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Biomedical subjects

B van Deurs

Publications and source records attributed to B van Deurs.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Delivery to lysosomes in the human carcinoma cell line HEp-2 involves an actin filament-facilitated fusion between mature endosomes and preexisting lysosomes.

We have addressed the following question: what is the mechanism behind the delivery of internalized molecules from mature endosomes to lysosomes in HEp-2 cells, and which role does the cytoskeleton play in this process? Quantitative electron microscopy and immunogold labeling revealed that whereas the cytoskeleton was not of importance for endosome maturation, actin filaments facilitated fusion of mature endosomes with preexisting lysosomes. Delivery to lysosomal degradation was not dependent on protein synthesis as determined biochemically, but was reduced by cytochalasin D. Observations made by electron microscopy as well as by video microscopy of living cells showed that the concerted action of actin filaments and microtubules was responsible for the random distribution and movement of endocytic organelles throughout the cell. Actin microfilaments, however, seem to facilitate perinuclear clustering and frequent fusion of mature endosomes and lysosomes, while microtubules play a role in preventing formation of large lysosome aggregates by separating endosomes and lysosomes and moving them toward the cell periphery. Taken together, our data suggest that delivery of internalized molecules to lysosomal proteolysis takes place by fusion of mature endosomes with preexisting lysosomes and that actin microfilaments somehow facilitate this step.

Actins↗

Selective regulation of apical endocytosis in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells by mastoparan and cAMP.

We here demonstrate that mastoparan, fluoride, forskolin, cholera toxin, and 8-bromoadenosine-3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate all selectively stimulate apical endocytosis of the protein toxin ricin without increasing the uptake at the basolateral side of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Activation of adenylyl cyclase and an increased level of cAMP seem to increase ricin endocytosis by a clathrin-independent mechanism since stimulation of endocytosis by cholera toxin and 8-bromoadenosine-3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate occurred even when the clathrin-dependent pathway was blocked by low cytosolic pH. The data suggest that mastoparan stimulates apical endocytosis by interacting with heterotrimeric G proteins, and also this stimulation of endocytosis appears to be clathrin independent since the uptake of transferrin at the apical side was strongly inhibited by mastoparan after brefeldin A-induced missorting of the transferrin receptor to this pole of the cell. In addition, mastoparan stimulated apical endocytosis when clathrin-mediated endocytosis was blocked by acidification of the cytosol. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the existence of clathrin-independent endocytosis on both the apical and the basolateral surface of control Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Our results suggest that endocytosis at the apical pole of epithelial cells can be regulated selectively by a physiological signal.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Endocytosis and intracellular sorting of ricin and Shiga toxin.

Ricin and Shiga toxin belong to a group of protein toxins with targets in the cytosol. These toxins consist of one moiety that binds the toxin molecule to cell surface receptors, and another enzymatically active moiety that enters the cytosol after endocytic uptake of the toxin. The toxins are of current interest in relation to disease and the construction of immunotoxins. Moreover, they have proven useful to investigate mechanisms of endocytosis and to follow intracellular pathways of transport. Some of the recent results obtained with ricin and Shiga toxin are discussed.

Bacterial Toxins↗

Endocytosis without clathrin.

Internalization of membrane, fluid and receptor-bound ligands into cells occurs by at least two endocytic mechanisms. One is dependent on clathrin and responsible for concentrative uptake of growth factors and other ligands, whereas the other operates without clathrin. Clathrin-independent endocytosis, which might involve more than one mechanism, can contribute significantly to the total uptake of membrane and fluid in a cell. The properties and possible roles of clathrin-independent endocytosis are discussed in this article.

Journal Article↗

Retrograde transport from the Golgi complex to the ER of both Shiga toxin and the nontoxic Shiga B-fragment is regulated by butyric acid and cAMP.

