Imma Raurell

Specific Phosphorylation of p120-Catenin Regulatory Domain Differently Modulates Its Binding to RhoA

ABSTRACT p120-catenin is an adherens junction-associated protein that controls E-cadherin function and stability. p120-catenin also binds intracellular proteins, such as the small GTPase RhoA. In this paper, we identify the p120-catenin N-terminal regulatory domain as the docking site for RhoA. Moreover, we demonstrate that the binding of RhoA to p120-catenin is tightly controlled by the Src family-dependent phosphorylation of p120-catenin on tyrosine residues. The phosphorylation induced by Src and Fyn tyrosine kinases on p120-catenin induces opposite effects on RhoA binding. Fyn, by phosphorylating a residue located in the regulatory domain of p120-catenin (Tyr112), inhibits the interaction of this protein with RhoA. By contrast, the phosphorylation of Tyr217 and Tyr228 by Src promotes a better affinity of p120-catenin towards RhoA. In agreement with these biochemical data, results obtained in cell lines support the important role of these phosphorylation sites in the regulation of RhoA activity by p120-catenin. Taken together, these observations uncover a new regulatory mechanism acting on p120-catenin that contributes to the fine-tuned regulation of the RhoA pathways during specific signaling events.

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Plakoglobin Causes Contrary Effects on Its Association with Desmosomes and Adherens Junction Components and Modulates β-Catenin-Mediated Transcription

ABSTRACT Plakoglobin is a protein closely related to β-catenin that links desmosomal cadherins to intermediate filaments. Plakoglobin can also substitute for β-catenin in adherens junctions, providing a connection between E-cadherin and α-catenin. Association of β-catenin with E-cadherin and α-catenin is regulated by phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues; modification of β-catenin Tyr654 and Tyr142 decreases binding to E-cadherin and α-catenin, respectively. We show here that plakoglobin can also be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, but unlike β-catenin, this modification is not always associated with disrupted association with junctional components. Protein tyrosine kinases present distinct specificities on β-catenin and plakoglobin, and phosphorylation of β-catenin-equivalent Tyr residues of plakoglobin affects its interaction with components of desmosomes or adherens junctions differently. For instance, Src, which mainly phosphorylates Tyr86 in β-catenin, modifies Tyr643 in plakoglobin, decreasing the interaction with E-cadherin and α-catenin and increasing the interaction with the α-catenin-equivalent protein in desmosomes, desmoplakin. The tyrosine kinase Fer, which modifies β-catenin Tyr142, lessening its association with α-catenin, phosphorylates plakoglobin Tyr549 and exerts the contrary effect: it raises the binding of plakoglobin to α-catenin. These results suggest that tyrosine kinases like Src or Fer modulate desmosomes and adherens junctions differently. Our results also indicate that phosphorylation of Tyr549 and the increased binding of plakoglobin to components of adherens junctions can contribute to the upregulation of the transcriptional activity of the β-catenin-Tcf-4 complex observed in many epithelial tumor cells.

β-Catenin N- and C-terminal tails modulate the coordinated binding of adherens junction proteins to β-catenin

β-Catenin plays a central role in the establishment and regulation of adherens junctions because it interacts with E-cadherin and, through α-catenin, with the actin cytoskeleton. β-Catenin is composed of three domains: a central armadillo repeat domain and two N- and C-terminal tails. The C-tail interacts with the armadillo domain and limits its ability to bind E-cadherin and other cofactors. The two β-catenin tails are mutually inter-regulated because the C-tail is also necessary for binding of the N-tail to the armadillo domain. Moreover, the N-tail restricts the interaction of the C-tail with the central domain. Depletion of either of the two tails has consequences for the binding of factors at the other end: deletion of the C-tail increases α-catenin binding, whereas deletion of the N-tail blocks E-cadherin interaction to the armadillo repeats. As an effect of the interconnection of the tails, the association of α-catenin and E-cadherin to β-catenin is interdependent. Thus, binding of α-catenin to the N-tail, through conformational changes that affect the C-tail, facilitates the association of E-cadherin. These results indicate that different cofactors of β-catenin bind coordinately to this protein and indicate how the two terminal ends of β-catenin exquisitely modulate intermolecular binding within junctional complexes.

Physiopathology of splanchnic vasodilation in portal hypertension

In liver cirrhosis, the circulatory hemodynamic alterations of portal hypertension significantly contribute to many of the clinical manifestations of the disease. In the physiopathology of this vascular alteration, mesenteric splanchnic vasodilation plays an essential role by initiating the hemodynamic process. Numerous studies performed in cirrhotic patients and animal models have shown that this splanchnic vasodilation is the result of an important increase in local and systemic vasodilators and the presence of a splanchnic vascular hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors. Among the molecules and factors known to be potentially involved in this arterial vasodilation, nitric oxide seems to have a crucial role in the physiopathology of this vascular alteration. However, none of the wide variety of mediators can be described as solely responsible, since this phenomenon is multifactorial in origin. Moreover, angiogenesis and vascular remodeling processes also seem to play a role. Finally, the sympathetic nervous system is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of the hyperdynamic circulation associated with portal hypertension, although the nature and extent of its role is not completely understood. In this review, we discuss the different mechanisms known to contribute to this complex phenomenon.

