scholarly journals The Endosomal Recycling Pathway—At the Crossroads of the Cell

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 6074
Author(s):  
Mary J. O’Sullivan ◽  
Andrew J. Lindsay

The endosomal recycling pathway lies at the heart of the membrane trafficking machinery in the cell. It plays a central role in determining the composition of the plasma membrane and is thus critical for normal cellular homeostasis. However, defective endosomal recycling has been linked to a wide range of diseases, including cancer and some of the most common neurological disorders. It is also frequently subverted by many diverse human pathogens in order to successfully infect cells. Despite its importance, endosomal recycling remains relatively understudied in comparison to the endocytic and secretory transport pathways. A greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms that support transport through the endosomal recycling pathway will provide deeper insights into the pathophysiology of disease and will likely identify new approaches for their detection and treatment. This review will provide an overview of the normal physiological role of the endosomal recycling pathway, describe the consequences when it malfunctions, and discuss potential strategies for modulating its activity.

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ylenia Cau ◽  
Daniela Valensin ◽  
Mattia Mori ◽  
Sara Draghi ◽  
Maurizio Botta

14-3-3 is a class of proteins able to interact with a multitude of targets by establishing protein-protein interactions (PPIs). They are usually found in all eukaryotes with a conserved secondary structure and high sequence homology among species. 14-3-3 proteins are involved in many physiological and pathological cellular processes either by triggering or interfering with the activity of specific protein partners. In the last years, the scientific community has collected many evidences on the role played by seven human 14-3-3 isoforms in cancer or neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, these proteins regulate the molecular mechanisms associated to these diseases by interacting with (i) oncogenic and (ii) pro-apoptotic proteins and (iii) with proteins involved in Parkinson and Alzheimer diseases. The discovery of small molecule modulators of 14-3-3 PPIs could facilitate complete understanding of the physiological role of these proteins, and might offer valuable therapeutic approaches for these critical pathological states.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 2108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Rubini ◽  
Fabio Altieri ◽  
Silvia Chichiarelli ◽  
Flavia Giamogante ◽  
Stefania Carissimi ◽  
...  

Background: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are widely distributed in the environment and their toxicity is mostly associated with the molecular mechanisms of endocrine disruption. Among OCPs, particular attention was focused on the effects of β-hexaclorocyclohexane (β-HCH), a widely common pollutant. A detailed epidemiological study carried out on exposed population in the “Valle del Sacco” found correlations between the incidence of a wide range of diseases and the occurrence of β-HCH contamination. Taking into account the pleiotropic role of the protein signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), its function as a hub protein in cellular signaling pathways triggered by β-HCH was investigated in different cell lines corresponding to tissues that are especially vulnerable to damage by environmental pollutants. Materials and Methods: Human prostate cancer (LNCaP), human breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB 468), and human hepatoma (HepG2) cell lines were treated with 10 μM β-HCH in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors for different receptors. All samples were subjected to analysis by immunoblotting and RT-qPCR. Results and Conclusions: The preliminary results allow us to hypothesize the involvement of STAT3, through both its canonical and non-canonical pathways, in response to β-HCH. Moreover, we ascertained the role of STAT3 as a master regulator of energy metabolism via the altered expression and localization of HIF-1α and PKM2, respectively, resulting in a Warburg-like effect.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingqi Wang ◽  
Lou Fourriere ◽  
Paul A. Gleeson

A fundamental characteristic of neurons is the relationship between the architecture of the polarized neuron and synaptic transmission between neurons. Intracellular membrane trafficking is paramount to establish and maintain neuronal structure; perturbation in trafficking results in defects in neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. Given the physical distance from the cell body to the distal sites of the axon and dendrites, transport of newly synthesized membrane proteins from the central cell body to their functional destination at remote, distal sites represents a conundrum. With the identification of secretory organelles in dendrites, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi outposts (GOs), recent studies have proposed local protein synthesis and trafficking distinct from the conventional anterograde transport pathways of the cell body. A variety of different model organisms, including Drosophila, zebrafish, and rodents, have been used to probe the organization and function of the local neuronal secretory network. Here, we review the evidence for local secretory trafficking pathways in dendrites in a variety of cell-based neuronal systems and discuss both the similarities and differences in the organization and role of the local secretory organelles, especially the GOs. In addition, we identify the gaps in the current knowledge and the potential advances using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in defining local membrane protein trafficking in human neurons and in understanding the molecular basis of neurological diseases.


