scholarly journals Adenovirus E4orf4 Hijacks Rho GTPase-dependent Actin Dynamics to Kill Cells: A Role for Endosome-associated Actin Assembly

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 3329-3344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Robert ◽  
Nicolas Smadja-Lamère ◽  
Marie-Claude Landry ◽  
Claudia Champagne ◽  
Ryan Petrie ◽  
...  

The adenovirus early region 4 ORF4 protein (E4orf4) triggers a novel death program that bypasses classical apoptotic pathways in human cancer cells. Deregulation of the cell cytoskeleton is a hallmark of E4orf4 killing that relies on Src family kinases and E4orf4 phosphorylation. However, the cytoskeletal targets of E4orf4 and their role in the death process are unknown. Here, we show that E4orf4 translocates to cytoplasmic sites and triggers the assembly of a peculiar juxtanuclear actin–myosin network that drives polarized blebbing and nuclear shrinkage. We found that E4orf4 activates the myosin II motor and triggers de novo actin polymerization in the perinuclear region, promoting endosomes recruitment to the sites of actin assembly. E4orf4-induced actin dynamics requires interaction with Src family kinases and involves a spatial regulation of the Rho GTPases pathways Cdc42/N-Wasp, RhoA/Rho kinase, and Rac1, which make distinct contributions. Remarkably, activation of the Rho GTPases is required for induction of apoptotic-like cell death. Furthermore, inhibition of actin dynamics per se dramatically impairs E4orf4 killing. This work provides strong support for a causal role for endosome-associated actin dynamics in E4orf4 killing and in the regulation of cancer cell fate.

2015 ◽  
Vol 209 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Grikscheit ◽  
Tanja Frank ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Robert Grosse

Epithelial integrity is vitally important, and its deregulation causes early stage cancer. De novo formation of an adherens junction (AJ) between single epithelial cells requires coordinated, spatial actin dynamics, but the mechanisms steering nascent actin polymerization for cell–cell adhesion initiation are not well understood. Here we investigated real-time actin assembly during daughter cell–cell adhesion formation in human breast epithelial cells in 3D environments. We identify formin-like 2 (FMNL2) as being specifically required for actin assembly and turnover at newly formed cell–cell contacts as well as for human epithelial lumen formation. FMNL2 associates with components of the AJ complex involving Rac1 activity and the FMNL2 C terminus. Optogenetic control of Rac1 in living cells rapidly drove FMNL2 to epithelial cell–cell contact zones. Furthermore, Rac1-induced actin assembly and subsequent AJ formation critically depends on FMNL2. These data uncover FMNL2 as a driver for human epithelial AJ formation downstream of Rac1.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Kühn ◽  
John Bergqvist ◽  
Laura Barrio ◽  
Stephanie Lebreton ◽  
Chiara Zurzolo ◽  
...  

SUMMARYThe enteroinvasive bacterium Shigella flexneri forces its uptake into non-phagocytic host cells through the translocation of T3SS effectors that subvert the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we report de novo actin polymerization after cellular entry around the bacterial containing vacuole (BCV) leading to the formation of a dynamic actin cocoon. This cocoon is thicker than any described cellular actin structure and functions as a gatekeeper for the cytosolic access of the pathogen. Host Cdc42, Toca-1, N-WASP, WIP, the Arp2/3 complex, cortactin, coronin, and cofilin are recruited to the actin cocoon. They are subverted by T3SS effectors, such as IpgD, IpgB1, and IcsB. IcsB immobilizes components of the actin polymerization machinery at the BCV. This represents a novel microbial subversion strategy through localized entrapment of host actin regulators causing massive actin assembly. We propose that the cocoon protects Shigella’s niche from canonical maturation or host recognition.


1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.Y. Chan ◽  
S. Raft ◽  
M. Bailly ◽  
J.B. Wyckoff ◽  
J.E. Segall ◽  
...  

