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The A and B variants of the alpha 3 integrin subunit: tissue distribution and functional characterization.

The alpha subunits of the laminin-binding integrins alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 6 beta 1, and alpha 7 beta 1 have homologous sequences and are similar in structure. Two cytoplasmic variants, A and B, have been identified for each of these alpha subunits, although the alpha 3B splice variant has been detected only at the mRNA level. We prepared a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for the A and B variants of the alpha 3 subunit to study their tissue distribution. Four monoclonal antibodies react with alpha 3A, one of which recognizes only the nonphosphorylated form; of the three anti-alpha 3B antibodies, one cross-reacts with alpha 6B. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis of various human tissues revealed the presence of alpha 3B mRNA in brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. Moreover, the alpha 3B protein was detected by immunoblotting in brain and heart tissue but not in skeletal muscle. In contrast, alpha 3A mRNA and protein were present in all tissues studied. Thus, the expression of alpha 3B in adult tissues is more restricted than that of alpha 3A. Immunohistochemical studies showed that in brain tissue, both variants are exclusively expressed on small blood-vessel endothelium, whereas in heart tissue their distribution patterns differ markedly. Although alpha 3A is strongly expressed on vascular smooth muscle cells, alpha 3B is detected only on endothelial cells of veins. Expression of the two variant forms of alpha 3 in K562 cells revealed that the ligand-binding specificities of alpha 3A beta 1 and alpha 3B beta 1 are identical: both bind human laminin-2 and -4, laminin-5, and laminins isolated from bovine kidney, but not bovine laminin-2 and -4, mouse laminin-1, or human fibronectin. In addition, adhesion mediated by both integrins is induced to the same extent by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The alpha 3A, but not the alpha 3B subunit, is phosphorylated; and phosphorylation of alpha 3A increases after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation. Thus, we found no differences between the adhesion functions of the A and B variants of alpha 3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Nucleolar apparatus of proliferating and differentiating cells of human embryonic neocortex during formation of the cortical plate].

Human neocortex was studied using light and electron microscopy in embryos 6-10 wks of development. Vast majority of proliferating cells was established to be concentrated in ventricular zone. Nuclear, nucleolar and cytoplasmic organelle structure indicate various level of synthetic processes activity in cells of different layers of the developing human neocortex. The dynamics in nucleolar number in the cells of ventricular zone and cortical plate was demonstrated.

Cell Differentiation↗

Protein-protein interactions in intracellular Ca2+-release channel function.

Release of Ca2+ ions from intracellular stores can occur via two classes of Ca2+-release channel (CRC) protein, the inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs) and the ryanodine receptors (RyRs). Multiple isoforms and subtypes of each CRC class display distinct but overlapping distributions within mammalian tissues. InsP3Rs and RyRs interact with a plethora of accessory proteins which modulate the activity of their intrinsic channels. Although many aspects of CRC structure and function have been reviewed in recent years, the properties of proteins with which they interact has not been comprehensively surveyed, despite extensive current research on the roles of these modulators. The aim of this article is to review the regulation of CRC activity by accessory proteins and, wherever possible, to outline the structural details of such interactions. The CRCs are large transmembrane proteins, with the bulk of their structure located cytoplasmically. Intra- and inter-complex protein-protein interactions between these cytoplasmic domains also regulate CRC function. Some accessory proteins modulate channel activity of all CRC subtypes characterized, whereas other have class- or even isoform-specific effects. Certain accessory proteins exert both direct and indirect forms of regulation on CRCs, occasionally with opposing effects. Others are themselves modulated by changes in Ca2+ concentration, thereby participating in feedback mechanisms acting on InsP3R and RyR activity. CRCs are therefore capable of integrating numerous signalling events within a cell by virtue of such protein-protein interactions. Consequently, the functional properties of InsP3Rs and RyRs within particular cells and subcellular domains are 'customized' by the accessory proteins present.

Animals↗

Structural studies on phospholamban and implications for regulation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase.

The cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) protein phospholamban (PLB) is an endogenous inhibitor of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase. Phosphorylation of PLB relieves this inhibition and up-regulates calcium transport. PLB has proved remarkably difficult to study by conventional solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods, due primarily to the extreme hydrophobic nature of the protein and its propensity to form pentamers. That the C-terminal domain of PLB is helical and membrane spanning is now well established; the structure of the cytoplasmic domain is relatively ill defined. In order to discern the effect of phosphorylation on the structure of the cytoplasmic domain, we have characterized a variety of model peptides in several structure-inducing and/or lipid-mimicking environments using circular dichroism and solution-state NMR. The resolution of peptide structures obtained in aqueous trifluoroethanol was markedly improved by the incorporation of 15N labels into the peptide backbone, allowing a variety of isotope edited, filtered, and resolved techniques to be applied. Molecular dynamics simulations on the full-length protein were combined with an analysis of published data to suggest a revised model for the structure of PLB.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Effect of remantadine on the deproteinization of influenza viruses in infected cells].