2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Joon Jung ◽  
Shivangi M. Inamdar ◽  
Ajit Tiwari ◽  
Amit Choudhury

Intracellular membrane trafficking along endocytic and secretory transport pathways plays a critical role in diverse cellular functions including both developmental and pathological processes. Briefly, proteins and lipids destined for transport to distinct locations are collectively assembled into vesicles and delivered to their target site by vesicular fusion. SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptor) proteins are required for these events, during which v-SNAREs (vesicle SNAREs) interact with t-SNAREs (target SNAREs) to allow transfer of cargo from donor vesicle to target membrane. Recently, the t-SNARE family member, syntaxin-6, has been shown to play an important role in the transport of proteins that are key to diverse cellular dynamic processes. In this paper, we briefly discuss the specific role of SNAREs in various mammalian cell types and comprehensively review the various roles of the Golgi- and endosome-localized t-SNARE, syntaxin-6, in membrane trafficking during physiological as well as pathological conditions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 439 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Morgan ◽  
Frances M. Platt ◽  
Emyr Lloyd-Evans ◽  
Antony Galione

Endosomes, lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles are emerging as important Ca2+ storage cellular compartments with a central role in intracellular Ca2+ signalling. Endocytosis at the plasma membrane forms endosomal vesicles which mature to late endosomes and culminate in lysosomal biogenesis. During this process, acquisition of different ion channels and transporters progressively changes the endolysosomal luminal ionic environment (e.g. pH and Ca2+) to regulate enzyme activities, membrane fusion/fission and organellar ion fluxes, and defects in these can result in disease. In the present review we focus on the physiology of the inter-related transport mechanisms of Ca2+ and H+ across endolysosomal membranes. In particular, we discuss the role of the Ca2+-mobilizing messenger NAADP (nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate) as a major regulator of Ca2+ release from endolysosomes, and the recent discovery of an endolysosomal channel family, the TPCs (two-pore channels), as its principal intracellular targets. Recent molecular studies of endolysosomal Ca2+ physiology and its regulation by NAADP-gated TPCs are providing exciting new insights into the mechanisms of Ca2+-signal initiation that control a wide range of cellular processes and play a role in disease. These developments underscore a new central role for the endolysosomal system in cellular Ca2+ regulation and signalling.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Sustr ◽  
Ales Soukup ◽  
Edita Tylova

Potassium is an essential macronutrient that has been partly overshadowed in root science by nitrogen and phosphorus. The current boom in potassium-related studies coincides with an emerging awareness of its importance in plant growth, metabolic functions, stress tolerance, and efficient agriculture. In this review, we summarized recent progress in understanding the role of K+ in root growth, development of root system architecture, cellular functions, and specific plant responses to K+ shortage. K+ transport is crucial for its physiological role. A wide range of K+ transport proteins has developed during evolution and acquired specific functions in plants. There is evidence linking K+ transport with cell expansion, membrane trafficking, auxin homeostasis, cell signaling, and phloem transport. This places K+ among important general regulatory factors of root growth. K+ is a rather mobile element in soil, so the absence of systemic and localized root growth response has been accepted. However, recent research confirms both systemic and localized growth response in Arabidopsis thaliana and highlights K+ uptake as a crucial mechanism for plant stress response. K+-related regulatory mechanisms, K+ transporters, K+ acquisition efficiency, and phenotyping for selection of K+ efficient plants/cultivars are highlighted in this review.


Glycobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn A Dorsett ◽  
Michael P Marciel ◽  
Jihye Hwang ◽  
Katherine E Ankenbauer ◽  
Nikita Bhalerao ◽  
...  

