Guylain Boulay

Ulcerative colitis and adenocarcinoma of the colon in G alpha i2-deficient mice.

G proteins are involved in cellular signalling and regulate a variety of biological processes including differentiation and development. We have generated mice deficient for the G protein subunit αi2 (Gαi2) by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Gαi2–deficient mice display growth retardation and develop a lethal diffuse colitis with clinical and histopathological features closely resembling ulcerative colitis in humans, including the development of adenocarcinoma of the colon. Prior to clinical symptoms, the mice show profound alterations in thymocyte maturation and function. The study of these animals should provide important insights into the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis as well as carcinogenesis.

Block of TRPC5 channels by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate : a differential, extracellular and voltage-dependent effect

1 2‐Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2‐APB) has been widely used to examine the roles of inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) and store‐operated Ca2+ entry and is an emerging modulator of cationic channels encoded by transient receptor potential (TRP) genes. 2 Using Ca2+‐indicator dye and patch‐clamp recording we first examined the blocking effect of 2‐APB on human TRPC5 channels expressed in HEK‐293 cells. 3 The concentration–response curve has an IC50 of 20 μM and slope close to 1.0, suggesting one 2‐APB molecule binds per channel. The blocking effect is not shared by other Ca2+ channel blockers including methoxyverapamil, nifedipine, N‐propargylnitrendipine, or berberine. 4 In whole‐cell and excised membrane patch recordings, 2‐APB acts from the extracellular but not intracellular face of the membrane. 5 Block of TRPC5 by 2‐APB is less at positive voltages, suggesting that it enters the electric field or acts by modulating channel gating. 6 2‐APB also blocks TRPC6 and TRPM3 expressed in HEK‐293 cells, but not TRPM2. 7 Block of TRP channels by 2‐APB may be relevant to cell proliferation because 2‐APB has a greater inhibitory effect on proliferation in cells overexpressing TRPC5. 8 Our data indicate a specific and functionally important binding site on TRPC5 that enables block by 2‐APB. The site is only available via an extracellular route and the block shows mild voltage‐dependence.

Most central nervous system D2 dopamine receptors are coupled to their effectors by Go

We reported previously that Go-deficient mice develop severe neurological defects that include hyperalgesia, a generalized tremor, lack of coordination, and a turning syndrome somewhat reminiscent of unilateral lesions of the dopaminergic nigro-striatal pathway. By using frozen coronal sections of serially sectioned brains of normal and Go-deficient mice, we studied the ability of several G protein coupled receptors to promote binding of GTPγS to G proteins and the ability of GTP to promote a shift in the affinity of D2 dopamine receptor for its physiologic agonist dopamine. We found a generalized, but not abolished reduction in agonist-stimulated binding of GTPγS to frozen brain sections, with no significant left–right differences. Unexpectedly, the ability of GTP to regulate the binding affinity of dopamine to D2 receptors (as seen in in situ [35S]sulpiride displacement curves) that was robust in control mice, was absent in Go-deficient mice. The data suggest that most of the effects of the Gi/Go-coupled D2 receptors in the central nervous system are mediated by Go instead of Gi1, Gi2, or Gi3. In agreement with this, the effect of GTP on dopamine binding to D2 receptors in double Gi1 plus Gi2- and Gi1 plus Gi3-deficient mice was essentially unaffected.

Ca2+-calmodulin regulates receptor-operated Ca2+ entry activity of TRPC6 in HEK-293 cells

Abstract Mammalian homologues of the Drosophila transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) are involved in Ca 2+ entry following agonist stimulation of nonexcitable cells. Seven mammalian TRPCs have been cloned but their mechanisms of activation and/or regulation are still the subject of intense research efforts. It has already been shown that calmodulin (CaM) can regulate the activity of Drosophila TRP and TRPL and, more recently, CaM has been shown to interact with mammalian TRPCs. In this study, TRPC6 stably transfected into HEK-293 cells was used to investigate the possible influence of CaM on TRPC6-dependent Ca 2+ entry. Overexpression of TRPC6 in mammalian cells is known to enhance agonist-induced Ca 2+ entry, but not thapsigargin-induced Ca 2+ entry. Here, we show that CaM inhibitors (calmidazolium and trifluoperazine) abolish receptor-operated Ca 2+ entry (ROCE) without affecting thapsigargin-operated Ca 2+ entry and that the activity of CaM is dependent on complexation with Ca 2+ . We also show that Ca 2+ -CaM binds to TRPC6 and that the binding can be abolished by CaM inhibitors. These results indicate that CaM is involved in the modulation of ROCE.

