required to form functional enzymatic domains at the trans-Golgi network

Sphingomyelin-mediated organization of resident transmembrane proteins into specific membrane domains at the trans-Golgi network is necessary for normal enzymatic activity.

Do lipids such as sphingomyelin (SM) that are known to assemble into specific membrane domains play a role in the organization and function of transmembrane proteins? In this paper, we show that disruption of SM homeostasis at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) by treatment of HeLa cells with d-ceramide-C6, which was converted together with phosphatidylcholine to short-chain SM and diacylglycerol by SM synthase, led to the segregation of Golgi-resident proteins from each other. We found that TGN46, which cycles between the TGN and the plasma membrane, was not sialylated by a sialyltransferase at the TGN and that this enzyme and its substrate TGN46 could not physically interact with each other. Our results suggest that SM organizes transmembrane proteins into functional enzymatic domains at the TGN.

Regulation of intracellular signaling and function by caveolin

Caveolae, flask-like invaginations of the plasma membrane, were discovered nearly 60 years ago. Originally regarded as fixation artifacts of electron microscopy, the functional role for these structures has taken decades to unravel. The discovery of the caveolin protein in 1992 (by the late Richard G.W. Anderson) accelerated progress in defining the contribution of caveolae to cellular physiology and pathophysiology. The three isoforms of caveolin (caveolin-1, -2, and -3) are caveolae-resident structural and scaffolding proteins that are critical for the formation of caveolae and their localization of signaling entities. A PubMed search for "caveolae" reveals ∼280 publications from their discovery in the 1950s to the early 1990s, whereas a search for "caveolae or caveolin" after 1990, identifies ∼7000 entries. Most work on the regulation of biological responses by caveolae and caveolin since 1990 has focused on caveolae as plasma membrane microdomains and the function of caveolin proteins at the plasma membrane. By contrast, our recent work and that of others has explored the localization of caveolins in multiple cellular membrane compartments and in the regulation of intracellular signaling. Cellular organelles that contain caveolin include mitochondria, nuclei and the endoplasmic reticulum. Such intracellular localization allows for a complexity of responses to extracellular stimuli by caveolin and the possibility of novel organelle-targeted therapeutics. This review focuses on the impact of intracellular localization of caveolin on signal transduction and cell regulation.

Flotillins in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and cancer

Flotillins are highly conserved proteins that localize into specific cholesterol rich microdomains in cellular membranes. They have been shown to be associated with, for example, various signaling pathways, cell adhesion, membrane trafficking and axonal growth. Recent findings have revealed that flotillins are frequently overexpressed in various types of human cancers. We here review the suggested functions of flotillins during receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and in cancer. Although flotillins have been implicated as putative cancer therapy targets, we here show that great caution is required since flotillin ablation may result in effects that increase instead of decrease the activity of specific signaling pathways. On the other hand, as flotillin overexpression appears to be related with metastasis formation in certain cancers, we also discuss the implications of these findings for future therapy aspects.

Proteomics of plasma membrane microdomains

Plasma membrane microdomains represent subcompartments of the plasma membrane characterized by a specific lipid and protein composition. The recognition of microdomains in nearly all the eukaryotic membranes has accredited them with specialized functions in health and disease. Several proteomic studies have recently addressed the specific composition of plasma membrane microdomains, and will be reviewed in this paper. Peculiar information has been obtained, but a comprehensive view of the main protein classes required to define the microdomain proteome is still missing. The achievement of this information is slowed by the difficulties encountered in resolving and analyzing hydrophobic proteins, but it could help in understanding the overall function of plasma membrane microdomains and their involvement in human pathology.

Tracking brain palmitoylation change: predominance of glial change in a mouse model of Huntington's disease

Protein palmitoylation, a reversible lipid modification of proteins, is widely used in the nervous system, with dysregulated palmitoylation being implicated in a variety of neurological disorders. Described below is ABE/SILAM, a proteomic strategy that couples acyl-biotinyl exchange (ABE) purification of palmitoyl-proteins to whole animal stable isotope labeling (SILAM) to provide an accurate tracking of palmitoylation change within rodent disease models. As a first application, we have used ABE/SILAM to look at Huntington's disease (HD), profiling palmitoylation change in two HD-relevant mouse mutants: the transgenic HD model mouse YAC128 and the hypomorphic Hip14-gt mouse, which has sharply reduced expression for HIP14 (Zdhhc17), a palmitoyl-transferase implicated in the HD disease process. Rather than mapping to the degenerating neurons themselves, the biggest disease changes instead map to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes (i.e., the supporting glial cells).