Abstract The ST6GAL1 sialyltransferase, which adds α2–6 linked sialic acids to N-glycosylated proteins, is overexpressed in a wide range of human malignancies. Recent studies have established the importance of ST6GAL1 in promoting tumor cell behaviors such as invasion, resistance to cell stress, and chemoresistance. Furthermore, ST6GAL1 activity has been implicated in imparting cancer stem cell characteristics. However, despite the burgeoning interest in the role of ST6GAL1 in the phenotypic features of tumor cells, insufficient attention has been paid to the molecular mechanisms responsible for ST6GAL1 upregulation during neoplastic transformation. Evidence suggests that these mechanisms are multifactorial, encompassing genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-translational regulation. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge regarding the molecular events that drive enriched ST6GAL1 expression in cancer cells.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6686
Author(s):  
Yu Ah Hong ◽  
Ji Eun Kim ◽  
Minjee Jo ◽  
Gang-Jee Ko

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are class III histone deacetylases (HDACs) that play important roles in aging and a wide range of cellular functions. Sirtuins are crucial to numerous biological processes, including proliferation, DNA repair, mitochondrial energy homeostasis, and antioxidant activity. Mammals have seven different sirtuins, SIRT1–7, and the diverse biological functions of each sirtuin are due to differences in subcellular localization, expression profiles, and cellular substrates. In this review, we summarize research advances into the role of sirtuins in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases including acute kidney injury, diabetic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, and kidney aging along with the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. The available evidence indicates that sirtuins have great potential as novel therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayato Nakagawa ◽  
Shin Maeda

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer mortality. Short-term prognosis of patients with HCC has improved recently due to advances in early diagnosis and treatment, but long-term prognosis is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, obtaining a further understanding of the molecular carcinogenic mechanisms and the unique pathogenic biology of HCC is important. The most characteristic process in hepatocarcinogenesis is underlying chronic liver injury, which leads to repeated cycles of hepatocyte death, inflammation, and compensatory proliferation and subsequently provides a mitogenic and mutagenic environment leading to the development of HCC. Recent in vivo studies have shown that the stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade converging on c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 plays a central role in these processes, and it has attracted considerable attention as a therapeutic target. However, JNK and p38 have complex functions and a wide range of cellular effects. In addition, crosstalk with each other and the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway further complicate these functions. A full understanding is essential to bring these observations into clinical settings. In this paper, we discuss the latest findings regarding the mechanisms of liver injury and hepatocarcinogenesis focusing on the role of the stress-activated MAPK pathway.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 377-377
Author(s):  
Sandra Stehling-Sun ◽  
Rebecca Jimenez ◽  
Andrew Hu ◽  
Fernando D. Camargo

Abstract MEF2 transcription factors are well-established regulators of muscle development. Recently, work in murine models has identified one of these factors, Mef2c, as an important regulator in the pathogenesis and the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, little is know about the molecular mechanism and physiological role of Mef2c in hematopoiesis. Using conditional gene ablation, we have discovered an unexpected role for MEF2c in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), where it is required for pan-lymphoid commitment. Competitive repopulation experiments using Mef2c-null HSCs deleted by means of the Mx1-Cre/poly(IC) approach, revealed completely normal monocytic, granulocytic and erythroid differentiation capacities by mutant cells. Generation and renewal of myeloid progenitors and HSCs was also normal. However, contribution to lymphoid lineages (T-cells, B-cells and natural killer cells) was dramatically reduced. Mef2c-deleted HSCs were able to generate lymphoid primed multipotent progenitors (LMPPs) and expressed normal levels of Flt-3 and the master lymphoid regulator ikaros. However, expression of the interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) and the number of phenotypically defined common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) were substantially reduced. We have found two conserved Mef2c-binding sites in the promoter of the Il-7R gene, indicating that Mef2c could directly regulate Il-7R transcription. This and other potential molecular mechanisms of Mef2c-mediated lymphoid commitment will be discussed. We have also studied the effects of lineage-specific deletion of Mef2c in both myeloid and lymphoid populations. Whereas deletion in myelomonocytic cells using the LysM-Cre strain resulted in no anomalies, B-cell specific ablation with the CD19-Cre line revealed major phenotypical and functional abnormalities. CD19-Cre:Mef2cf/f mice show impaired germinal center formation and reduced antibody production in response to T-cell dependent antigens. In addition Mef2c-null mature B-cells fail to express the mature marker CD23, the low affinity receptor for IgE, which we show is a direct transcriptional target. As a consequence of CD23 reduction, CD19-Cre:Mef2cf/f mice have increased IgE production, thus indicating a potential role of Mef2c in allergic disease. Our work here sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms of lymphopoiesis and identifies MEF2 factors as critical hematopoietic transcriptional regulators.


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