George Poy

Structural Determinants of Interaction of Tyrosine-based Sorting Signals with the Adaptor Medium Chains

Many integral membrane proteins contain tyrosine-based signals within their cytoplasmic domains that mediate internalization from the cell surface and targeting to lysosomal compartments. Internalization depends on an interaction of the tyrosine-based signals with the clathrin-associated adaptor complex AP-2 at the plasma membrane, whereas lysosomal targeting involves interaction of the signals with an analogous complex, AP-1, at the trans-Golgi network. Recent studies have identified the medium chains μ2 of AP-2 and μ1 of AP-1 as the recognition molecules for tyrosine-based signals. We have now investigated the structural determinants for interaction of the signals with μ2 and μ1. The position of the signals was found to be an important determinant of interactions with μ2 and μ1; signals were most effective when present at the carboxyl terminus of a polypeptide sequence. Another important determinant of interactions was the identity of residues surrounding the critical tyrosine residue. Mutation of some residues affected interactions with μ2 and μ1 similarly, whereas other mutations had differential effects. These observations suggest that both the position and the exact sequence of tyrosine-based sorting signals are major determinants of selectivity in their interaction with clathrin-associated adaptor complexes.

Altered expression of a novel adaptin leads to defective pigment granule biogenesis in the Drosophila eye color mutant garnet.

Drosophila eye pigmentation defects have thus far been attributed to mutations in genes encoding enzymes required for biosynthesis of pigments and to ABC‐type membrane transporters for pigments or their precursors. We report here that a defect in a gene encoding a putative coat adaptor protein leads to the eye color defect of garnet mutants. We first identified a human cDNA encoding δ‐adaptin, a structural homolog of the α‐ and γ‐adaptin subunits of the clathrin coat adaptors AP‐1 and AP‐2, respectively. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that δ‐adaptin is a component of the adaptor‐like complex AP‐3 in human cells. We then isolated a full‐length cDNA encoding the Drosophila ortholog of δ‐adaptin and found that transcripts specified by this cDNA are altered in garnet mutant flies. Examination by light and electron microscopy indicated that these mutant flies have reduced numbers of eye pigment granules, which correlates with decreased levels of both pteridine (red) and ommachrome (brown) pigments. Thus, the eye pigmentation defect in the Drosophila garnet mutant may be attributed to compromised function of a coat protein involved in intracellular transport processes required for biogenesis or function of pigment granules.

Long CGG‐repeat tracts are toxic to human cells: Implications for carriers of Fragile X premutation alleles

People with 59–200 CGG · CCG‐repeats in the 5′ UTR of one of their FMR1 genes are at risk for Fragile X tremor and ataxia syndrome. Females are also at risk for premature ovarian failure. These symptoms are thought to be due to the presence of the repeats at the DNA and/or RNA level. We show here that long transcribed but untranslated CGG‐repeat tracts are toxic to human cells and alter the expression of a wide variety of different genes including caspase‐8, CYFIP, Neurotensin and UBE3A.

Microarray studies on the genes responsive to the addition of spermidine or spermine to a Saccharomyces cerevisiae spermidine synthase mutant

The naturally occurring polyamines putrescine, spermidine or spermine are ubiquitous in all cells. Although polyamines have prominent regulatory roles in cell division and growth, precise molecular and cellular functions are not well‐established in vivo. In this work we have performed microarray experiments with a spermidine synthase, spermine oxidase mutant (Δspe3 Δfms1) strain to investigate the responsiveness of yeast genes to supplementation with spermidine or spermine. Expression analysis identified genes responsive to the addition of either excess spermidine (10−5 M) or spermine (10−5 M) compared to a control culture containing 10−8 M spermidine. 247 genes were upregulated > two‐fold and 11 genes were upregulated >10‐fold after spermidine addition. Functional categorization of the genes showed induction of transport‐related genes and genes involved in methionine, arginine, lysine, NAD and biotin biosynthesis. 268 genes were downregulated more than two‐fold, and six genes were downregulated > eight‐fold after spermidine addition. A majority of the downregulated genes are involved in nucleic acid metabolism and various stress responses. In contrast, only a few genes (18) were significantly responsive to spermine. Thus, results from global gene expression profiling demonstrate a more major role for spermidine in modulating gene expression in yeast than spermine. Copyright

Cloning of the gene encoding the murine clathrin-associated adaptor medium chain μ2: gene organization, alternative splicing and chromosomal assignment

The mu 2 chain of the clathrin-associated adaptor complex AP-2 is a member of the adaptor medium chain family, a group of proteins involved in the sorting of integral membrane proteins in endocytic/exocytic pathways. Here, we report the cloning of the (MMU)CLAPM1 gene encoding the murine mu 2 chain, the first member of the family for which this information has become available. The mu 2 gene is approximately 8.5 kb long and is organized into 12 exons and 11 introns. Two transcripts are generated by alternative splicing of exon 5, a mini-exon of only six nucleotides. Proteins encoded by both transcripts are capable of interacting with tyrosine-based sorting signals, suggesting that they are functionally equivalent. The mu 2 gene is localized to the proximal region of mouse chromosome 16, which is syntenic to the proximal region of human chromosome 3. The isolation and characterization of the mu 2 gene should be instrumental for future studies of the genetics and physiological role of the adaptor medium chains in mammals.