Biological functions of sphingomyelins

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a dominant sphingolipid in membranes of mammalian cells and this lipid class is specifically enriched in the plasma membrane, the endocytic recycling compartment, and the trans Golgi network. The distribution of SM and cholesterol among cellular compartments correlate. Sphingolipids have extensive hydrogen-bonding capabilities which together with their saturated nature facilitate the formation of sphingolipid and SM-enriched lateral domains in membranes. Cholesterol prefers to interact with SMs and this interaction has many important functional consequences. In this review, the synthesis, regulation, and intracellular distribution of SMs are discussed. The many direct roles played by membrane SM in various cellular functions and processes will also be discussed. These include involvement in the regulation of endocytosis and receptor-mediated ligand uptake, in ion channel and G-protein coupled receptor function, in protein sorting, and functioning as receptor molecules for various bacterial toxins, and for non-bacterial pore-forming toxins. SM is also an important constituent of the eye lens membrane, and is believed to participate in the regulation of various nuclear functions. SM is an independent risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, and new studies have shed light on possible mechanism behind its role in atherogenesis.

GLIPR-2 overexpression in HK-2 cells promotes cell EMT and migration through ERK1/2 activation

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells in the adult kidney is one of the key events in renal interstitial fibrosis. Glioma pathogenesis related-2 (GLIPR-2) has been shown to be up-regulated in proximal tubular cells (PTCs) in the fibrotic kidney. However, the biological function of GLIPR-2 remains unknown. In this study, we found that GLIPR-2 expression is elevated in the kidney tissue samples of patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). Human proximal renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) were transfected with pcDNA3.0-GLIPR-2 and selected with G418. To identify the biological function of GLIPR-2, an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) PCR array analysis was performed, and genes that had statistically significantly altered expression levels with more than a two-fold difference compared with the pcDNA3.0-transfected HK-2 cells were considered. Key elements of the EMT process, such as E-cadherin and vimentin, were transcriptionally activated in the pcDNA3.0-GLIPR-2-transfected sublines. In addition, α-SMA gene expression, which is a marker of myofibroblasts, increased in the pcDNA3.0-GLIPR-2-transfected HK-2 cells. The cell migration assay demonstrated that the transfection of HK-2 with GLIPR-2 promoted cell migration following an EMT. Additionally, consistent with the effects of increased EGFR expression levels, we found that the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) was highly elevated in the pcDNA3.0-GLIPR-2-transfected group. Our study demonstrates that GLIPR-2 overexpression in HK-2 cells can potentiate EMT-like processes in this cell type through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. GLIPR-2 may be responsible for the development of renal fibrosis by increasing the accumulation of interstitial fibroblasts.

Sphingomyelin organization is required for vesicle biogenesis at the Golgi complex

Sphingomyelin and cholesterol can assemble into domains and segregate from other lipids in the membranes. These domains are reported to function as platforms for protein transport and signalling. Do similar domains exist in the Golgi membranes and are they required for protein secretion? We tested this hypothesis by using D-ceramide-C6 to manipulate lipid homeostasis of the Golgi membranes. Lipidomics of the Golgi membranes isolated from D-ceramide-C6-treated HeLa cells revealed an increase in the levels of C6-sphingomyelin, C6-glucosylceramide, and diacylglycerol. D-ceramide-C6 treatment in HeLa cells inhibited transport carrier formation at the Golgi membranes without affecting the fusion of incoming carriers. The defect in protein secretion as a result of D-ceramide-C6 treatment was alleviated by knockdown of the sphingomyelin synthases 1 and 2. C6-sphingomyelin prevented liquid-ordered domain formation in giant unilamellar vesicles and reduced the lipid order in the Golgi membranes of HeLa cells. These findings highlight the importance of a regulated production and organization of sphingomyelin in the biogenesis of transport carriers at the Golgi membranes.

