SMAP2 regulates retrograde transport from recycling endosomes to the Golgi

Tailored multivalent peptide targeting the B-subunit pentamer of cholera toxin inhibits its intestinal toxicity by inducing aberrant transport of the toxin in cells

Cholera toxin (Ctx) is a major virulence factor produced by Vibrio cholerae that can cause gastrointestinal diseases, including severe watery diarrhea and dehydration, in humans. Ctx binds to target cells through multivalent interactions between its B-subunit pentamer and the receptor ganglioside GM1 present on the cell surface. Here, we identified a series of tetravalent peptides that specifically bind to the receptor-binding region of the B-subunit pentamer using affinity-based screening of multivalent random-peptide libraries. These tetravalent peptides efficiently inhibited not only the cell-elongation phenotype but also the elevated cAMP levels, both of which are induced by Ctx treatment in CHO cells or a human colon carcinoma cell line (Caco-2 cells), respectively. Importantly, one of these peptides, NRR-tet, which was highly efficient in these two activities, markedly inhibited fluid accumulation in the mouse ileum caused by the direct injection of Ctx. In consistent, NRR-tet reduced the extensive Ctx-induced damage of the intestinal villi. After NRR-tet bound to Ctx, the complex was incorporated into the cultured epithelial cells and accumulated in the recycling endosome, affecting the retrograde transport of Ctx from the endosome to the Golgi, which is an essential process for Ctx to exert its toxicity in cells. Thus, NRR-tet may be a novel type of therapeutic agent against cholera, which induces the aberrant transport of Ctx in the intestinal epithelial cells, detoxifying the toxin.

A Role of Phosphatidylserine in the Function of Recycling Endosomes

Cells internalize proteins and lipids in the plasma membrane (PM) and solutes in the extracellular space by endocytosis. The removal of PM by endocytosis is constantly balanced by the replenishment of proteins and lipids to PM through recycling pathway. Recycling endosomes (REs) are specific subsets of endosomes. Besides the established role of REs in recycling pathway, recent studies have revealed unanticipated roles of REs in membrane traffic and cell signalling. In this review, we highlight these emerging issues, with a particular focus on phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid that is highly enriched in the cytosolic leaflet of RE membranes. We also discuss the pathogenesis of Hermansky Pudlak syndrome type 2 (HPS2) that arises from mutations in the AP3B1 gene, from the point of view of dysregulated RE functions.

Endosomal phosphatidylserine is critical for the YAP signalling pathway in proliferating cells

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a recently discovered growth-promoting transcription coactivator that has been shown to regulate the malignancy of various cancers. How YAP is regulated is not fully understood. Here, we show that one of the factors regulating YAP is phosphatidylserine (PS) in recycling endosomes (REs). We use proximity biotinylation to find proteins proximal to PS. Among these proteins are YAP and multiple proteins related to YAP signalling. Knockdown of ATP8A1 (an RE PS-flippase) or evectin-2 (an RE-resident protein) and masking of PS in the cytoplasmic leaflet of membranes, all suppress nuclear localization of YAP and YAP-dependent transcription. ATP8A1 knockdown increases the phosphorylated (activated) form of Lats1 that phosphorylates and inactivates YAP, whereas evectin-2 knockdown reduces the ubiquitination and increased the level of Lats1. The proliferation of YAP-dependent metastatic cancer cells is suppressed by knockdown of ATP8A1 or evectin-2. These results suggest a link between a membrane phospholipid and cell proliferation.

The identification of raft-derived tau-associated vesicles that are incorporated into immature tangles and paired helical filaments

AIMS

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), a cardinal pathological feature of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are primarily composed of hyper-phosphorylated tau protein. Recently, several other molecules, including flotillin-1, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), have also been revealed as constituents of NFTs. Flotillin-1 and PtdIns(4,5)P2 are considered markers of raft microdomains, whereas CDK5 is a tau kinase. Therefore, we hypothesized that NFTs have a relationship with raft domains and the tau phosphorylation that occurs within NFTs.

METHODS

We investigated six cases of AD, six cases of other neurodegenerative diseases with NFTs and three control cases. We analysed the PtdIns(4,5)P2-immunopositive material in detail, using super-resolution microscopy and electron microscopy to elucidate its pattern of expression. We also investigated the spatial relationship between the PtdIns(4,5)P2-immunopositive material and tau kinases through double immunofluorescence analysis.

RESULTS

Pretangles contained either paired helical filaments (PHFs) or PtdIns(4,5)P2-immunopositive small vesicles (approximately 1 μm in diameter) with nearly identical topology to granulovacuolar degeneration (GVD) bodies. Various combinations of these vesicles and GVD bodies, the latter of which are pathological hallmarks observed within the neurons of AD patients, were found concurrently in neurons. These vesicles and GVD bodies were both immunopositive not only for PtdIns(4,5)P2, but also for several tau kinases such as glycogen synthase kinase-3β and spleen tyrosine kinase.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that clusters of raft-derived vesicles that resemble GVD bodies are substructures of pretangles other than PHFs. These tau kinase-bearing vesicles are likely involved in the modification of tau protein and in NFT formation.

Mice doubly-deficient in the Arf GAPs SMAP1 and SMAP2 exhibit embryonic lethality

In mammals, the small Arf GTPase-activating protein (SMAP) subfamily of Arf GTPase-activating proteins consists of closely related members, SMAP1 and SMAP2. These factors reportedly exert distinct functions in membrane trafficking, as manifested by different phenotypes seen in single knockout mice. The present study investigated whether SMAP proteins interact genetically. We report for the first time that simultaneous loss of SMAP1 and SMAP2 promotes apoptosis in the distal region of E7.5 mouse embryos, likely resulting in embryonic lethality. Thus, at least one SMAP gene, either SMAP1 or SMAP2, is required for proper embryogenesis.

Transport of the cholera toxin B-subunit from recycling endosomes to the Golgi requires clathrin and AP-1

The retrograde pathway is defined by the transport of proteins and lipids from the plasma membrane through endosomes to the Golgi complex, and is essential for a variety of cellular activities. Recycling endosomes are important sorting stations for some retrograde cargo. SMAP2, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Arf1 with a putative clathrin-binding domain, has previously been shown to participate in the retrograde transport of the cholera toxin B-subunit (CTxB) from recycling endosomes. Here, we found that clathrin, a vesicle coat protein, and clathrin adaptor protein complex 1 (AP-1) were present at recycling endosomes and were needed for the retrograde transport of CTxB from recycling endosomes to the Golgi, but not from the plasma membrane to recycling endosomes. SMAP2 immunoprecipitated clathrin and AP-1 through a putative clathrin-binding domain and a CALM-binding domain, and SMAP2 mutants that did not interact with clathrin or AP-1 could not localize to recycling endosomes. Moreover, knockdown of Arf1 suppressed the retrograde transport of CTxB from recycling endosomes to the Golgi. These findings suggest that retrograde transport is mediated by clathrin-coated vesicles from recycling endosomes and that the role of the coat proteins is in the recruitment of Arf GAP to transport vesicles.