Quantification of organelle contact sites by split-GFP-based contact site sensors (SPLICS) in living cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tito Calì ◽  
Marisa Brini
Keyword(s):  
Living Cells ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Contact Sites

New horizons in mitochondrial contact site research

2020 ◽  
Vol 401 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 793-809
Author(s):  
Naama Zung ◽  
Maya Schuldiner
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Future Goals ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Site Field ◽  
First Contact

AbstractContact sites, areas where two organelles are held in close proximity through the action of molecular tethers, enable non-vesicular communication between compartments. Mitochondria have been center stage in the contact site field since the discovery of the first contact between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) over 60 years ago. However, only now, in the last decade, has there been a burst of discoveries regarding contact site biology in general and mitochondrial contacts specifically. The number and types of characterized contacts increased dramatically, new molecular mechanisms enabling contact formation were discovered, additional unexpected functions for contacts were shown, and their roles in cellular and organismal physiology were emphasized. Here, we focus on mitochondria as we highlight the most recent developments, future goals and unresolved questions in the field.

scholarly journals Identifying Common Features in the Activation of Melanocortin-2 Receptors: Studies on the Xenopus tropicalis Melanocortin-2 Receptor

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 4166
Author(s):  
Perry E. Davis ◽  
Emily C. Wilkinson ◽  
Robert M. Dores
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Extracellular Space ◽  
Xenopus Tropicalis ◽  
Melanocortin Receptors ◽  
Pituitary Hormone ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
The Common

The interaction between the pituitary hormone, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R) orthologs involves the H6 F7 R8 W9 and R/K15 K16 R17 R18 motifs in ACTH making contact with corresponding contact sites on MC2R. Earlier studies have localized the common HFRW binding site of all melanocortin receptors to residues in TM2, TM3, and TM6 that are located close to the extracellular space. The current study has identified residues in Xenopus tropicalis (xt) MC2R in TM4 (I158, F161), in EC2 (M166), and in TM5 (V172) that also are involved in activation of xtMC2R, and may be in the R/KKRR contact site of xtMC2R. These results are compared to earlier studies on the corresponding domains of human MC2R and rainbow trout MC2R in an effort to identify common features in the activation of teleost and tetrapod MC2R orthologs following stimulation with ACTH.

scholarly journals Supermotifs enable natural invariant chain-derived peptides to interact with many major histocompatibility complex-class II molecules.

1995 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Malcherek ◽  
V Gnau ◽  
G Jung ◽  
H G Rammensee ◽  
A Melms
Keyword(s):  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Invariant Chain ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Natural Ligands ◽  
Specific Contact ◽  
Allele Specific

Class II-associated invariant chain peptides (CLIPs) compete with natural allele-specific ligands for binding to several purified HLA-DR molecules. Truncation and substitution analysis showed that a minimal sequence of 13 amino acids is sufficient for excellent binding to DR17 and DR1. Hydrophobic residues at relative positions 1 and 9 (P1 and P9) which are shared among these DR-ligands, and are found to be anchored in complementary pockets by x-ray crystallography allow specific binding. Two flanking residues at either end next to the specific contact sites Met107 and Met115 contribute to binding irrespective of their side chains, suggesting H-bonds to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. Thus, CLIPs behave like conventional ligands, however, lack their allele-specific contact sites. Introduction of the DR17-specific contact site aspartate at P4 dramatically improves invariant chain-peptide binding to DR17, but reduces DR1 binding. By contrast, binding to DR1, but not DR17 is strongly improved after introduction of the DR1-specific contact site alanine at P6. In addition, analyzing the fine specificity of the hydrophobic contact sites at P1 and P9, CLIP variants reflected the allele-specific preferences of DR17- or DR1-ligands, respectively, for aliphatic or aromatic residues. Alignment studies suggest that CLIPs are designed for promiscuous binding in the groove of many MHC class II molecules by taking advantage of one or more supermotifs. One such supermotif, for example, does not include the DR17-specific contact site aspartate at P4, which in conventional natural ligands like Apolipoprotein (2877-94) is necessary to confer a stable conformation. Introduction of aspartate at P4 generates a CLIP variant that is stable in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, such as allele-specific ligands. Studying the stability of class II-CLIP complexes at pH 5, we found that CLIPs, similar to anchor-amputated ligands, can be released from class II molecules, in contrast to conventional natural ligands, which were irreversibly bound. Taken together, our data provide compelling evidence that CLIP peptides bind into the class II groove.

scholarly journals Competitive organelle-specific adaptors recruit Vps13 to membrane contact sites

2018 ◽  
Vol 217 (10) ◽  
pp. 3593-3607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn D.M. Bean ◽  
Samantha K. Dziurdzik ◽  
Kathleen L. Kolehmainen ◽  
Claire M.S. Fowler ◽  
Waldan K. Kwong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeat Region ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Sorting Nexin ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Prospore Membrane ◽  
Membrane Contacts ◽  
Membrane Contact ◽  
Vacuolar Membranes ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Protein

