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Pereira J, Melo S, Ferreira RM, Carneiro P, Yang V, Maia AF, Carvalho J, Figueiredo C, Machado JC, Morais-de-Sá E, Seruca R, Figueiredo J. E-cadherin variants associated with oral facial clefts trigger aberrant cell motility in a REG1A-dependent manner. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:152. [PMID: 38414029 PMCID: PMC10898076 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01532-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Germline mutations of E-cadherin contribute to hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) and congenital malformations, such as oral facial clefts (OFC). However, the molecular mechanisms through which E-cadherin loss-of-function triggers distinct clinical outcomes remain unknown. We postulate that E-cadherin-mediated disorders result from abnormal interactions with the extracellular matrix and consequent aberrant intracellular signalling, affecting the coordination of cell migration. METHODS Herein, we developed in vivo and in vitro models of E-cadherin mutants associated with either OFC or HDGC. Using a Drosophila approach, we addressed the impact of the different variants in cell morphology and migration ability. By combining gap closure migration assays and time-lapse microscopy, we further investigated the migration pattern of cells expressing OFC or HDGC variants. The adhesion profile of the variants was evaluated using high-throughput ECM arrays, whereas RNA sequencing technology was explored for identification of genes involved in aberrant cell motility. RESULTS We have demonstrated that cells expressing OFC variants exhibit an excessive motility performance and irregular leading edges, which prevent the coordinated movement of the epithelial monolayer. Importantly, we found that OFC variants promote cell adhesion to a wider variety of extracellular matrices than HDGC variants, suggesting higher plasticity in response to different microenvironments. We unveiled a distinct transcriptomic profile in the OFC setting and pinpointed REG1A as a putative regulator of this outcome. Consistent with this, specific RNAi-mediated inhibition of REG1A shifted the migration pattern of OFC expressing cells, leading to slower wound closure with coordinated leading edges. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence that E-cadherin variants associated with OFC activate aberrant signalling pathways that support dynamic rearrangements of cells towards improved adaptability to the microenvironment. This proficiency results in abnormal tissue shaping and movement, possibly underlying the development of orofacial malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Pereira
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Soraia Melo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui M Ferreira
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Carneiro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vítor Yang
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IBMC - Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - André F Maia
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IBMC - Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Carvalho
- CFisUC, Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ceu Figueiredo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Carlos Machado
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IBMC - Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Seruca
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Figueiredo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal.
- IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University, Porto, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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di Pietro F, Osswald M, De Las Heras JM, Cristo I, López-Gay J, Wang Z, Pelletier S, Gaugué I, Leroy A, Martin C, Morais-de-Sá E, Bellaïche Y. Systematic analysis of RhoGEF/GAP localizations uncovers regulators of mechanosensing and junction formation during epithelial cell division. Curr Biol 2023; 33:858-874.e7. [PMID: 36917931 PMCID: PMC10017266 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Cell proliferation is central to epithelial tissue development, repair, and homeostasis. During cell division, small RhoGTPases control both actomyosin dynamics and cell-cell junction remodeling to faithfully segregate the genome while maintaining tissue polarity and integrity. To decipher the mechanisms of RhoGTPase spatiotemporal regulation during epithelial cell division, we generated a transgenic fluorescently tagged library for the 48 Drosophila Rho guanine exchange factors (RhoGEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), and we systematically characterized their endogenous distributions by time-lapse microscopy. Therefore, we unveiled candidate regulators of the interplay between actomyosin and junctional dynamics during epithelial cell division. Building on these findings, we established that the conserved RhoGEF Cysts and RhoGEF4 play sequential and distinct roles to couple cytokinesis with de novo junction formation. During ring contraction, Cysts via Rho1 participates in the neighbor mechanosensing response, promoting daughter-daughter cell membrane juxtaposition in preparation to de novo junction formation. Subsequently and upon midbody formation, RhoGEF4 via Rac acts in the dividing cell to ensure the withdrawal of the neighboring cell membranes, thus controlling de novo junction length and cell-cell arrangements upon cytokinesis. Altogether, our findings delineate how the RhoGTPases Rho and Rac are locally and temporally activated during epithelial cytokinesis, highlighting the RhoGEF/GAP library as a key resource to understand the broad range of biological processes regulated by RhoGTPases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia di Pietro
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Mariana Osswald
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - José M De Las Heras
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Inês Cristo
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jesús López-Gay
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Pelletier
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Gaugué
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Adrien Leroy
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Yohanns Bellaïche
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France.
