Biomedical subjects

Peter J Cullen

Publications and source records attributed to Peter J Cullen.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Analyzing the role of the putative inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate receptor GAP1IP4BP in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.

Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP(4)) has been linked to a potential role in the regulation of intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) following cellular stimulation with agonists that activate phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. However, despite many studies, the function of IP(4) remains unclear and indeed there is still some debate over whether it has a function at all. Here we have used various molecular approaches to address whether manipulation of the potential IP(4) receptor, GAP1(IP4BP), affects [Ca(2+)](i) following cellular stimulation. Using single cell imaging, we show that the overexpression of a constitutively active and a potential dominant negative form of GAP1(IP4BP) appear to have no effect on Ca(2+) mobilization or Ca(2+) entry following stimulation of HeLa cells with histamine. In addition, through the use of small interfering RNA duplexes, we have examined the effect of suppressing endogenous GAP1(IP4BP) production on [Ca(2+)](i). In HeLa cells in which the endogenous level of GAP1(IP4BP) has been suppressed by approximately 95%, we failed to observe any effect on Ca(2+) mobilization or Ca(2+) entry following histamine stimulation. Thus, using various approaches to manipulate the function of endogenous GAP1(IP4BP) in intact HeLa cells, we have been unable to observe any detectable effect of GAP1(IP4BP) on [Ca(2+)](i).

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2002

The phox homology (PX) domain-dependent, 3-phosphoinositide-mediated association of sorting nexin-1 with an early sorting endosomal compartment is required for its ability to regulate epidermal growth factor receptor degradation.

Recent studies have shown that phox homology (PX) domains act as phosphoinositide-binding motifs. The majority of PX domains studied show binding to phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate (PtdIns(3)P), an association that allows the host protein to localize to membranes of the endocytic pathway. One issue, however, is whether PX domains may have alternative phosphoinositide binding specificities that could target their host protein to distinct subcellular compartments or allow their allosteric regulation by phosphoinositides other than PtdIns(3)P. It has been reported that the PX domain of sorting nexin 1 (SNX1) specifically binds phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)) (Zhong, Q., Lazar, C. S., Tronchere, H., Sato, T., Meerloo, T., Yeo, M., Songyang, Z., Emr, S. D., and Gill, G. N. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 99, 6767-6772). In the present study, we have shown that whereas SNX1 binds PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) in protein:lipid overlay assays, in liposomes-based assays, binding is observed to PtdIns(3)P and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,5)P(2)) but not to PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3). To address the significance of PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) binding, we examined the subcellular localization of SNX1 under conditions in which plasma membrane PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) levels were significantly elevated. Under these conditions, we failed to observe association of SNX1 with this membrane. However, consistent with the binding to PtdIns(3)P and PtdIns(3,5)P(2) being of more physiological significance was the observation that the association of SNX1 with an early endosomal compartment was dependent on a 3-phosphoinositide-binding PX domain and the presence of PtdIns(3)P on this compartment. Finally, we have shown that the PX domain-dependent/early endosomal association of SNX1 is important for its ability to regulate the targeting of internalized epidermal growth factor receptor for lysosomal degradation.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Integration of calcium and Ras signalling.

Calcium is a universal intracellular signal that is responsible for controlling a plethora of cellular processes. Understanding how such a simple ion can regulate so many diverse cellular processes is a key goal of calcium- and cell-biologists. One molecule that is sensitive to changes in intracellular calcium levels is Ras. This small GTPase operates as a binary molecular switch, and regulates cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, we focus on examining the link between calcium and Ras signalling and, in particular, we speculate as to how the complexity of calcium signalling could regulate Ras activity.

Calcium↗