scholarly journals Identification and localization of immunoreactive forms of caldesmon in smooth and nonmuscle cells: a comparison with the distributions of tropomyosin and alpha-actinin.

1985 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1656-1663 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Bretscher ◽  
W Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Stress Fibers ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Light Microscope Level ◽  
Chicken Gizzard ◽  
Heat Stable

Caldesmon is an F-actin cross-linking protein of chicken gizzard smooth muscle whose F-actin binding activity can be regulated in vitro by Ca2+-calmodulin (Sobue, K., Y. Muramoto, M. Fujita, and S. Kakiuchi, 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78:5652-5655). It is a rod-shaped, heat-stable, F-actin bundling protein and is the most abundant F-actin cross-linking protein of chicken gizzard smooth muscle presently known (Bretscher, A., 1984, J. Biol. Chem., 259:12873-12880). We report the use of polyclonal antibodies to caldesmon to investigate its distribution and localization in other cells. Using immune blotting procedures, we have detected immunoreactive, heat-stable forms of caldesmon in cultured cells having either approximately the same apparent polypeptide molecular weight as gizzard caldesmon (120,000-140,000) or a substantially lower molecular weight (71,000-77,000). Through use of affinity-purified antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, we have localized the immunoreactive forms to the terminal web of the brush border of intestinal epithelial cells and to the stress fibers and ruffling membranes of cultured cells. At the light microscope level caldesmon is distributed in a periodic fashion along stress fibers that is coincident with the distribution of tropomyosin and complementary to the distribution of alpha-actinin.

scholarly journals Bundling of actin filaments by alpha-actinin depends on its molecular length.

1990 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 2013-2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
R K Meyer ◽  
U Aebi
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Actin Filament ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Actin Bundle ◽  
Actin Bundles ◽  
Chicken Gizzard ◽  
Molecular Length

Cross-linking of actin filaments (F-actin) into bundles and networks was investigated with three different isoforms of the dumbbell-shaped alpha-actinin homodimer under identical reaction conditions. These were isolated from chicken gizzard smooth muscle, Acanthamoeba, and Dictyostelium, respectively. Examination in the electron microscope revealed that each isoform was able to cross-link F-actin into networks. In addition, F-actin bundles were obtained with chicken gizzard and Acanthamoeba alpha-actinin, but not Dictyostelium alpha-actinin under conditions where actin by itself polymerized into disperse filaments. This F-actin bundle formation critically depended on the proper molar ratio of alpha-actinin to actin, and hence F-actin bundles immediately disappeared when free alpha-actinin was withdrawn from the surrounding medium. The apparent dissociation constants (Kds) at half-saturation of the actin binding sites were 0.4 microM at 22 degrees C and 1.2 microM at 37 degrees C for chicken gizzard, and 2.7 microM at 22 degrees C for both Acanthamoeba and Dictyostelium alpha-actinin. Chicken gizzard and Dictyostelium alpha-actinin predominantly cross-linked actin filaments in an antiparallel fashion, whereas Acanthamoeba alpha-actinin cross-linked actin filaments preferentially in a parallel fashion. The average molecular length of free alpha-actinin was 37 nm for glycerol-sprayed/rotary metal-shadowed and 35 nm for negatively stained chicken gizzard; 46 and 44 nm, respectively, for Acanthamoeba; and 34 and 31 nm, respectively, for Dictyostelium alpha-actinin. In negatively stained preparations we also evaluated the average molecular length of alpha-actinin when bound to actin filaments: 36 nm for chicken gizzard and 35 nm for Acanthamoeba alpha-actinin, a molecular length roughly coinciding with the crossover repeat of the two-stranded F-actin helix (i.e., 36 nm), but only 28 nm for Dictyostelium alpha-actinin. Furthermore, the minimal spacing between cross-linking alpha-actinin molecules along actin filaments was close to 36 nm for both smooth muscle and Acanthamoeba alpha-actinin, but only 31 nm for Dictyostelium alpha-actinin. This observation suggests that the molecular length of the alpha-actinin homodimer may determine its spacing along the actin filament, and hence F-actin bundle formation may require "tight" (i.e., one molecule after the other) and "untwisted" (i.e., the long axis of the molecule being parallel to the actin filament axis) packing of alpha-actinin molecules along the actin filaments.

scholarly journals Identification by monoclonal antibodies and characterization of human platelet caldesmon.

