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BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024Fungal plasma membrane proteins represent key therapeutic targets for antifungal agents, yet their structure and spatial distribution in the native context remain poorly...
Fungal plasma membrane proteins represent key therapeutic targets for antifungal agents, yet their structure and spatial distribution in the native context remain poorly characterized. Herein, we employ an integrative multimodal approach to elucidate the structural and functional organization of plasma membrane protein complexes in , focusing on prominent and essential membrane proteins, the polysaccharide synthase β-(1,3)-glucan synthase (GS) and the proton pump Pma1. Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and live cell imaging reveal that GS and Pma1 are heterogeneously distributed into distinct plasma membrane microdomains. Treatment with caspofungin, an echinocandin antifungal that targets GS, alters the plasma membrane and disrupts the native distribution of GS and Pma1. Based on these findings, we propose a model for echinocandin action that considers how drug interactions with the plasma membrane environment lead to inhibition of GS. Our work underscores the importance of interrogating the structural and dynamic characteristics of fungal plasma membrane proteins to understand function and facilitate precisely targeted development of novel antifungal therapies.
PubMed: 38854035
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596243 -
Plant Communications Jun 2024The soybean root system is complex. In addition to being composed of various cell types, the soybean root system includes the primary root, the lateral roots, and the...
The soybean root system is complex. In addition to being composed of various cell types, the soybean root system includes the primary root, the lateral roots, and the nodule, an organ in which mutualistic symbiosis with the N-fixing rhizobia occurs. A mature soybean root nodule is characterized by a central infection zone where the atmospheric nitrogen is fixed and assimilated by the symbiont, resulting from the close cooperation between the plant cell and the bacteria. To date, the transcriptome of individual cells isolated from developing soybean nodules has been established, but the transcriptomic signatures of the cells of the mature soybean nodule have not yet been characterized. Applying single nucleus RNA-seq and Molecular Cartography technologies, we precisely characterized the transcriptomic signature of the soybean root and mature nodule cell types and revealed the co-existence of different sub-populations of B. diazoefficiens-infected cells in the mature soybean nodule including those actively involved in nitrogen fixation, and those engaged in senescence. The mining of the single cell-resolution nodule transcriptome atlas and associated gene co-expression network confirmed the role of known nodulation-related genes and identified new genes controlling the nodulation process. For instance, we functionally characterized the role of GmFWL3, a plasma membrane microdomain-associated protein controlling rhizobia infection. Our study reveals the unique cellular complexity of the mature soybean nodule and helps redefine the concept of cell types when considering the infection zone of the soybean nodule.
PubMed: 38845198
DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100984 -
ELife Jun 2024The organelles of eukaryotic cells maintain distinct protein and lipid compositions required for their specific functions. The mechanisms by which many of these...
The organelles of eukaryotic cells maintain distinct protein and lipid compositions required for their specific functions. The mechanisms by which many of these components are sorted to their specific locations remain unknown. While some motifs mediating subcellular protein localization have been identified, many membrane proteins and most membrane lipids lack known sorting determinants. A putative mechanism for sorting of membrane components is based on membrane domains known as lipid rafts, which are laterally segregated nanoscopic assemblies of specific lipids and proteins. To assess the role of such domains in the secretory pathway, we applied a robust tool for synchronized secretory protein traffic (RUSH, etention sing elective ooks) to protein constructs with defined affinity for raft phases. These constructs consist solely of single-pass transmembrane domains (TMDs) and, lacking other sorting determinants, constitute probes for membrane domain-mediated trafficking. We find that while raft affinity can be sufficient for steady-state PM localization, it is not sufficient for rapid exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is instead mediated by a short cytosolic peptide motif. In contrast, we find that Golgi exit kinetics are highly dependent on raft affinity, with raft preferring probes exiting the Golgi ~2.5-fold faster than probes with minimal raft affinity. We rationalize these observations with a kinetic model of secretory trafficking, wherein Golgi export can be facilitated by protein association with raft domains. These observations support a role for raft-like membrane domains in the secretory pathway and establish an experimental paradigm for dissecting its underlying machinery.