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Faria L, Canato S, Jesus TT, Gonçalves M, Guerreiro PS, Lopes CS, Meireles I, Morais-de-Sá E, Paredes J, Janody F. Activation of an actin signaling pathway in pre-malignant mammary epithelial cells by P-cadherin is essential for transformation. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049652. [PMID: 36808468 PMCID: PMC9983776 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the expression or function of cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in all steps of tumor progression. Among those, P-cadherin is highly enriched in basal-like breast carcinomas, playing a central role in cancer cell self-renewal, collective cell migration and invasion. To establish a clinically relevant platform for functional exploration of P-cadherin effectors in vivo, we generated a humanized P-cadherin Drosophila model. We report that actin nucleators, Mrtf and Srf, are main P-cadherin effectors in fly. We validated these findings in a human mammary epithelial cell line with conditional activation of the SRC oncogene. We show that, prior to promoting malignant phenotypes, SRC induces a transient increase in P-cadherin expression, which correlates with MRTF-A accumulation, its nuclear translocation and the upregulation of SRF target genes. Moreover, knocking down P-cadherin, or preventing F-actin polymerization, impairs SRF transcriptional activity. Furthermore, blocking MRTF-A nuclear translocation hampers proliferation, self-renewal and invasion. Thus, in addition to sustaining malignant phenotypes, P-cadherin can also play a major role in the early stages of breast carcinogenesis by promoting a transient boost of MRTF-A-SRF signaling through actin regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Faria
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Master Programme in Oncology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Canato
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Physiology and Cancer Program, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida de Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tito T. Jesus
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Margarida Gonçalves
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia S. Guerreiro
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Vector B2B - Drug Developing - Associação Para Investigação em Biotecnologia, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Edifício Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla S. Lopes
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Meireles
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Paredes
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FMUP, Medical Faculty of University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Florence Janody
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
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Osswald M, Barros-Carvalho A, Carmo AM, Loyer N, Gracio PC, Sunkel CE, Homem CCF, Januschke J, Morais-de-Sá E. aPKC regulates apical constriction to prevent tissue rupture in the Drosophila follicular epithelium. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4411-4427.e8. [PMID: 36113470 PMCID: PMC9632327 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Apical-basal polarity is an essential epithelial trait controlled by the evolutionarily conserved PAR-aPKC polarity network. Dysregulation of polarity proteins disrupts tissue organization during development and in disease, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear due to the broad implications of polarity loss. Here, we uncover how Drosophila aPKC maintains epithelial architecture by directly observing tissue disorganization after fast optogenetic inactivation in living adult flies and ovaries cultured ex vivo. We show that fast aPKC perturbation in the proliferative follicular epithelium produces large epithelial gaps that result from increased apical constriction, rather than loss of apical-basal polarity. Accordingly, we can modulate the incidence of epithelial gaps by increasing and decreasing actomyosin-driven contractility. We traced the origin of these large epithelial gaps to tissue rupture next to dividing cells. Live imaging shows that aPKC perturbation induces apical constriction in non-mitotic cells within minutes, producing pulling forces that ultimately detach dividing and neighboring cells. We further demonstrate that epithelial rupture requires a global increase of apical constriction, as it is prevented by the presence of non-constricting cells. Conversely, a global induction of apical tension through light-induced recruitment of RhoGEF2 to the apical side is sufficient to produce tissue rupture. Hence, our work reveals that the roles of aPKC in polarity and actomyosin regulation are separable and provides the first in vivo evidence that excessive tissue stress can break the epithelial barrier during proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Osswald
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - André Barros-Carvalho
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana M Carmo
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nicolas Loyer
- Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD5 1EH, UK
| | - Patricia C Gracio
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1150-199 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Claudio E Sunkel
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina C F Homem
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1150-199 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jens Januschke
- Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD5 1EH, UK
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
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5
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Barros-Carvalho A, Morais-de-Sá E. Balancing cell polarity PARts through dephosphorylation. J Cell Biol 2022; 221:e202208008. [PMID: 36121422 PMCID: PMC9486083 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202208008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
