{beta}CaMKII regulates actin assembly and structure.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Ca(2+)-Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is an abundant synaptic protein that was recently shown to regulate the organization of actin filaments leading to structural modifications of synapses. CaMKII is a dodecameric complex with a special architecture that provides it with unique potential for organizing the actin cytoskeleton. We report using biochemical assays that the beta isoform of CaMKII binds to and bundles actin filaments, and the disposition of betaCaMKII within the actin bundles was revealed by cryoelectron tomography. In addition, betaCaMKII was found to inhibit actin polymerization, suggesting that it either serves as a capping protein or binds monomeric actin, reducing the amount of freely available monomers to nucleate polymer assembly. By means of fluorescent cross-correlation spectroscopy, we determined that betaCaMKII does indeed bind to monomeric actin, reaching saturation at a stoichiometry of 12:1 actin monomers per betaCaMKII holoenzyme with a binding constant of 2.4 x 10(5) m(-1). In cells, betaCaMKII has a dual functional role; it can sequester monomeric actin to reduce actin polymerization and can also bundle actin filaments. Together, these effects would impact both the dynamics of actin filament assembly and enhance the rigidity of the filaments once formed, significantly impacting the structure of synapses.
Project description:Polymerized b-actin may provide a structural basis for chromatin accessibility. Nuclear actin transport into the nucleus can determine mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiative outcomes through regulated control of gene expression. Using MSC, we show that inhibiting Arp2/3 directed secondary actin branching with CK666, which results in decreased nuclear actin structure, significantly alters chromatin access measured with ATAC-seq at 24 h. The ATAC-seq results due to CK666 are distinct from those caused by cytochalasin D (CytoD), which increases nuclear actin structure. Nuclear visualization shows Arp2/3 inhibition is associated with decreased pericentric H3K9me3 marks. CytoD, in contrast, induces relocation of H3K27me3 marks away from the inner membrane. Treatment induced alterations in the chromatin landscape at 24 hours prompts differential gene expression associated with decreased proliferation and increased differentiation. Further, knockdown of the non-enzymatic monomeric actin binding protein, Arp4, leads to extensive chromatin unpacking, but only a modest change in transcription, indicating an active role for actin-Arp4 in transcription. These data indicate that dynamic actin remodeling can regulate chromatin interactions.
Project description:Polymerized B-actin may provide a structural basis for chromatin accessibility and actin transport into the nucleus can guide mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. Using MSC, we show that using CK666 to inhibit Arp2/3 directed secondary actin branching results in decreased nuclear actin structure, and significantly alters chromatin access measured with ATACseq at 24 h. The ATAC-seq results due to CK666 are distinct from those caused by cytochalasin D (CytoD), which enhances nuclear actin structure. In addition, nuclear visualization shows Arp2/3 inhibition decreases pericentric H3K9me3 marks. CytoD, alternatively, induces redistribution of H3K27me3 marks centrally. Such alterations in chromatin landscape are consistent with differential gene expression associated with distinctive differentiation patterns. Further, knockdown of the non-enzymatic monomeric actin binding protein, Arp4, leads to extensive chromatin unpacking, but only a modest increase in transcription, indicating an active role for actin-Arp4 in transcription. These data indicate that dynamic actin remodeling can regulate chromatin interactions.