Stimulation of metastatic MTLn3 cells with EGF causes the rapid extension of lamellipods, which contain a zone of F-actin at the leading edge. In order to establish the mechanism for accumulation of F-actin at the leading edge and its relationship to lamellipod extension in response to EGF, we have studied the kinetics and location of EGF-induced actin nucleation activity in MTLn3 cells and characterized the actin dynamics at the leading edge by measuring the changes at the pointed and barbed ends of actin filaments upon EGF stimulation of MTLn3 cells. The major result of this study is that stimulation of MTLn3 cells with EGF causes a transient increase in actin nucleation activity resulting from the appearance of free barbed ends very close to the leading edge of extending lamellipods. In addition, cytochalasin D causes a significant decrease in the total F-actin content in EGF-stimulated cells, indicating that both actin polymerization and depolymerization are stimulated by EGF. Pointed end incorporation of rhodamine-labeled actin by the EGF stimulated cells is 2.12+/−0.47 times higher than that of control cells. Since EGF stimulation causes an increase in both barbed and pointed end incorporation of rhodamine-labeled actin in the same location, the EGF-stimulated nucleation sites are more likely due either to severing of pre-existing filaments or de novo nucleation of filaments at the leading edge thereby creating new barbed and pointed ends. The timing and location of EGF-induced actin nucleation activity in MTLn3 cells can account for the observed accumulation of F-actin at the leading edge and demonstrate that this F-actin rich zone is the primary actin polymerization zone after stimulation.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie R. Reinhard ◽  
Sanne van der Niet ◽  
Anna Chertkova ◽  
Marten Postma ◽  
Peter L. Hordijk ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Rho GTPase family is involved in actin dynamics and regulates the barrier function of the endothelium. One of the main barrier-promoting Rho GTPases is Cdc42, also known as cell division control protein 42 homolog. Currently, regulation of Cdc42-based signaling networks in endothelial cells (ECs) lack molecular details. To examine these, we focused on a subset of 15 Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which are expressed in the endothelium. By performing single cell FRET measurements with Rho GTPase biosensors in primary human ECs, we monitored GEF efficiency towards Cdc42 and Rac1. A new, single cell-based analysis was developed and used to enable the quantitative comparison of cellular activities of the full-length GEFs. Our data reveal a specific GEF dependent activation profile, with most efficient Cdc42 activation induced by PLEKHG2, FGD1, PLEKHG1 and pRex1 and the highest selectivity for FGD1. Additionally, we generated truncated GEF constructs that comprise only the catalytic dbl homology (DH) domain or together with the adjacent pleckstrin homology domain (DHPH). The DH domain by itself did not activate Cdc42, whereas the DHPH domain of ITSN1, ITSN2 and PLEKHG1 showed activity towards Cdc42. Together, our study characterized endothelial GEFs that may activate Cdc42, which will be of great value for the field of vascular biology.Abstract FigureGraphical Abstract


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brock A. Humphries ◽  
Zhishan Wang ◽  
Chengfeng Yang

The small Rho GTPases regulate important cellular processes that affect cancer metastasis, such as cell survival and proliferation, actin dynamics, adhesion, migration, invasion and transcriptional activation. The Rho GTPases function as molecular switches cycling between an active GTP-bound and inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound conformation. It is known that Rho GTPase activities are mainly regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs), GTPase-activating proteins (RhoGAPs), GDP dissociation inhibitors (RhoGDIs) and guanine nucleotide exchange modifiers (GEMs). These Rho GTPase regulators are often dysregulated in cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a large family of small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate protein-coding gene expression, have been shown to play important roles in cancer metastasis. Recent studies showed that miRNAs are capable of directly targeting RhoGAPs, RhoGEFs, and RhoGDIs, and regulate the activities of Rho GTPases. This not only provides new evidence for the critical role of miRNA dysregulation in cancer metastasis, it also reveals novel mechanisms for Rho GTPase regulation. This review summarizes recent exciting findings showing that miRNAs play important roles in regulating Rho GTPase regulators (RhoGEFs, RhoGAPs, RhoGDIs), thus affecting Rho GTPase activities and cancer metastasis. The potential opportunities and challenges for targeting miRNAs and Rho GTPase regulators in treating cancer metastasis are also discussed. A comprehensive list of the currently validated miRNA-targeting of small Rho GTPase regulators is presented as a reference resource.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (19) ◽  
pp. 6615-6628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Bosse ◽  
Julia Ehinger ◽  
Aleksandra Czuchra ◽  
Stefanie Benesch ◽  
Anika Steffen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Activation of c-Met, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/scatter factor receptor induces reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, which drives epithelial cell scattering and motility and is exploited by pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes to invade nonepithelial cells. However, the precise contributions of distinct Rho-GTPases, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases, and actin assembly regulators to c-Met-mediated actin reorganization are still elusive. Here we report that HGF-induced membrane ruffling and Listeria invasion mediated by the bacterial c-Met ligand internalin B (InlB) were significantly impaired but not abrogated upon genetic removal of either Cdc42 or pharmacological inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). While loss of Cdc42 or PI3-kinase function correlated with reduced HGF- and InlB-triggered Rac activation, complete abolishment of actin reorganization and Rac activation required the simultaneous inactivation of both Cdc42 and PI3-kinase signaling. Moreover, Cdc42 activation was fully independent of PI3-kinase activity, whereas the latter partly depended on Cdc42. Finally, Cdc42 function did not require its interaction with the actin nucleation-promoting factor N-WASP. Instead, actin polymerization was driven by Arp2/3 complex activation through the WAVE complex downstream of Rac. Together, our data establish an intricate signaling network comprising as key molecules Cdc42 and PI3-kinase, which converge on Rac-mediated actin reorganization essential for Listeria invasion and membrane ruffling downstream of c-Met.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 8721-8734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Nakamura ◽  
Misako Komiya ◽  
Kiyoaki Sone ◽  
Eiji Hirose ◽  
Noriko Gotoh ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Neurotrophins are key regulators of the fate and shape of neuronal cells and act as guidance cues for growth cones by remodeling the actin cytoskeleton. Actin dynamics is controlled by Rho GTPases. We identified a novel Rho GTPase-activating protein (Grit) for Rho/Rac/Cdc42 small GTPases. Grit was abundant in neuronal cells and directly interacted with TrkA, a high-affinity receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF). Another pool of Grit was recruited to the activated receptor tyrosine kinase through its binding to N-Shc and CrkL/Crk, adapter molecules downstream of activated receptor tyrosine kinases. Overexpression of the TrkA-binding region of Grit inhibited NGF-induced neurite elongation. Further, we found some tendency for neurite promotion in full-length Grit-overexpressing PC12 cells upon NGF stimulation. These results suggest that Grit, a novel TrkA-interacting protein, regulates neurite outgrowth by modulating the Rho family of small GTPases.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (2) ◽  
pp. C256-C263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Oka ◽  
Masatoshi Hori ◽  
Akane Tanaka ◽  
Hiroshi Matsuda ◽  
Hideaki Karaki ◽  
...  

