scholarly journals Human Antiviral Protein MxA Forms Novel Metastable Membraneless Cytoplasmic Condensates Exhibiting Rapid Reversible Tonicity-Driven Phase Transitions

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deodate Davis ◽  
Huijuan Yuan ◽  
Feng-Xia Liang ◽  
Yang-Ming Yang ◽  
Jenna Westley ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Phase-separated biomolecular condensates of proteins and nucleic acids form functional membrane-less organelles (e.g., stress granules and P-bodies) in the mammalian cell cytoplasm and nucleus. In contrast to the long-standing belief that interferon (IFN)-inducible human myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, we report that MxA formed membraneless metastable (shape-changing) condensates in the cytoplasm. In our studies, we used the same cell lines and methods as those used by previous investigators but concluded that wild-type MxA formed variably sized spherical or irregular bodies, filaments, and even a reticulum distinct from that of ER/Golgi membranes. Moreover, in Huh7 cells, MxA structures associated with a novel cytoplasmic reticular meshwork of intermediate filaments. In live-cell assays, 1,6-hexanediol treatment led to rapid disassembly of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-MxA structures; FRAP revealed a relative stiffness with a mobile fraction of 0.24 ± 0.02 within condensates, consistent with a higher-order MxA network structure. Remarkably, in intact cells, GFP-MxA condensates reversibly disassembled/reassembled within minutes of sequential decrease/increase, respectively, in tonicity of extracellular medium, even in low-salt buffers adjusted only with sucrose. Condensates formed from IFN-α-induced endogenous MxA also displayed tonicity-driven disassembly/reassembly. In vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-infected Huh7 cells, the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which participates in forming phase-separated viral structures, associated with spherical GFP-MxA condensates in cells showing an antiviral effect. These observations prompt comparisons with the extensive literature on interactions between viruses and stress granules/P-bodies. Overall, the new data correct a long-standing misinterpretation in the MxA literature and provide evidence for membraneless MxA biomolecular condensates in the uninfected cell cytoplasm. IMPORTANCE There is a long-standing belief that interferon (IFN)-inducible human myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA), which displays antiviral activity against several RNA and DNA viruses, associates with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. We provide data to correct this misinterpretation and further report that MxA forms membraneless metastable (shape-changing) condensates in the cytoplasm consisting of variably sized spherical or irregular bodies, filaments, and even a reticulum. Remarkably, MxA condensates showed the unique property of rapid (within 1 to 3 min) reversible disassembly and reassembly in intact cells exposed sequentially to hypotonic and isotonic conditions. Moreover, GFP-MxA condensates included the VSV nucleocapsid (N) protein, a protein previously shown to form liquid-like condensates. Since intracellular edema and ionic changes are hallmarks of cytopathic effects of a viral infection, the tonicity-driven regulation of MxA condensates may reflect a mechanism for modulation of MxA function during viral infection.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deodate Davis ◽  
Huijuan Yuan ◽  
Feng-Xia Liang ◽  
Yang-Ming Yang ◽  
Jenna Westley ◽  
...  

AbstractPhase-separated biomolecular condensates of proteins and nucleic acids form functional membrane-less organelles in the mammalian cell cytoplasm and nucleus. We report that the interferon (IFN)-inducible human “myxovirus resistance protein A” (MxA) forms membrane-less metastable condensates in the cytoplasm. Light and electron microscopy studies revealed that transient expression of HA- or GFP-tagged MxA in Huh7, HEK293T or Cos7 cells, or exposure of Huh7 cells to IFN-α2a led to the appearance of MxA in the cytoplasm in membrane-less variably-sized spherical or irregular bodies, in filaments and even a reticulum. 1,6-Hexanediol treatment led to rapid disassembly of these condensates; however, FRAP revealed a relative rigidity with a mobile fraction of only 0.24±0.02 within condensates. In vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-infected Huh7 cells, the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which participates in forming phase-separated viral structures, associated with GFP-MxA condensates. Remarkably, the cytoplasmic GFP-MxA condensates disassembled within 1-3 min of exposure of cells to hypotonic medium (40-50 milliosmolar) and reassembled within 0.5-2 min of re-exposure of cells to isotonic medium (310-325 milliosmolar) through multiple cycles. Mechanistically, the extent of cytoplasmic “crowding” regulated this phase-separation process. GFP-MxA condensates also included the DNA sensor protein cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), another protein known to be associated with liquid-like condensates. Functionally, GFP-MxA expression inhibited DNA/cGAS-responsive ISG54-luciferase activity but enhanced relative inducibility of ISG54-luc by IFN-α, revealing a physical separation between condensate- and cytosol-based signaling pathways in the cytoplasm. Taken together, the data reveal a new aspect of the cell biology of MxA in the cell cytoplasm.ImportanceThe human interferon-inducible “myxovirus resistance protein A” (MxA), which displays antiviral activity against several RNA and DNA viruses, exists in the cytoplasm in phase-separated membrane-less metastable condensates of variably-sized spherical or irregular bodies, in filaments and even in a reticulum. MxA condensate formation appeared necessary but not sufficient for antiviral activity. Remarkably, MxA condensates showed the unique property of rapid (within 1-3 min) reversible disassembly and reassembly in intact cells exposed sequentially to hypotonic and isotonic conditions Mechanistically, these phase transitions were regulated by the extent of cytoplasmic “crowding.” Moreover, GFP-MxA condensates included the DNA sensor protein cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS). Functionally, GFP-MxA expression inhibited DNA/cGAS-responsive ISG54-luciferase activity but enhanced inducibility of ISG54-luc by IFN-α, revealing a biological distinction between condensate- and cytosol-based signaling pathways. Since intracellular edema and ionic changes are hallmarks of cytopathic viral effects, the rapid hypotonicity-driven disassembly of MxA condensates may modulate MxA.function during virus infection.


