scholarly journals Ezrin NH2-terminal domain inhibits the cell extension activity of the COOH-terminal domain.

1995 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 1081-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Martin ◽  
C Andréoli ◽  
A Sahuquet ◽  
P Montcourrier ◽  
M Algrain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Insect Cells ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Microtubule Assembly ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Drug Interference ◽  
Cell Extension ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Extension Activity

Overexpression in insect cells of the full coding sequence of the human membrane cytoskeletal linker ezrin (1-586) was compared with that of a NH2-terminal domain (ezrin 1-233) and that of a COOH-terminal domain (ezrin 310-586). Ezrin (1-586), as well as ezrin (1-233) enhanced cell adhesion of infected Sf9 cells without inducing gross morphological changes in the cell structure. Ezrin (310-586) enhanced cell adhesion and elicited membrane spreading followed by microspike and lamellipodia extensions by mobilization of Sf9 cell actin. Moreover some microspikes elongated into thin processes, up to 200 microns in length, resembling neurite outgrowths by a mechanism requiring microtubule assembly. Kinetics of videomicroscopic and drug-interference studies demonstrated that mobilization of actin was required for tubulin assembly to proceed. A similar phenotype was observed in CHO cells when a comparable ezrin domain was transiently overexpressed. The shortest domain promoting cell extension was localized between residues 373-586. Removal of residues 566-586, involved in in vitro actin binding (Turunen, O., T. Wahlström, and A. Vaheri. 1994. J. Cell Biol. 126:1445-1453), suppressed the extension activity. Coexpression of ezrin (1-233) with ezrin (310-586) in the same insect cells blocked the constitutive activity of ezrin COOH-terminal domain. The inhibitory activity was mapped within ezrin 115 first NH2-terminal residues. We conclude that ezrin has properties to promote cell adhesion, and that ezrin NH2-terminal domain negatively regulates membrane spreading and elongation properties of ezrin COOH-terminal domain.

scholarly journals Three determinants in ezrin are responsible for cell extension activity.

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1543-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Martin ◽  
C Roy ◽  
P Montcourrier ◽  
A Sahuquet ◽  
P Mangeat
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Cell Extension ◽  
Erm Proteins ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Extension Activity ◽  
Dependent Cell

The ERM proteins--ezrin, radixin, and moesin--are key players in membrane-cytoskeleton interactions. In insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses, amino acids 1-115 of ezrin were shown to inhibit an actin- and tubulin-dependent cell-extension activity located in ezrin C-terminal domain (ezrin310-586), whereas full-length ezrin1-586 did not induce any morphological change. To refine the mapping of functional domains of ezrin, 30 additional constructs were overexpressed in Sf9 cells, and the resulting effect of each was qualitatively and semiquantitatively compared. The removal of amino acids 13-30 was sufficient to release a cell-extension phenotype. This effect was abrogated if the 21 distal-most C-terminal amino acids were subsequently deleted (ezrin31-565), confirming the existence of a head-to-tail regulation in the whole molecule. Surprisingly, the deletion in full-length ezrin of the same 21 amino acids provided strong cell-extension competence to ezrin1-565, and this property was recovered in N-terminal constructs as short as ezrin1-310. Within ezrin1-310, amino acid sequences 13-30 and 281-310 were important determinants and acted in cooperation to induce cytoskeleton mobilization. In addition, these same residues are part of a new actin-binding site characterized in vitro in ezrin N-terminal domain.

scholarly journals RhoA/ROCK regulation of neuritogenesis via profilin IIa–mediated control of actin stability

2003 ◽  
Vol 162 (7) ◽  
pp. 1267-1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Santos Da Silva ◽  
Miguel Medina ◽  
Cecilia Zuliani ◽  
Alessia Di Nardo ◽  
Walter Witke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Differentiation ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Central Mechanism ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Actin Binding Protein ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Neuronal Soma ◽  
Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Neuritogenesis, the first step of neuronal differentiation, takes place as nascent neurites bud from the immediate postmitotic neuronal soma. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying the dramatic morphological changes that characterize this event. Here, we show that RhoA activity plays a decisive role during neuritogenesis of cultured hippocampal neurons by recruiting and activating its specific kinase ROCK, which, in turn, complexes with profilin IIa. We establish that this previously uncharacterized brain-specific actin-binding protein controls neurite sprouting by modifying actin stability, a function regulated by ROCK-mediated phosphorylation. Furthermore, we determine that this novel cascade is switched on or off by physiological stimuli. We propose that RhoA/ROCK/PIIa-mediated regulation of actin stability, shown to be essential for neuritogenesis, may constitute a central mechanism throughout neuronal differentiation.