Identification of distinct populations of prostasomes that differentially express prostate stem cell antigen, annexin A1, and GLIPR2 in humans

In addition to sperm cells, seminal fluid contains various small membranous vesicles. These include prostasomes, membrane vesicles secreted by prostate epithelial cells. Prostasomes have been proposed to perform a variety of functions, including modulation of (immune) cell activity within the female reproductive tract and stimulation of sperm motility and capacitation. How prostasomes mediate such diverse functions, however, remains unclear. In many studies, vesicles from the seminal plasma have been categorized collectively as a single population of prostasomes; in fact, they more likely represent a heterogeneous mixture of vesicles produced by different reproductive glands and secretory mechanisms. We here characterized membranous vesicles from seminal fluid obtained from vasectomized men, thereby excluding material from the testes or epididymides. Two distinct populations of vesicles with characteristic sizes (56 ± 13 nm vs. 105 ± 25 nm) but similar equilibrium buoyant density (∼1.15 g/ml) could be separated by using the distinct rates with which they floated into sucrose gradients. Both types of vesicle resembled exosomes in terms of their buoyant density, size, and the presence of the ubiquitous exosome marker CD9. The protein GLIPR2 was found to be specifically enriched in the lumen of the smaller vesicles, while annexin A1 was uniquely associated with the surface of the larger vesicles. Prostate stem-cell antigen (PSCA), a prostate-specific protein, was present on both populations, thereby confirming their origin. PSCA was, however, absent from membrane vesicles in the seminal fluid of some donors, indicating heterogeneity of prostasome characteristics between individuals.

Changes in membrane lipid composition cause alterations in epithelial cell-cell adhesion structures in renal papillary collecting duct cells

In epithelial tissues, adherens junctions (AJ) mediate cell-cell adhesion by using proteins called E-cadherins, which span the plasma membrane, contact E-cadherin on other cells and connect with the actin cytoskeleton inside the cell. Although AJ protein complexes are inserted in detergent-resistant membrane microdomains, the influence of membrane lipid composition in the preservation of AJ structures has not been extensively addressed. In the present work, we studied the contribution of membrane lipids to the preservation of renal epithelial cell-cell adhesion structures. We biochemically characterized the lipid composition of membranes containing AJ complexes. By using lipid membrane-affecting agents, we found that such agents induced the formation of new AJ protein-containing domains of different lipid composition. By using both biochemical approaches and fluorescence microscopy we demonstrated that the membrane phospholipid composition plays an essential role in the in vivo maintenance of AJ structures involved in cell-cell adhesion structures in renal papillary collecting duct cells.

Quantitative proteomic identification of host factors involved in the Salmonella typhimurium infection cycle

To identify host factors involved in Salmonella replication, SILAC‐based quantitative proteomics was used to investigate the interactions of Salmonella typhimurium with the secretory pathway in human epithelial cells. Protein profiles of Golgi‐enriched fractions isolated from S. typhimurium‐infected cells were compared with those of mock‐infected cells, revealing significant depletion or enrichment of 105 proteins. Proteins annotated to play a role in membrane traffic were overrepresented among the depleted proteins whereas proteins annotated to the cytoskeleton showed a diverse behavior with some proteins being enriched, others being depleted from the Golgi fraction upon Salmonella infection. To study the functional relevance of identified proteins in the Salmonella infection cycle, small interfering RNA (siRNA) experiments were performed. siRNA‐mediated depletion of a selection of affected proteins identified five host factors involved in Salmonella infection. Depletion of peroxiredoxin‐6 (PRDX6), isoform β‐4c of integrin β‐4 (ITGB4), isoform 1 of protein lap2 (erbin interacting protein; ERBB2IP), stomatin (STOM) or TBC domain containing protein 10b (TBC1D10B) resulted in increased Salmonella replication. Surprisingly, in addition to the effect on Salmonella replication, depletion of STOM or ITGB4 resulted in a dispersal of intracellular Salmonella microcolonies. It can be concluded that by using SILAC‐based quantitative proteomics we were able to identify novel host cell proteins involved in the complex interplay between Salmonella and epithelial cells.

