Il Shin Kim

The phox homology domain of phospholipase D activates dynamin GTPase activity and accelerates EGFR endocytosis

Dynamin is a large GTP-binding protein that mediates endocytosis by hydrolyzing GTP. Previously, we reported that phospholipase D2 (PLD2) interacts with dynamin in a GTP-dependent manner. This implies that PLD may regulate the GTPase cycle of dynamin. Here, we show that PLD functions as a GTPase activating protein (GAP) through its phox homology domain (PX), which directly activates the GTPase domain of dynamin, and that the arginine residues in the PLD–PX are vital for this GAP function. Moreover, wild-type PLD–PX, but not mutated PLD–PXs defective for GAP function in vitro, increased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) endocytosis at physiological EGF concentrations. In addition, the silencing of PLDs was shown to retard EGFR endocytosis and the addition of wild-type PLDs or lipase-inactive PLDs, but not PLD1 mutants with defective GAP activity for dynamin in vitro, resulted in the recovery of EGFR endocytosis. These findings suggest that PLD, functioning as an intermolecular GAP for dynamin, accelerates EGFR endocytosis. Moreover, we determined that the phox homology domain itself had GAP activity — a novel function in addition to its role as a binding motif for proteins or lipids.

The Direct Interaction of Phospholipase C-γ1 with Phospholipase D2 Is Important for Epidermal Growth Factor Signaling

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor has an important role in cellular proliferation, and the enzymatic activity of phospholipase C (PLC)-γ1 is regarded to be critical for EGF-induced mitogenesis. In this study, we report for the first time a phospholipase complex composed of PLC-γ1 and phospholipase D2 (PLD2). PLC-γ1 is co-immunoprecipitated with PLD2 in COS-7 cells. The results of in vitro binding analysis and co-immunoprecipitation analysis in COS-7 cells show that the Src homology (SH) 3 domain of PLC-γ1 binds to the proline-rich motif within the Phox homology (PX) domain of PLD2. The interaction between PLC-γ1 and PLD2 is EGF stimulation-dependent and potentiates EGF-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) formation and Ca2+increase. Mutating Pro-145 and Pro-148 within the PX domain of PLD2 to leucines disrupts the interaction between PLC-γ1 and PLD2 and fails to potentiate EGF-induced IP3 formation and Ca2+ increase. However, neither PLD2 wild type nor PLD2 mutant affects the EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-γ1. These findings suggest that, upon EGF stimulation, PLC-γ1 directly interacts with PLD2 and this interaction is important for PLC-γ1 activity.

DJ-1 contributes to adipogenesis and obesity-induced inflammation

Adipose tissue functions as an endocrine organ, and the development of systemic inflammation in adipose tissue is closely associated with metabolic diseases, such as obesity and insulin resistance. Accordingly, the fine regulation of the inflammatory response caused by obesity has therapeutic potential for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. In this study, we analyzed the role of DJ-1 (PARK7) in adipogenesis and inflammation related to obesity in vitro and in vivo. Many intracellular functions of DJ-1, including oxidative stress regulation, are known. However, the possibility of DJ-1 involvement in metabolic disease is largely unknown. Our results suggest that DJ-1 deficiency results in reduced adipogenesis and the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Furthermore, DJ-1-deficient mice show a low-level inflammatory response in the high-fat diet-induced obesity model. These results indicate previously unknown functions of DJ-1 in metabolism and therefore suggest that precise regulation of DJ-1 in adipose tissue might have a therapeutic advantage for metabolic disease treatment.

Phosphoinositides Differentially Regulate Protrudin Localization through the FYVE Domain

Background: Regulation of FYVE domain proteins by phosphoinositides other than PtdIns(3)P is not known. Results: PtdIns(4,5)P2, PtdIns(3,4)P2, and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 bind the FYVE domain of protrudin. Conclusion: PtdIns(4,5)P2, PtdIns(3,4)P2, and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 differentially regulate cellular protrudin function. Significance: This study provides new insight into how phosphoinositides modulate neurite formation. Protrudin is a FYVE (Fab 1, YOTB, Vac 1, and EEA1) domain-containing protein involved in transport of neuronal cargoes and implicated in the onset of hereditary spastic paraplegia. Our image-based screening of the lipid binding domain library revealed novel plasma membrane localization of the FYVE domain of protrudin unlike canonical FYVE domains that are localized to early endosomes. The membrane binding study by surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that this FYVE domain preferentially binds phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2), phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P2), and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) unlike canonical FYVE domains that specifically bind phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P). Furthermore, we found that these phosphoinositides (PtdInsP) differentially regulate shuttling of protrudin between endosomes and plasma membrane via its FYVE domain. Protrudin mutants with reduced PtdInsP-binding affinity failed to promote neurite outgrowth in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. These results suggest that novel PtdInsP selectivity of the protrudin-FYVE domain is critical for its cellular localization and its role in neurite outgrowth.

Determination of EGFR endocytosis kinetic by auto-regulatory association of PLD1 with μ2

Background Upon ligand binding, cell surface signaling receptors are internalized through a process tightly regulated by endocytic proteins and adaptor protein 2 (AP2) to orchestrate them. Although the molecular identities and roles of endocytic proteins are becoming clearer, it is still unclear what determines the receptor endocytosis kinetics which is mainly regulated by the accumulation of endocytic apparatus to the activated receptors. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we employed the kinetic analysis of endocytosis and adaptor recruitment to show that μ2, a subunit of AP2 interacts directly with phospholipase D (PLD)1, a receptor-associated signaling protein and this facilitates the membrane recruitment of AP2 and the endocytosis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We also demonstrate that the PLD1-μ2 interaction requires the binding of PLD1 with phosphatidic acid, its own product. Conclusions/Significance These results suggest that the temporal regulation of EGFR endocytosis is achieved by auto-regulatory PLD1 which senses the receptor activation and triggers the translocation of AP2 near to the activated receptor.