scholarly journals Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR)-interacting Protein Is Stably Associated with the Photoreceptor Ciliary Axoneme and Anchors RPGR to the Connecting Cilium

2000 ◽  
Vol 276 (15) ◽  
pp. 12091-12099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Hyun Hong ◽  
Guohua Yue ◽  
Michael Adamian ◽  
Tiansen Li

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a blinding retinal disease in which the photoreceptor cells degenerate. Mutations in the gene for retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) are a frequent cause of RP. The function of RPGR is not well understood, but it is thought to be a putative guanine nucleotide exchange factor for an unknown G protein. Ablation of theRPGRgene in mice suggested a role in maintaining the polarized distribution of opsin across the cilia. To investigate its function, we used a protein interaction screen to identify candidate proteins that may interact physiologically with RPGR. One such protein, designated RPGR-interacting protein (RPGRIP), is expressed specifically in rod and cone photoreceptors. It consists of an N-terminal region predicted to form coiled coil structures linked to a C-terminal tail that binds RPGR.In vivo, both proteins co-localize in the photoreceptor connecting cilia. RPGRIP is stably associated with the ciliary axoneme independent of RPGR and is resistant to extraction under conditions that partially solubilized other cytoskeletal components. When over-expressed in heterologous cell lines, RPGRIP appears in insoluble punctate and filamentous structures. These data suggest that RPGRIP is a structural component of the ciliary axoneme, and one of its functions is to anchor RPGR within the cilium. RPGRIP is the only protein known to localize specifically in the photoreceptor connecting cilium. As such, it is a candidate gene for human photoreceptor disease. The tissue-specific expression of RPGRIP explains why mutations in the ubiquitously expressed RPGR confer a photoreceptor-specific phenotype.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oksana Kutsyr ◽  
Lucía Maestre-Carballa ◽  
Mónica Lluesma-Gomez ◽  
Manuel Martinez-Garcia ◽  
Nicolás Cuenca ◽  
...  

AbstractThe gut microbiome is known to influence the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, there has been relatively little focus upon the implications of the gut microbiome in retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Here, we investigated changes in gut microbiome composition linked to RP, by assessing both retinal degeneration and gut microbiome in the rd10 mouse model of RP as compared to control C57BL/6J mice. In rd10 mice, retinal responsiveness to flashlight stimuli and visual acuity were deteriorated with respect to observed in age-matched control mice. This functional decline in dystrophic animals was accompanied by photoreceptor loss, morphologic anomalies in photoreceptor cells and retinal reactive gliosis. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data showed a microbial gut dysbiosis with differences in alpha and beta diversity at the genera, species and amplicon sequence variants (ASV) levels between dystrophic and control mice. Remarkably, four fairly common ASV in healthy gut microbiome belonging to Rikenella spp., Muribaculaceace spp., Prevotellaceae UCG-001 spp., and Bacilli spp. were absent in the gut microbiome of retinal disease mice, while Bacteroides caecimuris was significantly enriched in mice with RP. The results indicate that retinal degenerative changes in RP are linked to relevant gut microbiome changes. The findings suggest that microbiome shifting could be considered as potential biomarker and therapeutic target for retinal degenerative diseases.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 7061-7068 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Ansari ◽  
M R Gartenberg

Circular plasmids containing telomeric TG1-3 arrays or the HMR E silencer segregate efficiently between dividing cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Subtelomeric X repeats augment the TG1-3 partitioning activity by a process that requires the SIR2, SIR3, and SIR4 genes, which are also required for silencer-based partitioning. Here we show that targeting Sir4p to DNA directly via fusion to the bacterial repressor LexA confers efficient mitotic segregation to otherwise unstable plasmids. The Sir4p partitioning activity resides within a 300-amino-acid region (residues 950 to 1262) which precedes the coiled-coil dimerization motif at the extreme carboxy end of the protein. Using a topology-based assay, we demonstrate that the partitioning domain also retards the axial rotation of LexA operators in vivo. The anchoring and partitioning properties of LexA-Sir4p chimeras persist despite the loss of the endogenous SIR genes, indicating that these functions are intrinsic to Sir4p and not to a complex of Sir factors. In contrast, inactivation of the Sir4p-interacting protein Rap1p reduces partitioning by a LexA-Sir4p fusion. The data are consistent with a model in which the partitioning and anchoring domain of Sir4p (PAD4 domain) attaches to a nuclear component that divides symmetrically between cells at mitosis; DNA linked to Sir4p by LexA serves as a reporter of protein movement in these experiments. We infer that the segregation behavior of telomere- and silencer-based plasmids is, in part, a consequence of these Sir4p-mediated interactions. The assays presented herein illustrate two novel approaches to monitor the intracellular dynamics of nuclear proteins.