Topics: Protein Transport; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Golgi Apparatus; Membrane Microdomains; Secretory Pathway; Humans; Kinetics; Cell Membrane; Membrane Proteins; HeLa Cells
PubMed: 38837189
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.89306 -
Archives of Dermatological Research Jun 2024Lichen planopilaris (LPP) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) are primary cicatricial alopecia that cause a major impact on quality of life due to irreversible hair...
Lichen planopilaris (LPP) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) are primary cicatricial alopecia that cause a major impact on quality of life due to irreversible hair loss and symptoms as itching, burning and pain. They are characterized by permanent loss of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) by pathomechanisms still poorly understood, resulting in poor efficacy of currently available treatments. Caveolae are flask-shaped lipid rafts invaginated within the plasma membrane of multiple cell types. Although their role in the HF physiology and pathophysiology is relatively unknown, we have previously demonstrated that the primary structural component of caveolae (caveolin-1 or Cav1) is upregulated in FFA. Thus, we propose to investigate the expression and localization of caveolae-associated structural proteins (Cav1, Cav2, and Cavin-1) and HFSCs (identified by K15) in both LPP and FFA. We analyzed 4 patients with LPP biopsied in affected and non-affected (NA) scalp, 4 patients with FFA biopsied in affected scalp and 4 healthy controls. Affected scalp of LPP and FFA demonstrated increased levels of Cav1 and Cavin-1 compared with HC and LPP-NA. Moreover, Cav1, Cav2 and Cavin1 all exhibit high colocalization with K15 and their expression appears to be negatively correlated, supporting the hypothesis that these proteins are important players in LPP/FFA and may serve as therapeutic targets in future treatments.
Topics: Humans; Alopecia; Hair Follicle; Lichen Planus; Up-Regulation; Middle Aged; Female; Caveolin 1; Male; Caveolae; Scalp; Adult; Keratin-15; Aged; Biopsy; Fibrosis; Stem Cells; RNA-Binding Proteins
PubMed: 38837051
DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03153-3 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024Calcineurin (CN), the only Ca -calmodulin activated protein phosphatase, dephosphorylates substrates within membrane-associated Ca microdomains. CN binds to substrates...
Calcineurin (CN), the only Ca -calmodulin activated protein phosphatase, dephosphorylates substrates within membrane-associated Ca microdomains. CN binds to substrates and regulators via short linear motifs (SLIMs), PxIxIT and LxVP. PxIxIT binding to CN is Ca independent and affects its distribution, while LxVP associates only with the active enzyme and promotes catalysis. 31 human proteins contain one or more composite 'LxVPxIxIT' motifs, whose functional properties have not been examined. Here we report studies of calcimembrin/C16orf74 (CLMB), a largely uncharacterized protein containing a composite motif that binds and directs CN to membranes. We demonstrate that CLMB associates with membranes via N-myristoylation and dynamic S-acylation and is dephosphorylated by CN on Thr44. The LxVP and PxIxIT portions of the CLMB composite sequence, together with Thr44 phosphorylation, confer high affinity PxIxIT-mediated binding to CN (KD∼8.9 nM) via an extended, LxVPxIxITxx(p)T sequence. This binding promotes CLMB-based targeting of CN to membranes, but also protects Thr44 from dephosphorylation. Thus, we propose that CN dephosphorylates CLMB in multimeric complexes, where one CLMB molecule recruits CN to membranes via PxIxIT binding, allowing others to engage through their LxVP motif for dephosphorylation. This unique mechanism makes dephosphorylation sensitive to CLMB:CN ratios and is supported by and analyses. CLMB overexpression is associated with poor prognoses for several cancers, suggesting that it promotes oncogenesis by shaping CN signaling.