Distinct signals via Rho GTPases and Src drive shape changes by thrombin and sphingosine-1-phosphate in endothelial cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. 2475-2484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Vouret-Craviari ◽  
Christine Bourcier ◽  
Etienne Boulter ◽  
Ellen Van Obberghen-Schilling
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Cell Spreading ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Sphingosine 1 Phosphate ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Soluble mediators such as thrombin and sphingosine-1-phosphate regulate morphological changes in endothelial cells that affect vascular permeability and new blood vessel formation. Although these ligands activate a similar set of heterotrimeric G proteins, thrombin causes cell contraction and rounding whereas sphingosine-1-phosphate induces cell spreading and migration. A functional requirement for Rho family GTPases in the cytoskeletal responses to both ligands has been established, yet the dynamics of their regulation and additional signaling mechanisms that lead to such opposite effects remain poorly understood. Using a pull-down assay to monitor the activity of Rho GTPases in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, we find significant temporal and quantitative differences in RhoA and Rac1 activation. High levels of active RhoA rapidly accumulate in cells in response to thrombin whereas Rac1 is inhibited. In contrast, sphingosine-1-phosphate addition leads to comparatively weak and delayed activation of RhoA and it activates Rac1. In addition, we show here that sphingosine-1-phosphate treatment activates a Src family kinase and triggers recruitment of the F-actin-binding protein cortactin to sites of actin polymerization at the rim of membrane ruffles. Both Src and Rac pathways are essential for lamellipodia targeting of cortactin. Further, Src plays a determinant role in sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced cell spreading and migration. Taken together these data demonstrate that the thrombin-induced contractile and immobile phenotype in endothelial cells reflects both robust RhoA activation and Rac inhibition, whereas Src- and Rac-dependent events couple sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors to the actin polymerizing machinery that drives the extension of lamellipodia and cell migration.

scholarly journals Global Expression Profiling Identifies a Novel Hyaluronan Synthases 2 Gene in the Pathogenesis of Lower Extremity Varicose Veins

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Shan Hsieh ◽  
Chia-Ti Tsai ◽  
Yau-Hung Chen ◽  
Sheng-Nan Chang ◽  
Juey-Jen Hwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Vascular Injury ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Varicose Veins ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Transcriptional Networks ◽  
Zebrafish Model ◽  
Venous Flow ◽  
Hyaluronan Synthases ◽  
Pathway Analyses

Lower extremities varicose veins (VV) are among the most easily recognized venous abnormalities. The genetic mechanism of VV is largely unknown. In this study, we sought to explore the global expressional change of VV and identify novel genes that might play a role in VV. We used next-generation ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequence (RNA seq) technology to study the global messenger RNA expressional change in the venous samples of five diseased and five control patients. We identified several differentially expressed genes, which were further confirmed by conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Using these significant genes we performed in silico pathway analyses and found distinct transcriptional networks, such as angiogenesis, cell adhesion, vascular injury, and carbohydrate metabolisms that might be involved in the mechanism of VV. Among these significant genes, we also found hyaluronan synthases 2 gene (HAS2) played a pivotal role and governed all these pathways. We further confirmed that HAS2 expression was decreased in the venous samples of patients with VV. Finally, we used a zebrafish model with fluorescence emitting vasculature and red blood cells to see the morphological changes of the venous system and blood flow. We found that HAS2 knockdown in zebrafish resulted in dilated venous structural with static venous flow. HAS2 may modulate the transcriptional networks of angiogenesis, cell adhesion, vascular injury, and carbohydrate metabolisms in venous tissues and downregulation of HAS2 may underlie the mechanism of VV.

scholarly journals An asymmetric junctional mechanoresponse coordinates mitotic rounding with epithelial integrity

