Marek Cebecauer

Signalling complexes and clusters: functional advantages and methodological hurdles.

Signalling molecules integrate, codify and transport information in cells. Organisation of these molecules in complexes and clusters improves the efficiency, fidelity and robustness of cellular signalling. Here, we summarise current views on how signalling molecules assemble into macromolecular complexes and clusters and how they use their physical properties to transduce environmental information into a variety of cellular processes. In addition, we discuss recent innovations in live-cell imaging at the sub-micrometer scale and the challenges of object (particle) tracking, both of which help us to observe signalling complexes and clusters and to examine their dynamic character.

The N Terminus of Mannose 6-Phosphate/Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Receptor in Regulation of Fibrinolysis and Cell Migration

Leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation is a multistep process involving transient adhesion to the endothelium followed by cell surface-controlled proteolysis for transmigration through the vessel wall and chemotactic movement within tissues. One of the key players in this machinery appears to be the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor system. The role of uPA and its receptor (CD87) in plasminogen (Plg) activation, cell adhesion, and chemotaxis is well established; however, less is known of how these activities are regulated. Here we provide evidence that the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (CD222) controls CD87-mediated functions. Expression of human CD222 in CD222−/− mouse fibroblasts down-regulated Plg activation, cell adhesion, and chemotaxis induced by the uPA/CD87 system. In addition, we demonstrate that the N-terminal region of CD222, which is similar to the Plg-binding site of streptokinase, plays a crucial role in binding of CD87 and Plg. A peptide derived from this region in CD222 is able to disrupt the physical interaction of CD222 with CD87 and, furthermore, mimics the inhibitory effects of CD222 on CD87 functions. Taken together, our results indicate a novel role for CD222 in regulation of fibrinolysis, cell adhesion, and migration.

A Rotational BODIPY Nucleotide: An Environment‐Sensitive Fluorescence‐Lifetime Probe for DNA Interactions and Applications in Live‐Cell Microscopy

Fluorescent probes for detecting the physical properties of cellular structures have become valuable tools in life sciences. The fluorescence lifetime of molecular rotors can be used to report on variations in local molecular packing or viscosity. We used a nucleoside linked to a meso-substituted BODIPY fluorescent molecular rotor (dC(bdp)) to sense changes in DNA microenvironment both in vitro and in living cells. DNA incorporating dC(bdp) can respond to interactions with DNA-binding proteins and lipids by changes in the fluorescence lifetimes in the range 0.5-2.2 ns. We can directly visualize changes in the local environment of exogenous DNA during transfection of living cells. Relatively long fluorescence lifetimes and extensive contrast for detecting changes in the microenvironment together with good photostability and versatility for DNA synthesis make this probe suitable for analysis of DNA-associated processes, cellular structures, and also DNA-based nanomaterials.

Soluble MHC-Peptide Complexes Induce Rapid Death of CD8+ CTL

Soluble MHC-peptide (pMHC) complexes, commonly referred to as tetramers, are widely used to enumerate and to isolate Ag-specific CD8+ CTL. It has been noted that such complexes, as well as microsphere- or cell-associated pMHC molecules compromise the functional integrity of CTL, e.g., by inducing apoptosis of CTL, which limits their usefulness for T cell sorting or cloning. By testing well-defined soluble pMHC complexes containing linkers of different length and valence, we find that complexes comprising short linkers (i.e., short pMHC-pMHC distances), but not those containing long linkers, induce rapid death of CTL. This cell death relies on CTL activation, the coreceptor CD8 and cytoskeleton integrity, but is not dependent on death receptors (i.e., Fas, TNFR1, and TRAILR2) or caspases. Within minutes of CTL exposure to pMHC complexes, reactive oxygen species emerged and mitochondrial membrane depolarized, which is reminiscent of caspase-independent T cell death. The morphological changes induced during this rapid CTL death are characteristic of programmed necrosis and not apoptosis. Thus, soluble pMHC complexes containing long linkers are recommended to prevent T cell death, whereas those containing short linkers can be used to eliminate Ag-specific CTL.

Dynamics and Size of Cross-Linking-Induced Lipid Nanodomains in Model Membranes

Changes of membrane organization upon cross-linking of its components trigger cell signaling response to various exogenous factors. Cross-linking of raft gangliosides GM1 with cholera toxin (CTxB) was shown to cause microscopic phase separation in model membranes, and the CTxB-GM1 complexes forming a minimal lipid raft unit are the subject of ongoing cell membrane research. Yet, those subdiffraction sized rafts have never been described in terms of size and dynamics. By means of two-color z-scan fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, we show that the nanosized domains are formed in model membranes at lower sphingomyelin (Sph) content than needed for the large-scale phase separation and that the CTxB-GM1 complexes are confined in the domains poorly stabilized with Sph. Förster resonance energy transfer together with Monte Carlo modeling of the donor decay response reveal the domain radius of ~8 nm, which increases at higher Sph content. We observed two types of domains behaving differently, which suggests a dual role of the cross-linker: first, local transient condensation of the GM1 molecules compensating for a lack of Sph and second, coalescence of existing nanodomains ending in large-scale phase separation.

