scholarly journals WASP family proteins and formins compete in pseudopod- and bleb-based migration

2017 ◽  
Vol 217 (2) ◽  
pp. 701-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Davidson ◽  
Clelia Amato ◽  
Peter A. Thomason ◽  
Robert H. Insall
Keyword(s):  
Hydrostatic Pressure ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Wave Drive ◽  
Bleb Formation ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Wasp Family Proteins

Actin pseudopods induced by SCAR/WAVE drive normal migration and chemotaxis in eukaryotic cells. Cells can also migrate using blebs, in which the edge is driven forward by hydrostatic pressure instead of actin. In Dictyostelium discoideum, loss of SCAR is compensated by WASP moving to the leading edge to generate morphologically normal pseudopods. Here we use an inducible double knockout to show that cells lacking both SCAR and WASP are unable to grow, make pseudopods or, unexpectedly, migrate using blebs. Remarkably, amounts and dynamics of actin polymerization are normal. Pseudopods are replaced in double SCAR/WASP mutants by aberrant filopods, induced by the formin dDia2. Further disruption of the gene for dDia2 restores cells’ ability to initiate blebs and thus migrate, though pseudopods are still lost. Triple knockout cells still contain near-normal F-actin levels. This work shows that SCAR, WASP, and dDia2 compete for actin. Loss of SCAR and WASP causes excessive dDia2 activity, maintaining F-actin levels but blocking pseudopod and bleb formation and migration.

scholarly journals Novel protein Callipygian defines the back of migrating cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (29) ◽  
pp. E3845-E3854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen F. Swaney ◽  
Jane Borleis ◽  
Pablo A. Iglesias ◽  
Peter N. Devreotes
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Protein Localization ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Pleckstrin Homology Domain ◽  
Pleckstrin Homology ◽  
Opposite Edge ◽  
Cell Axis ◽  
Mutual Antagonism ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Novel Protein

Asymmetric protein localization is essential for cell polarity and migration. We report a novel protein, Callipygian (CynA), which localizes to the lagging edge before other proteins and becomes more tightly restricted as cells polarize; additionally, it accumulates in the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. CynA protein that is tightly localized, or “clustered,” to the cell rear is immobile, but when polarity is disrupted, it disperses throughout the membrane and responds to uniform chemoattractant stimulation by transiently localizing to the cytosol. These behaviors require a pleckstrin homology-domain membrane tether and a WD40 clustering domain, which can also direct other membrane proteins to the back. Fragments of CynA lacking the pleckstrin homology domain, which are normally found in the cytosol, localize to the lagging edge membrane when coexpressed with full-length protein, showing that CynA clustering is mediated by oligomerization. Cells lacking CynA have aberrant lateral protrusions, altered leading-edge morphology, and decreased directional persistence, whereas those overexpressing the protein display exaggerated features of polarity. Consistently, actin polymerization is inhibited at sites of CynA accumulation, thereby restricting protrusions to the opposite edge. We suggest that the mutual antagonism between CynA and regions of responsiveness creates a positive feedback loop that restricts CynA to the rear and contributes to the establishment of the cell axis.

scholarly journals Profilin connects actin assembly with microtubule dynamics

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (15) ◽  
pp. 2381-2393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Nejedla ◽  
Sara Sadi ◽  
Vadym Sulimenko ◽  
Francisca Nunes de Almeida ◽  
Hans Blom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Control Element ◽  
Actin Assembly ◽  
Actin Nucleation ◽  
Superresolution Microscopy ◽  
Drug Treatments ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Wasp Family Proteins ◽  
Microscopy Techniques