How cells spatially organize their plasma membrane, cytoskeleton, and cytoplasm remains a central question for cell biologists. In this issue of JCB, Calvi et al. (2022. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202201048) identify PP1 phosphatases as key regulators of C. elegans anterior-posterior polarity, by counterbalancing aPKC-mediated phosphorylation of PAR-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Barros-Carvalho
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Moutinho-Pereira S, Morais-de-Sá E, Greenfield H, Pereira PR. Systemic sclerosis in a patient with muscle dystrophy. BMJ Case Rep 2022; 15:15/9/e250389. [DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-250389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that can result in lung fibrosis, and is strongly associated with the presence of serum anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibodies. A young man with genetic muscular dystrophy caused by titin-cap/telethonin (TCAP) gene mutation, developed a severe restrictive lung disease due to a fibrosing interstitial pneumonia secondary to systemic sclerosis with positive anti-topoisomerase-I antibodies. Using amino acid sequence alignment and protein structure modelling, we found that mutant telethonin exposes an amino acid sequence with significant homology to an immunodominant site of topoisomerase-I. Abnormal telethonin results in a loss of integrity of the sarcomere structure, which might result in rhabdomyolysis and abnormal protein exposure to the immune system. Our preliminary analysis suggests a possible role for mutant sarcomere protein telethonin as an immunogenic target recognised by anti-topoisomerase-I antibodies, which could explain the development of systemic sclerosis in this particular patient.
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Figueiredo J, Mercadillo F, Melo S, Barroso A, Gonçalves M, Díaz-Tasende J, Carneiro P, Robles L, Colina F, Ibarrola C, Perea J, Morais-de-Sá E, Seruca R, Urioste M. Germline CDH1 G212E Missense Variant: Combining Clinical, In Vitro and In Vivo Strategies to Unravel Disease Burden. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174359. [PMID: 34503169 PMCID: PMC8430832 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an inherited cancer syndrome associated with CDH1 germline mutations. The increasing detection of CDH1 genetic variants due to multigene panel testing poses a serious clinical challenge and urges the development of effective classification strategies. In this study, we describe the identification of the novel CDH1 G212E variant in a large family strongly affected by diffuse gastric cancer. Through a comprehensive characterization pipeline, we provide evidence of the damaging nature of this genetic alteration, thus impacting patient management and family screening. Abstract E-cadherin, encoded by CDH1, is an essential molecule for epithelial homeostasis, whose loss or aberrant expression results in disturbed cell–cell adhesion, increased cell invasion and metastasis. Carriers of CDH1 germline mutations have a high risk of developing diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer, associated with the cancer syndrome Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC). The ubiquitous availability of cancer panels has led to the identification of an increasing amount of “incidental” CDH1 genetic variants that pose a serious clinical challenge. This has sparked intensive research aiming at an accurate classification of the variants and consequent validation of their clinical relevance. The present study addressed the significance of a novel CDH1 variant, G212E, identified in an unusually large pedigree displaying strong aggregation of diffuse gastric cancer. We undertook a comprehensive pipeline encompassing family data, in silico predictions, in vitro assays and in vivo strategies, which validated the deleterious phenotype induced by this genetic alteration. In particular, we demonstrated that the G212E variant affects the stability and localization, as well as the adhesive and anti-invasive functions of E-cadherin, triggering epithelial disruption and disorganization. Our findings illustrate the clinical implication of a complementary approach for effective variant categorization and patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Figueiredo
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.); (M.G.); (P.C.); (E.M.-d.-S.); (R.S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (J.F.); (M.U.)
| | - Fátima Mercadillo
- Familial Cancer Clinical Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (F.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Soraia Melo
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.); (M.G.); (P.C.); (E.M.-d.-S.); (R.S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Alicia Barroso
- Familial Cancer Clinical Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (F.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Margarida Gonçalves
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.); (M.G.); (P.C.); (E.M.-d.-S.); (R.S.)
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - José Díaz-Tasende
- Endoscopy Unit, Gastroenterology Department, 12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital, 28041 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Patrícia Carneiro
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.); (M.G.); (P.C.); (E.M.-d.-S.); (R.S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luis Robles
- Familial Cancer Unit, Medical Oncology Service, 12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital, 28041 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Francisco Colina
- Pathology Department, 12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital, 28041 Madrid, Spain or (F.C.); (C.I.)
| | - Carolina Ibarrola
- Pathology Department, 12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital, 28041 Madrid, Spain or (F.C.); (C.I.)
| | - José Perea
- Surgery Department, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.); (M.G.); (P.C.); (E.M.-d.-S.); (R.S.)
