scholarly journals Involvement of Raft-Like Plasma Membrane Domains of Entamoeba histolytica in Pinocytosis and Adhesion

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 5349-5357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Laughlin ◽  
Glen C. McGugan ◽  
Rhonda R. Powell ◽  
Brenda H. Welter ◽  
Lesly A. Temesvari

ABSTRACT Lipid rafts are highly ordered, cholesterol-rich, and detergent-resistant microdomains found in the plasma membrane of many eukaryotic cells. These domains play important roles in endocytosis, secretion, and adhesion in a variety of cell types. The parasitic protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amoebic dysentery, was determined to have raft-like plasma membrane domains by use of fluorescent lipid analogs that specifically partition into raft and nonraft regions of the membrane. Disruption of raft-like membrane domains in Entamoeba with the cholesterol-binding agents filipin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin resulted in the inhibition of several important virulence functions, fluid-phase pinocytosis, and adhesion to host cell monolayers. However, disruption of raft-like domains did not inhibit constitutive secretion of cysteine proteases, another important virulence function of Entamoeba. Flotation of the cold Triton X-100-insoluble portion of membranes on sucrose gradients revealed that the heavy, intermediate, and light subunits of the galactose-N-acetylgalactosamine-inhibitible lectin, an important cell surface adhesion molecule of Entamoeba, were enriched in cholesterol-rich (raft-like) fractions, whereas EhCP5, another cell surface molecule, was not enriched in these fractions. The subunits of the lectin were also observed in high-density, actin-rich fractions of the sucrose gradient. Together, these data suggest that pinocytosis and adhesion are raft-dependent functions in this pathogen. This is the first report describing the existence and physiological relevance of raft-like membrane domains in E. histolytica.

1991 ◽  
Vol 114 (6) ◽  
pp. 1149-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
D P Cerneus ◽  
A van der Ende

Contrary to most other epithelia, trophoblasts in the human placenta, which form the physical barrier between the fetal and the maternal blood circulation, express high numbers of transferrin receptors on their apical cell surface. This study describes the establishment of a polarized trophoblast-like cell line BeWo, which exhibit a high expression of transferrin receptors on the apex of the cells. Cultured on permeable filter supports, BeWo cells formed a polarized monolayer with microvilli on their apical cell surface. Across the monolayer a transepithelial resistance developed of approximately 600 omega.cm2 within 4 d. Depletion of Ca2+ from the medium decreased the resistance to background levels, showing its dependence on the integrity of tight junctions. Within the same period of time the secretion of proteins became polarized. In addition, the compositions of integral membrane proteins at the apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains were distinct as determined by domain-selective iodination. Similar to placental trophoblasts, binding of 125I-labeled transferrin to BeWo monolayers revealed that the transferrin receptor was expressed at both plasma membrane domains. Apical and basolateral transferrin receptors were found in a 1:2 surface ratio and exhibited identical dissociation constants and molecular weights. After uptake, transferrin recycled predominantly to the domain of administration, indicating separate recycling pathways from the apical and basolateral domain. This was confirmed by using diaminobenzidine cytochemistry, a technique by which colocalization of endocytosed 125I-labeled and HRP-conjugated transferrin can be monitored. No mixing of the two types of ligands was observed, when both ligands were simultaneously internalized for 10 or 60 min from opposite domains, demonstrating that BeWo cells possess separate populations of apical and basolateral early endosomes. In conclusion, the trophoblast-like BeWo cell line can serve as a unique model to compare the apical and basolateral endocytic pathways of a single ligand, transferrin, in polarized epithelial cells.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1472-1477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omai B. Garner ◽  
Linda G. Baum

The formation of multivalent complexes of soluble galectins with glycoprotein receptors on the plasma membrane helps to organize glycoprotein assemblies on the surface of the cell. In some cell types, this formation of galectin–glycan lattices or scaffolds is critical for organizing plasma membrane domains, such as lipid rafts, or for targeted delivery of glycoproteins to the apical or basolateral surface. Galectin–glycan lattice formation is also involved in regulating the signalling threshold of some cell-surface glycoproteins, including T-cell receptors and growth factor receptors. Finally, galectin–glycan lattices can determine receptor residency time by inhibiting endocytosis of glycoprotein receptors from the cell surface, thus modulating the magnitude or duration of signalling from the cell surface. This paper reviews recent evidence in vitro and in vivo for critical physiological and cellular functions that are regulated by galectin–glycoprotein interactions.


1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Liisa Tuhkanen ◽  
Markku Tammi ◽  
Alpo Pelttari ◽  
Ulla M. Ågren ◽  
Raija Tammi

We used immunogold staining and stereology to examine the ultrastructural localization and to estimate the relative content of CD44 in different strata and cell types of normal human epidermis. We found that CD44 existed almost exclusively on the plasma membranes; only rare labeling occurred on vesicular structures within the cytoplasm. Quantitation of the immunogold particles indicated that the labeling density of melanocytes corresponded to that of basal keratinocytes, and Langerhans cells displayed a labeling density of ∼10% that of the surrounding spinous cells. Among keratinocyte strata, the highest labeling density occurred on spinous cells, suggesting upregulation of CD44 after detachment from the basement membrane. The plasma membrane distribution of CD44 was compartmentalized, with little signal on cell–cell and cell-substratum contact sites such as desmosomes, the plasma membrane domain facing the basement membrane, and the close apposition of terminally differentiating granular cells. In contrast, CD44 was abundant on plasma membrane domains facing an open intercellular space, rich in hyaluronan. This distribution is in line with a role of CD44 as a hyaluronan receptor, important in the maintenance of the intercellular space for nutritional and cell motility functions in stratified epithelia.