Research advances on flotillins

The proteins of flotillin-1 and flotillin-2 were originally discovered in axon regeneration of goldfish retinal ganglion cells. They are generally used as marker proteins of lipid rafts and considered to be scaffolding proteins of lipid microdomains. Although they are ubiquitously expressed and well-conserved from fly to man, their exact functions remain controversial. In this review, we summarize the structure of flotillins and some functions of them, such as regulating axon regeneration, endocytosis, T cell activation, insulin signaling, membrane protein recruitment, roles in the progression of some diseases and so on.

Mitochondrial cholesterol: a connection between caveolin, metabolism, and disease

Caveolin (CAV) is an essential component of caveolae, cholesterol-enriched invaginations of the plasma membrane of most mammalian cells. However, CAV is not restricted to plasma membrane caveolae, and pools of CAV are present in myriad intracellular membranes. CAV proteins tightly bind cholesterol and contribute to regulation of cholesterol fluxes and distributions within cells. In this context, we recently showed that CAV1 regulates the poorly understood process controlling mitochondrial cholesterol levels. Cholesterol accumulates in mitochondrial membranes in the absence of CAV1, promoting the organelle's dysfunction with important metabolic consequences for cells and animals. In this article, we suggest a working hypothesis that addresses the role of CAV1 within the homeostatic network that regulates the influx/efflux of mitochondrial cholesterol.

Organization of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and CYP1A2 in the endoplasmic reticulum--microdomain localization affects monooxygenase function

Cytochrome P450 is part of an electron transport chain found in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with its catalytic function requiring interactions with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR). The goals of this study were to examine how the P450 system proteins are organized in the membrane and to determine whether they are distributed in detergent-resistant lipid microdomains (DRM). Isolated liver microsomes from untreated rabbits were treated with 1% Brij 98, and DRMs were isolated via sucrose gradient centrifugation. Lipid analysis showed that DRM fractions were enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin, similar to that found with plasma membrane DRMs. Approximately 73% of CYP1A2 and 68% of CPR resided in DRM fractions, compared with only 33% of total ER proteins. These DRMs were found to be cholesterol-dependent: CPR and CYP1A2 migrated to the more dense regions of the sucrose gradient after cholesterol depletion. CYP1A2 function was studied in three purified lipid vesicles consisting of 1) phosphatidylcholine (V-PC), 2) lipids with a composition similar to ER lipids (V-ER), and 3) lipids with a composition similar to the DRM fractions (V-DRM). Each system showed similar substrate binding characteristics. However, when the association between CPR and CYP1A2 was measured, V-ER and V-DRM liposomes produced lower apparent K(m) values compared with V-PC without any significant change in V(max). These findings suggest that CYP1A2 and CPR reside in ER-DRMs and that the unique lipid components of these domains enhance CYP1A2 substrate metabolism through greater efficiency in CPR-CYP1A2 binding.

Membrane raft association of the Vpu protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 correlates with enhanced virus release

The Vpu protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is known to enhance virion release from certain cell types. To accomplish this function, Vpu interacts with the restriction factor known as bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST-2)/tetherin. In this study, we analyzed whether the Vpu protein is associated with microdomains known as lipid or membrane rafts. Our results indicate that Vpu partially partitions into detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) fractions when expressed alone or in the context of simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection. The ability to be partitioned into rafts was observed with both subtype B and C Vpu proteins. The use of cholesterol lowering lovastatin/M-β-cyclodextrin and co-patching experiments confirmed that Vpu can be detected in cholesterol rich regions of membranes. Finally, we present data showing that raft association-defective transmembrane mutants of Vpu have impaired enhanced virus release function, but still maintain the ability to down-regulate CD4.