Endocytosed Shiga toxin is transported from the Golgi complex to the endoplasmic reticulum in butyric acid-treated A431 cells. We here examine the extent of this retrograde transport and its regulation. The short B fragment of Shiga toxin is sufficient for transport to the ER. The B fragment of cholera toxin, which also binds to glycolipids, is transported to all the Golgi cisterns, but cannot be localized in the ER even after butyric acid treatment. Under all conditions the toxic protein ricin was found predominantly in the trans-Golgi network. There is no transport of endocytosed fluid to the Golgi apparatus or to the ER even after butyric acid treatment and in the presence of Shiga toxin, indicating that transport to the ER, through the trans-Golgi network and the cisterns of the Golgi apparatus, involves several sorting stations. Since Shiga toxin receptors (Gb3) in butyric acid-treated A431 cells seem to have a ceramide moiety with longer fatty acids than in untreated cells, the possibility exists that fatty acid composition of the receptor is important for sorting to the ER. Both retrograde transport and intoxication with Shiga toxin can also be induced by cAMP, supporting the idea that retrograde transport from the Golgi to the ER is required for intoxication. The data suggest that transport to the ER in cells in situ may depend on fatty acid composition and is regulated by physiological signals.

Bacterial Toxins↗

Are caveolae involved in clathrin-independent endocytosis?

In addition to endocytosing molecules via clathrin-coated pits, cells also internalize membrane and fluid by a clathrin-independent endocytic mechanism. In this article we search for the equivalent of clathrin-coated pits in clathrin-independent endocytosis, and discuss some pitfalls in the interpretation of electron micrographs. We also discuss how the early steps in clathrin-independent endocytosis might be analysed morphologically, and we argue that caveolae are not involved in clathrin-independent endocytosis.

Journal Article↗

The immunofluorescent era of membrane traffic.

In recent years immunofluorescence microscopy has been increasingly used to study membrane traffic. In this article seven electron microscopists, all with considerable experience in using light microscopy, take a critical look at the immunofluorescence approach and argue that results obtained with this method are often overinterpreted.

Journal Article↗

Clathrin and HA2 adaptors: effects of potassium depletion, hypertonic medium, and cytosol acidification.

The effects of methods known to perturb endocytosis from clathrin-coated pits on the localization of clathrin and HA2 adaptors in HEp-2 carcinoma cells have been studied by immunofluorescence and ultrastructural immunogold microscopy, using internalization of transferrin as a functional assay. Potassium depletion, as well as incubation in hypertonic medium, remove membrane-associated clathrin lattices: flat clathrin lattices and coated pits from the plasma membrane, and clathrin-coated vesicles from the cytoplasm, as well as those budding from the TGN. In contrast, immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies specific for the alpha- and beta-adaptins, respectively, and immunogold labeling of cryosections with anti-alpha-adaptin antibodies shows that under these conditions HA2 adaptors are aggregated at the plasma membrane to the same extent as in control cells. After reconstitution with isotonic K(+)-containing medium, adaptor aggregates and clathrin lattices colocalize at the plasma membrane as normally and internalization of transferrin resumes. Acidification of the cytosol affects neither clathrin nor HA2 adaptors as studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. However, quantitative ultrastructural observations reveal that acidification of the cytosol results in formation of heterogeneously sized and in average smaller clathrin-coated pits at the plasma membrane and buds on the TGN. Collectively, our observations indicate that the methods to perturb formation of clathrin-coated vesicles act by different mechanisms: acidification of the cytosol by affecting clathrin-coated membrane domains in a way that interferes with budding of clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane as well as from the TGN; potassium depletion and incubation in hypertonic medium by preventing clathrin and adaptors from interacting. Furthermore our observations show that adaptor aggregates can exist at the plasma membrane independent of clathrin lattices and raise the possibility that adaptor aggregates can form nucleation sites for clathrin lattices.

Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits↗

Molecules internalized by clathrin-independent endocytosis are delivered to endosomes containing transferrin receptors.

We have previously demonstrated that the preendosomal compartment in addition to clathrin-coated vesicles, comprises distinct nonclathrin coated endocytic vesicles mediating clathrin-independent endocytosis (Hansen, S. H., K. Sandvig, and B. van Deurs. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 113:731-741). Using K+ depletion in HEp-2 cells to block clathrin-dependent but not clathrin-independent endocytosis, we have now traced the intracellular routing of these nonclathrin coated vesicles to see whether molecules internalized by clathrin-independent endocytosis are delivered to a unique compartment or whether they reach the same early and late endosomes as encountered by molecules internalized with high efficiency through clathrin-coated pits and vesicles. We find that Con A-gold internalized by clathrin-independent endocytosis is delivered to endosomes containing transferrin receptors. After incubation of K(+)-depleted cells with Con A-gold for 15 min, approximately 75% of Con A-gold in endosomes is colocalized with transferrin receptors. Endosomes containing only Con A-gold may be accounted for either by depletion of existing endosomes for transferrin receptors or by de novo generation of endosomes. Cationized gold and BSA-gold internalized in K(+)-depleted cells are also delivered to endosomes containing transferrin receptors. h-lamp-1-enriched compartments are only reached occasionally within 30 min in K(+)-depleted as well as in control cells. Thus, preendosomal vesicles generated by clathrin-independent endocytosis do not fuse to any marked degree with late endocytic compartments. These data show that in HEp-2 cells, molecules endocytosed without clathrin are delivered to the same endosomes as reached by transferrin receptors internalized through clathrin-coated pits.