2018 ◽  
Vol 217 (8) ◽  
pp. 2813-2830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Hilfenhaus ◽  
Dai Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Jonathan Freshman ◽  
Divya Prajapati ◽  
Feiyang Ma ◽  
...  

Through multiple cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, epithelial and endothelial sheets form tight barriers. Modulators of the cytoskeleton contribute to barrier stability and act as rheostats of vascular permeability. In this study, we sought to identify cytoskeletal regulators that underlie barrier diversity across vessels. To achieve this, we correlated functional and structural barrier features to gene expression of endothelial cells (ECs) derived from different vascular beds. Within a subset of identified candidates, we found that the guanosine nucleotide exchange factor Vav3 was exclusively expressed by microvascular ECs and was closely associated with a high-resistance barrier phenotype. Ectopic expression of Vav3 in large artery and brain ECs significantly enhanced barrier resistance and cortical rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. Mechanistically, we found that the barrier effect of Vav3 is dependent on its Dbl homology domain and downstream activation of Rap1. Importantly, inactivation of Vav3 in vivo resulted in increased vascular leakage, highlighting its function as a key regulator of barrier stability.


2003 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Metello Innocenti ◽  
Emanuela Frittoli ◽  
Isabella Ponzanelli ◽  
John R. Falck ◽  
Saskia M. Brachmann ◽  
...  

Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are implicated in many cellular responses controlled by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), including actin cytoskeletal remodeling. Within this pathway, Rac is a key downstream target/effector of PI3K. However, how the signal is routed from PI3K to Rac is unclear. One possible candidate for this function is the Rac-activating complex Eps8–Abi1–Sos-1, which possesses Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity. Here, we show that Abi1 (also known as E3b1) recruits PI3K, via p85, into a multimolecular signaling complex that includes Eps8 and Sos-1. The recruitment of p85 to the Eps8–Abi1–Sos-1 complex and phosphatidylinositol 3, 4, 5 phosphate (PIP3), the catalytic product of PI3K, concur to unmask its Rac-GEF activity in vitro. Moreover, they are indispensable for the activation of Rac and Rac-dependent actin remodeling in vivo. On growth factor stimulation, endogenous p85 and Abi1 consistently colocalize into membrane ruffles, and cells lacking p85 fail to support Abi1-dependent Rac activation. Our results define a mechanism whereby propagation of signals, originating from RTKs or Ras and leading to actin reorganization, is controlled by direct physical interaction between PI3K and a Rac-specific GEF complex.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunlu Xue ◽  
Sean K. Wang ◽  
Parimal Rana ◽  
Emma R. West ◽  
Christin M. Hong ◽  
...  

AbstractRetinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal disease, affecting >20 million people worldwide. Loss of daylight vision typically occurs due to the dysfunction/loss of cone photoreceptors, the cell type that initiates our color and high acuity vision. Currently, there is no effective treatment for RP, other than gene therapy for a limited number of specific disease genes. To develop a gene-agnostic therapy, we screened ≈20 genes for their ability to prolong cone photoreceptor survival in vivo. Here, we report an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector expressing Txnip, which prolongs the survival of cone photoreceptors and improves visual acuity in RP mouse models. A Txnip allele, C247S, which blocks the association of Txnip with thioredoxin, provides an even greater benefit. Additionally, the rescue effect of Txnip depends on lactate dehydrogenase b (Ldhb), and correlates with the presence of healthier mitochondria, suggesting that Txnip saves RP cones by enhancing their lactate catabolism.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Langemeyer ◽  
Ann-Christin Borchers ◽  
Eric Herrmann ◽  
Nadia Füllbrunn ◽  
Yaping Han ◽  
...  