MxA, a member of the dynamin superfamily, interacts with the ankyrin-like repeat domain of TRPC

Mammalian transient receptor potential canonical channels have been proposed as the molecular entities associated with calcium entry activity in nonexcitable cells. Amino acid sequence analyses of TRPCs revealed the presence of ankyrin-like repeat domains, one of the most common protein-protein interaction motifs. Using a yeast two-hybrid interaction assay, we found that the second ankyrin-like repeat domain of TRPC6 interacted with MxA, a member of the dynamin superfamily. Using a GST pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assay, we showed that MxA interacted with TRPC1, -3, -4, -5, -6, and -7. Overexpression of MxA in HEK293T cells slightly increased endogenous calcium entry subsequent to stimulation of Gq protein-coupled receptors or store depletion by thapsigargin. Co-expression of MxA with TRPC6 enhanced agonist-induced or OAG-induced calcium entry activity. GTP binding-defective MxA mutants had only a minor potentiating effect on OAG-induced TRPC6 activity. However, a MxA mutant that could bind GTP but that lacked GTPase activity produced the same effect as MxA on OAG-induced TRPC6 activity. These results indicated that MxA interacted specifically with the second ankyrin-like repeat domain of TRPCs and suggested that monomeric MxA regulated the activity of TRPC6 by a mechanism requiring GTP binding. Additional results showed that an increase in the endogenous expression of MxA, induced by a treatment with interferon α, regulated the activity of TRPC6. The study clearly identified MxA as a new regulatory protein involved in Ca2+ signaling.

Identification of Two Domains Involved in the Assembly of Transient Receptor Potential Canonical Channels

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are associated with calcium entry activity in nonexcitable cells. TRPCs can form homo- or heterotetrameric channels, in which case they can assemble together within a subfamily groups. TRPC1, 4, and 5 represent one group, and TRPC3, 6, and 7 represent the other. The molecular determinants involved in promoting subunit tetramerization are not known. To identify them, we generated chimeras by swapping the different domains of TRPC4 with the same regions in TRPC6. We showed that TRPC4 coimmunoprecipitated with the chimeras containing the ankyrin repeats and coiled-coil domains of TRPC4 into TRPC6. However, chimeras containing only the ankyrin repeats or only the coiled-coil domain of TRPC4 did not coimmunoprecipitate with TRPC4. We also showed that a second domain of interaction composed of the pore region and the C-terminal tail is involved in the oligomerization of TRPC4. However, chimeras containing only the pore region or only the C-terminal tail of TRPC4 did not coimmunoprecipitate with TRPC4. Furthermore, we showed that the N terminus of TRPC6 coimmunoprecipitated with the C terminus of TRPC6. Overexpression in HEK293T cells of chimeras that contained an N terminus and a C terminus from different subfamily groups increased intracellular calcium entry subsequent to stimulation of Gq protein-coupled receptors. These results suggest that two types of interactions are involved in the assembly of the four subunits of the TRPC channel. The first interaction occurs between the N termini and involves two regions. The second interaction occurs between the N terminus and the C terminus and does not appear to be necessary for the activity of TRPCs.

Involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and PTEN protein in mechanism of activation of TRPC6 protein in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Background: Mechanisms involved in the trafficking and activation of TRPC6 are unclear. Results: PI3K and PTEN influence the agonist-induced translocation of TRPC6 to the plasma membrane and Ca2+ entry into cells expressing TRPC6. Conclusion: PI3K/PTEN pathway is involved in the translocation of TRPC6 to the plasma membrane. Significance: We provided evidence that the PI3K/PTEN pathway plays an important role in TRPC6 activation. TRPC6 is a cation channel in the plasma membrane that plays a role in Ca2+ entry after the stimulation of a Gq-protein-coupled or tyrosine-kinase receptor. TRPC6 translocates to the plasma membrane upon stimulation and remains there as long as the stimulus is present. However, the mechanism that regulates the trafficking and activation of TRPC6 are unclear. In this study we showed phosphoinositide 3-kinase and its antagonistic phosphatase, PTEN, are involved in the activation of TRPC6. The inhibition of PI3K by PIK-93, LY294002, or wortmannin decreased carbachol-induced translocation of TRPC6 to the plasma membrane and carbachol-induced net Ca2+ entry into T6.11 cells. Conversely, a reduction of PTEN expression did not affect carbachol-induced externalization of TRPC6 but increased Ca2+ entry through TRPC6 in T6.11 cells. We also showed that the PI3K/PTEN pathway regulates vasopressin-induced translocation of TRPC6 to the plasma membrane and vasopressin-induced Ca2+ entry into A7r5 cells, which endogenously express TRPC6. In summary, we provided evidence that the PI3K/PTEN pathway plays an important role in the translocation of TRPC6 to the plasma membrane and may thus have a significant impact on Ca2+ signaling in cells that endogenously express TRPC6.