PubMed: 38798520
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.12.593783 -
Current Opinion in Cell Biology Jun 2024Caveolae are atypical plasma membrane invaginations that take part in lipid sorting and regulation of oxidative and mechanical plasma membrane stress. Caveola formation... (Review)
Review
Caveolae are atypical plasma membrane invaginations that take part in lipid sorting and regulation of oxidative and mechanical plasma membrane stress. Caveola formation requires caveolin, cavin, and specific lipid types. The recent advances in understanding the structure and assembly of caveolin and cavin complexes within the membrane context have clarified the fundamental processes underlying caveola biogenesis. In addition, the curvature of the caveola membrane is controlled by the regulatory proteins EHD2, pacsin2, and dynamin2, which also function to restrain the scission of caveolae from the plasma membrane (PM). Here, this is integrated with novel insights on caveolae as lipid and mechanosensing complexes that can dynamically flatten or disassemble to counteract mechanical, and oxidative stress.
Topics: Humans; Caveolae; Cell Membrane; Animals; Caveolins
PubMed: 38788266
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102371 -
Cardiovascular Research May 2024Gene therapy with cardiac phosphodiesterases (PDEs) such as PDE4B has recently been described to effectively prevent heart failure in mice. However, exact molecular...
AIMS
Gene therapy with cardiac phosphodiesterases (PDEs) such as PDE4B has recently been described to effectively prevent heart failure in mice. However, exact molecular mechanisms of its beneficial effects, apart from general lowering of cardiomyocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, have not been elucidated. Here we studied whether gene therapy with two types of PDEs, namely PDE2A and PDE4B, can prevent pressure-overload induced heart failure in mice by acting on and restoring altered cAMP compartmentalization in distinct subcellular microdomains.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Heart failure was induced by transverse aortic constriction followed by tail-vein injection of adeno-associated-virus type 9 vectors to overexpress PDE2A3, PDE4B3 or luciferase for 8 weeks. Heart morphology and function was assessed by echocardiography and histology which showed that PDE2A and especially PDE4B gene therapy could attenuate cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis and decline of contractile function. Live cell imaging using targeted cAMP biosensors showed that PDE overexpression restored altered cAMP compartmentalization in microdomains associated with ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) and caveolin-rich plasma membrane. This was accompanied by ameliorated caveolin-3 decline after PDE2A3 overexpression, reduced RyR2 phosphorylation in PDE4B3 overexpressing hearts and antiarrhythmic effects of both PDEs measured under isoproterenol stimulation in single cells. Strong association of overexpressed PDE4B but not PDE2A with RyR2 microdomain could prevent calcium leak and arrhythmias in human induced pluripotent stem derived cardiomyocytes with the A2254 V mutation in RyR2 causing catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that gene therapy with phosphodiesterases can prevent heart failure including associated cardiac remodeling and arrhythmias by restoring altered cAMP compartmentalization in functionally relevant subcellular microdomains.
PubMed: 38776406
DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae094 -
Molecular Aspects of Medicine Jun 2024The first line of defense against viral infection of the host cell is the cellular lipid membrane, which is also a crucial first site of contact for viruses. Lipids may... (Review)
Review
The first line of defense against viral infection of the host cell is the cellular lipid membrane, which is also a crucial first site of contact for viruses. Lipids may sometimes be used as viral receptors by viruses. For effective infection, viruses significantly depend on lipid rafts during the majority of the viral life cycle. It has been discovered that different viruses employ different lipid raft modification methods for attachment, internalization, membrane fusion, genome replication, assembly, and release. To preserve cellular homeostasis, cells have potent antioxidant, detoxifying, and cytoprotective capabilities. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), widely expressed in many tissues and cell types, is one crucial component controlling electrophilic and oxidative stress (OS). NRF2 has recently been given novel tasks, including controlling inflammation and antiviral interferon (IFN) responses. The activation of NRF2 has two effects: it may both promote and prevent the development of viral diseases. NRF2 may also alter the host's metabolism and innate immunity during viral infection. However, its primary function in viral infections is to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). In several research, the impact of NRF2 on lipid metabolism has been examined. NRF2 is also involved in the control of lipids during viral infection. We evaluated NRF2's function in controlling viral and lipid infections in this research. We also looked at how lipids function in viral infections. Finally, we investigated the role of NRF2 in lipid modulation during viral infections.