Profilin controls actin nucleation and assembly processes in eukaryotic cells. Actin nucleation and elongation promoting factors (NEPFs) such as Ena/VASP, formins, and WASP-family proteins recruit profilin:actin for filament formation. Some of these are found to be microtubule associated, making actin polymerization from microtubule-associated platforms possible. Microtubules are implicated in focal adhesion turnover, cell polarity establishment, and migration, illustrating the coupling between actin and microtubule systems. Here we demonstrate that profilin is functionally linked to microtubules with formins and point to formins as major mediators of this association. To reach this conclusion, we combined different fluorescence microscopy techniques, including superresolution microscopy, with siRNA modulation of profilin expression and drug treatments to interfere with actin dynamics. Our studies show that profilin dynamically associates with microtubules and this fraction of profilin contributes to balance actin assembly during homeostatic cell growth and affects micro­tubule dynamics. Hence profilin functions as a regulator of microtubule (+)-end turnover in addition to being an actin control element.

scholarly journals Local Myo9b RhoGAP activity regulates cell motility

2020 ◽  
pp. jbc.RA120.013623
Author(s):  
Sandra Angela Hemkemeyer ◽  
Veith Vollmer ◽  
Vera Schwarz ◽  
Birgit Lohmann ◽  
Ulrike Honnert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Motility ◽  
Cell Morphology ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Cell Extension ◽  
Local Inhibition ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Directional Cell Migration

To migrate, cells assume a polarized morphology, extending forward with a leading edge with their trailing edge retracting back toward the cell body. Both cell extension and retraction critically depend on the organization and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, and the small, monomeric GTPases Rac and Rho are important regulators of actin. Activation of Rac induces actin polymerization and cell extension whereas activation of Rho enhances acto-myosin II contractility and cell retraction. To coordinate migration, these processes must be carefully regulated. The myosin Myo9b, a Rho GTPase activating protein (GAP), negatively regulates Rho activity and deletion of Myo9b in leukocytes impairs cell migration through increased Rho activity. However, it is not known whether cell motility is regulated by global or local inhibition of Rho activity by Myo9b. Here, we addressed this question by using Myo9b-deficient macrophage-like cells that expressed different recombinant Myo9b constructs. We found that Myo9b accumulates in lamellipodial extensions generated by Rac-induced actin polymerization as a function of its motor activity. Deletion of Myo9b in HL-60 derived macrophages altered cell morphology and impaired cell migration. Reintroduction of Myo9b or Myo9b motor and GAP mutants revealed that local GAP activity rescues cell morphology and migration. In summary, Rac activation leads to actin polymerization and recruitment of Myo9b, which locally inhibits Rho activity to enhance directional cell migration. In summary, Rac activation leads to actin polymerization and recruitment of Myo9b, which locally inhibits Rho activity to enhance directional cell migration.

scholarly journals Lamellipodin tunes cell migration by stabilizing protrusions and promoting adhesion formation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgi Dimchev ◽  
Behnam Amiri ◽  
Ashley C. Humphries ◽  
Matthias Schaks ◽  
Vanessa Dimchev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Adhesion Formation ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Membrane Ruffling ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
And Migration

ABSTRACTEfficient migration on adhesive surfaces involves the protrusion of lamellipodial actin networks and their subsequent stabilization by nascent adhesions. The actin binding protein lamellipodin (Lpd) is thought to play a critical role in lamellipodium protrusion, by delivering Ena/VASP proteins onto the growing plus ends of actin filaments and by interacting with the WAVE regulatory complex (WRC), an activator of the Arp2/3 complex, at the leading edge. Using B16-F1 melanoma cell lines, we demonstrate that genetic ablation of Lpd compromises protrusion efficiency and coincident cell migration without altering essential parameters of lamellipodia, including their maximal rate of forward advancement and actin polymerization. We also confirmed lamellipodia and migration phenotypes with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Lpd knockout Rat2 fibroblasts, excluding cell type-specific effects. Moreover, computer-aided analysis of cell edge morphodynamics on B16-F1 cell lamellipodia revealed that loss of Lpd correlates with reduced temporal protrusion maintenance as a prerequisite of nascent adhesion formation. We conclude that Lpd optimizes protrusion and nascent adhesion formation by counteracting frequent, chaotic retraction and membrane ruffling.Summary statementWe describe how genetic ablation of the prominent actin- and VASP-binding protein lamellipodin combined with software-aided protrusion analysis uncovers mechanistic insights into its cellular function during cell migration.