Regulation of constitutive cargo transport from the trans-Golgi network to plasma membrane by Golgi-localized G protein betagamma subunits

Observations of Golgi fragmentation upon introduction of G protein βγ (Gβγ) subunits into cells have implicated Gβγ in a pathway controlling the fission at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) of plasma membrane (PM)-destined transport carriers. However, the subcellular location where Gβγ acts to provoke Golgi fragmentation is not known. Additionally, a role for Gβγ in regulating TGN-to-PM transport has not been demonstrated. Here we report that constitutive or inducible targeting of Gβγ to the Golgi, but not other subcellular locations, causes phospholipase C- and protein kinase D-dependent vesiculation of the Golgi in HeLa cells; Golgi-targeted β(1)γ(2) also activates protein kinase D. Moreover, the novel Gβγ inhibitor, gallein, and the Gβγ-sequestering protein, GRK2ct, reveal that Gβγ is required for the constitutive PM transport of two model cargo proteins, VSV-G and ss-HRP. Importantly, Golgi-targeted GRK2ct, but not a PM-targeted GRK2ct, also blocks protein transport to the PM. To further support a role for Golgi-localized Gβγ, endogenous Gβ was detected at the Golgi in HeLa cells. These results are the first to establish a role for Golgi-localized Gβγ in regulating protein transport from the TGN to the cell surface.

Interplay between toxin transport and flotillin localization

The flotillin proteins are localized in lipid domains at the plasma membrane as well as in intracellular compartments. In the present study, we examined the importance of flotillin-1 and flotillin-2 for the uptake and transport of the bacterial Shiga toxin (Stx) and the plant toxin ricin and we investigated whether toxin binding and uptake were associated with flotillin relocalization. We observed a toxin-induced redistribution of the flotillins, which seemed to be regulated in a p38-dependent manner. Our experiments provide no evidence for a changed endocytic uptake of Stx or ricin in cells silenced for flotillin-1 or -2. However, the Golgi-dependent sulfation of both toxins was significantly reduced in flotillin knockdown cells. Interestingly, when the transport of ricin to the ER was investigated, we obtained an increased mannosylation of ricin in flotillin-1 and flotillin-2 knockdown cells. The toxicity of both toxins was twofold increased in flotillin-depleted cells. Since BFA (Brefeldin A) inhibits the toxicity even in flotillin knockdown cells, the retrograde toxin transport is apparently still Golgi-dependent. Thus, flotillin proteins regulate and facilitate the retrograde transport of Stx and ricin.

Lipids and cholesterol as regulators of traffic in the endomembrane system

The endomembrane system of eukaryotic cells uses membrane-enclosed carriers to move diverse macromolecules among different membrane-bound compartments, a requirement for cells to secrete and take up molecules from their environment. Two recycling pathways-biosynthetic and endocytic, each with specific lipid components-make up this system, with the Golgi apparatus mediating transport between the two. Here, we integrate lipid-based mechanisms into the description of this system. A partitioning model of the Golgi apparatus is discussed as a working hypothesis to explain how membrane lipids and proteins that are segregated based on lateral lipid partitioning support the unique composition of the biosynthetic and endocytic recycling pathways in the face of constant trafficking of molecular constituents. We further discuss how computational modeling can allow for interpretation of experimental findings and provide mechanistic insight into these important cellular pathways.

Bax distribution into mitochondrial detergent-resistant microdomains is related to ceramide and cholesterol content in postischemic hearts

*Diverse changes have been described in mitochondria of apoptotic cells: the phospholipid content is modified, ceramide and GD3 concentrations increase, the cristae structure is modified, and nonresident proteins are recruited into the mitochondrial membranes. In particular, Bax, a Bcl-2 family member protein, moves from the cytosol to the mitochondria, inducing cytochrome c release. Modifications of the content and distribution of specific lipids in the mitochondrial membranes, along with the well-known participation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in triggering apoptosis, led us to propose that lipid microdomains in mitochondria could coexist as structural elements with some of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore-forming proteins and with members of the Bcl-2 family. In this work, we demonstrated that Bax was associated preferentially with mitochondrial detergent-resistant membranes (mDRMs) in reperfused rat hearts, a well-known apoptotic model. Bax insertion into mDRMs correlated with cytochrome c release from such mitochondria. Bax location in mDRMs was associated with both the voltage-dependent anion channel and the adenine nucleotide translocator, two mitochondrial permeability transition pore-forming proteins. Interestingly, the voltage-dependent anion channel was more abundant in the mDRM fraction than in the Triton X-100-soluble fraction. Ceramide and cholesterol contents were higher in mDRMs from reperfused hearts. Our results suggest that membrane microenvironments enriched in cholesterol and ceramide in mitochondria favor Bax translocation to this organelle, fostering propagation of the apoptotic cascade.