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Seruca
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (S.M.); (M.G.); (P.C.); (E.M.-d.-S.); (R.S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Medical Faculty, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Urioste
- Familial Cancer Clinical Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (F.M.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: (J.F.); (M.U.)
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8
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Zeng J, Santos AF, Mukadam AS, Osswald M, Jacques DA, Dickson CF, McLaughlin SH, Johnson CM, Kiss L, Luptak J, Renner N, Vaysburd M, McEwan WA, Morais-de-Sá E, Clift D, James LC. Target-induced clustering activates Trim-Away of pathogens and proteins. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2021; 28:278-289. [PMID: 33633400 PMCID: PMC7611929 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00560-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Trim-Away is a recently developed technology that exploits off-the-shelf antibodies and the RING E3 ligase and cytosolic antibody receptor TRIM21 to carry out rapid protein depletion. How TRIM21 is catalytically activated upon target engagement, either during its normal immune function or when repurposed for targeted protein degradation, is unknown. Here we show that a mechanism of target-induced clustering triggers intermolecular dimerization of the RING domain to switch on the ubiquitination activity of TRIM21 and induce virus neutralization or drive Trim-Away. We harness this mechanism for selective degradation of disease-causing huntingtin protein containing long polyglutamine tracts and expand the Trim-Away toolbox with highly active TRIM21-nanobody chimeras that can also be controlled optogenetically. This work provides a mechanism for cellular activation of TRIM RING ligases and has implications for targeted protein degradation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Zeng
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ana Filipa Santos
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde and IBMC Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Aamir S. Mukadam
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mariana Osswald
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde and IBMC Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - David A. Jacques
- EMBL Australia Node, Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Claire F. Dickson
- EMBL Australia Node, Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Leo Kiss
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jakub Luptak
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nadine Renner
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marina Vaysburd
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - William A. McEwan
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Correspondence: William McEwan (); Eurico Morais-de-Sá (); Dean Clift (); Leo C. James ()
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde and IBMC Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Correspondence: William McEwan (); Eurico Morais-de-Sá (); Dean Clift (); Leo C. James ()
| | - Dean Clift
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK,Correspondence: William McEwan (); Eurico Morais-de-Sá (); Dean Clift (); Leo C. James ()
| | - Leo C. James
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK,Correspondence: William McEwan (); Eurico Morais-de-Sá (); Dean Clift (); Leo C. James ()
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9
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Ventura G, Moreira S, Barros-Carvalho A, Osswald M, Morais-de-Sá E. Lgl cortical dynamics are independent of binding to the Scrib-Dlg complex but require Dlg-dependent restriction of aPKC. Development 2020; 147:dev.186593. [PMID: 32665243 DOI: 10.1242/dev.186593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Apical-basal polarity underpins the formation of epithelial barriers that are crucial for metazoan physiology. Although apical-basal polarity is long known to require the basolateral determinants Lethal Giant Larvae (Lgl), Discs Large (Dlg) and Scribble (Scrib), mechanistic understanding of their function is limited. Lgl plays a role as an aPKC inhibitor, but it remains unclear whether Lgl also forms complexes with Dlg or Scrib. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we show that Lgl does not form immobile complexes at the lateral domain of Drosophila follicle cells. Optogenetic depletion of plasma membrane PIP2 or dlg mutants accelerate Lgl cortical dynamics. However, Dlg and Scrib are required only for Lgl localization and dynamic behavior in the presence of aPKC function. Furthermore, light-induced oligomerization of basolateral proteins indicates that Lgl is not part of the Scrib-Dlg complex in the follicular epithelium. Thus, Scrib and Dlg are necessary to repress aPKC activity in the lateral domain but do not provide cortical binding sites for Lgl. Our work therefore highlights that Lgl does not act in a complex but in parallel with Scrib-Dlg to antagonize apical determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Ventura
- i3S (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto) and IBMC (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Moreira
- i3S (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto) and IBMC (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - André Barros-Carvalho
- i3S (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto) and IBMC (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Osswald
- i3S (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto) and IBMC (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- i3S (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto) and IBMC (Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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10