The effect of remantadine on penetration of influenza virus (the WSN strain) structures into MDCK cells was studied. Autoradiography of remantadine-treated cells infected with 3H-uridine-labeled virus showed remantadine to block the penetration of the parental viral structures from the perinuclear cytoplasm into the nuclei resulting in the structures aggregating in the perinuclear cytoplasm. Biophysical analysis of the viral structures recovered from the cells and analysis of their proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that in remantadine-treated cells the amount of virus nucleoids (ribonucleoproteins, RNP, surrounded by a layer of M protein) increased in the perinuclear bytoplasm while the amount of intranuclear viral plasm while the amount of intranuclear viral RNPs decreased. These data suggest that the effect of remantadine is due to blocking of the second stage of deproteinization, that is, deproteinization of viral nucleoids to viral RNPs occuring in the perinuclear cytoplasm (possibly, on nuclear membrans); remantadine did not affect penetration of viral structures into the cells or the first stage of deproteinization (formation of nucleoids from virus particles). In order to inhibit deproteinization of viral structures remantadine should be present in the process of infection and be added soon after innoculation. When added 30 min after inoculation, remantadine has no effect on the intracellular distribution of viral structures.

Adamantane↗

A family of RS domain proteins with novel subcellular localization and trafficking.

We report the sequence, conservation and cell biology of a novel protein, Psc1, which is expressed and regulated within the embryonic pluripotent cell population of the mouse. The Psc1 sequence includes an RS domain and an RNA recognition motif (RRM), and a sequential arrangement of protein motifs that has not been demonstrated for other RS domain proteins. This arrangement was conserved in a second mouse protein (BAC34721). The identification of Psc1 and BAC34721 homologues in vertebrates and related proteins, more widely throughout evolution, defines a new family of RS domain proteins termed acidic rich RS (ARRS) domain proteins. Psc1 incorporated into the nuclear speckles, but demonstrated novel aspects of subcellular distribution including localization to speckles proximal to the nuclear periphery and localization to punctate structures in the cytoplasm termed cytospeckles. Integration of Psc1 into cytospeckles was dependent on the RRM. Cytospeckles were dynamic within the cytoplasm and appeared to traffic into the nucleus. These observations suggest a novel role in RNA metabolism for ARRS proteins.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Filamentous structures in adherent Mycoplasma pneumoniae cells treated with nonionic detergents.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae cells adhering to glass or Parlodion-coated grids were extracted with Triton X-100. The extracted cells showed a cytoskeleton consisting of a rodlike tip structure and a filamentous network in the cytoplasm. The tip structure was up to 300 nm long and approximately 40 nm wide ending at the distal end in a bleb-like structure, and seemed to consist of filaments arranged in parallel, 4.8 +/- 0.5 nm wide. In the cytoplasm the filaments formed an irregular lattice. Similar filaments were found in platinum replicated critical-point dried extracted cells. An actinlike nature of the filaments is suggested by some of their properties, but the degree of homology with respect to eucaryotic actin is still unknown. The filaments were sensitive to protease treatment but stable in high molar KCl solutions. They were apparently destroyed by incubation in high molar KI solution, leaving only some parts of the tip structure. Formaldehyde-fixed M. pneumoniae cells treated with Triton X-100 bound rhodamine-labeled phalloidin specifically. Furthermore, they could be stained with antiactin antibodies. Binding of myosin subfragment 1 to the filaments was not observed.

Actins↗

[Interaction of lactate dehydrogenase with structural cell components: possible physiological significance].

Reversible binding of cytoplasmic enzymes to structural elements of the cell is one of mechanisms of in vitro regulation of enzyme properties. The results on lactate dehydrogenase interactions with myofibrillar proteins and membranes and the changes in enzyme properties induced by these interactions (modification of kinetic parameters and stability) are analyzed. A hypothesis is proposed concerning the functional role of reversible lactate dehydrogenase interactions with structural components of the cell during glycolysis activation.

Adsorption↗

Single-cysteine substitution mutants at amino acid positions 306-321 in rhodopsin, the sequence between the cytoplasmic end of helix VII and the palmitoylation sites: sulfhydryl reactivity and transducin activation reveal a tertiary structure.