2021 ◽  
Vol 220 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jooske L. Monster ◽  
Lisa Donker ◽  
Marjolein J. Vliem ◽  
Zaw Win ◽  
Helen K. Matthews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Mitotic Cell ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Epithelial Barrier ◽  
Epithelial Integrity ◽  
Tensile Forces ◽  
Shape Changes ◽  
Mitotic Cells

Epithelia are continuously self-renewed, but how epithelial integrity is maintained during the morphological changes that cells undergo in mitosis is not well understood. Here, we show that as epithelial cells round up when they enter mitosis, they exert tensile forces on neighboring cells. We find that mitotic cell–cell junctions withstand these tensile forces through the mechanosensitive recruitment of the actin-binding protein vinculin to cadherin-based adhesions. Surprisingly, vinculin that is recruited to mitotic junctions originates selectively from the neighbors of mitotic cells, resulting in an asymmetric composition of cadherin junctions. Inhibition of junctional vinculin recruitment in neighbors of mitotic cells results in junctional breakage and weakened epithelial barrier. Conversely, the absence of vinculin from the cadherin complex in mitotic cells is necessary to successfully undergo mitotic rounding. Our data thus identify an asymmetric mechanoresponse at cadherin adhesions during mitosis, which is essential to maintain epithelial integrity while at the same time enable the shape changes of mitotic cells.

Abstract 42: Differential Contribution Of The N- And C-terminal Domains To The Folding And Function Of Tandem Calponin-homology Domains

2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Mallela ◽  
Swati Bandi ◽  
Surinder Singh ◽  
Geoffrey Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Full Length ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Calponin Homology ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Binding Function ◽  
Ch2 Domain ◽  
The Stability ◽  
And Function

Tandem calponin-homology (CH) domains constitute a major class of actin-binding domains that include dystrophin and utrophin, the two key proteins involved in muscular dystrophy. Despite their importance, how their structure controls their function is not understood. Here, we study the contribution of individual CH domains to the actin-binding function and thermodynamic stability of utrophin’s tandem CH domain. Traditional actin co-sedimentation assays indicate that the isolated C-terminal CH2 domain binds weakly to F-actin when compared with the full-length tandem CH domain. In contrast, isolated CH1 binds to F-actin with a similar efficiency as that of the full-length tandem CH domain. Thus, the obvious question that arises is why tandem CH domains require CH2, when their actin-binding efficiency is originating primarily from CH1. To answer, we probed the thermodynamic stabilities of individual CH domains. Isolated CH1 domain is unstable and is prone to serious aggregation. Isolated CH2 is very stable, even appears to be more stable than the full-length tandem CH domain. In addition, the CH2 domain, which is more stable, is less functional. These results indicate that the main function of CH2 is to stabilize CH1. Consistently, the proposed structure of utrophin’s tandem CH domain based on earlier X-ray studies indicates a close proximity between the C-terminal helix of CH2 and the N-terminal helix of CH1, and this helix in CH2 is more dynamic in the full-length protein when compared with that in the absence of CH1, suggesting the mechanism by which CH2 stabilizes CH1. These observations indicate that the two CH domains contribute differentially to the folding and function of tandem CH domains, although both domains essentially have the same native structure in the tandem CH domain. The N-terminal domain determines the function, whereas the C-terminal domain determines the stability. This work was funded by the AHA Grant 11SDG4880046.

scholarly journals Connections between the cell cycle, cell adhesion and the cytoskeleton