In the mast cell signaling pathways, the binding of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to FcϵRI, its high-affinity receptor, is generally thought to be a passive step. In this study, we examined the effect of IgE alone, that is, without antigen stimulation, on the degranulation in mast cells. Monomeric IgE (500–5,000 ng/ml) alone increased cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) and induced degranulation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 mast cells. Monomeric IgE (5,000 ng/ml) alone also increased [Ca2+]i and induced degranulation in bone marrow-derived mast cells. Interestingly, monomeric IgE (5–50 ng/ml) alone, in concentrations too low to induce degranulation, increased filamentous actin content in RBL-2H3 mast cells. We next examined whether actin dynamics affect the IgE alone-induced RBL-2H3 mast cell activation pathways. Cytochalasin D inhibited the ability of IgE alone (50 ng/ml) to induce de novo actin assembly. In cytochalasin D-treated cells, IgE (50 ng/ml) alone increased [Ca2+]i and induced degranulation. We have summarized the current findings into two points. First, IgE alone increases [Ca2+]i and induces degranulation in mast cells. Second, IgE, at concentrations too low to increase either [Ca2+]i or degranulation, significantly induces actin assembly, which serves as a negative feedback control in the mast cell Ca2+ signaling and degranulation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (13) ◽  
pp. 2069-2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mounier ◽  
V. Laurent ◽  
A. Hall ◽  
P. Fort ◽  
M.F. Carlier ◽  
...  

Shigella flexneri, an invasive bacterial pathogen, promotes formation of two cytoskeletal structures: the entry focus that mediates bacterial uptake into epithelial cells and the actin-comet tail that enables the bacteria to spread intracellularly. During the entry step, secretion of bacterial invasins causes a massive burst of subcortical actin polymerization leading the formation of localised membrane projections. Fusion of these membrane ruffles leads to bacterial internalization. Inside the cytoplasm, polar expression of the IcsA protein on the bacterial surface allows polymerization of actin filaments and their organization into an actin-comet tail leading to bacterial spread. The Rho family of small GTPases plays an essential role in the organization and regulation of cellular cytoskeletal structures (i.e. filopodia, lamellipodia, adherence plaques and intercellular junctions). We show here that induction of Shigella entry foci is controlled by the Cdc42, Rac and Rho GTPases, but not by RhoG. In contrast, actin-driven intracellular motility of Shigella does not require Rho GTPases. Therefore, Shigella appears to manipulate the epithelial cell cytoskeleton both by Rho GTPase-dependent and -independent processes.


2004 ◽  
Vol 384 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaël CHAPLET ◽  
Cédric DETRY ◽  
Christophe DEROANNE ◽  
Larry W. FISHER ◽  
Vincent CASTRONOVO ◽  
...  

Clinical practice reveals that osteoporotic women treated with BPs (bisphosphonates) show an increased bone mass density and a reduced risk of fractures. However, the mechanisms leading to these beneficial effects of BPs are still poorly understood. We hypothesized that ZOL (zoledronic acid), a potent third-generation BP, may induce the expression of proteins associated with the bone-forming potential of osteoblastic cells such as BSP (bone sialo-protein). Expression of BSP gene is up-regulated by hormones that promote bone formation and has been associated with de novo bone mineralization. Using real-time reverse transcriptase–PCR and Western-blot analysis, we demonstrated that ZOL increased BSP expression in Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells. Nuclear run-on and mRNA decay assays showed no effect at the transcriptional level but a stabilization of BSP transcripts in ZOL-treated cells. ZOL effect on BSP expression occurred through an interference with the mevalonate pathway since it was reversed by either mevalonate pathway intermediates or a Rho GTPase activator. We showed that ZOL impaired membrane localization of RhoA in Saos-2 cells indicating reduced prenylation of this protein. By the use of small interfering RNAs directed to RhoA and Rac1, we identified both Rho GTPases as negative regulators of BSP expression in Saos-2 cells. Our study demonstrates that ZOL induces BSP expression in osteoblast-like cells through inactivation of Rho GTPases and provides a potential mechanism to explain the favourable effects of ZOL treatment on bone mass and integrity.


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