Kenzo Hirose

Adiponectin and AdipoR1 regulate PGC-1α and mitochondria by Ca2+ and AMPK/SIRT1

Adiponectin is an anti-diabetic adipokine. Its receptors possess a seven-transmembrane topology with the amino terminus located intracellularly, which is the opposite of G-protein-coupled receptors. Here we provide evidence that adiponectin induces extracellular Ca2+ influx by adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1), which was necessary for subsequent activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ), AMPK and SIRT1, increased expression and decreased acetylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and increased mitochondria in myocytes. Moreover, muscle-specific disruption of AdipoR1 suppressed the adiponectin-mediated increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and decreased the activation of CaMKK, AMPK and SIRT1 by adiponectin. Suppression of AdipoR1 also resulted in decreased PGC-1α expression and deacetylation, decreased mitochondrial content and enzymes, decreased oxidative type I myofibres, and decreased oxidative stress-detoxifying enzymes in skeletal muscle, which were associated with insulin resistance and decreased exercise endurance. Decreased levels of adiponectin and AdipoR1 in obesity may have causal roles in mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance seen in diabetes.

Encoding of Ca2+ signals by differential expression of IP3 receptor subtypes

Inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) plays a key role in Ca2+ signalling, which exhibits a variety of spatio‐temporal patterns that control important cell functions. Multiple subtypes of IP3 receptors (IP3R‐1, ‐2 and ‐3) are expressed in a tissue‐ and development‐specific manner and form heterotetrameric channels through which stored Ca2+ is released, but the physiological significance of the differential expression of IP3R subtypes is not known. We have studied the Ca2+‐signalling mechanism in genetically engineered B cells that express either a single or a combination of IP3R subtypes, and show that Ca2+‐signalling patterns depend on the IP3R subtypes, which differ significantly in their response to agonists, i.e. IP3, Ca2+ and ATP. IP3R‐2 is the most sensitive to IP3 and is required for the long lasting, regular Ca2+ oscillations that occur upon activation of B‐cell receptors. IP3R‐1 is highly sensitive to ATP and mediates less regular Ca2+ oscillations. IP3R‐3 is the least sensitive to IP3 and Ca2+, and tends to generate monophasic Ca2+ transients. Furthermore, we show for the first time functional interactions between coexpressed subtypes. Our results demonstrate that differential expression of IP3R subtypes helps to encode IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signalling.

A fluorescent indicator for visualizing cAMP-induced phosphorylation in vivo.

We have developed a method for visualizing phosphorylation of proteins in living cells using a novel fluorescent indicator composed of two green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants joined by the kinase-inducible domain (KID) of the transcription factor cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-responsive element binding protein (CREB). Phosphorylation of KID by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) decreased the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) among the flanking GFPs. By transfecting COS-7 cells with an expression vector encoding this indicator protein (termed ART for cAMP-responsive tracer), we were able to visualize activation dynamics of PKA in living cells.

NFAT functions as a working memory of Ca2+ signals in decoding Ca2+ oscillation

Transcription by the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is regulated by the frequency of Ca2+ oscillation. However, why and how Ca2+ oscillation regulates NFAT activity remain elusive. NFAT is dephosphorylated by Ca2+‐dependent phosphatase calcineurin and translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus to initiate transcription. We analyzed the kinetics of dephosphorylation and translocation of NFAT. We show that Ca2+‐dependent dephosphoryl ation proceeds rapidly, while the rephosphorylation and nuclear transport of NFAT proceed slowly. Therefore, after brief Ca2+ stimulation, dephosphoryl ated NFAT has a lifetime of several minutes in the cytoplasm. Thus, Ca2+ oscillation induces a build‐up of dephosphorylated NFAT in the cytoplasm, allowing effective nuclear translocation, provided that the oscillation interval is shorter than the lifetime of dephos phorylated NFAT. We also show that Ca2+ oscillation is more cost‐effective in inducing the translocation of NFAT than continuous Ca2+ signaling. Thus, the lifetime of dephosphorylated NFAT functions as a working memory of Ca2+ signals and enables the control of NFAT nuclear translocation by the frequency of Ca2+ oscillation at a reduced cost of Ca2+ signaling.

Transient Receptor Potential 1 Regulates Capacitative Ca2+ Entry and Ca2+ Release from Endoplasmic Reticulum in B Lymphocytes

Capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) activated by release/depletion of Ca2+ from internal stores represents a major Ca2+ influx mechanism in lymphocytes and other nonexcitable cells. Despite the importance of CCE in antigen-mediated lymphocyte activation, molecular components constituting this mechanism remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that genetic disruption of transient receptor potential (TRP)1 significantly attenuates both Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ currents and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-mediated Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in DT40 B cells. As a consequence, B cell antigen receptor–mediated Ca2+ oscillations and NF-AT activation are reduced in TRP1-deficient cells. Thus, our results suggest that CCE channels, whose formation involves TRP1 as an important component, modulate IP3 receptor function, thereby enhancing functional coupling between the ER and plasma membrane in transduction of intracellular Ca2+ signaling in B lymphocytes.