1986 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 1748-1757 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Dingus ◽  
S Hwo ◽  
J Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Apparent Molecular Weight ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Platelet Protein

Actin-based gels were prepared from clarified high-salt extracts of human platelets by dialysis against physiological salt buffers. The gel was partially solubilized with 0.3 M KCl. Mice were immunized with the 0.3 M KCl extract of the actin gel, and hybridomas were produced by fusion of spleen cells with myeloma cells. Three hybridomas were generated that secrete antibodies against an 80-kD protein. These monoclonal antibodies stained stress fibers in cultured cells and cross-reacted with proteins in several tissue types, including smooth muscle. The cross-reacting protein in chicken gizzard smooth muscle had an apparent molecular weight of 140,000 and was demonstrated to be caldesmon, a calmodulin and actin-binding protein (Sobue, K., Y. Muramoto, M. Fujita, and S. Kakiuchi, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78:5652-5655). No proteins of molecular weight greater than 80 kD were detectable in platelets by immunoblotting using the monoclonal antibodies. The 80-kD protein is heat stable and was purified using modifications of the procedure reported by Bretscher for the rapid purification of smooth muscle caldesmon (Bretscher, A., 1985, J. Biol. Chem., 259:12873-12880). The 80-kD protein bound to calmodulin-Sepharose in a Ca++-dependent manner and sedimented with actin filaments, but did not greatly increase the viscosity of F-actin solutions. The actin-binding activity was inhibited by calmodulin in the presence of calcium. Except for the molecular weight difference, the 80-kD platelet protein appears functionally similar to 140-kD smooth muscle caldesmon. We propose that the 80-kD protein is platelet caldesmon.

scholarly journals Microtubule Actin Cross-Linking Factor (Macf)

1999 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. 1275-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad L. Leung ◽  
Dongming Sun ◽  
Min Zheng ◽  
David R. Knowles ◽  
Ronald K.H. Liem
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Actin Binding Domain

We cloned and characterized a full-length cDNA of mouse actin cross-linking family 7 (mACF7) by sequential rapid amplification of cDNA ends–PCR. The completed mACF7 cDNA is 17 kb and codes for a 608-kD protein. The closest relative of mACF7 is the Drosophila protein Kakapo, which shares similar architecture with mACF7. mACF7 contains a putative actin-binding domain and a plakin-like domain that are highly homologous to dystonin (BPAG1-n) at its NH2 terminus. However, unlike dystonin, mACF7 does not contain a coiled–coil rod domain; instead, the rod domain of mACF7 is made up of 23 dystrophin-like spectrin repeats. At its COOH terminus, mACF7 contains two putative EF-hand calcium-binding motifs and a segment homologous to the growth arrest–specific protein, Gas2. In this paper, we demonstrate that the NH2-terminal actin-binding domain of mACF7 is functional both in vivo and in vitro. More importantly, we found that the COOH-terminal domain of mACF7 interacts with and stabilizes microtubules. In transfected cells full-length mACF7 can associate not only with actin but also with microtubules. Hence, we suggest a modified name: MACF (microtubule actin cross-linking factor). The properties of MACF are consistent with the observation that mutations in kakapo cause disorganization of microtubules in epidermal muscle attachment cells and some sensory neurons.

Drebrin attenuates atherosclerosis by limiting smooth muscle cell transdifferentiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao-Hui Wu ◽  
Lisheng Zhang ◽  
Igor Nepliouev ◽  
Leigh Brian ◽  
Taiqin Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cell ◽  
Muscle Cell ◽  
Foam Cell ◽  
Atherosclerotic Lesion ◽  
Foam Cells ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cell Transdifferentiation