Topics: NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Humans; Virus Diseases; Lipid Metabolism; Animals; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; Membrane Microdomains; Immunity, Innate; Host-Pathogen Interactions
PubMed: 38772081
DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101279 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation May 2024Endothelial cells (ECs) in the descending aorta are exposed to high laminar shear stress, and this supports an anti-inflammatory phenotype. High laminar shear stress...
Endothelial cells (ECs) in the descending aorta are exposed to high laminar shear stress, and this supports an anti-inflammatory phenotype. High laminar shear stress also induces flow-aligned cell elongation and front-rear polarity, but whether these are required for the anti-inflammatory phenotype is unclear. Here, we showed that Caveolin-1-rich microdomains polarize to the downstream end of ECs that are exposed to continuous high laminar flow. These microdomains were characterized by high membrane rigidity, filamentous actin (F-actin), and raft-associated lipids. Transient receptor potential vanilloid-type 4 (TRPV4) ion channels were ubiquitously expressed on the plasma membrane but mediated localized Ca2+ entry only at these microdomains where they physically interacted with clustered Caveolin-1. These focal Ca2+ bursts activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) within the confines of these domains. Importantly, we found that signaling at these domains required both cell body elongation and sustained flow. Finally, TRPV4 signaling at these domains was necessary and sufficient to suppress inflammatory gene expression, and exogenous activation of TRPV4 channels ameliorated the inflammatory response to stimuli both in vitro and in vivo. Our work revealed a polarized mechanosensitive signaling hub in arterial ECs that dampens inflammatory gene expression and promotes cell resilience.
PubMed: 38771648
DOI: 10.1172/JCI175057 -
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences 2024Advances in molecular targeting of ion channels may open up new avenues for therapeutic approaches in cancer based on the cells' bioelectric properties. In addition to...
INTRODUCTION
Advances in molecular targeting of ion channels may open up new avenues for therapeutic approaches in cancer based on the cells' bioelectric properties. In addition to or models, models can provide deeper insight into the complex role of electrophysiology in cancer and reveal the impact of altered ion channel expression and the membrane potential on malignant processes. The A549 model is the first computational cancer whole-cell ion current model that simulates the bioelectric mechanisms of the human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 during the different phases of the cell cycle. This work extends the existing model with a detailed mathematical description of the store-operated Ca entry (SOCE) and the complex local intracellular calcium dynamics, which significantly affect the entire electrophysiological properties of the cell and regulate cell cycle progression.
METHODS
The initial model was extended by a multicompartmental approach, addressing the heterogenous calcium profile and dynamics in the ER-PM junction provoked by local calcium entry of store-operated calcium channels (SOCs) and uptake by SERCA pumps. Changes of cytosolic calcium levels due to diffusion from the ER-PM junction, release from the ER by RyR channels and IP3 receptors, as well as corresponding PM channels were simulated and the dynamics evaluated based on calcium imaging data. The model parameters were fitted to available data from two published experimental studies, showing the function of CRAC channels and indirectly of IP3R, RyR and PMCA via changes of the cytosolic calcium levels.
RESULTS
The proposed calcium description accurately reproduces the dynamics of calcium imaging data and simulates the SOCE mechanisms. In addition, simulations of the combined A549-SOCE model in distinct phases of the cell cycle demonstrate how Ca - dynamics influence responding channels such as KCa, and consequently modulate the membrane potential accordingly.
DISCUSSION
Local calcium distribution and time evolution in microdomains of the cell significantly impact the overall electrophysiological properties and exert control over cell cycle progression. By providing a more profound description, the extended A549-SOCE model represents an important step on the route towards a valid model for oncological research and supported development of novel therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 38770217
DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1394398