The amino acid transporter SNAT2 mediates l-proline-induced differentiation of ES cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (6) ◽  
pp. C1270-C1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boon Siang Nicholas Tan ◽  
Ana Lonic ◽  
Michael B. Morris ◽  
Peter D. Rathjen ◽  
Joy Rathjen

There is an increasing appreciation that amino acids can act as signaling molecules in the regulation of cellular processes through modulation of intracellular cell signaling pathways. In culture, embryonic stem (ES) cells can be differentiated to a second, pluripotent cell population, early primitive ectoderm-like cells in response to biological activities within the conditioned medium MEDII. The amino acid l-proline has been identified as a component of MEDII required for ES cell differentiation. Here, we define the primary l-proline transporter on ES and early primitive ectoderm-like cells as sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2). SNAT2 uptake of l-proline can be inhibited by the addition of millimolar concentrations of other substrates. The addition of excess amino acids was used to regulate the uptake of l-proline by ES cells, and the effect on differentiation was analyzed. The ability of SNAT2 substrates, but not other amino acids, to prevent changes in morphology, gene expression, and differentiation kinetics suggested that l-proline uptake through SNAT2 was required for ES cell differentiation. These data reveal an unexpected role for amino acid uptake and the amino acid transporter SNAT2 in regulation of pluripotent cells in culture and provides a number of specific, inexpensive, and nontoxic culture additives with the potential to improve the quality of ES cell culture.

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 2373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis Salisbury ◽  
Subha Arthur

The progression of cancer is associated with increases in amino acid uptake by cancer cells. Upon their entry into cells through specific transporters, exogenous amino acids are used to synthesize proteins, nucleic acids and lipids and to generate ATP. The essential amino acid leucine is also important for maintaining cancer-associated signaling pathways. By upregulating amino acid transporters, cancer cells gain greater access to exogenous amino acids to support chronic proliferation, maintain metabolic pathways, and to enhance certain signal transduction pathways. Suppressing cancer growth by targeting amino acid transporters will require an in-depth understanding of how cancer cells acquire amino acids, in particular, the transporters involved and which cancer pathways are most sensitive to amino acid deprivation. L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) mediates the uptake of essential amino acids and its expression is upregulated during the progression of several cancers. We will review the upstream regulators of LAT1 and the downstream effects caused by the overexpression of LAT1 in cancer cells.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1218
Author(s):  
Xinwan Zhang ◽  
Hongling Liu ◽  
Elizabeth Pilon-Smits ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Pu Wang ◽  
...  

The vigor of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and tea quality are strongly influenced by the abundance and forms of nitrogen, principally NO3−, NH4+, and amino acids. Mechanisms to access different nitrogen sources and the regulatory cues remain largely elusive in tea plants. A transcriptome analysis was performed to categorize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots and young leaves during the early response to four nitrogen treatments. Relative to the continuously nitrogen-replete control, the three nitrogen-deprived and resupplied treatments shared 237 DEGs in the shoots and 21 DEGs in the root. Gene-ontology characterization revealed that transcripts encoding genes predicted to participate in nitrogen uptake, assimilation, and translocation were among the most differentially expressed after exposure to the different nitrogen regimes. Because of its high transcript level regardless of nitrogen condition, a putative amino acid transporter, TEA020444/CsCAT9.1, was further characterized in Arabidopsis and found to mediate the acquisition of a broad spectrum of amino acids, suggesting a role in amino acid uptake, transport, and deposition in sinks as an internal reservoir. Our results enhance our understanding of nitrogen-regulated transcript level patterns in tea plants and pinpoint candidate genes that function in nitrogen transport and metabolism, allowing tea plants to adjust to variable nitrogen environments.


2012 ◽  
Vol 195 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hein Trip ◽  
Niels L. Mulder ◽  
Juke S. Lolkema

ABSTRACTFourteen genes encoding putative secondary amino acid transporters were identified in the genomes ofLactococcus lactissubsp.cremorisstrains MG1363 and SK11 andL. lactissubsp. lactisstrains IL1403 and KF147, 12 of which were common to all four strains. Amino acid uptake inL. lactiscells overexpressing the genes revealed transporters specific for histidine, lysine, arginine, agmatine, putrescine, aromatic amino acids, acidic amino acids, serine, and branched-chain amino acids. Substrate specificities were demonstrated by inhibition profiles determined in the presence of excesses of the other amino acids. Four knockout mutants, lacking the lysine transporter LysP, the histidine transporter HisP (formerly LysQ), the acidic amino acid transporter AcaP (YlcA), or the aromatic amino acid transporter FywP (YsjA), were constructed. The LysP, HisP, and FywP deletion mutants showed drastically decreased rates of uptake of the corresponding substrates at low concentrations. The same was observed for the AcaP mutant with aspartate but not with glutamate. In rich M17 medium, the deletion of none of the transporters affected growth. In contrast, the deletion of the HisP, AcaP, and FywP transporters did affect growth in a defined medium with free amino acids as the sole amino acid source. HisP was essential at low histidine concentrations, and AcaP was essential in the absence of glutamine. FywP appeared to play a role in retaining intracellularly synthesized aromatic amino acids when these were not added to the medium. Finally, HisP, AcaP, and FywP did not play a role in the excretion of accumulated histidine, glutamate, or phenylalanine, respectively, indicating the involvement of other transporters.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay J. Danthi ◽  
Beirong Liang ◽  
Oanh Smicker ◽  
Benjamin Coupland ◽  
Jill Gregory ◽  
...  