scholarly journals The actin regulators Enabled and Diaphanous direct distinct protrusive behaviors in different tissues during Drosophila development

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (20) ◽  
pp. 3147-3165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie H. Nowotarski ◽  
Natalie McKeon ◽  
Rachel J. Moser ◽  
Mark Peifer
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Dorsal Closure ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Timely Completion ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Different Tissues

Actin-based protrusions are important for signaling and migration during development and homeostasis. Defining how different tissues in vivo craft diverse protrusive behaviors using the same genomic toolkit of actin regulators is a current challenge. The actin elongation factors Diaphanous and Enabled both promote barbed-end actin polymerization and can stimulate filopodia in cultured cells. However, redundancy in mammals and Diaphanous’ role in cytokinesis limited analysis of whether and how they regulate protrusions during development. We used two tissues driving Drosophila dorsal closure—migratory leading-edge (LE) and nonmigratory amnioserosal (AS) cells—as models to define how cells shape distinct protrusions during morphogenesis. We found that nonmigratory AS cells produce filopodia that are morphologically and dynamically distinct from those of LE cells. We hypothesized that differing Enabled and/or Diaphanous activity drives these differences. Combining gain- and loss-of-function with quantitative approaches revealed that Diaphanous and Enabled each regulate filopodial behavior in vivo and defined a quantitative “fingerprint”—the protrusive profile—which our data suggest is characteristic of each actin regulator. Our data suggest that LE protrusiveness is primarily Enabled driven, whereas Diaphanous plays the primary role in the AS, and reveal each has roles in dorsal closure, but its robustness ensures timely completion in their absence.

scholarly journals A developmentally regulated Na-H exchanger in Dictyostelium discoideum is necessary for cell polarity during chemotaxis

2005 ◽  
Vol 169 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitesh Patel ◽  
Diane L. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Intracellular Ph ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Ph Homeostasis ◽  
Developmentally Regulated ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Morphological Polarity

Increased intracellular H+ efflux is speculated to be an evolutionarily conserved mechanism necessary for rapid assembly of cytoskeletal filaments and for morphological polarity during cell motility. In Dictyostelium discoideum, increased intracellular pH through undefined transport mechanisms plays a key role in directed cell movement. We report that a developmentally regulated Na-H exchanger in Dictyostelium discoideum (DdNHE1) localizes to the leading edge of polarized cells and is necessary for intracellular pH homeostasis and for efficient chemotaxis. Starved DdNHE1-null cells (Ddnhe1−) differentiate, and in response to the chemoattractant cAMP they retain directional sensing; however, they cannot attain a polarized morphology, but instead extend mislocalized pseudopodia around the cell and exhibit decreased velocity. Consistent with impaired polarity, in response to chemoattractant, Ddnhe1− cells lack a leading edge localization of F-actin and have significantly attenuated de novo F-actin polymerization but increased abundance of membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3). These findings indicate that during chemotaxis DdNHE1 is necessary for establishing the kinetics of actin polymerization and PI(3,4,5)P3 production and for attaining a polarized phenotype.

scholarly journals SCAR knockouts in Dictyostelium: WASP assumes SCAR’s position and upstream regulators in pseudopods

2012 ◽  
Vol 198 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douwe M. Veltman ◽  
Jason S. King ◽  
Laura M. Machesky ◽  
Robert H. Insall
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Traveling Waves ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
The Other ◽  
Coated Pits ◽  
Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome ◽  
Regulatory Complex ◽  
Syndrome Protein ◽  
Upstream Regulators

Under normal conditions, the Arp2/3 complex activator SCAR/WAVE controls actin polymerization in pseudopods, whereas Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) assembles actin at clathrin-coated pits. We show that, unexpectedly, Dictyostelium discoideum SCAR knockouts could still spread, migrate, and chemotax using pseudopods driven by the Arp2/3 complex. In the absence of SCAR, some WASP relocated from the coated pits to the leading edge, where it behaved with similar dynamics to normal SCAR, forming split pseudopods and traveling waves. Pseudopods colocalized with active Rac, whether driven by WASP or SCAR, though Rac was activated to a higher level in SCAR mutants. Members of the SCAR regulatory complex, in particular PIR121, were not required for WASP regulation. We thus show that WASP is able to respond to all core upstream signals and that regulators coupled through the other members of SCAR’s regulatory complex are not essential for pseudopod formation. We conclude that WASP and SCAR can regulate pseudopod actin using similar mechanisms.