β-Catenin and Plakoglobin N- and C-tails Determine Ligand Specificity

β-Catenin and plakoglobin are related proteins involved in the regulation of adherens junctions and desmosomes. Moreover, by binding to Tcf-4, they can act as transcriptional modulators of genes involved in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. However, they associate to distinct Tcf-4 subdomains causing opposing effects on Tcf-4 binding to DNA: whereas β-catenin does not affect this binding, plakoglobin prevents it. Both proteins are composed by two N- and C-tails and a central armadillo repeat domain. Interaction of Tcf-4, as well as other desmosomal or adherens junction components, with β-catenin or plakoglobin takes place through the central armadillo domain. Here we show that, as reported for β-catenin, plakoglobin terminal tails also interact with the central domain and regulate the ability of this region to bind to different cofactors. Moreover the specificity of the interaction of β-catenin and plakoglobin with different subdomains in Tcf-4 or with other junctional components resides within the terminal tails and not in the armadillo domain. For instance, a chimeric protein in which the central domain of β-catenin was replaced by that of plakoglobin presented the same specificity as wild-type β-catenin. Therefore, the terminal tails of these proteins are responsible for discerning among binding of factors to the armadillo domain. These results contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of the interactions established by these key regulators of epithelial tumorigenesis.

Down-regulation of genes related to the adrenergic system may contribute to splanchnic vasodilation in rat portal hypertension☆

BACKGROUND/AIMS Splanchnic vasodilation initiates the hyperdynamic syndrome in portal hypertension. We aimed to explore molecular mechanisms involved in the development of mesenteric vasodilation in portal hypertension. METHODS Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) samples from portal vein ligated (PVL) and sham rats were compared in a time course experiment using DNA microarrays. Selected genes were quantified by qRT-PCR in PVL and cirrhotic rats. Inmunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) and norepinephrine was assessed in SMA sections of PVL and sham rats. Western blot analysis of Th, dopamine beta-hydroxylase (Dbh) and synaptosome-associated protein (Snap-25) was performed in SMA and jejunum samples from the animal models. RESULTS Fifty differentially expressed genes implicated in neurotransmission, especially adrenergic, were detected in SMA samples from PVL rats. Sequential analysis showed a profound down-regulation at 14 days in PVL rats. These down-regulated genes were confirmed by RT-PCR in SMA from PVL and cirrhotic rats. Th and NE detection by immunohistochemistry was reduced in PVL compared to sham. Th, Dbh and Snap-25 expression was lower in SMA from 14-day PVL and cirrhotic rats compared to sham and control rats, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Genetic down-regulation of genes related to the adrenergic system might have a role in splanchnic vasodilation of portal hypertension.

Atrophy of mesenteric sympathetic innervation may contribute to splanchnic vasodilation in rat portal hypertension

Background and aims: Portal hypertension is associated with downregulation of mRNA and proteins involved in adrenergic transmission in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in portal vein‐ligated (PVL) and cirrhotic rats. We aimed to investigate whether SMA adrenergic dysfunction was accompanied by sympathetic nerve structural changes and whether it was extensive to resistance mesenteric arteries. We also attempted to localize the origin of mRNA of specific adrenergic genes.

Gamma-Secretase-Dependent and -Independent Effects of Presenilin1 on β-Catenin·Tcf-4 Transcriptional Activity

Presenilin1 (PS1) is a component of the γ-secretase complex mutated in cases of Familial Alzheimers disease (FAD). PS1 is synthesized as a 50 kDa peptide subsequently processed to two 29 and 20 kDa subunits that remain associated. Processing of PS1 is inhibited by several mutations detected in FAD patients. PS1 acts as negative modulator of β-catenin·Tcf-4 transcriptional activity. In this article we show that in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) the mechanisms of action of the processed and non-processed forms of PS1 on β-catenin·Tcf-4 transcription are different. Whereas non-processed PS1 inhibits β-catenin·Tcf-4 activity through a mechanism independent of γ-secretase and associated with the interaction of this protein with plakoglobin and Tcf-4, the effect of processed PS1 is prevented by γ-secretase inhibitors, and requires its interaction with E- or N-cadherin and the generation of cytosolic terminal fragments of these two cadherins, which in turn destabilize the β-catenin transcriptional cofactor CBP. Accordingly, the two forms of PS1 interact differently with E-cadherin or β-catenin and plakoglobin: whereas processed PS1 binds E-cadherin with high affinity and β-catenin or plakoglobin weakly, the non-processed form behaves inversely. Moreover, contrarily to processed PS1, that decreases the levels of c-fos RNA, non-processed PS1 inhibits the expression c-myc, a known target of β-catenin·Tcf-4, and does not block the activity of other transcriptional factors requiring CBP. These results indicate that prevention of PS1 processing in FAD affects the mechanism of repression of the transcriptional activity dependent on β-catenin.

Presenilin-1 Interacts with Plakoglobin and Enhances Plakoglobin-Tcf-4 Association IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGULATION OF β-CATENIN/Tcf-4-DEPENDENT TRANSCRIPTION

Alzheimer disease-linked Presenilin-1 (PS1) is a negative modulator of β-catenin/Tcf-4 activity. However, the mechanism underlying this effect is not well understood. We show here that the effects of PS1 on the activity of this complex in epithelial cells are independent of its γ-secretase activity and its interaction with β-catenin. As presented in this report PS1 also binds plakoglobin with similar affinity as β-catenin, although this interaction does not involve equivalent residues in the two catenins. Moreover, PS1 association with plakoglobin enhances the interaction of this molecule with Tcf-4 and prevents its binding to DNA. These effects were observed with the unprocessed form of PS1, which has higher affinity for plakoglobin and β-catenin than processed PS1. These results provide a new explanation for the effects of PS1 on gene transcription mediated by β-catenin in epithelial cells.

Blockage of the afferent sensitive pathway prevents sympathetic atrophy and hemodynamic alterations in rat portal hypertension

Portal hypertension causes arterial vasodilation and sympathetic atrophy in the splanchnic area. We aimed to demonstrate a relationship between hemodynamic alterations and sympathetic atrophy by investigating a pathway from sensitive afferent signals to mesenteric sympathetic ganglia.