SLC6A19 (B0AT1) is a neutral amino acid transporter, the loss of function of which results in Hartnup disease. SLC6A19 is also believed to have an important role in amino acid homeostasis, diabetes, and weight control. A small-molecule inhibitor of human SLC6A19 (hSLC6A19) was identified using two functional cell-based assays: a fluorescence imaging plate reader (FLIPR) membrane potential (FMP) assay and a stable isotope-labeled neutral amino acid uptake assay. A diverse collection of 3440 pharmacologically active compounds from the Microsource Spectrum and Tocriscreen collections were tested at 10 µM in both assays using MDCK cells stably expressing hSLC6A19 and its obligatory subunit, TMEM27. Compounds that inhibited SLC6A19 activity in both assays were further confirmed for activity and selectivity and characterized for potency in functional assays against hSLC6A19 and related transporters. A single compound, cinromide, was found to robustly, selectively, and reproducibly inhibit SLC6A19 in all functional assays. Structurally related analogs of cinromide were tested to demonstrate structure–activity relationship (SAR). The assays described here are suitable for carrying out high-throughput screening campaigns to identify modulators of SLC6A19.


2000 ◽  
Vol 346 (3) ◽  
pp. 705-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika BRÖER ◽  
Carsten WAGNER ◽  
Florian LANG ◽  
Stefan BRÖER

The neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2 mediates electroneutral obligatory antiport but at the same time requires Na+ for its function. To elucidate the mechanism, ASCT2 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and transport was analysed by flux studies and two-electrode voltage clamp recordings. Flux studies with 22NaCl indicated that the uptake of one molecule of glutamine or alanine is accompanied by the uptake of four to seven Na+ ions. Similarly to the transport of amino acids, the Na+ uptake was mediated by an obligatory Na+ exchange mechanism that depended on the presence of amino acids but was not stoichiometrically coupled to the amino acid transport. Other cations could not replace Na+ in this transport mechanism. When NaCl was replaced by NaSCN in the transport buffer, the superfusion of oocytes with amino acid substrates resulted in large inward currents, indicating the presence of a substrate-gated anion channel in the ASCT2 transporter. The Km for glutamine derived from these experiments is in good agreement with the Km derived from flux studies; it varied between 40 and 90 μM at holding potentials of -60 and -20 mV respectively. The permeability of the substrate-gated anion conductance decreased in the order SCN- NO3- > I- > Cl- and also required the presence of Na+.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (5) ◽  
pp. H2038-H2049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carley Glass ◽  
Dinender K. Singla

microRNAs (miRs) have emerged as critical modulators of various physiological processes including stem cell differentiation. Indeed, miR-1 has been reported to play an integral role in the regulation of cardiac muscle progenitor cell differentiation. However, whether overexpression of miR-1 in embryonic stem (ES) cells (miR-1-ES cells) will enhance cardiac myocyte differentiation following transplantation into the infarcted myocardium is unknown. In the present study, myocardial infarction (MI) was produced in C57BL/6 mice by left anterior descending artery ligation. miR-1-ES cells, ES cells, or culture medium (control) was transplanted into the border zone of the infarcted heart, and 2 wk post-MI, cardiac myocyte differentiation, adverse ventricular remodeling, and cardiac function were assessed. We provide evidence demonstrating enhanced cardiac myocyte commitment of transplanted miR-1-ES cells in the mouse infarcted heart as compared with ES cells. Assessment of apoptosis revealed that overexpression of miR-1 in transplanted ES cells protected host myocardium from MI-induced apoptosis through activation of p-AKT and inhibition of caspase-3, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and superoxide production. A significant reduction in interstitial and vascular fibrosis was quantified in miR-1-ES cell and ES cell transplanted groups compared with control MI. However, no statistical significance between miR-1-ES cell and ES cell groups was observed. Finally, mice receiving miR-1-ES cell transplantation post-MI had significantly improved heart function compared with respective controls ( P < 0.05). Our data suggest miR-1 drives cardiac myocyte differentiation from transplanted ES cells and inhibits apoptosis post-MI, ultimately giving rise to enhanced cardiac repair, regeneration, and function.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (27) ◽  
pp. E6162-E6171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Gao ◽  
Haiyun Gan ◽  
Zhenkun Lou ◽  
Zhiguo Zhang