scholarly journals DIPG-43. CAN WE REPROGRAM DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG)? EXPLORING THE ROLE OF DISTALLESS/DLX HOMEOBOX GENE REGULATION OF OLIGODENDROGLIAL PROGENITOR CELLS (OPC) IN THE DEVELOPING VERTEBRATE NERVOUS SYSTEM

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii295-iii295
Author(s):  
Mikaela Nevin ◽  
Janine Gallego ◽  
Xiaohua Song ◽  
Qiang Jiang ◽  
Alan Underhill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Homeobox Gene ◽  
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma ◽  
Cell Of Origin ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Promoter Dna ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Developmental Reprogramming

Abstract BACKGROUND The identification of H3.3/H3.1K27M in most DIPG has changed our understanding of this disease. H3K27M mutations usually demonstrate global loss of H3K27 trimethylation (me3) with gain of H3K27 acetylation (ac). Single cell RNAseq has identified the putative cell of origin as oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPC). The distalless gene family is necessary for the differentiation and tangential migration of committed neural progenitors to become GABAergic interneurons. Dlx1/Dlx2 double knockout (DKO) cells from the ganglionic eminences (GE) transplanted into a wild-type environment become oligodendrocytes. RESULTS We identified DLX2 occupancy of early (Olig2, Nkx2.2) and late (Myt1, Plp1) genes required for OPC differentiation in vivo and confirmed direct DLX2 protein-promoter DNA binding in vitro. Co-expression of Dlx2 with target sequences reduced reporter gene expression in vitro. There was increased expression of OLIG2, NKX2.2 and PLP-1 expression in vivo, consistent with de-repression in the absence of Dlx1/Dlx2 function. Transient over-expression of a Dlx2-GFP construct into murine DIPG cells from a GEMM that develops DIPG resulted in significant increases in expression of Gad isoforms with concomitant decreases in Olig2 and Nkx2.2. Dlx2-transfected mDIPG cells also demonstrated reduced migration, invasion and colony formation in vitro. Of significance, there was global restoration of H3K27me3 with corresponding loss of H3K27ac expression in transfected cells compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS DLX2 promotes GABAergic differentiation and migration while concomitantly repressing OPC differentiation in vivo. Developmental reprogramming of mDIPG cells by DLX2 demonstrates the potential role for directed differentiation strategies towards improving patient outcomes for this devastating pediatric cancer.

scholarly journals Contribution of Filopodia to Cell Migration: A Mechanical Link between Protrusion and Contraction

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Xue ◽  
Deanna M. Janzen ◽  
David A. Knecht
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Distal Portion ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Actin Networks ◽  
Motile Cells ◽  
A Cell

Numerous F-actin containing structures are involved in regulating protrusion of membrane at the leading edge of motile cells. We have investigated the structure and dynamics of filopodia as they relate to events at the leading edge and the function of the trailing actin networks. We have found that although filopodia contain parallel bundles of actin, they contain a surprisingly nonuniform spatial and temporal distribution of actin binding proteins. Along the length of the actin filaments in a single filopodium, the most distal portion contains primarily T-plastin, while the proximal portion is primarily bound byα-actinin and coronin. Some filopodia are stationary, but lateral filopodia move with respect to the leading edge. They appear to form a mechanical link between the actin polymerization network at the front of the cell and the myosin motor activity in the cell body. The direction of lateral filopodial movement is associated with the direction of cell migration. When lateral filopodia initiate from and move toward only one side of a cell, the cell will turn opposite to the direction of filopodial flow. Therefore, this filopodia-myosin II system allows actin polymerization driven protrusion forces and myosin II mediated contractile force to be mechanically coordinated.

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.

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