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Moreira S, Osswald M, Ventura G, Gonçalves M, Sunkel CE, Morais-de-Sá E. PP1-Mediated Dephosphorylation of Lgl Controls Apical-basal Polarity. Cell Rep 2020; 26:293-301.e7. [PMID: 30625311 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.12.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Apical-basal polarity is a common trait that underlies epithelial function. Although the asymmetric distribution of cortical polarity proteins works in a functioning equilibrium, it also retains plasticity to accommodate cell division, during which the basolateral determinant Lgl is released from the cortex. Here, we investigated how Lgl restores its cortical localization to maintain the integrity of dividing epithelia. We show that cytoplasmic Lgl is reloaded to the cortex at mitotic exit in Drosophila epithelia. Lgl cortical localization depends on protein phosphatase 1, which dephosphorylates Lgl on the serines phosphorylated by aPKC and Aurora A kinases through a mechanism that relies on the regulatory subunit Sds22 and a PP1-interacting RVxF motif of Lgl. This mechanism maintains epithelial polarity and is of particular importance at mitotic exit to couple Lgl cortical reloading with the polarization of the apical domain. Hence, PP1-mediated dephosphorylation of Lgl preserves the apical-basal organization of proliferative epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Moreira
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Osswald
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Guilherme Ventura
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Margarida Gonçalves
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Claudio E Sunkel
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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11
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Afonso O, Castellani CM, Cheeseman LP, Ferreira JG, Orr B, Ferreira LT, Chambers JJ, Morais-de-Sá E, Maresca TJ, Maiato H. Spatiotemporal control of mitotic exit during anaphase by an aurora B-Cdk1 crosstalk. eLife 2019; 8:e47646. [PMID: 31424385 PMCID: PMC6706241 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the prevailing 'clock' model, chromosome decondensation and nuclear envelope reformation when cells exit mitosis are byproducts of Cdk1 inactivation at the metaphase-anaphase transition, controlled by the spindle assembly checkpoint. However, mitotic exit was recently shown to be a function of chromosome separation during anaphase, assisted by a midzone Aurora B phosphorylation gradient - the 'ruler' model. Here we found that Cdk1 remains active during anaphase due to ongoing APC/CCdc20- and APC/CCdh1-mediated degradation of B-type Cyclins in Drosophila and human cells. Failure to degrade B-type Cyclins during anaphase prevented mitotic exit in a Cdk1-dependent manner. Cyclin B1-Cdk1 localized at the spindle midzone in an Aurora B-dependent manner, with incompletely separated chromosomes showing the highest Cdk1 activity. Slowing down anaphase chromosome motion delayed Cyclin B1 degradation and mitotic exit in an Aurora B-dependent manner. Thus, a crosstalk between molecular 'rulers' and 'clocks' licenses mitotic exit only after proper chromosome separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Afonso
- Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Group, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | | | - Liam P Cheeseman
- Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Group, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Jorge G Ferreira
- Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Group, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Cell Division Group, Experimental Biology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Bernardo Orr
- Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Group, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Luisa T Ferreira
- Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Group, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - James J Chambers
- Institute for Applied Life SciencesUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Epithelial Polarity & Cell Division Group, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Thomas J Maresca
- Biology DepartmentUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate ProgramUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| | - Helder Maiato
- Chromosome Instability & Dynamics Group, i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Cell Division Group, Experimental Biology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
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12
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Osswald M, Santos AF, Morais-de-Sá E. Light-Induced Protein Clustering for Optogenetic Interference and Protein Interaction Analysis in Drosophila S2 Cells. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9020061. [PMID: 30759894 PMCID: PMC6406598 DOI: 10.3390/biom9020061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cells are a simple and powerful system commonly used in cell biology because they are well suited for high resolution microscopy and RNAi-mediated depletion. However, understanding dynamic processes, such as cell division, also requires methodology to interfere with protein function with high spatiotemporal control. In this research study, we report the adaptation of an optogenetic tool to Drosophila S2 cells. Light-activated reversible inhibition by assembled trap (LARIAT) relies on the rapid light-dependent heterodimerization between cryptochrome 2 (CRY2) and cryptochrome-interacting bHLH 1 (CIB1) to form large protein clusters. An anti-green fluorescent protein (GFP) nanobody fused with CRY2 allows this method to quickly trap any GFP-tagged protein in these light-induced protein clusters. We evaluated clustering kinetics in response to light for different LARIAT modules, and showed the ability of GFP-LARIAT to inactivate the mitotic protein Mps1 and to disrupt the membrane localization of the polarity regulator Lethal Giant Larvae (Lgl). Moreover, we validated light-induced co-clustering assays to assess protein-protein interactions in S2 cells. In conclusion, GFP-based LARIAT is a versatile tool to answer different biological questions, since it enables probing of dynamic processes and protein-protein interactions with high spatiotemporal resolution in Drosophila S2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Osswald