1998 ◽  
Vol 333 (3) ◽  
pp. 779-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Willem KOK ◽  
Teresa BABIA ◽  
Karin KLAPPE ◽  
Gustavo EGEA ◽  
Dick HOEKSTRA

Ceramide (Cer) transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus was measured under conditions that block vesicle-mediated protein transfer. This was done either in intact cells by reducing the incubation temperature to 15 °C, or in streptolysin O-permeabilized cells by manipulating the intracellular environment. In both cases, Cer transfer was not inhibited, as demonstrated by the biosynthesis of ceramide monohexosides and sphingomyelin (SM) de novo from metabolically (with [14C]serine) labelled Cer. This assay is based on the knowledge that Cer is synthesized, starting from serine and palmitoyl-CoA, at the ER, whereas glycosphingolipids and SM are synthesized in the (early) Golgi apparatus. Formation of [14C]glycosphingolipids and [14C]SM was observed under conditions that block vesicle-mediated vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein transport. These results indicate that [14C]Cer is transferred from ER to Golgi by a non-vesicular mechanism.


1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Puoti ◽  
C Desponds ◽  
A Conzelmann

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains several abundant phosphoinositol-containing sphingolipids, namely inositolphosphoceramides (IPCs), mannosyl-inositolphosphoceramide (MIPC), which is substituted on the headgroup with an additional mannose, and M(IP)2C, a ceramide substituted with one mannose and two phosphoinositol groups. Using well-defined temperature-sensitive secretion mutants we demonstrate that the biosynthesis of MIPC, M(IP)2C, and a subclass if IPCs is dependent on genes that are required for the vesicular transport of proteins from the ER to the Golgi. Synthesis of these lipids in intact cells is dependent on metabolic energy. A likely but tentative interpretation of the data is that the biosynthesis of these sphingolipids is restricted to the Golgi apparatus, and that one or more substrates for the biosynthesis of these sphingolipids (phosphatidylinositol, IPCs, or MIPC) are delivered to the Golgi apparatus by an obligatory vesicular transport step. Alternative models to explain the data are also discussed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (21) ◽  
pp. 13483-13496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pong Kian Chua ◽  
Robert Yung-Liang Wang ◽  
Min-Hui Lin ◽  
Tetsuya Masuda ◽  
Fat-Moon Suk ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We identified two novel naturally occurring mutations (W74L and L77R) in the small S envelope protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Mutation L77R alone resulted in >10-fold-reduced secretion of virions. In addition, the 2.8-fold reduction of the extracellular HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) of mutant L77R from transfected Huh7 cells appeared to be correlated with a 1.7-fold reduction of intracellular HBsAg, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Surprisingly, opposite to the ELISA results, Western blot analysis revealed a near-10-fold-increased level of the intracellular mutant small S envelope protein. The discrepancy between ELISA and Western blot data was due to significant accumulation of the mutant L77R HBsAg in the intracellular pellet fraction. In contrast to HBsAg, the secretion of HBeAg was normal in L77R-transfected cells. The wild-type HBsAg was usually more diffuse and evenly distributed in the cytoplasm, often outside the perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, as observed by immunofluorescence assay. In contrast, the L77R mutant HBsAg tends to be highly restricted within the ER and Golgi, often accumulated in the Golgi compartments distal from the nucleus. The almost exclusive retention in the ER-Golgi of L77R HBsAg was similar to what was observed when the large envelope protein was overexpressed. These multiple aberrant phenotypes of mutant L77R can be corrected by a second naturally occurring S envelope mutation, W74L. Despite the accumulation of L77R HBsAg in ER-Golgi of transfected Huh7 cells, we detected no increase in Grp78 mRNA and proteins, which are common markers for ER stress response.


2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri Ivaska ◽  
Jussi Niemelä ◽  
Johanna Lempainen ◽  
Riikka Österback ◽  
Matti Waris ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
S.R. Allegra

The respective roles of the ribo somes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and perhaps nucleus in the synthesis and maturation of melanosomes is still the subject of some controversy. While the early melanosomes (premelanosomes) have been frequently demonstrated to originate as Golgi vesicles, it is undeniable that these structures can be formed in cells in which Golgi system is not found. This report was prompted by the findings in an essentially amelanotic human cellular blue nevus (melanocytoma) of two distinct lines of melanocytes one of which was devoid of any trace of Golgi apparatus while the other had normal complement of this organelle.


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