As sensors for structure at the cytoplasmic face of rhodopsin, single-cysteine substitution mutants have been previously studied in the regions connecting helices III and IV and helices V and VI. In this paper we report on single-cysteine substitution mutants at amino acid positions 306-321, comprising the cytoplasmic sequence between helix VII and the palmitoylation sites in rhodopsin. The cysteine opsin mutants were expressed in COS-1 cells and on treatment with 11-cis-retinal all formed the characteristic rhodopsin chromophore. Cysteines at positions 306-316 and 319 reacted in the dark with the thiol-specific reagent 4, 4'-dithiodipyridine (4-PDS) but showed a wide variation in reactivity. Cysteines at positions 317, 318, 320, and 321 showed no reaction with 4-PDS. The mutants on illumination also showed wide variations in activating GT. The mutant Y306C showed almost no GT activation, I307C and N310C were poor, and the activity of the mutants M309C, F313C, and M317C was also reduced relative to WT. The results suggest that the region comprising amino acids 306-321 is a part of a tertiary structure and that specific amino acids in this region on light-activation participate in the interaction with GT.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulation of cellular interactions with laminin by integrin cytoplasmic domains: the A and B structural variants of the alpha 6 beta 1 integrin differentially modulate the adhesive strength, morphology, and migration of macrophages.

Several integrin alpha subunits have structural variants that are identical in their extracellular and transmembrane domains but that differ in their cytoplasmic domains. The functional significance of these variants, however, is unknown. In the present study, we examined the possibility that the A and B variants of the alpha 6 beta 1 integrin laminin receptor differ in function. For this purpose, we expressed the alpha 6A and alpha 6B cDNAs, as well as a truncated alpha 6 cDNA (alpha 6-delta CYT) in which the cytoplasmic domain sequence was deleted after the GFFKR pentapeptide, in P388D1 cells, an alpha 6 deficient macrophage cell line. Populations of stable alpha 6A, alpha 6B, and alpha 6-delta CYT transfectants that expressed equivalent levels of cell surface alpha 6 were obtained by fluorescence-activated cell sorter and shown to form heterodimers with endogenous beta 1 subunits. Upon attachment to laminin, the alpha 6A transfectants extended numerous pseudopodia. In contrast, the alpha 6B transfectants remained rounded and extended few processes. The transfectants were also examined for their ability to migrate toward a laminin substratum using Transwell chambers. The alpha 6A transfectants were three- to fourfold more migratory than the alpha 6B transfectants. The alpha 6-delta CYT transfectants did not attach to laminin in normal culture medium, but they did attach in the presence of Mn2+. The alpha 6-delta CYT transfectants migrated to a lesser extent than either the alpha 6A or alpha 6B transfectants in the presence of Mn2+. The alpha 6 transfectants differed significantly in the concentration of substratum bound laminin required for half-maximal adhesion in the presence of Mn2+:alpha 6A (2.1 micrograms/ml), alpha 6B (6.3 micrograms/ml), and alpha 6-delta CYT (8.8 micrograms/ml). Divalent cation titration studies revealed that these transfectants also differed significantly in both the [Ca2+] and [Mn2+] required to obtain half-maximal adhesion to laminin. These data demonstrate that the A and B variants of the alpha 6 cytoplasmic domain can differentially modulate the function of the alpha 6 beta 1 extracellular domain.

Animals↗

[The structure of microtubules].

Cytoplasmic microtubules, plane monolayers of tubulin filaments and single filaments have been investigated by electron microscopy. The methods of optical diffraction, filtering and three-dimensional reconstruction have been used to analyse the micrographs and to construct a model of the dimeric molecule of tubulin. When viewed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes the molecule bear resemblance to the figure "8". When rotated by 90 degrees it looks as if composed of two globules. Two variants of the quoternary structure are considered: 1) each of two subunits is a deformed ring; 2) each rings of the "8"-like particles consists of two halves of different subunits. The second protein layer which is formed on microtubules in the presence of protamine consists of tubulin and is characterized by the crystal lattice similar to that of the microtubule itself, but rotated through the angle of about 95 degrees. In the presence of protamine we also detected flat spirals and stacks of such spirals forming short tubules.

Brain Chemistry↗

Structural comparisons of empty and full cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus. Protein-RNA interactions and implications for endogenous RNA transcription mechanism.