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1779) ◽  
pp. 20180227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Jones ◽  
Junzhe Zha ◽  
Martin J. Humphries
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Growth Control ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Parent Cell ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Cell division, the purpose of which is to enable cell replication, and in particular to distribute complete, accurate copies of genetic material to daughter cells, is essential for the propagation of life. At a morphological level, division not only necessitates duplication of cellular structures, but it also relies on polar segregation of this material followed by physical scission of the parent cell. For these fundamental changes in cell shape and positioning to be achieved, mechanisms are required to link the cell cycle to the modulation of cytoarchitecture. Outside of mitosis, the three main cytoskeletal networks not only endow cells with a physical cytoplasmic skeleton, but they also provide a mechanism for spatio-temporal sensing via integrin-associated adhesion complexes and site-directed delivery of cargoes. During mitosis, some interphase functions are retained, but the architecture of the cytoskeleton changes dramatically, and there is a need to generate a mitotic spindle for chromosome segregation. An economical solution is to re-use existing cytoskeletal molecules: transcellular actin stress fibres remodel to create a rigid cortex and a cytokinetic furrow, while unipolar radial microtubules become the primary components of the bipolar spindle. This remodelling implies the existence of specific mechanisms that link the cell-cycle machinery to the control of adhesion and the cytoskeleton. In this article, we review the intimate three-way connection between microenvironmental sensing, adhesion signalling and cell proliferation, particularly in the contexts of normal growth control and aberrant tumour progression. As the morphological changes that occur during mitosis are ancient, the mechanisms linking the cell cycle to the cytoskeleton/adhesion signalling network are likely to be primordial in nature and we discuss recent advances that have elucidated elements of this link. A particular focus is the connection between CDK1 and cell adhesion. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Forces in cancer: interdisciplinary approaches in tumour mechanobiology’.

scholarly journals Regulation of the formation of osteoclastic actin rings by proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 interacting with gelsolin

2003 ◽  
Vol 160 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Yi Xie ◽  
Quan-Sheng Du ◽  
Xiao-Jun Wu ◽  
Xu Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Cell Periphery ◽  
Cytoskeletal Organization ◽  
Capping Protein ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase 2 ◽  
Multiple Cells ◽  
Actin Rings

Osteoclast activation is important for bone remodeling and is altered in multiple bone disorders. This process requires cell adhesion and extensive actin cytoskeletal reorganization. Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), a major cell adhesion–activated tyrosine kinase in osteoclasts, plays an important role in regulating this event. The mechanisms by which PYK2 regulates actin cytoskeletal organization and osteoclastic activation remain largely unknown. In this paper, we provide evidence that PYK2 directly interacts with gelsolin, an actin binding, severing, and capping protein essential for osteoclastic actin cytoskeletal organization. The interaction is mediated via the focal adhesion–targeting domain of PYK2 and an LD motif in gelsolin's COOH terminus. PYK2 phosphorylates gelsolin at tyrosine residues and regulates gelsolin bioactivity, including decreasing gelsolin binding to actin monomer and increasing gelsolin binding to phosphatidylinositol lipids. In addition, PYK2 increases actin polymerization at the fibroblastic cell periphery. Finally, PYK2 interacts with gelsolin in osteoclasts, where PYK2 activation is required for the formation of actin rings. Together, our results suggest that PYK2 is a regulator of gelsolin, revealing a novel PYK2–gelsolin pathway in regulating actin cytoskeletal organization in multiple cells, including osteoclasts.

scholarly journals Sodium Induced Morphological Changes of Carbon Coated TiO2 Anatase Nanoparticles – High-Performance Materials for Na-Ion Batteries

MRS Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (43) ◽  
pp. 2221-2229
Author(s):  
G. Greco ◽  
S. Passerini
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Active Material ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Composite Electrodes ◽  
Carbon Coated ◽  
Anatase Nanoparticles ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe most promising candidate as an everyday alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are sodium-ion batteries (NIBs). This is not only due to Na abundance, but also because the main principles and cell structure are very similar to LIBs. Due to these benefits, NIBs are expected to be used in applications related to large-scale energy storage systems and other applications not requiring top-performance in terms of volumetric capacity. One important issue that has hindered the large scale application of NIBs is the anode material. Graphite and silicon, which have been widely applied as anodes in NIBs, do not show great performance. Hard carbons look very promising in terms of their abundance and low cost, but they tend to suffer from instability, in particular over the long term. In this work we explore a carbon-coated TiO2 nanoparticle system that looks very promising in terms of stability, abundance, low-cost, and most importantly that safety of the cell, since it does not suffer from potential sodium plating during cycling. Maintaining a nano-size and consistent morphology of the active material is a crucial parameter for maintaining a well-functioning cell upon cycling. In this work we applied Anomalous Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (ASAXS) for the first time at the Ti K-edge of TiO2 anatase nanoparticles on different cycled composite electrodes in order to have a complete morphological overview of the modifications induced by sodiation and desodiation. This work also demonstrates for the first time that the nanosize of the TiO2 is maintained upon cycling, which is in agreement with the electrochemical stability.

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