Filipa Martins

Protein phosphatase 1 is a key player in nuclear events.

Reversible protein phosphorylation at serine (Ser), threonine (Thr) and tyrosine (Tyr) residues is among the major regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic cells. The eukaryotic genome encodes many protein kinases and protein phosphatases. However, the localization, activity and specificity towards phosphatase substrates are dictated by a large array of phosphatase binding and regulatory subunits. For protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) more than 200 binding subunits have been described. The various PP1 isoforms and the binding subunits can be located throughout the cell, including in the nucleus. It follows that several nuclear specific PP1 binding proteins (PIPs) have been described and these will be discussed. Among them are PNUTS (phosphatase 1 nuclear targeting subunit), NIPP1 (nuclear inhibitor of PP1) and CREB (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein), which have all been associated with transcription. In fact PP1 can associate with transcription factors fulfilling an important regulatory function, in this respect it can bind to Hox11, human factor C1 (HCF1) and myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2). PP1 also regulates cell cycle progression and centrosome maturation and splitting, again by binding to specific regulatory proteins. Moreover, PP1 together with other protein phosphatases control the entry into mitosis by regulating the activity of mitotic kinases. Thus, PP1, its binding proteins and/or the phosphorylation states of both, directly control a vast array of cell nucleus associated functions, many of which are starting to be unraveled.

LAP1 is a crucial protein for the maintenance of the nuclear envelope structure and cell cycle progression.

Cell division in eukaryotes requires the disassembly of the nuclear envelope (NE) at the beginning of mitosis and its reassembly at the end of mitosis. These processes are complex and involve coordinated steps where NE proteins have a crucial role. Lamina-associated polypeptide 1 (LAP1) is an inner nuclear membrane protein that has been associated with cell cycle events. In support of this role, LAP1 has been implicated in the regulation of the NE reassembly and assembly of the mitotic spindle during mitosis. In this study, we demonstrated that LAP1 intracellular levels vary during the cell cycle in SH-SY5Y cells, and that LAP1 is highly phosphorylated during mitosis. It is also clear that LAP1 co-localized with acetylated α-tubulin in the mitotic spindle and with γ-tubulin in centrosomes (main microtubule organizing center) in mitotic cells. Moreover, LAP1 knockdown resulted in decreased number of mitotic cells and decreased levels of acetylated α-tubulin (marker of microtubules stability) and lamin B1. Additionally, it was possible to determine that LAP1 is important for centrosome positioning near the NE. These findings place LAP1 at a key position to participate in the maintenance of the NE structure and progression of the cell cycle.

Amyloid-β Modulates Both AβPP and Tau Phosphorylation

Two histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the tau rich neurofibrillary tangles and the senile plaques, predominating in amyloid-β (Aβ), have fueled research in distinct directions. Evidence suggests that Aβ triggers imbalanced activities of protein phosphatases and kinases thus affecting the phosphorylation state of tau in AD. The amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) itself appears to be hyperphosphorylated at different residues in AD brains, including at Thr668.The results reported in this manuscript show, for the first time, that Aβ(42) can impact upon the AβPP phosphorylation state at the Thr668 residue. This novel finding supports a putative model, whereby Aβ can modulate the phosphorylation state of AβPP regulating its processing and consequently its own production. Furthermore, the data presented shows that in primary cortical neurons, GSK3β and Cdk5 are involved in AβPP phosphorylation at this residue and that PP1 and PP2B participate in AβPP dephosphorylation. Consistent with other reports, Aβ was reports, capable of increasing tau phosphorylation at the Ser396 and Ser262 residues. This peptide is therefore a strong candidate for promoting the cross talk between signaling pathways, which simultaneously result in AβPP and tau hyperphosphorylation. In closing, the Aβ effect on protein kinases and protein phosphatases may constitute an alternative mechanism by which the peptide is able to modulate the phosphorylation state of both AβPP and tau in AD.