- Epithelial Polarity and Cell Division, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
| | - A Filipa Santos
- Epithelial Polarity and Cell Division, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Epithelial Polarity and Cell Division, i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
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13
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Abstract
Cytokinesis completes cell division by physically separating the contents of the mother cell between the two daughter cells. This event requires the highly coordinated reorganization of the cytoskeleton within a precise window of time to ensure faithful genomic segregation. In addition, recent progress in the field highlighted the importance of cytokinesis in providing particularly important cues in the context of multicellular tissues. The organization of the cytokinetic machinery and the asymmetric localization or inheritance of the midbody remnants is critical to define the spatial distribution of mechanical and biochemical signals. After a brief overview of the conserved steps of animal cytokinesis, we review the mechanisms controlling polarized cytokinesis focusing on the challenges of epithelial cytokinesis. Finally, we discuss the significance of these asymmetries in defining embryonic body axes, determining cell fate, and ensuring the correct propagation of epithelial organization during proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Thieleke-Matos
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cell Division and Genomic stability, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, and i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - D S Osório
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cytoskeletal Dynamics, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, and i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - A X Carvalho
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cytoskeletal Dynamics, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, and i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - E Morais-de-Sá
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cell Division and Genomic stability, IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, and i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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14
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Abstract
Intracellular asymmetries, often termed cell polarity, determine how cells organize and divide to ultimately control cell fate and shape animal tissues. The tumor suppressor Lethal giant larvae (Lgl) functions at the core of the evolutionarily conserved cell polarity machinery that controls apico-basal polarization. This function relies on its restricted basolateral localization via phosphorylation by aPKC. Here, we summarize the spatial and temporal control of Lgl during the cell cycle, highlighting two ideas that emerged from our recent findings: 1) Aurora A directly phosphorylates Lgl during symmetric division to couple reorganization of epithelial polarity with the cell cycle; 2) Phosphorylation of Lgl within three conserved serines controls its localization and function in a site-specific manner. Considering the importance of phosphorylation to regulate the concentration of Lgl at the plasma membrane, we will further discuss how it may work as an on-off switch for the interaction with cortical binding partners, with implications on epithelial polarization and spindle orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Moreira
- a IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal.,b I3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- a IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal.,b I3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal
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15
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Carvalho CA, Moreira S, Ventura G, Sunkel CE, Morais-de-Sá E. Aurora A triggers Lgl cortical release during symmetric division to control planar spindle orientation. Curr Biol 2014; 25:53-60. [PMID: 25484294 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.10.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mitotic spindle orientation is essential to control cell-fate specification and epithelial architecture. The tumor suppressor Lgl localizes to the basolateral cortex of epithelial cells, where it acts together with Dlg and Scrib to organize apicobasal polarity. Dlg and Scrib also control planar spindle orientation, but how the organization of polarity complexes is adjusted to control symmetric division is largely unknown. Here, we show that the Dlg complex is remodeled during Drosophila follicular epithelium cell division, when Lgl is released to the cytoplasm. Lgl redistribution during epithelial mitosis is reminiscent of asymmetric cell division, where it is proposed that Aurora A promotes aPKC activation to control the localization of Lgl and cell-fate determinants. We show that Aurora A controls Lgl localization directly, triggering its cortical release at early prophase in both epithelial and S2 cells. This relies on double phosphorylation within the putative aPKC phosphorylation site, which is required and sufficient for Lgl cortical release during mitosis and can be achieved by a combination of aPKC and Aurora A activities. Cortical retention of Lgl disrupts planar spindle orientation, but only when Lgl mutants that can bind Dlg are expressed. Hence, our work reveals that Lgl mitotic cortical release is not specifically linked to the asymmetric segregation of fate determinants, and we propose that Aurora A activation breaks the Dlg/Lgl interaction to allow planar spindle orientation during symmetric division via the Pins (LGN)/Dlg pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia A Carvalho
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Moreira
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Guilherme Ventura
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudio E Sunkel
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.