Antigens, CD↗

Endocytosis of desmosomal plaques depends on intact actin filaments and leads to a nondegradative compartment.

Epithelial cells in situ can internalize their desmosomes. This can be induced in cell cultures after removal of calcium ions from the cell medium. To study this endocytic process, a nontumorigenic human breast epithelial cell line, HMT-3522, was used. HMT-3522 cells were grown in serum-free, chemically defined medium, containing epidermal growth factor (EGF). Removal of EGF from the medium led to growth arrest and a kind of epithelial differentiation process in which adjacent cells interdigitated and formed more desmosomes than in the proliferating state. Growth-inhibited HMT-3522 cells dissociated following EGTA treatment, the desmosomes divided in a symmetrical fashion, and the desmosomal plaques (half-desmosomes) on the cell surface became internalized. The internalization was independent of clathrin, since immunogold labeling of ultracryosections never showed clathrin on desmosomal plaque-associated membrane domains. Moreover, cytosol acidification, which selectively inhibits endocytosis from clathrin-coated pits, practically blocked the uptake of transferrin, whereas internalization of desmosomal plaques continued. In contrast, actin filaments appeared to be involved in the desmosomal internalization. Thus, depolymerization of actin filaments by cytochalasin D significantly reduced endocytosis of half-desmosomes. Immunogold labeling showed that the vesicles with desmosomal plaques were not enriched in MPR (cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor), cathepsin D or the lysosome-associated membrane protein lamp-1. In addition, the morphology was different. Thus, the endocytic vesicles with desmosomal plaques represent a special compartment, distinct from typical endosomes and lysosomes.

Actins↗

Multivesicular bodies in HEp-2 cells are maturing endosomes.

Conventional fluorescence microscopy of fixed HEp-2 cells as well as video microscopy of living cells incubated with transferrin-Texas Red (Tf-TxR) for < 60 min revealed distinct punctuate endosomal structures. Quantitative ultrastructural analysis using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and cationized gold as tracers showed that spherical multivesicular bodies (MVBs) were the predominant endocytic compartments in HEp-2 cells and that MVBs within 60 to 90 min matured into lysosomes still containing internal vesicles. The number of labeled MVBs increased continuously from 2.5 min to 30 min of tracer incubation. However, when the cells were pulsed for 5 min followed by 10 or 25 min chases, the number of labeled MVBs corresponded to that obtained after 5 min of continuous incubation. The diameter of labeled MVBs was largely constant with time, but the number of internal MVB vesicles increased. Thus, early or newly formed MVBs contained few internal vesicles, whereas late MVBs, that is to say, MVBs that have existed for some period of time, contained numerous internal vesicles, and finally a mixture of membranous material or myelin figures and vesicles. It is thus in principle possible to distinguish between early and late MVBs in HEp-2 cells on the basis of morphology. However, the difference in number of internal vesicles applies only to the entire MVB population; after only 2.5 to 5 min of incubation, MVBs with numerous internal vesicles could also be reached by internalized tracer. Concomitant with the gradual changes in morphology, the MVBs also showed a characteristic change in content of marker proteins as detected by immunogold labeling on ultracryosections. Hence, early MVBs with relatively few internal vesicles and typically reached by internalized tracers within 5 min contained transferrin receptors (TfRs). By contrast, MVBs with many internal vesicles and labeled after 60 min of incubation contained mannose-phosphate receptors (MPRs), and the MVBs with distinct membranous material or myelin figures in addition to the internal vesicles were enriched in the lysosome membrane protein lamp-1. Thus, there seems to be a gradual maturation of MVBs in HEp-2 cells.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Retrograde transport of endocytosed Shiga toxin to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Shiga toxin and some other protein toxins that act on targets in the cytosol have previously been shown to enter the trans-Golgi network. Transport by this route may be necessary for translocation of the toxin to the cytosol and for intoxication, but it is not known whether the enzymatically active part of the toxins actually enters the cytosol from the trans-Golgi network. It has been suggested that such toxins are transported in a retrograde manner to the endoplasmic reticulum and that translocation occurs in this organelle, but retrograde transport of endocytosed material beyond the trans-Golgi network has never been demonstrated. Here we show that in butyric acid-treated A431 cells endocytosed Shiga toxin is not only transported to the trans-Golgi network, but also to all Golgi stacks, to the endoplasmic reticulum and to the nuclear envelope. Furthermore, butyric acid sensitizes the cells to Shiga toxin, which is consistent with the possibility that retrograde transport is required for translocation of the toxin to the cytosol.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Toxin-induced cell lysis: protection by 3-methyladenine and cycloheximide.