There Is No Simple Model of the Plasma Membrane Organization

Ever since technologies enabled the characterization of eukaryotic plasma membranes, heterogeneities in the distributions of its constituents were observed. Over the years this led to the proposal of various models describing the plasma membrane organization such as lipid shells, picket-and-fences, lipid rafts, or protein islands, as addressed in numerous publications and reviews. Instead of emphasizing on one model we in this review give a brief overview over current models and highlight how current experimental work in one or the other way do not support the existence of a single overarching model. Instead, we highlight the vast variety of membrane properties and components, their influences and impacts. We believe that highlighting such controversial discoveries will stimulate unbiased research on plasma membrane organization and functionality, leading to a better understanding of this essential cellular structure.

Peripheral and Integral Membrane Binding of Peptides Characterized by Time-Dependent Fluorescence Shifts: Focus on Antimicrobial Peptide LAH4

Positioning of peptides with respect to membranes is an important parameter for biological and biophysical studies using model systems. Our experiments using five different membrane peptides suggest that the time-dependent fluorescence shift (TDFS) of Laurdan can help when distinguishing between peripheral and integral membrane binding and can be a useful, novel tool for studying the impact of transmembrane peptides (TMP) on membrane organization under near-physiological conditions. This article focuses on LAH4, a model α-helical peptide with high antimicrobial and nucleic acid transfection efficiencies. The predominantly helical peptide has been shown to orient in supported model membranes parallel to the membrane surface at acidic and, in a transmembrane manner, at basic pH. Here we investigate its interaction with fully hydrated large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) by TDFS and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). TDFS shows that at acidic pH LAH4 does not influence the glycerol region while at basic pH it makes acyl groups at the glycerol level of the membrane less mobile. TDFS experiments with antimicrobial peptides alamethicin and magainin 2, which are known to assume transmembrane and peripheral orientations, respectively, prove that changes in acyl group mobility at the glycerol level correlate with the orientation of membrane-associated peptide molecules. Analogous experiments with the TMPs LW21 and LAT show similar effects on the mobility of those acyl groups as alamethicin and LAH4 at basic pH. FCS, on the same neutral lipid bilayer vesicles, shows that the peripheral binding mode of LAH4 is more efficient in bilayer permeation than the transmembrane mode. In both cases, the addition of LAH4 does not lead to vesicle disintegration. The influence of negatively charged lipids on the bilayer permeation is also addressed.

The role of palmitoylation and transmembrane domain in sorting of transmembrane adaptor proteins

ABSTRACT Plasma membrane proteins synthesised at the endoplasmic reticulum are delivered to the cell surface via sorting pathways. Hydrophobic mismatch theory based on the length of the transmembrane domain (TMD) dominates discussion about determinants required for protein sorting to the plasma membrane. Transmembrane adaptor proteins (TRAP) are involved in signalling events which take place at the plasma membrane. Members of this protein family have TMDs of varying length. We were interested in whether palmitoylation or other motifs contribute to the effective sorting of TRAP proteins. We found that palmitoylation is essential for some, but not all, TRAP proteins independent of their TMD length. We also provide evidence that palmitoylation and proximal sequences can modulate sorting of artificial proteins with TMDs of suboptimal length. Our observations point to a unique character of each TMD defined by its primary amino acid sequence and its impact on membrane protein localisation. We conclude that, in addition to the TMD length, secondary sorting determinants such as palmitoylation or flanking sequences have evolved for the localisation of membrane proteins. Summary: Palmitoylation and proximal sequences can function as secondary sorting signals for membrane proteins with suboptimal transmembrane domains.

Impact of GM1 on Membrane-Mediated Aggregation/Oligomerization of β-Amyloid: Unifying View

In this perspective we summarize current knowledge of the effect of monosialoganglioside GM1 on the membrane-mediated aggregation of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide. GM1 has been suggested to be actively involved in the development of Alzheimers disease due to its ability to seed the aggregation of Aβ. However, GM1 is known to be neuroprotective against Aβ-induced toxicity. Here we suggest that the two scenarios are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary, and might depend on the organization of GM1 in membranes. Improving our understanding of the molecular details behind the role of gangliosides in neurodegenerative amyloidoses might help in developing disease-modifying treatments.

Advanced Imaging of Cellular Signaling Events

Cells continuously communicate with the surrounding environment employing variety of signaling molecules and pathways to integrate and transport the information in the cell. An example of signaling initiation is binding of extracellular ligand to its receptor at the plasma membrane. This initializes enzymatic reactions leading to the formation of bi- or multimolecular signaling complexes responsible for the regulation or progress of signal transduction. Here, we describe three imaging techniques enabling detection of individual signaling molecules, their complexes, and clusters in human cells. Described imaging techniques require only basic microscopy systems available in the majority of current biomedical research centers but apply advanced data processing. First, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) variant of wide-field fluorescence microscopy for imaging highly dynamic clusters is described. Second, superresolution localization microscopy techniques-photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) and stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM)-recently enabled to achieve higher resolution with precision limit of about 20 nm in fixed samples. The developments toward live cell superresolution imaging are indicated. Third, raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) employed for molecular diffusion and binding analysis explains the advantages and hurdles of this novel method. Presented techniques provide a new level of detail one can learn about higher organization of signaling events in human cells.