Abstract Aims The F-actin-binding protein Drebrin inhibits smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration, proliferation and pro-inflammatory signaling. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that Drebrin constrains atherosclerosis. Methods and results SM22-Cre+/Dbnflox/flox/Ldlr-/- (SMC-Dbn-/-/Ldlr-/-) and control mice (SM22-Cre+/Ldlr-/-, Dbnflox/flox/Ldlr-/-, and Ldlr-/-) were fed a Western diet for 14-20 weeks. Brachiocephalic arteries of SMC-Dbn-/-/Ldlr-/- mice exhibited 1.5- or 1.8-fold greater cross-sectional lesion area than control mice at 14 or 20 wk, respectively. Aortic atherosclerotic lesion surface area was 1.2-fold greater in SMC-Dbn-/-/Ldlr-/- mice. SMC-Dbn-/-/Ldlr-/- lesions comprised necrotic cores that were two-fold greater in size than those of control mice. Consistent with their bigger necrotic core size, lesions in SMC-Dbn-/- arteries also showed more transdifferentiation of SMCs to macrophage-like cells: 1.5- to 2.5-fold greater, assessed with BODIPY or with CD68, respectively. In vitro data were concordant: Dbn-/- SMCs had 1.7-fold higher levels of KLF4 and transdifferentiated to macrophage-like cells more readily than Dbnflox/flox SMCs upon cholesterol loading, as evidenced by greater up-regulation of CD68 and galectin-3. Adenovirally mediated Drebrin rescue produced equivalent levels of macrophage-like transdifferentiation in Dbn-/- and Dbnflox/flox SMCs. During early atherogenesis, SMC-Dbn-/-/Ldlr-/- aortas demonstrated 1.6-fold higher levels of reactive oxygen species than control mouse aortas. The 1.8-fold higher levels of Nox1 in Dbn-/- SMCs was reduced to WT levels with KLF4 silencing. Inhibition of Nox1 chemically or with siRNA produced equivalent levels of macrophage-like transdifferentiation in Dbn-/- and Dbnflox/flox SMCs. Conclusions We conclude that SMC Drebrin limits atherosclerosis by constraining SMC Nox1 activity and SMC transdifferentiation to macrophage-like cells. Translational perspective Drebrin is abundantly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and is up-regulated in human atherosclerosis. A hallmark of atherosclerosis is the accumulation of foam cells that secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and contribute to plaque instability. A large proportion of these foam cells in humans derive from SMCs. We found that SMC Drebrin limits atherosclerosis by reducing SMC transdifferentiation to macrophage-like foam cells in a manner dependent on Nox1 and KLF4. For this reason, strategies aimed at augmenting SMC Drebrin expression in atherosclerotic plaques may limit atherosclerosis progression and enhance plaque stability by bridling SMC-to-foam-cell transdifferentiation.

Regulation of cell growth by vitreous humour

1985 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65
Author(s):  
G.A. Lutty ◽  
R.J. Mello ◽  
C. Chandler ◽  
C. Fait ◽  
A. Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Chorioallantoic Membrane ◽  
Growth Inhibitor ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Heat Stable ◽  
Heat Labile

Extracts of normal vitreous have been found to inhibit angiogenesis in two animal models: tumour-induced neovascularization in the rabbit corneal micropocket and retinal extract-induced angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Using in vitro assays, we have found recently that an extract of bovine vitreous, free of hyaluronic acid, inhibits proliferation of cells in the aortic wall, i.e. endothelium and smooth muscle cells, as well as capillary and corneal endothelium. The inhibition is dose-dependent, as determined by either cell count or [3H]thymidine incorporation, and not due to cytotoxicity, as demonstrated with a double-label thymidine assay. The inhibitor is trypsin-sensitive and heat-stable (95 degrees C for 10 min). Conversely, proliferation of pericytes, lens epithelium and fibroblasts (dermal and corneal) was stimulated by the vitreous extract. This mitogenic activity was heat-labile. Growth of pigment epithelium and several tumour cell lines was unaffected. The data demonstrate that normal vitreous contains a heat-stable growth inhibitor specific for endothelium and smooth muscle cells, and a non-specific heat-labile mitogen. The paradoxical effect of this antiangiogenic factor on arterial and capillary contractile cells, smooth muscle and pericytes, suggests a basic difference in the regulation of the two vasculatures. The results suggest that a substance in normal vitreous may be important in controlling neovascularization that results from diabetic and other retinopathies, and could be useful for inhibiting tumour-induced angiogenesis.

scholarly journals A cellular complex of BACE1 and γ-secretase sequentially generates Aβ from its full-length precursor

2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (2) ◽  
pp. 644-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Liu ◽  
Li Ding ◽  
Matteo Rovere ◽  
Michael S. Wolfe ◽  
Dennis J. Selkoe
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Aβ Peptides ◽  
Whole Cells ◽  
Sequential Processing ◽  
Catalytically Active ◽  
Cellular Complex