The protein toxins ricin, abrin, Shiga toxin, and diphtheria toxin were found to induce lysis of several cell lines in a manner characteristic for programmed cell death or apoptosis. The toxins induced DNA degradation, and light and electron microscopical studies revealed that lysis was preceded by reorganization of intracellular vacuoles, cell blebbing, and chromatin condensation both in Vero and in MDCK cells. Cell lysis was efficiently inhibited by cycloheximide and 3-methyladenine (3MA), a specific inhibitor of autophagy. Cycloheximide, which like 3MA inhibits autophagy, protected even when added at a time when the protein synthesis had been blocked by ricin, suggesting that the effect of cycloheximide on cell lysis is independent of its ability to inhibit protein synthesis. Also theophylline and dibutyryl-cGMP had some protective effect, whereas a number of compounds reported to protect against apoptosis in other systems were without protective effects. The data suggest that autophagy is important for the toxin-induced cell lysis.

Abrin↗

Internalization efficiency of the transferrin receptor.

Quantitative ultrastructural and biochemical methods have allowed us to obtain a coherent set of data on the internalization efficiency of the transferrin receptor (TfR). In confluent cell cultures we find that (1) the initial internalization rate of transferrin is approximately 10% per minute, and (2) around 10% of cell-surface TfRs are present in coated pits. From these data a lifetime of coated pits of ca. 1 min is derived. Furthermore, we show that coated pits constitute 1.1-1.4% of the plasma membrane area in confluent cell cultures. Thus, the TfR is concentrated six- to ninefold in coated pits compared to resident plasma membrane proteins. Moreover, we show that the concentration of TfRs in coated pits is cell density dependent, since only around 5% of the receptors are present in coated pits in low-density cultures. Correspondingly, the internalization of TfRs in high-density cell cultures is roughly twice as efficient as that in low-density cell cultures. The reduced TfR internalization efficiency at low cell density is accounted for by a concomitant decrease to 0.55% in the relative surface area occupied by coated pits.

Animals↗

Effects of brefeldin A on endocytosis, transcytosis and transport to the Golgi complex in polarized MDCK cells.

We have studied the effects of brefeldin A (BFA) on endocytosis and intracellular traffic in polarized MDCK cells by using the galactose-binding protein toxin ricin as a membrane marker and HRP as a marker of fluid phase transport. We found that BFA treatment rapidly increased apical endocytosis of both ricin and HRP, whereas basolateral endocytosis was unaffected, as was endocytosis of HRP in the poorly polarized carcinoma cell lines HEp-2 and T47D. Tubular endosomes were induced by BFA both apically and basolaterally in some MDCK cells, comparable with those seen in HEp-2 and T47D cells. In addition, in MDCK cells, BFA induced formation of small (< 300 nm) vesicles, labeled both after apical and basolateral uptake of HRP, as well as some very large (> 700 nm) vacuoles, which were only labeled when HRP was present in the apical medium. In contrast, neither in MDCK nor in HEp-2 or T47D cells, did BFA have any effect on lysosomal morphology. Moreover, transcytosis in the basolateral-apical direction was stimulated both for HRP and ricin. Other vesicular transport routes were less affected or unaffected by BFA treatment. Two closely related structural analogues of BFA (B16 and B21), unable to produce the changes in Golgi and endosomal morphology seen after BFA treatment in a number of different cell lines, were also unable to mimic the effects of BFA on MDCK cells.

Animals↗