Descriptive Analysis of LAP1 Distribution and That of Associated Proteins throughout Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis comprises highly complex differentiation processes. Nuclear envelope (NE) proteins have been associated with these processes, including lamins, lamina-associated polypeptide (LAP) 2 and the lamin B-receptor. LAP1 is an important NE protein whose function has not been fully elucidated, but several binding partners allow predicting putative LAP1 functions. To date, LAP1 had not been associated with spermatogenesis. In this study, LAP1 expression and cellular/subcellular localization during spermatogenesis in human and mouse testes is established for the first time. The fact that LAP1 is expressed during nuclear elongation in spermiogenesis and is located at the spermatids’ centriolar pole is singularly important. LAP1 binds to members of the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) family. Similar localization of LAP1 and PP1γ2, a testis-specific PP1 isoform, suggests a shared function for both proteins during spermiogenesis. Furthermore, this study suggests an involvement of LAP1 in manchette development and chromatin regulation possibly via interaction with acetylated α-tubulin and lamins, respectively. Taken together, the present results indicate that, by moving to the posterior pole in spermatids, LAP1 can contribute to the achievement of non-random, sperm-specific chromatin distribution, as well as modulate cellular remodeling during spermiogenesis. In addition, LAP1 seems to be associated with dynamic microtubule changes related to manchette formation and flagella development.

BRI2 Processing and its Neuritogenic Role Are Modulated by Protein Phosphatase 1 Complexing

BRI2 is a ubiquitously expressed type II transmembrane phosphoprotein. BRI2 undergoes proteolytic processing into secreted fragments and during the maturation process it suffers post‐translational modifications. Of particular relevance, BRI2 is a protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) interacting protein, where PP1 is able to dephosphorylate the former. Further, disruption of the BRI2:PP1 complex, using BRI2 PP1 binding motif mutants, leads to increased BRI2 phosphorylation levels. However, the physiological function of BRI2 remains elusive; although findings suggest a role in neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation. In the work here presented, BRI2 expression during neuronal development was investigated. This increases during neuronal differentiation and an increase in its proteolytic processing is also evident. To elucidate the importance of BRI2 phosphorylation for both proteolytic processing and neuritogenesis, SH‐SY5Y cells were transfected with the BRI2 PP1 binding motif mutant constructs. For the first time, it was possible to show that BRI2 phosphorylation is an important regulatory mechanism for its proteolytic processing and its neuritogenic role. Furthermore, by modulating BRI2 processing using an ADAM10 inhibitor, a dual role for BRI2 in neurite outgrowth is suggested: phosphorylated full‐length BRI2 appears to be important for the formation of neuritic processes, and BRI2 NTF promotes neurite elongation. This work significantly contributed to the understanding of the physiological function of BRI2 and its regulation by protein phosphorylation. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2752–2763, 2017.

Identification and characterization of the BRI2 interactome in the brain

BRI family proteins are ubiquitous type II transmembrane proteins but BRI2 is highly expressed in some neuronal tissues. Possible BRI2 functions include neuronal maturation and differentiation. Protein complexes appear to be important in mediating its functions. Previously described BRI2 interactors include the Alzheimer’s amyloid precursor protein and protein phosphatase 1, but clearly the identification of novel interactors provides an important tool to understand the role and function of BRI2. To this end three rat brain regions (cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex) were processed by BRI2 immunoprecipitation; co-precipitating proteins were identified by Nano-HPLC-MS/MS. The pool of the brain regions resulted in 511 BRI2 interacting proteins (BRI2 brain interactome) of which 120 were brain specific and 49 involved in neuronal differentiation. Brain region-specific analyses were also carried out for cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. Several novel BRI2 interactors were identified among them DLG4/PSD-95, which is singularly important as it places BRI2 in the postsynaptic compartment. This interaction was validated as well as the interaction with GAP-43 and synaptophysin. In essence, the resulting BRI2 brain interactome, associates this protein with neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation, as well as synaptic signalling and plasticity. It follows that further studies should address BRI2 particularly given its relevance to neuropathological conditions.

The other side of recovery: validation of the Portuguese version of the subjective experiences of psychosis scale

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to develop and validate a Portuguese version of The Subjective Experiences of Psychosis Scale (SEPS) for use in Portuguese-speaking populations in order to provide a self-report instrument to assess and monitor dimensions of psychotic experiences, translating patient’s perspective and experience in terms of recovery from psychosis.MethodsThe sample consisted of 30 participants with psychotic disorders who had recently experienced delusions or hallucinations. The SEPS was completed along with other observer-based assessments and self-report questionnaires, such as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire and the Function Assessment Short Test.ResultsTwo main factors representing the positive and negative components of each subscale were identified. We obtained good internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the positive and negative components of all subscales. The subscales of SEPS correlated with observer-based assessments and self-report questionnaires.ConclusionsThe Portuguese version of the SEPS is a useful tool in the assessment and monitoring of psychotic symptoms.