Enzymatic production of RNAi libraries from cDNAs

RNA interference (RNAi) induced by small interfering (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) is an important research approach in mammalian genetics. Here we describe a technology called enzymatic production of RNAi library (EPRIL) by which cDNAs are converted by a sequence of enzymatic treatments into an RNAi library consisting of a vast array of different shRNA expression constructs. We applied EPRIL to a single cDNA source and prepared an RNAi library consisting of shRNA constructs with various RNAi efficiencies. High-throughput screening allowed us to rapidly identify the best shRNA constructs from the library. We also describe a new selection scheme using the thymidine kinase gene for obtaining efficient shRNA constructs. Furthermore, we show that EPRIL can be applied to constructing an RNAi library from a cDNA library, providing a basis for future whole-genome phenotypic screening of genes.

Ca2+ shuttling between endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria underlying Ca2+ oscillations

Although many cell functions are regulated by Ca2+ oscillations induced by a cyclic release of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores, the pacemaker mechanism of Ca2+ oscillations remains to be explained. Using green fluorescent protein‐based Ca2+ indicators that are targeted to intracellular Ca2+ stores, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, we found that Ca2+ shuttles between the ER and mitochondria in phase with Ca2+ oscillations. Following agonist stimulation, Ca2+ release from the ER generated the first Ca2+ oscillation and loaded mitochondria with Ca2+. Before the second Ca2+ oscillation, Ca2+ release from the mitochondria by means of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger caused a gradual increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, inducing a regenerative ER Ca2+ release, which generated the peak of Ca2+ oscillation and partially reloaded the mitochondria. This sequence of events was repeated until mitochondrial Ca2+ was depleted. Thus, Ca2+ shuttling between the ER and mitochondria may have a pacemaker role in the generation of Ca2+ oscillations.

Ca2+‐sensor region of IP3 receptor controls intracellular Ca2+ signaling

Many important cell functions are controlled by Ca2+ release from intracellular stores via the inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), which requires both IP3 and Ca2+ for its activity. Due to the Ca2+ requirement, the IP3R and the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration form a positive feedback loop, which has been assumed to confer regenerativity on the IP3−induced Ca2+ release and to play an important role in the generation of spatiotemporal patterns of Ca2+ signals such as Ca2+ waves and oscillations. Here we show that glutamate 2100 of rat type 1 IP3R (IP3R1) is a key residue for the Ca2+ requirement. Substitution of this residue by aspartate (E2100D) results in a 10‐fold decrease in the Ca2+ sensitivity without other effects on the properties of the IP3R1. Agonist‐induced Ca2+ responses are greatly diminished in cells expressing the E2100D mutant IP3R1, particularly the rate of rise of initial Ca2+ spike is markedly reduced and the subsequent Ca2+ oscillations are abolished. These results demonstrate that the Ca2+ sensitivity of the IP3R is functionally indispensable for the determination of Ca2+ signaling patterns.

Visualization of IP3 Dynamics Reveals a Novel AMPA Receptor-Triggered IP3 Production Pathway Mediated by Voltage-Dependent Ca2+ Influx in Purkinje Cells

IP(3) signaling in Purkinje cells is involved in the regulation of cell functions including LTD. We have used a GFP-tagged pleckstrin homology domain to visualize IP(3) dynamics in Purkinje cells. Surprisingly, IP(3) production was observed in response not only to mGluR activation, but also to AMPA receptor activation in Purkinje cells in culture. AMPA-induced IP(3) production was mediated by depolarization-induced Ca(2+) influx because it was mimicked by depolarization and was blocked by inhibition of the P-type Ca(2+) channel. Furthermore, trains of complex spikes, elicited by climbing fiber stimulation (1 Hz), induced IP(3) production in Purkinje cells in cerebellar slices. These results revealed a novel IP(3) signaling pathway in Purkinje cells that can be elicited by synaptic inputs from climbing fibers.

Photo-acceleration of protein release from endosome in the protein transduction system

The protein transduction system has been employed for delivery of bioactive proteins into cells via an endocytotic mechanism. However, trapping of endocytosed proteins in the endosome may significantly attenuate biological actions in cells. The present investigation demonstrated that endosomal release of transduced protein could be artificially accelerated by exposure to fluorescent light. Exposure to light at 480 nm stimulated endosomal release of transduced FITC‐11 arginine‐protein transduction domain (11R‐PTD), TAT‐PTD and Antennapedia‐PTD. Moreover, FITC‐11R‐p53 protein was released from endosomes following stimulation with light. These data suggest that photo‐acceleration is a more efficient strategy in terms of the protein transduction system.