The regulated expansion of membrane contact sites, which mediate the nonvesicular exchange of lipids between organelles, requires the recruitment of additional contact site proteins. Yeast Vps13 dynamically localizes to membrane contacts that connect the ER, mitochondria, endosomes, and vacuoles and is recruited to the prospore membrane in meiosis, but its targeting mechanism is unclear. In this study, we identify the sorting nexin Ypt35 as a novel adaptor that recruits Vps13 to endosomal and vacuolar membranes. We characterize an interaction motif in the Ypt35 N terminus and identify related motifs in the prospore membrane adaptor Spo71 and the mitochondrial membrane protein Mcp1. We find that Mcp1 is a mitochondrial adaptor for Vps13, and the Vps13–Mcp1 interaction, but not Ypt35, is required when ER-mitochondria contacts are lost. All three adaptors compete for binding to a conserved six-repeat region of Vps13 implicated in human disease. Our results support a competition-based model for regulating Vps13 localization at cellular membranes.

scholarly journals Uniform nomenclature for the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system

2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (7) ◽  
pp. 1083-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaus Pfanner ◽  
Martin van der Laan ◽  
Paolo Amati ◽  
Roderick A. Capaldi ◽  
Amy A. Caudy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Protein ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Large Protein Complex ◽  
Membrane Contact ◽  
Uniform Nomenclature

The mitochondrial inner membrane contains a large protein complex that functions in inner membrane organization and formation of membrane contact sites. The complex was variably named the mitochondrial contact site complex, mitochondrial inner membrane organizing system, mitochondrial organizing structure, or Mitofilin/Fcj1 complex. To facilitate future studies, we propose to unify the nomenclature and term the complex “mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system” and its subunits Mic10 to Mic60.

scholarly journals A putative ER-PM contact site complex relocalizes in response to Rare Earth Elements –induced endocytosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
EunKyoung Lee ◽  
Brenda Vila Nova Santana ◽  
Elizabeth Samuels ◽  
Francisco Benitez-Fuente ◽  
Erica Corsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Lipid Binding ◽  
Environmental Stressors ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Stress Signaling ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved

ABSTRACTIn plant cells, environmental stressors induce changes in the cytosolic concentration of calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) that are transduced by Ca2+-sensing proteins. To confer specificity to the stress signaling response, [Ca2+]cyt sensing must be tightly regulated in space and time; the molecular mechanisms that restrict the localization and dynamics of Ca2+ sensors in plants, however, are largely unknown. In this report, we identify a putative Ca2+-sensitive complex containing the synaptotagmins 1 and 5 (SYT1 and SYT5) and the Ca2+-dependent lipid binding protein (CLB1), which is enriched at ER-PM contact sites (EPCS) and relocalizes in response to Rare Earth Elements (REEs)-induced endocytosis. Our results show that endocytosed REEs influence cytosolic Ca2+ signaling, as indicated by the activation of the Ca2+/Calmodulin-based ratiometric sensor GCaMP3, and promote the cytoskeleton-dependent accumulation of ER-PM contact sites at the cell cortex. Based on these results, we propose that the EPCS-localized SYT1/SYT5/CLB1 complex is part of an evolutionarily conserved and spatially regulated Ca2+-responsive mechanism that control cER-PM communication during stress episodes.

scholarly journals The Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Encounter Structure Complex Coordinates Coenzyme Q Biosynthesis

Contact ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 251525641882540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Eisenberg-Bord ◽  
Hui S. Tsui ◽  
Diana Antunes ◽  
Lucía Fernández-del-Río ◽  
Michelle C. Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Coenzyme Q ◽  
Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Spatial Coordination ◽  
Electron Carrier ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Additional Level ◽  
Null Mutants

Loss of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES) complex that resides in contact sites between the yeast ER and mitochondria leads to impaired respiration; however, the reason for that is not clear. We find that in ERMES null mutants, there is an increase in the level of mRNAs encoding for biosynthetic enzymes of coenzyme Q6 (CoQ6), an essential electron carrier of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. We show that the mega complexes involved in CoQ6 biosynthesis (CoQ synthomes) are destabilized in ERMES mutants. This, in turn, affects the level and distribution of CoQ6 within the cell, resulting in reduced mitochondrial CoQ6. We suggest that these outcomes contribute to the reduced respiration observed in ERMES mutants. Fluorescence microscopy experiments demonstrate close proximity between the CoQ synthome and ERMES, suggesting a spatial coordination. The involvement of the ER-mitochondria contact site in regulation of CoQ6 biogenesis highlights an additional level of communication between these two organelles.

scholarly journals The Drosophila photoreceptor as a model system for studying signalling at membrane contact sites

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shweta Yadav ◽  
Shamshad Cockcroft ◽  
Padinjat Raghu
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Composition ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Membrane Contact Sites ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Intracellular Organelles ◽  
Membrane Contact ◽  
Cellular Compartments