Viruses in the family Reoviridae are capable of transcription within the intact capsids. As the only single-shelled and thus the simplest member of the Reoviridae, cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV) provides an attractive system for studying endogenous transcription. We report the structures of the full and empty CPV determined at 13-A resolution by electron cryomicroscopy. The structure of the empty CPV reveals a density attributed to the transcription enzyme complex, which is attached to the internal surface of the capsid shell below each of the 12 turrets. The full capsid has an identical capsid shell but contains additional internal densities contributed by the genomic double-stranded (ds) RNA. The RNA densities proximal to the capsid shell are organized into layers with a dodecahedral appearance, suggesting a genome organization of dsRNA segments each having a cone shape spooling around a transcription enzyme complex. Our structures also suggest that the capsid shell serves as a scaffold for appropriate positioning of the RNA genome, whereas nascent mRNA release takes place through the constricted central channel of the turret. Based on these observations, a detailed moving template transcription mechanism is proposed that may provide insight into the well coordinated and highly efficient endogenous RNA transcription of dsRNA viruses.

Capsid↗

Yeast cytoplasmic and mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetases: two structural frameworks for identical functions.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses two methionyl-tRNA synthetases (MetRS), one in the cytoplasm and the other in mitochondria. The cytoplasmic MetRS has a zinc-finger motif of the type Cys-X(2)-Cys-X(9)-Cys-X(2)-Cys in an insertion domain that divides the nucleotide-binding fold into two halves, whereas no such motif is present in the mitochondrial MetRS. Here, we show that tightly bound zinc atom is present in the cytoplasmic MetRS but not in the mitochondrial MetRS. To test whether the presence of a zinc-binding site is required for cytoplasmic functions of MetRS, we constructed a yeast strain in which cytoplasmic MetRS gene was inactivated and the mitochondrial MetRS gene was expressed in the cytoplasm. Provided that methionine-accepting tRNA is overexpressed, this strain was viable, indicating that mitochondrial MetRS was able to aminoacylate tRNA(Met) in the cytoplasm. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the zinc domain was required for the stability and consequently for the activity of cytoplasmic MetRS. Mitochondrial MetRS, like cytoplasmic MetRS, supported homocysteine editing in vivo in the yeast cytoplasm. Both MetRSs catalyzed homocysteine editing and aminoacylation of coenzyme A in vitro. Thus, identical synthetic and editing functions can be carried out in different structural frameworks of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial MetRSs.

Acylation↗

Non-A, non-B hepatitis: ultrastructural evidence for two agents in experimentally infected chimpanzees.

Two different ultrastructural alterations were observed in liver cells of chimpanzees inoculated with plasma derived from two different patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis. During the acute phase of illness in one group of four chimpanzees, peculiar tubular structures, composed of two unit membranes with electron-opaque material in between, were observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. In contrast, these structures were never detected in the liver cells of the second group of five chimpanzees that received the second inoculum, However, nuclear changes, usually associated with aggregates of 20- to 27-nanometer particles, were found in hepatocytes of the latter animals. Although these particles resembled viruses, they were not as uniform as small virus particles often appear. In five other chimpanzees inoculated with non-A, non-B hepatitis material not known to be related to the first two inocula, cytoplasmic structures were found in four, and nuclear structures were found in the remaining one. Thus, all 14 chimpanzees inoculated with transmissible non-A, non-B hepatitis agents could be classified as having either nuclear or cytoplasmic changes. These observations add support to epidemiologic data suggesting that there may be more than one agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural aspects of leukaemic cells in acute myeloblastic leukaemia.

Ultrastructural aspects of leukaemic cells in a case of myeloblastic leukaemia are described. Changes concerning of mitochondrial ultrastructure, but primarily the presence of vast numbers of fibrillar structures in the cytoplasm of the examined cells were observed. These structures were spreading through their gradual widening to cover almost the whole cell cytoplasm, damaging its organellae and internal architecture. The nature of the observed changes remains unknown.

Bone Marrow↗

Cell adhesion and motility depend on nanoscale RGD clustering.