Intramembrane proteolysis of transmembrane substrates by the presenilin–γ-secretase complex is preceded and regulated by shedding of the substrate’s ectodomain by α- or β-secretase. We asked whether β- and γ-secretases interact to mediate efficient sequential processing of APP, generating the amyloid β (Aβ) peptides that initiate Alzheimer’s disease. We describe a hitherto unrecognized multiprotease complex containing active β- and γ-secretases. BACE1 coimmunoprecipitated and cofractionated with γ-secretase in cultured cells and in mouse and human brain. An endogenous high molecular weight (HMW) complex (∼5 MD) containing β- and γ-secretases and holo-APP was catalytically active in vitro and generated a full array of Aβ peptides, with physiological Aβ42/40 ratios. The isolated complex responded properly to γ-secretase modulators. Alzheimer’s-causing mutations in presenilin altered the Aβ42/40 peptide ratio generated by the HMW β/γ-secretase complex indistinguishably from that observed in whole cells. Thus, Aβ is generated from holo-APP by a BACE1–γ-secretase complex that provides sequential, efficient RIP processing of full-length substrates to final products.

scholarly journals In vitro characterization of native mammalian smooth-muscle protein synaptopodin 2

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mechthild M. Schroeter ◽  
Brent Beall ◽  
Hans W. Heid ◽  
Joseph M. Chalovich
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Muscle Protein ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
In Vitro Characterization ◽  
Purification Scheme ◽  
Synaptopodin 2 ◽  
Muscle Myosin

An analysis of the primary structure of the actin-binding protein fesselin revealed it to be the avian homologue of mammalian synaptopodin 2 [Schroeter, Beall, Heid, and Chalovich (2008) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 371, 582–586]. We isolated two synaptopodin 2 isoforms from rabbit stomach that corresponded to known types of human synaptopodin 2. The purification scheme used was that developed for avian fesselin. These synaptopodin 2 forms shared several key functions with fesselin. Both avian fesselin and mammalian synaptopodin 2 bound to Ca2+–calmodulin, α-actinin and smooth-muscle myosin. In addition, both proteins stimulated the polymerization of actin in a Ca2+–calmodulin-dependent manner. Synaptopodin 2 has never before been shown to polymerize actin in the absence of α-actinin, to polymerize actin in a Ca2+–calmodulin-dependent manner, or to bind to Ca2+–calmodulin or myosin. These properties are consistent with the proposed function of synaptopodin 2 in organizing the cytoskeleton.

scholarly journals The effects of phosphorylation of smooth-muscle caldesmon

1987 ◽  
Vol 244 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
P K Ngai ◽  
M P Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Thin Filaments ◽  
Atpase Reaction ◽  
Dependent Protein

Caldesmon is a major calmodulin- and actin-binding protein of smooth muscle which interacts with calmodulin in a Ca2+-dependent manner or with actin in a Ca2+-independent manner. Isolated caldesmon is capable of inhibiting the actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase of smooth-muscle myosin, suggesting a possible physiological role for caldesmon in regulating the contractile state of smooth-muscle. Caldesmon can be phosphorylated in vitro by a co-purifying Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and dephosphorylated by a protein phosphatase, both of which are present in smooth muscle. We investigated further the phosphorylation of caldesmon and the effects which phosphorylation has on the functional properties of the protein. The kinetics of caldesmon phosphorylation were similar whether the caldesmon substrate was free or bound to actin, actin/tropomyosin or thin filaments. Caldesmon containing endogenous kinase activity was rapidly phosphorylated (to approx. 1 mol of Pi/mol of caldesmon in 5 min) when reconstituted with actin, myosin, tropomyosin, calmodulin and myosin light-chain kinase in the presence of Ca2+ and MgATP2-. Under conditions in which unphosphorylated caldesmon showed substantial inhibition of the actin-activated myosin Mg2+-ATPase, no inhibition was observed with phosphorylated caldesmon. This was the case whether caldesmon was phosphorylated before addition to the actomyosin Mg2+-ATPase system, or phosphorylation was allowed to take place during the ATPase reaction. Binding studies revealed maximal binding of 1 mol of unphosphorylated caldesmon/9.5 mol of actin and 1 mol of phosphorylated caldesmon/11.7 mol of actin. All the bound phosphorylated caldesmon could be released by Ca2+/calmodulin, with half-maximal release at 0.11 microM-Ca2+, whereas only 62% of the bound unphosphorylated caldesmon could be removed, with half-maximal release at 0.16 microM-Ca2+. However, under conditions in which inhibition of actomyosin Mg2+-ATPase activity by non-phosphorylated but not by phosphorylated caldesmon was observed, both forms of caldesmon would remain bound to the thin filament. These observations suggest a possible mechanism whereby caldesmon phosphorylation may prevent its inhibitory action on the actomyosin Mg2+-ATPase.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document