Several recent studies have demonstrated the existence of membrane contact sites (MCS) between intracellular organelles in eukaryotic cells. Recent exciting studies have also demonstrated the existence of biomolecular interactions at these contact sites in mediating changes in the membrane composition of the cellular compartments. However, the role of such contact sites in regulating organelle function and physiological processes remains less clear. In this review we discuss the existence of a contact site between the plasma membrane (PM) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in Drosophila photoreceptors. Further, we discuss the role of specific proteins present at this location in regulating phospholipid turnover and its impact in regulating a physiological process, namely phototransduction.

scholarly journals Dectin-1-Mediated DC-SIGN Recruitment to Candida albicans Contact Sites

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Rohan P. Choraghe ◽  
Aaron K. Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Agent Based Modeling ◽  
Contact Site ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Host Pathogen ◽  
In Cells

At host–pathogen contact sites with Candida albicans, Dectin-1 activates pro-inflammatory signaling, while DC-SIGN promotes adhesion to the fungal surface. We observed that Dectin-1 and DC-SIGN collaborate to enhance capture/retention of C. albicans under fluid shear culture conditions. Therefore, we devised a cellular model system wherein we could investigate the interaction between these two receptors during the earliest stages of host–pathogen interaction. In cells expressing both receptors, DC-SIGN was quickly recruited to contact sites (103.15% increase) but Dectin-1 did not similarly accumulate. Once inside the contact site, FRAP studies revealed a strong reduction in lateral mobility of DC-SIGN (but not Dectin-1), consistent with DC-SIGN engaging in multivalent adhesive binding interactions with cell wall mannoprotein ligands. Interestingly, in the absence of Dectin-1 co-expression, DC-SIGN recruitment to the contact was much poorer—only 35.04%. These data suggested that Dectin-1 promotes the active recruitment of DC-SIGN to the contact site. We proposed that Dectin-1 signaling activates the RHOA pathway, leading to actomyosin contractility that promotes DC-SIGN recruitment, perhaps via the formation of a centripetal actomyosin flow (AMF) directed into the contact site. Indeed, RHOA pathway inhibitors significantly reduced Dectin-1-associated DC-SIGN recruitment to the contact site. We used agent-based modeling to predict DC-SIGN transport kinetics with (“Directed + Brownian”) and without (“Brownian”) the hypothesized actomyosin flow-mediated transport. The Directed + Brownian transport model predicted a DC-SIGN contact site recruitment (106.64%), similar to that we observed experimentally under receptor co-expression. Brownian diffusive transport alone predicted contact site DC-SIGN recruitment of only 55.60%. However, this value was similar to experimentally observed DC-SIGN recruitment in cells without Dectin-1 or expressing Dectin-1 but treated with RHOA inhibitor, suggesting that it accurately predicted DC-SIGN recruitment when a contact site AMF would not be generated. TIRF microscopy of nascent cell contacts on glucan-coated glass revealed Dectin-1-dependent DC-SIGN and F-actin (LifeAct) recruitment kinetics to early stage contact site membranes. DC-SIGN entry followed F-actin with a temporal lag of 8.35 ± 4.57 s, but this correlation was disrupted by treatment with RHOA inhibitor. Thus, computational and experimental evidence provides support for the existence of a Dectin-1/RHOA-dependent AMF that produces a force to drive DC-SIGN recruitment to pathogen contact sites, resulting in improved pathogen capture and retention by immunocytes. These data suggest that the rapid collaborative response of Dectin-1 and DC-SIGN in early contact sties might be important for the efficient acquisition of yeast under flow conditions, such as those that prevail in circulation or mucocutaneous sites of infection.

scholarly journals Visualizing multiple inter-organelle contact sites using the organelle-targeted split-GFP system

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriko Kakimoto ◽  
Shinya Tashiro ◽  
Rieko Kojima ◽  
Yuuki Morozumi ◽  
Toshiya Endo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hela Cells ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Lipid Droplets ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Potential Tool ◽  
Rule Out

Functional integrity of eukaryotic organelles relies on direct physical contacts between distinct organelles. However, the entity of organelle-tethering factors is not well understood due to lack of means to analyze inter-organelle interactions in living cells. Here we evaluate the split-GFP system for visualizing organelle contact sites in vivo and show its advantages and disadvantages. We observed punctate GFP signals from the split-GFP fragments targeted to any pairs of organelles among the ER, mitochondria, peroxisomes, vacuole and lipid droplets in yeast cells, which suggests that these organelles form contact sites with multiple organelles simultaneously although it is difficult to rule out the possibilities that these organelle contacts sites are artificially formed by the irreversible associations of the split-GFP probes. Importantly, split-GFP signals in the overlapped regions of the ER and mitochondria were mainly co-localized with ERMES, an authentic ER-mitochondria tethering structure, suggesting that split-GFP assembly depends on the preexisting inter-organelle contact sites. We also confirmed that the split-GFP system can be applied to detection of the ER-mitochondria contact sites in HeLa cells. We thus propose that the split-GFP system is a potential tool to observe and analyze inter-organelle contact sites in living yeast and mammalian cells.

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