Endosomes and lysosomes harbor Rab5 and Rab7 on their surface as key proteins involved in their identity, biogenesis, and fusion. Rab activation requires a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), which is Mon1-Ccz1 for Rab7. During endosome maturation, Rab5 is replaced by Rab7, though the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we identify the molecular determinants for Rab conversion in vivo and in vitro, and reconstitute Rab7 activation with yeast and metazoan proteins. We show (i) that Mon1-Ccz1 is an effector of Rab5, (ii) that membrane-bound Rab5 is the key factor to directly promote Mon1-Ccz1 dependent Rab7 activation and Rab7-dependent membrane fusion, and (iii) that this process is regulated in yeast by the casein kinase Yck3, which phosphorylates Mon1 and blocks Rab5 binding. Our study thus uncovers the minimal feed-forward machinery of the endosomal Rab cascade and a novel regulatory mechanism controlling this pathway.


2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (11) ◽  
pp. 1883-1889 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.Y. Lee ◽  
B. Pohajdak

B2-1 (cytohesin-1) is a member of a group of proteins (including ARNO and ARNO3) that are all of similar size and domain composition. The three proteins contain an N-terminal coiled-coil domain, followed by a Sec7 and a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. While it is well established that the Sec7 domain functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) and the PH domain anchors the proteins to membrane phosphoinositols, the function of the N-terminal domain is unknown. Here we show that the N terminus of B2-1 (residues 1–54) is necessary and sufficient to target the protein to the Golgi. The Sec7+PH domains of B2-1 (residues 55–398) are not sufficient for Golgi localization. Further deletion analysis and point mutagenesis indicate that the coiled-coil domain within the N terminus is responsible for Golgi targeting. Furthermore, ARNO and ARNO3 N termini also have the same capability of targeting to the Golgi. We conclude that the N-terminal, (α)-helical, coiled-coil domain is used to target this family of proteins to the Golgi complex.


2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salil Sharma ◽  
Soban Umar ◽  
Gabe Wong ◽  
Denise Mai ◽  
Mohamad Navab ◽  
...  

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic lung disease associated with severe vascular disorders leading to right ventricular(RV) failure. An HDL mimetic peptide, 4F, has been shown to be effective for the treatment of atherosclerosis and a number of inflammatory disorders. Here, we explored whether 4F can rescue advanced PH by controlling the expression of specific microRNAs (miRs). PH was induced in rats by a single injection of monocrotaline (MCT, 60mg/kg, s.c .) or by placing mice in hypoxia chamber(O2≤10%) for 21 days. MCT-rats or hypoxic mice received 4F therapy (50mg/kg/day, s.c .,days 21-30 in MCT model and days 14-21 in hypoxia model). We performed microRNA microarray analysis (non-affymetrix) in lung tissues of CTRL, PH and 4F-rescued groups. OE of miR193 was achieved by intratracheal instillation of 20nM dose at days 16, 21 and 26 in MCT model or at days 14 and 18 in hypoxia model. 4F therapy starting after the establishment of PH in both MCT and hypoxia models improved significantly RV pressure (RVP) and RV hypertrophy index (RVP=46±3 vs RVP=74±1 mmHg in PH; RV/LV+IVS=0.38±0.02 vs RV/(LV+IVS)=0.68±0.05 in PH, p<0.05 vs PH and in hypoxia model RVP=22±3.8 vs. 36.91±5.74 in PH and 20.93±2.52mmHg in ctrl, p<0.05 vs PH ). Microarray and qPCR showed downregulation of miR-193 by ~3 fold in MCT model. 4F therapy normalized miR-193 to ctrl levels. MiR-193 OE in both MCT-rats and hypoxic-mice rescued PH (RVP=38±5.5mmHg, RV/LV+IVS=0.37±0.034 in MCT-rats and RVP=25.48±0.88mmHg in hypoxic-mice). Lung sections showed increased arteriolar muscularization and ox-LDL deposition in the PH group, prevented by miR-193 therapy. In vivo, OE of miR-193 suppressed transcription of in-silico targets ALOX5, a lipoxygenase; IGF1R, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and ARHGEF12, a Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor and decreased human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (HPASMC) proliferation in vitro in the presence of serum or 12-HETE by >2 folds whereas miR-193 KD increased proliferation. In conclusion, 4F rescues pre-existing severe PH by targeting genes associated with HETEs and HODEs production, inflammation and growth via inducing miR-193.


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