1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 1121-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
J K Bubien ◽  
L J Zhou ◽  
P D Bell ◽  
R A Frizzell ◽  
T F Tedder

CD20 is a plasma membrane phosphoprotein expressed exclusively by B lymphocytes. mAb binding to CD20 alters cell cycle progression and differentiation, indicating that CD20 plays an essential role in B lymphocyte function. Whole-cell patch clamp and fluorescence microscopy measurements of plasma membrane ionic conductance and cytosolic-free Ca2+ activity, respectively, were used to directly examine CD20 function. Transfection of human T and mouse pre-B lymphoblastoid cell lines with CD20 cDNA and subsequent stable expression of CD20 specifically increased transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. Transfection of CD20 cDNA and subsequent expression of CD20 in nonlymphoid cells (human K562 erythroleukemia cells and mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts) also induced the expression of an identical transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. The binding of a CD20-specific mAb to CD20+ lymphoblastoid cells also enhanced the transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. The mAb-enhanced Ca2+ currents had the same conductance characteristics as the CD20-associated Ca2+ currents in CD20 cDNA-transfected cells. C20 is structurally similar to several ion channels; each CD20 monomer possesses four membrane spanning domains, and both the amino and carboxy termini reside within the cytoplasm. Biochemical cross-linking of cell-surface molecules with subsequent immunoprecipitation analysis of CD20 suggests that CD20 may be present as a multimeric oligomer within the membrane, as occurs with several known membrane channels. Taken together, these findings indicate that CD20 directly regulates transmembrane Ca2+ conductance in B lymphocytes, and suggest that multimeric complexes of CD20 may form Ca2+ conductive ion channels in the plasma membrane of B lymphoid cells.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Brown ◽  
J. L. Stow

The transepithelial movement of fluids, electrolytes, and larger molecules is achieved by the activity of a host of specialized transporting proteins, including enzymes, receptors, and channels, that are located on either the apical, basal, or lateral plasma membrane domains of epithelial cells. In the kidney as well as in all other organs, this remarkable polarity of epithelial cells depends on the selective insertion of newly synthesized and recycling proteins and lipids into distinct plasma membrane domains and on the maintenance and modulation of these specialized domains once they are established during epithelial development. This review addresses the mechanisms by which epithelial cells control the movement of membrane components within the cell to ensure that they are delivered to the correct target membrane. Among the topics discussed are targeting signals within membrane proteins, the role of the cytoskeleton and the tight junctional barrier in cell polarity, and the requirement for accessory proteins in the targeting process, including GTP-binding proteins, and proteins that are involved in vesicle docking and fusion events. The final part of the review is devoted uniquely to the polarized targeting of functionally defined proteins in various kidney cell types. In concluding, examples of how a breakdown in these trafficking pathways may be related to some disease states are presented.


Author(s):  
J.M. Robinson ◽  
J.M Oliver

Specialized regions of plasma membranes displaying lateral heterogeneity are the focus of this Symposium. Specialized membrane domains are known for certain cell types such as differentiated epithelial cells where lateral heterogeneity in lipids and proteins exists between the apical and basolateral portions of the plasma membrane. Lateral heterogeneity and the presence of microdomains in membranes that are uniform in appearance have been more difficult to establish. Nonetheless a number of studies have provided evidence for membrane microdomains and indicated a functional importance for these structures.This symposium will focus on the use of various imaging modalities and related approaches to define membrane microdomains in a number of cell types. The importance of existing as well as emerging imaging technologies for use in the elucidation of membrane microdomains will be highlighted. The organization of membrane microdomains in terms of dimensions and spatial distribution is of considerable interest and will be addressed in this Symposium.


Author(s):  
Michael Edidin

Cell surface membranes are based on a fluid lipid bilayer and models of the membranes' organization have emphasised the possibilities for lateral motion of membrane lipids and proteins within the bilayer. Two recent trends in cell and membrane biology make us consider ways in which membrane organization works against its inherent fluidity, localizing both lipids and proteins into discrete domains. There is evidence for such domains, even in cells without obvious morphological polarity and organization [Table 1]. Cells that are morphologically polarised, for example epithelial cells, raise the issue of membrane domains in an accute form.The technique of fluorescence photobleaching and recovery, FPR, was developed to measure lateral diffusion of membrane components. It has also proven to be a powerful tool for the analysis of constraints to lateral mobility. FPR resolves several sorts of membrane domains, all on the micrometer scale, in several different cell types.


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