Project description:BackgroundThe inability of endothelial cells of patients affected by the diffuse form of Systemic sclerosis (SSc) to perform angiogenesis is a marker of the disease. We previously demonstrated that desmoglein-2 reduction is a major difference between (SSc)-microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) and normal (N)-MVECs. Here we investigated the role of desmoglein-2 in human N-MVECs and SSc-MVECs angiogenesis.Methodology/principal findingsAngiogenesis was studied by Matrigel invasion, capillary morphogenesis in vitro and Matrigel plug assay in vivo. Gene profiling was studied by Affymetrix technology and signal transduction by Western blotting. Colocalization was validated by immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. SiRNAs were used to validate the roles of specific molecules. We observed that desmoglein-2 co-localizes with integrin-beta8 in N-MVECs. This complex is required to signal through Rac, FAK, SMAD1/5 and MAP-kinases, promoting an angiogenic program. Inhibition of desmoglein-2 by DSG2-siRNA impaired actin stress fibres formation, capillary morphogenesis in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo. Transcriptome profiling after DSG2 inhibition revealed alterations of several genes involved in actin organization. siRNA inhibition of integrin-beta8 and RAC2 also resulted into capillary morphogenesis impairment in N-MVECs, due to reduced expression of the same actin-assembly genes that were down-regulated by DSG2 silencing. SSc-MVECs showed down-regulation of the same genes in DSG2-siRNA treated N-MVECs, suggesting that impairment of desmoglein-2/integrin-beta8 complex contributes to angiogenesis derangement in SSc. Transfection of DSG2 in SSc-MVEC partially restored their angiogenic properties in vitro.Conclusions/significanceWe have shown that impairment of actin assembly as a result of desmoglein-2/integrin-beta8 complex formation is a major factor contributing to angiogenesis deregulation in Systemic sclerosis.
Project description:Epithelial cell-cell junctions, organized by adhesion proteins and the underlying actin cytoskeleton, are considered to be stable structures maintaining the structural integrity of tissues. Contrary to the idea that alpha-catenin links the adhesion protein E-cadherin through beta-catenin to the actin cytoskeleton, in the accompanying paper we report that alpha-catenin does not bind simultaneously to both E-cadherin-beta-catenin and actin filaments. Here we demonstrate that alpha-catenin exists as a monomer or a homodimer with different binding properties. Monomeric alpha-catenin binds more strongly to E-cadherin-beta-catenin, whereas the dimer preferentially binds actin filaments. Different molecular conformations are associated with these different binding states, indicating that alpha-catenin is an allosteric protein. Significantly, alpha-catenin directly regulates actin-filament organization by suppressing Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization, likely by competing with the Arp2/3 complex for binding to actin filaments. These results indicate a new role for alpha-catenin in local regulation of actin assembly and organization at sites of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion.
Project description:Calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) has an important role in dendritic spine remodeling upon synaptic stimulation. Using fluorescence video microscopy and image analysis, we investigated the architectural dynamics of rhodamine-phalloidin stabilized filamentous actin (F-actin) networks cross-linked by CaMKII. We used automated image analysis to identify F-actin bundles and crossover junctions and developed a dimensionless metric to characterize network architecture. Similar networks were formed by three different CaMKII species with a 10-fold length difference in the linker region between the kinase domain and holoenzyme hub, implying linker length is not a primary determinant of F-actin cross-linking. Electron micrographs showed that at physiological molar ratios, single CaMKII holoenzymes cross-linked multiple F-actin filaments at random, whereas at higher CaMKII/F-actin ratios, filaments bundled. Light microscopy established that the random network architecture resisted macromolecular crowding with polyethylene glycol and blocked ATP-powered compaction by myosin-II miniature filaments. Importantly, the networks disassembled after the addition of calcium-calmodulin and were then spaced within 3 min into compacted foci by myosin motors or more slowly (30 min) aggregated by crowding. Single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy showed CaMKII dissociation from surface-immobilized globular actin exhibited a monoexponential dwell-time distribution, whereas CaMKII bound to F-actin networks had a long-lived fraction, trapped at crossover junctions. Release of CaMKII from F-actin, triggered by calcium-calmodulin, was too rapid to measure with flow-cell exchange (<20 s). The residual bound fraction was reduced substantially upon addition of an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor peptide analog but not ATP. These results provide mechanistic insights to CaMKII-actin interactions at the collective network and single-molecule level. Our findings argue that CaMKII-actin networks in dendritic spines maintain spine size against physical stress. Upon synaptic stimulation, CaMKII is disengaged by calcium-calmodulin, triggering network disassembly, expansion, and subsequent compaction by myosin motors with kinetics compatible with the times recorded for the poststimulus changes in spine volume.