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16
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Abstract
The Drosophila anterior-posterior axis is specified when the posterior follicle cells signal to polarise the oocyte, leading to the anterior/lateral localisation of the Par-6/aPKC complex and the posterior recruitment of Par-1, which induces a microtubule reorganisation that localises bicoid and oskar mRNAs. Here we show that oocyte polarity requires Slmb, the substrate specificity subunit of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets proteins for degradation. The Par-6/aPKC complex is ectopically localised to the posterior of slmb mutant oocytes, and Par-1 and oskar mRNA are mislocalised. Slmb appears to play a related role in epithelial follicle cells, as large slmb mutant clones disrupt epithelial organisation, whereas small clones show an expansion of the apical domain, with increased accumulation of apical polarity factors at the apical cortex. The levels of aPKC and Par-6 are significantly increased in slmb mutants, whereas Baz is slightly reduced. Thus, Slmb may induce the polarisation of the anterior-posterior axis of the oocyte by targeting the Par-6/aPKC complex for degradation at the oocyte posterior. Consistent with this, overexpression of the aPKC antagonist Lgl strongly rescues the polarity defects of slmb mutant germline clones. The role of Slmb in oocyte polarity raises an intriguing parallel with C. elegans axis formation, in which PAR-2 excludes the anterior PAR complex from the posterior cortex to induce polarity, but its function can be substituted by overexpressing Lgl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- The Gurdon Institute, The Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Avik Mukherjee
- The Gurdon Institute, The Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Nick Lowe
- The Gurdon Institute, The Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Daniel St Johnston
- The Gurdon Institute, The Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
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17
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Affiliation(s)
- Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC); Universidade do Porto; Porto, Portugal
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18
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Morais-de-Sá E, Sunkel C. Adherens junctions determine the apical position of the midbody during follicular epithelial cell division. EMBO Rep 2013; 14:696-703. [PMID: 23774295 DOI: 10.1038/embor.2013.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Revised: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokinesis is asymmetric along the apical-basal axis of epithelial cells, positioning the midbody near the apical domain. However, little is known about the mechanism and purpose of this asymmetry. We use live imaging of Drosophila follicle cell division to show that asymmetric cytokinesis does not result from intrinsic polarization of the main contractile ring components. We show that adherens junctions (AJs) maintain close contact with the apical side of the contractile ring during cytokinesis. Asymmetric distribution of AJ components within follicle cells and in the otherwise unpolarized S2 cells is sufficient to recruit the midbody, revealing that asymmetric cytokinesis is determined by apical AJs in the epithelia. We further show that ectopic midbody localization induces epithelial invaginations, shifting the position of the apical interface between daughter cells relative to the AB axis of the tissue. Thus, apical midbody localization is essential to maintain epithelial tissue architecture during proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, Porto P-4150-180, Portugal
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19
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Takeo S, Lake CM, Morais-de-Sá E, Sunkel CE, Hawley RS. Synaptonemal complex-dependent centromeric clustering and the initiation of synapsis in Drosophila oocytes. Curr Biol 2011; 21:1845-51. [PMID: 22036182 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Revised: 08/26/2011] [Accepted: 09/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The pairing of homologous chromosomes and the intimate synapsis of the paired homologs by the synaptonemal complex (SC) are essential for subsequent meiotic processes including recombination and chromosome segregation. Here we show that the centromere clustering plays an important role in initiating homolog synapsis during meiosis in Drosophila females. Although centromeres are not clustered prior to the onset of meiosis, all four pairs of centromeres are actively clustered into one or two masses during early meiotic prophase. Within the 16-cell cyst, centromeric clustering appears to define the first step in the initiation of synapsis. Clustering is restricted to the nuclei that form the SC and is dependent on all known SC proteins. Surprisingly, both centromeric clusters and the SC components associated with them persist long after the disassembly of the euchromatic SC at the end of pachytene. The initiation of homologous recombination through the formation of programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) is not required for either the formation or the maintenance of the centromeric clusters. Our data support a view in which the SC-mediated clustering at the centromeres is the initiating event for meiotic synapsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Takeo