Differential regulation of lipopolysaccharide and Gram-positive bacteria induced cytokine and chemokine production in macrophages by Gαi proteins

Heterotrimeric Gi proteins play a role in signalling activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and group B streptococci (GBS), leading to production of inflammatory mediators. We hypothesized that genetic deletion of Gi proteins would alter cytokine and chemokine production induced by LPS, SA and GBS stimulation. LPS‐induced, heat‐killed SA‐induced and heat‐killed GBS‐induced cytokine and chemokine production in peritoneal macrophages from wild‐type (WT), Gαi2–/– or Gαi1/3–/– mice were investigated. LPS induced production of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐10 and interferon‐γ‐inducible protein‐10 (IP‐10); SA induced TNF‐α, and IL‐1β production; and GBS induced TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐1β, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α (MIP‐1α) and keratinocyte chemoattract (KC) production were all decreased (P < 0·05) in Gαi2–/– or Gαi1/3–/– mice compared with WT mice. In contrast to the role of Gi proteins as a positive regulator of mediators, LPS‐induced production of MIP‐1α and granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) were increased in macrophages from Gαi1/3–/– mice, and SA‐induced MIP‐1α production was increased in both groups of Gαi protein‐depleted mice. LPS‐induced production of KC and IL‐1β, SA‐induced production of GM‐CSF, KC and IP‐10, and GBS‐induced production of IL‐10, GM‐CSF and IP‐10 were unchanged in macrophages from Gαi2–/– or Gαi1/3–/– mice compared with WT mice. These data suggest that Gi2 and Gi1/3 proteins are both involved and differentially regulate murine inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in response to both LPS and Gram‐positive microbial stimuli.

Protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) on serine 448 causes channel inhibition

TRPC6 is a cation channel in the plasma membrane that plays a role in Ca2+ entry following the stimulation of a Gq-protein coupled or tyrosine kinase receptor. A dysregulation of TRPC6 activity causes abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells and glomerulosclerosis. In the present study, we investigated the regulation of TRPC6 activity by protein kinase C (PKC). We showed that inhibiting PKC with GF1 or activating it with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate potentiated and inhibited agonist-induced Ca2+ entry, respectively, into cells expressing TRPC6. Similar results were obtained when TRPC6 was directly activated with 1-oleyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol. Activation of the cells with carbachol increased the phosphorylation of TRPC6, an effect that was prevented by the inhibition of PKC. The target residue of PKC was identified by an alanine screen of all canonical PKC sites on TRPC6. Unexpectedly, all the mutants, including TRPC6S768A (a residue previously proposed to be a target for PKC), displayed PKC-dependent inhibition of channel activity. Phosphorylation prediction software suggested that Ser448, in a non-canonical PKC consensus sequence, was a potential target for PKCδ. Ba2+ and Ca2+ entry experiments revealed that GF1 did not potentiate TRPC6S448A activity. Moreover, activation of PKC did not enhance the phosphorylation state of TRPC6S448A. Using A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells, which endogenously express TRPC6, we observed that a novel PKC isoform is involved in the inhibition of the vasopressin-induced Ca2+ entry. Furthermore, knocking down PKCδ in A7r5 cells potentiated vasopressin-induced Ca2+ entry. In summary, we provide evidence that PKCδ exerts a negative feedback effect on TRPC6 through the phosphorylation of Ser448.

The over-expression of TRPC6 channels in HEK-293 cells favours the intracellular accumulation of zinc

TRPC6 are plasma membrane cation channels. By means of live-cell imaging and spectroscopic methods, we found that HEK cells expressing TRPC6 channels (HEK-TRPC6) are enriched in zinc and sulphur and have a reduced copper content when compared to HEK cells and HEK cells expressing TRPC3 channels (HEK-TRPC3). Hence, HEK-TRPC6 cells have larger pools of mobilizable Zn2+ and are more sensitive to an oxidative stress. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence experiments showed a higher zinc content in the nuclear region indicating that the intracellular distribution of this metal was influenced by the over-expression of TRPC6 channels. Their properties were investigated with the diacylglycerol analogue SAG and the plant extract hyperforin. Electrophysiological recordings and imaging experiments with the fluorescent Zn2+ probe FluoZin-3 demonstrated that TRPC6 channels form Zn2+-conducting channels. In cortical neurons, hyperforin-sensitive channels co-exist with voltage-gated channels, AMPA and NMDA receptors, which are known to transport Zn2+. The ability of these channels to regulate the size of the mobilizable pools of Zn2+ was compared. The data collected indicate that the entry of Zn2+ through TRPC6 channels can up-regulate the size of the DTDP-sensitive pool of Zn2+. By showing that TRPC6 channels constitute a Zn2+ entry pathway, our study suggests that they could play a role in zinc homeostasis.