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Biomedical subjects

Andrew J Morris

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew J Morris.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The lipid phosphatase LPP3 regulates extra-embryonic vasculogenesis and axis patterning.

Bioactive phospholipids, which include sphingosine-1-phosphate, lysophosphatidic acid, ceramide and their derivatives regulate a wide variety of cellular functions in culture such as proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. The availability of these lipids and their products is regulated by the lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs). Here we show that mouse embryos deficient for LPP3 fail to form a chorio-allantoic placenta and yolk sac vasculature. A subset of embryos also show a shortening of the anterior-posterior axis and frequent duplication of axial structures that are strikingly similar to the phenotypes associated with axin deficiency, a critical regulator of Wnt signaling. Loss of LPP3 results in a marked increase in beta-catenin-mediated TCF transcription, whereas elevated levels of LPP3 inhibit beta-catenin-mediated TCF transcription. LPP3 also inhibits axis duplication and leads to mild ventralization in Xenopus embryo development. Although LPP3 null fibroblasts show altered levels of bioactive phospholipids, consistent with loss of LPP3 phosphatase activity, mutant forms of LPP3, specifically lacking phosphatase activity, were able to inhibit beta-catenin-mediated TCF transcription and also suppress axis duplication, although not as effectively as intact LPP3. These results reveal that LPP3 is essential to formation of the chorio-allantoic placenta and extra-embryonic vasculature. LPP3 also mediates gastrulation and axis formation, probably by influencing the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. The exact biochemical roles of LPP3 phosphatase activity and its undefined effect on beta-catenin-mediated TCF transcription remain to be determined.

Animals↗

Dual role for phosphoinositides in regulation of yeast and mammalian phospholipase D enzymes.

Phospholipase D (PLD) generates lipid signals that coordinate membrane trafficking with cellular signaling. PLD activity in vitro and in vivo is dependent on phosphoinositides with a vicinal 4,5-phosphate pair. Yeast and mammalian PLDs contain an NH2-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain that has been speculated to specify both subcellular localization and regulation of PLD activity through interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI[4,5]P2). We report that mutation of the PH domains of yeast and mammalian PLD enzymes generates catalytically active PI(4,5)P2-regulated enzymes with impaired biological functions. Disruption of the PH domain of mammalian PLD2 results in relocalization of the protein from the PI(4,5)P2-containing plasma membrane to endosomes. As a result of this mislocalization, mutations within the PH domain render the protein unresponsive to activation in vivo. Furthermore, the integrity of the PH domain is vital for yeast PLD function in both meiosis and secretion. Binding of PLD2 to model membranes is enhanced by acidic phospholipids. Studies with PLD2-derived peptides suggest that this binding involves a previously identified polybasic motif that mediates activation of the enzyme by PI(4,5)P2. By comparison, the PLD2 PH domain binds PI(4,5)P2 with lower affinity but sufficient selectivity to function in concert with the polybasic motif to target the protein to PI(4,5)P2-rich membranes. Phosphoinositides therefore have a dual role in PLD regulation: membrane targeting mediated by the PH domain and stimulation of catalysis mediated by the polybasic motif.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Roles for lipid phosphate phosphatases in regulation of cellular signaling.

Lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs) are a family of integral membrane glycoproteins that catalyze the dephosphorylation of a number of bioactive lipid mediators including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and phosphatidic acid (PA). These mediators exert complex effects on cell function through both actions at cell surface receptors and on intracellular targets. The LPP-catalyzed dephosphorylation of these substrates can both terminate their signaling actions and itself generate further molecules with biological activity. Recent advances have revealed that a family of structurally related genes is responsible for LPP activities in species from yeast to mammals. These genes exhibit distinct but overlapping expression patterns and their products appear to be heterogeneous with respect to their posttranslational modification and subcellular localizations. Here we review the structure and catalytic properties of the LPPs and consider recent developments in understanding their cellular biology and functions.

Animals↗

ARNO but not cytohesin-1 translocation is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent in HL-60 cells.

Cytohesin-1 and ARNO are guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs) for ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf). Here, we show that ARNO is expressed in HL-60 cells and established that granulocytic differentiation induced with Me2SO stimulated cytohesin-1 but not ARNO expression. Cytohesin-1 levels in HL-60 granulocytes were similar to those in human neutrophils. Me2SO-differentiated HL-60 cells expressed ARNO and cytohesin-1 isoforms with a diglycine and a triglycine motif in their PH domains, respectively. In vitro, ARNO diglycine and cytohesin-1 triglycine enhanced phospholipase D1 (PLD1) activation by Arf1 with near-maximal effects at 250 nM. These effects were marked particularly at low Mg2+ concentrations. PLD activation was well-correlated with GTP binding to Arf1, and cytohesin-1 was always more potent than ARNO in the PLD- and GTP-binding assays. Increasing Mg2+ concentrations reduced PLD and Arf1 activation by Arf-GEFs. fMetLeuPhe and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated ARNO and cytohesin-1 as well as Arf1 translocation to HL-60 cell membranes. fMetLeuPhe-mediated ARNO recruitment, but not cytohesin-1 and Arf1 translocation, was blocked by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. The combined results demonstrate that cytohesin-1 triglycine participates in a major phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-independent pathway linking cell-surface receptors to Arf1 activation and translocation in human granulocytes.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