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
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Morais-de-Sá E, Mirouse V, St Johnston D. aPKC phosphorylation of Bazooka defines the apical/lateral border in Drosophila epithelial cells. Cell 2010; 141:509-23. [PMID: 20434988 PMCID: PMC2885938 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2009] [Revised: 01/08/2010] [Accepted: 02/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bazooka (PAR-3), PAR-6, and aPKC form a complex that plays a key role in the polarization of many cell types. In epithelial cells, however, Bazooka localizes below PAR-6 and aPKC at the apical/lateral junction. Here, we show that Baz is excluded from the apical aPKC domain in epithelia by aPKC phosphorylation, which disrupts the Baz/aPKC interaction. Removal of Baz from the complex is epithelial-specific because it also requires the Crumbs complex, which prevents the Baz/PAR-6 interaction. In the absence of Crumbs or aPKC phosphorylation of Baz, mislocalized Baz recruits adherens junction components apically, leading to a loss of the apical domain and an expansion of lateral. Thus, apical exclusion of Baz by Crumbs and aPKC defines the apical/lateral border. Although Baz acts as an aPKC targeting and specificity factor in nonepithelial cells, our results reveal that it performs a complementary function in positioning the adherens junction in epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- The Gurdon Institute and the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
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Morais-de-Sá E, Neto-Silva RM, Pereira PJB, Saraiva MJ, Damas AM. The binding of 2,4-dinitrophenol to wild-type and amyloidogenic transthyretin. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 2006; 62:512-9. [PMID: 16627944 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444906006962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2006] [Accepted: 02/25/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Systemic deposition of transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils is always observed in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, senile systemic amyloidosis and familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy patients. Destabilization of the molecule leads to a cascade of events which result in fibril formation. The destabilization of a native protein with consequent conformational changes appears to be a common link in several human amyloid diseases. Intensive research has been directed towards finding small molecules that could work as therapeutic agents for the prevention/inhibition of amyloid diseases through stabilization of the native fold of the potentially amyloidogenic protein. This work provides insight into the structural determinants of the highly stabilizing effects of 2,4-dinitrophenol on wild-type TTR. It is also shown that similar interactions are established between this molecule and two highly amyloidogenic TTR variants: TTR L55P and TTR Y78F. In the three crystal complexes, 2,4-dinitrophenol occupies the two hormone-binding sites of the TTR tetramer. As a result of 2,4-dinitrophenol binding, the two dimers in the TTR tetramer become closer, increasing the stability of the protein. The three-dimensional structures now determined allow a comprehensive description of key interactions between transthyretin and 2,4-dinitrophenol, a small compound that holds promise as a template for the design of a therapeutical drug for amyloid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular-IBMC, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
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Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetrameric plasma protein that, in conditions not yet completely understood, may aggregate, forming the fibrillar material associated with TTR amyloidosis. A number of reported experiments indicate that dissociation of the TTR tetramer occurs prior to fibril formation, and therefore, studies aiming at the discovery of compounds that stabilize the protein quaternary structure, thereby acting as amyloid inhibitors, are being performed. The ability of diethylstilbestrol (DES) to act as a competitive inhibitor for the thyroid hormone binding to TTR indicated a possible stabilizing effect of DES upon binding. Here we report the crystallographic study of DES binding to TTR. The structural data reveal two different binding modes, both located in the thyroxine binding channel. In both cases, DES binds deeply in the channel and establishes interactions with the equivalent molecule present in the adjacent binding site. The most remarkable features of DES interaction with TTR are its hydrophobic interactions within the protein halogen binding pockets, where its ethyl groups are snugly fitted, and the hydrogen bonds established at the center of the tetramer with Ser-117. Experiments concerning amyloid formation in vitro suggest that DES is effectively an amyloid inhibitor in acid-mediated fibrillogenesis and may be used for the design of more powerful drugs. The present study gave us further insight in the molecular mechanism by which DES competes with thyroid hormone binding to TTR and highlights key interactions between DES and TTR that oppose amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- Molecular Structure and Molecular Neurobiology, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Number 823, 4150 Porto, Portugal
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