Project description:Nuclear and cytoplasmic actin-cofilin rods are formed transiently under stress conditions to reduce actin filament turnover and ATP hydrolysis. The persistence of these structures has been implicated in disease pathology of several neurological disorders. Recently, the presence of actin rods has been discovered in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a neurodegenerative disease affecting predominantly motoneurons leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. This finding underlined the importance of dysregulated actin dynamics in motoneuron loss in SMA. In this study, we characterized actin rods formed in a SMA cell culture model analyzing their composition by LC-MS-based proteomics. Besides actin and cofilin, we identified proteins involved in processes such as ubiquitination, translation or protein folding to be bound to actin rods. This suggests their sequestration to actin rods, thus impairing important cellular functions. Moreover, we showed the involvement of the cytoskeletal protein profilin2 and its upstream effectors RhoA/ROCK in actin rod assembly in SMA. These findings implicate that the formation of actin rods exerts detrimental effects on motoneuron homeostasis by affecting actin dynamics and disturbing essential cellular pathways.
Project description:Filamentous (F)-actin is a known regulator of the synaptic vesicle (SV) cycle, with roles in SV mobilization, fusion, and endocytosis. However, the molecular pathways that regulate its dynamic assembly within presynaptic boutons remain unclear. In this study, we have used shRNA-mediated knockdown to demonstrate that Piccolo, a multidomain protein of the active zone cytomatrix, is a key regulator of presynaptic F-actin assembly. Boutons lacking Piccolo exhibit enhanced activity-dependent Synapsin1a dispersion and SV exocytosis, and reduced F-actin polymerization and CaMKII recruitment. These phenotypes are rescued by stabilizing F-actin filaments and mimicked by knocking down Profilin2, another regulator of presynaptic F-actin assembly. Importantly, we find that mice with a targeted deletion of exon 14 from the Pclo gene, reported to lack >95% of Piccolo, continue to express multiple Piccolo isoforms. Furthermore, neurons cultured from these mice exhibit no defects in presynaptic F-actin assembly due to the expression of these isoforms at presynaptic boutons. These data reveal that Piccolo regulates neurotransmitter release by facilitating activity-dependent F-actin assembly and the dynamic recruitment of key signaling molecules into presynaptic boutons, and highlight the need for new genetic models with which to study Piccolo loss of function.
Project description:Amphiphysin 1, an endocytic adaptor concentrated at synapses that couples clathrin-mediated endocytosis to dynamin-dependent fission, was also shown to have a regulatory role in actin dynamics. Here, we report that amphiphysin 1 interacts with N-WASP and stimulates N-WASP- and Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization. Both the Src homology 3 and the N-BAR domains are required for this stimulation. Acidic liposome-triggered, N-WASP-dependent actin polymerization is strongly impaired in brain cytosol of amphiphysin 1 knock-out mice. FRET-FLIM analysis of Sertoli cells, where endogenously expressed amphiphysin 1 co-localizes with N-WASP in peripheral ruffles, confirmed the association between the two proteins in vivo. This association undergoes regulation and is enhanced by stimulating phosphatidylserine receptors on the cell surface with phosphatidylserine-containing liposomes that trigger ruffle formation. These results indicate that actin regulation is a key function of amphiphysin 1 and that such function cooperates with the endocytic adaptor role and membrane shaping/curvature sensing properties of the protein during the endocytic reaction.
Project description:Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a process vital to angiogenesis as well as general vascular homeostasis. In pathologies where supraphysiological growth factor signaling underlies disease etiology, such as in diabetic retinopathy and solid tumors, strategies to limit chronic growth factor signaling by way of CME have been shown to have tremendous clinical value. ADP ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) is a small GTPase that promotes the assembly of actin necessary for CME. In its absence, growth factor signaling is greatly diminished, which has been shown to ameliorate pathological signaling input in diseased vasculature. However, it is less clear if there are bystander effects related to loss of Arf6 on angiogenic behaviors. Our goal was to provide a analysis of Arf6’s function in angiogenic endothelium, focusing on its role in lumenogenesis as well as its relation to actin and CME. We found that Arf6 localized to both filamentous actin and sites of CME in 2-dimensional culture. Loss of Arf6 distorted both apicobasal polarity and reduced the total cellular filamentous actin content, and this may be the primary driver underlying gross dysmorphogenesis during angiogenic sprouting in its absence. Our findings highlight that endothelial Arf6 is a potent mediator of both actin regulation and CME.