Integrin adhesion receptors play a crucial role in regulating interactions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrin activation initiates multiple intracellular signaling pathways and results in regulation of cell functions such as motility, proliferation and differentiation. Two key observations regarding the biophysical nature of integrin-mediated cell-matrix interactions motivated the present study: (1) cell motility can be regulated by modulating the magnitude of cell-substratum adhesion, by varying cell integrin expression level, integrin-ECM binding affinity or substratum ECM surface density; and (2) integrin clustering enables assembly of multiple cytoplasmic regulatory and structural proteins at sites of aggregated integrin cytoplasmic domains, activating certain intracellular signalling pathways. Here, using a minimal integrin adhesion ligand, YGRGD, we test the hypothesis that ligand clustering can affect cell migration in a manner related to its modulation of cell-substratum adhesion. We employ a synthetic polymer-linking method, which allows us to independently and systematically vary both the average surface density and the local (approx. 50 nm scale) spatial distribution of the YGRGD peptide, against a background otherwise inert with respect to cell adhesion. In this system, the ligand was presented in three alternative spatial distributions: singly, in clusters with an average of five ligands per cluster, or in clusters with an average of nine ligands per cluster; for each of these spatial distributions, a range of average ligand densities (1,000-200,000 ligands/micrometer(2)) were examined. Cluster spacing was adjusted in order to present equivalent average ligand densities independently of cluster size. The murine NR6 fibroblast cell line was used as a model because its migration behavior on ECM in the presence and absence of growth factors has been well-characterized and it expresses integrins known to interact with the YGRGD peptide. Using time-lapse videomicroscopy and analysis of individual cell movement paths, we find that NR6 cells can migrate on substrata where adhesion is mediated solely by the YGRGD peptide. As previously observed for migration of NR6 cells on fibronectin, migration speed on YGRGD is a function of the average surface ligand density. Strikingly, clustering of ligand significantly reduced the average ligand density required to support cell migration. In fact, non-clustered integrin ligands support cell attachment but neither full spreading nor haptokinetic or chemokinetic motility. In addition, by quantifying the strength of cell-substratum adhesion, we find that the variation of cell speed with spatial presentation of YGRGD is mediated via its effect on cell adhesion. These effects on motility and adhesion are also observed in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF), a known motility-regulating growth factor. Variation in YGRGD presentation also affects the organization of actin filaments within the cell, with a greater number of cells exhibiting stress fibers at higher cluster sizes of YGRGD. Our observations demonstrate that cell motility may be regulated by varying ligand spatial presentation at the nanoscale level, and suggest that integrin clustering is required to support cell locomotion.

3T3 Cells↗

Two concentric protein shell structure with spikes of silkworm Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus revealed by small-angle neutron scattering using the contrast variation method.

The overall and internal structures of the silkworm Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus was investigated by small-angle neutron scattering using the contrast variation method. Data were collected in aqueous buffer solutions containing 0, 50, 75, and 100% D2O in the q range of 0.002 to 0.0774 A-1 at 5 degrees C. The radius of gyration at infinite contrast was estimated to be 336 A. The contrast matching point of the virus was determined to correspond to about 50% D2O level, evidence that the virus is composed of protein and nucleic acid. The virus was basically spherical and had a diameter of about 700 A. The main feature of its structure is the clustering of protein into two concentric shells separated by about 100 A. Most of the RNA moieties are located in the central core and between these two protein shells. However, the distance distribution function P(r) showed a minor distribution beyond a distance of r = 700 A, with a maximum particle distance of the virus of 1350 A. This is indicative of an external structure region with very low scattering density, in addition to the basic spherical structure. This external region is thought to correspond to twelve pyramidal protruding spikes shown by electron microscopic studies.

Animals↗

Amine blockers of the cytoplasmic mouth of sodium channels: a small structural change can abolish voltage dependence.

Many drugs block sodium channels from the cytoplasmic end (Moczydlowski, E., A. Uehara, X, Guo, and J. Heiny. 1986. Isochannels and blocking modes of voltage-dependent sodium channels. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 479:269-292.). Lidocaine, applied to either side of the membrane, induces two blocking modes, a rapid, voltage-dependent open-channel block, and a block of the inactivated channel that occurs on a 1000-fold slower timescale. Here we describe the actions of several lidocaine-related amines on batrachotoxin(BTX)-activated bovine cardiac sodium channels incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. We applied blocking amines from the intracellular side and examined the structural determinants of fast, open-channel block. Neither hydroxyl nor carbonyl groups, present in the aryl-amine link of lidocaine, were necessary, indicating that hydrogen bonding between structures in the aryl-amine link and the channel is not required. Block, however, was significantly enhanced by addition of an aromatic ring, or by the lengthening of aliphatic side chains, suggesting that a hydrophobic domain strengthens binding while the amine group blocks the pore. For most blockers, depolarizing potentials enhanced block, with the charged amine group apparently traversing 45-60% of the transmembrane voltage. By contrast, block by phenylhydrazine was essentially voltage-independent. The relatively rigid planar structure of phenylhydrazine may prevent the charged amino end from entering the electric field when the aromatic ring is bound. The relation between structural features of different blockers and their sensitivity to voltage suggests that the transmembrane voltage drops completely over less than 5 A. We raise the possibility that the proposed hydrophobic binding domain overlaps the endogenous receptor for the inactivation gate. If so, our data place limits on the distance between this receptor and the intrapore site at which charged amines bind.

Amines↗