y Human herpesvirus 6 envelope components enriched in lipid rafts: evidence for virion-associated lipid rafts

In general, enveloped viruses are highly dependent on their lipid envelope for entry into host cells. Here, we demonstrated that during the course of virus maturation, a significant proportion of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) envelope proteins were selectively concentrated in the detergent-resistant glycosphingolipid- and cholesterol-rich membranes (rafts) in HHV-6-infected cells. In addition, the ganglioside GM1, which is known to partition preferentially into lipid rafts, was detected in purified virions, along with viral envelope glycoproteins, gH, gL, gB, gQ1, gQ2 and gO indicating that at least one raft component was included in the viral particle during the assembly process.

Liver-specific deficiency of serine palmitoyltransferase subunit 2 decreases plasma sphingomyelin and increases apolipoprotein E levels

Sphingomyelin (SM) is one of the major lipid components of plasma lipoproteins. Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) is the key enzyme in SM biosynthesis. Mice totally lacking in SPT are embryonic lethal. The liver is the major site for plasma lipoprotein biosynthesis, secretion, and degradation, and in this study we utilized a liver-specific knock-out approach for evaluating liver SPT activity and also its role in plasma SM and lipoprotein metabolism. We found that a deficiency of liver-specific Sptlc2 (a subunit of SPT) decreased liver SPT protein mass and activity by 95 and 92%, respectively, but had no effect on other tissues. Liver Sptlc2 deficiency decreased plasma SM levels (in both high density lipoprotein and non-high density lipoprotein fractions) by 36 and 35% (p < 0.01), respectively, and increased phosphatidylcholine levels by 19% (p < 0.05), thus increasing the phosphatidylcholine/SM ratio by 77% (p < 0.001), compared with controls. This deficiency also decreased SM levels in the liver by 38% (p < 0.01) and in the hepatocyte plasma membranes (based on a lysenin-mediated cell lysis assay). Liver-specific Sptlc2 deficiency significantly increased hepatocyte apoE secretion and thus increased plasma apoE levels 3.5-fold (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, plasma from Sptlc2 knock-out mice had a significantly stronger potential for promoting cholesterol efflux from macrophages than from wild-type mice (p < 0.01) because of a greater amount of apoE in the circulation. As a result of these findings, we believe that the ability to control liver SPT activity could result in regulation of lipoprotein metabolism and might have an impact on the development of atherosclerosis.

Sphingomyelin synthase 2 is one of the determinants for plasma and liver sphingomyelin levels in mice

BACKGROUND

It has been proposed that plasma sphingomyelin (SM) plays a very important role in plasma lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis. Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) is the last enzyme for SM de novo biosynthesis. Two SMS genes, SMS1 and SMS2, have been cloned and characterized.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To evaluate the in vivo role of SMS2 in SM metabolism, we prepared SMS2 knockout (KO) and SMS2 liver-specific transgenic (LTg) mice and studied their plasma SM and lipoprotein metabolism. On a chow diet, SMS2 KO mice showed a significant decrease in plasma SM levels (25%, P<0.05), but no significant changes in total cholesterol, total phospholipids, or triglyceride, compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. On a high-fat diet, SMS2 KO mice showed a decrease in plasma SM levels (28%, P<0.01), whereas SMS2LTg mice showed a significant increase in those levels (29%, P<0.05), but no significant changes in other lipids, compared with WT littermates. Atherogenic lipoproteins from SMS2LTg mice displayed a significantly stronger tendency toward aggregation after mammalian sphingomyelinase treatment, compared with controls. Moreover, SMS2 deficiency significantly increased plasma apoE levels (2.0-fold, P<0.001), whereas liver-specific SMS2 overexpression significantly decreased those levels (1.8-fold, P<0.01). Finally, SMS2 KO mouse plasma promoted cholesterol efflux from macrophages, whereas SMS2LTg mouse plasma prevented it.

CONCLUSIONS

We therefore believe that regulation of liver SMS2 activity could become a promising treatment for atherosclerosis.