Bivalent chromatin domains containing repressive H3K27me3 and active H3K4me3 modifications are barriers for the expression of lineage-specific genes in ES cells and must be resolved for the transcription induction of these genes during differentiation, a process that remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Asf1a, a histone chaperone involved in nucleosome assembly and disassembly, regulates the resolution of bivalent domains and activation of lineage-specific genes during mouse ES cell differentiation. Deletion of Asf1a does not affect the silencing of pluripotent genes, but compromises the expression of lineage-specific genes during ES cell differentiation. Mechanistically, the Asf1a–histone interaction, but not the role of Asf1a in nucleosome assembly, is required for gene transcription. Asf1a is recruited to several bivalent promoters, partially through association with transcription factors, and mediates nucleosome disassembly during differentiation. We suggest that Asf1a-mediated nucleosome disassembly provides a means for resolution of bivalent domain barriers for induction of lineage-specific genes during differentiation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 446 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Fairweather ◽  
Angelika Bröer ◽  
Megan L. O'Mara ◽  
Stefan Bröer

The brush-border membrane of the small intestine and kidney proximal tubule are the major sites for the absorption and re-absorption of nutrients in the body respectively. Transport of amino acids is mediated through the action of numerous secondary active transporters. In the mouse, neutral amino acids are transported by B0AT1 [broad neutral (0) amino acid transporter 1; SLC6A19 (solute carrier family 6 member 19)] in the intestine and by B0AT1 and B0AT3 (SLC6A18) in the kidney. Immunoprecipitation and Blue native electrophoresis of intestinal brush-border membrane proteins revealed that B0AT1 forms complexes with two peptidases, APN (aminopeptidase N/CD13) and ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). Physiological characterization of B0AT1 expressed together with these peptidases in Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that APN increased the substrate affinity of the transporter up to 2.5-fold and also increased its surface expression (Vmax). Peptide competition experiments, in silico modelling and site-directed mutagenesis of APN suggest that the catalytic site of the peptidase is involved in the observed changes of B0AT1 apparent substrate affinity, possibly by increasing the local substrate concentration. These results provide evidence for the existence of B0AT1-containing digestive complexes in the brush-border membrane, interacting differentially with various peptidases, and responding to the dynamic needs of nutrient absorption in the intestine and kidney.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4599-4599
Author(s):  
Taisuke Kanaji ◽  
Takashi Okamura ◽  
Peter J. Newman

Abstract Abstract 4599 Filamin A is a major non-muscle actin binding protein that plays an important role in cross-linking cortical actin filaments into three-dimensional networks. In addition to its role as a cytoskeletal scaffolding molecule, Filamin A is also known to bind more than 30 other proteins, regulating their subcellular location and coordinating their ability to signal. To analyze the role of filamin A in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell maturation, we generated filamin ALow ES cells by introducing a micro-RNA that specifically downregulates filamin A expression under the control of a cytomegalovirus promoter. Filamin ALow ES cells exhibited a more rounded morphology than did their wild-type filamin ANormal counterparts, and expressed increased levels of the ES cell transcription factor Nanog. In contrast, non-transfected cells in the same culture dish retained normal expression of filamin A, expressed low levels of Nanog, and exhibited a more elongated and spread phenotype characteristic of differentiating cells. Further evidence for a role for filamin A in ES cell differentiation was provided by the observation that withdrawing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to induce ES cell differentiation was accompanied by increased expression of filamin A, a concomitant loss of Nanog expression, and acquisition of a differentiated morphology. Filamin ALow ES cells were able to retain their undifferentiated phenotype, as evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (Alp) activity, in the presence of a 10-fold lower concentration of LIF than was permissive for filamin ANormal ES cells, or following exposure to the differentiating agent, bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4). LIF-induced phosphorylation of ERK was decreased in filamin ALow relative to filamin ANormal ES cells, as was BMP-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5 - two signaling pathways that initiate ES cell differentiation. Finally, embryoid bodies comprised of filamin ALow ES cells were unable to differentiate into CD41+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that filamin A plays a previously unrecognized, but critical, scaffolding function that support both the LIF - ERK and BMP4 - Smad1/5 signaling pathways leading to ES and hematopoietic cell differentiation. Manipulation of filamin levels might be useful in the future to modulate the differentiation requirements for a variety of clinically-and therapeutically-useful stem cells. Disclosures: Newman: Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; New York Blood Center: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 3769-3779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Pasini ◽  
Adrian P. Bracken ◽  
Jacob B. Hansen ◽  
Manuela Capillo ◽  
Kristian Helin

ABSTRACT Polycomb group (PcG) proteins form multiprotein complexes, called Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs). PRC2 contains the PcG proteins EZH2, SUZ12, and EED and represses transcription through methylation of lysine (K) 27 of histone H3 (H3). Suz12 is essential for PRC2 activity and its inactivation results in early lethality of mouse embryos. Here, we demonstrate that Suz12 −/− mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be established and expanded in tissue culture. The Suz12 −/− ES cells are characterized by global loss of H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and higher expression levels of differentiation-specific genes. Moreover, Suz12 −/− ES cells are impaired in proper differentiation, resulting in a lack of repression of ES cell markers as well as activation of differentiation-specific genes. Finally, we demonstrate that the PcGs are actively recruited to several genes during ES cell differentiation, which despite an increase in H3K27me3 levels is not always sufficient to prevent transcriptional activation. In summary, we demonstrate that Suz12 is required for the establishment of specific expression programs required for ES cell differentiation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that PcGs have different mechanisms to regulate transcription during cellular differentiation.


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