Min-Jue Xie

Anxiety- and depression-like behavior in mice lacking the CD157/BST1 gene, a risk factor for Parkinson's disease

CD157, known as bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1, is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored ADP-ribosyl cyclase that supports the survival and function of B-lymphocytes and hematopoietic or intestinal stem cells. Although CD157/Bst1 is a risk locus in Parkinsons disease (PD), little is known about the function of CD157 in the nervous system and contribution to PD progression. Here, we show that no apparent motor dysfunction was observed in young knockout (CD157−/−) male mice under less aging-related effects on behaviors. CD157−/− mice exhibited anxiety-related and depression-like behaviors compared with wild-type mice. These behaviors were rescued through treatment with anti-psychiatric drugs and oxytocin. CD157 was weakly expressed in the amygdala and c-Fos immunoreactivity in the amygdala was less evident in CD157−/− mice than in wild-type mice. These results demonstrate for the first time that CD157 plays a role as a neuro-regulator and suggest a potential role in pre-motor symptoms in PD.

LL5β Directs the Translocation of Filamin A and SHIP2 to Sites of Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-Triphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) Accumulation, and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 Localization Is Mutually Modified by Co-recruited SHIP2

Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) accumulates at the leading edge of migrating cells and works, at least partially, as both a compass to indicate directionality and a hub for subsequent intracellular events. However, how PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 regulates the migratory machinery has not been fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate a novel mechanism for efficient lamellipodium formation that depends on PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and the reciprocal regulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 itself. LL5β, whose subcellular localization is directed by membrane PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, recruits the actin-cross-linking protein Filamin A to the plasma membrane, where PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 accumulates, with the Filamin A-binding Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase 2 (SHIP2). A large and dynamic lamellipodium was formed in the presence of Filamin A and LL5β by the application of epidermal growth factor. Conversely, depletion of either Filamin A or LL5β or the overexpression of either an F-actin-cross-linking mutant of Filamin A or a mutant of LL5β without its PtdIns(3,4,5)P3-interacting region inhibited such events in COS-7 cells. Because F-actin initially polymerizes near the plasma membrane, it is likely that membrane-recruited Filamin A efficiently cross-links newly polymerized F-actin, leading to enhanced lamellipodium formation at the site of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 accumulation. Moreover, we demonstrate that co-recruited SHIP2 dephosphorylates PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 at the same location.

DBZ Regulates Cortical Cell Positioning and Neurite Development by Sustaining the Anterograde Transport of Lis1 and DISC1 through Control of Ndel1 Dual-Phosphorylation

Cell positioning and neuronal network formation are crucial for proper brain function. Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is anterogradely transported to the neurite tips, together with Lis1, and functions in neurite extension via suppression of GSK3β activity. Then, transported Lis1 is retrogradely transported and functions in cell migration. Here, we show that DISC1-binding zinc finger protein (DBZ), together with DISC1, regulates mouse cortical cell positioning and neurite development in vivo. DBZ hindered Ndel1 phosphorylation at threonine 219 and serine 251. DBZ depletion or expression of a double-phosphorylated mimetic form of Ndel1 impaired the transport of Lis1 and DISC1 to the neurite tips and hampered microtubule elongation. Moreover, application of DISC1 or a GSK3β inhibitor rescued the impairments caused by DBZ insufficiency or double-phosphorylated Ndel1 expression. We concluded that DBZ controls cell positioning and neurite development by interfering with Ndel1 from disproportionate phosphorylation, which is critical for appropriate anterograde transport of the DISC1-complex.

Filamin A-interacting protein (FILIP) is a region-specific modulator of myosin 2b and controls spine morphology and NMDA receptor accumulation

Learning and memory depend on morphological and functional changes to neural spines. Non-muscle myosin 2b regulates actin dynamics downstream of long-term potentiation induction. However, the mechanism by which myosin 2b is regulated in the spine has not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that filamin A-interacting protein (FILIP) is involved in the control of neural spine morphology and is limitedly expressed in the brain. FILIP bound near the ATPase domain of non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIb, an essential component of myosin 2b, and modified the function of myosin 2b by interfering with its actin-binding activity. In addition, FILIP altered the subcellular distribution of myosin 2b in spines. Moreover, subunits of the NMDA receptor were differently distributed in FILIP-expressing neurons, and excitation propagation was altered in FILIP-knockout mice. These results indicate that FILIP is a novel, region-specific modulator of myosin 2b.

Filamin A interacting protein plays a role in proper positioning of callosal projection neurons in the cortex.

The callosal connections between the two hemispheres of the neocortex are altered in certain psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. However, how and why the callosal connection is impaired in patients suffering from psychiatric diseases remain unclear. Filamin A interacting protein (FILIP), whose alteration through mutation relates to schizophrenic pathogenesis, binds to actin-binding proteins and controls neurotransmission. Because cortical excitatory neurons, including callosal projection neurons, migrate to the cortical plate during development, with the actin-binding proteins playing crucial roles during migration, we evaluated whether FILIP is involved in the development of the callosal projection neurons by histological analysis of Filip-knockout mice. The positioning of the callosal projection neurons, especially those expressing Plxnd1, in the superficial layer of the cortex is disturbed in these mice, which suggests that FILIP is a key molecule that links callosal projections to the pathogenesis of brain disorders.

Subcellular distribution of non-muscle myosin IIb is controlled by FILIP through Hsc70

The neuronal spine is a small, actin-rich dendritic or somatic protrusion that serves as the postsynaptic compartment of the excitatory synapse. The morphology of the spine reflects the activity of the synapse and is regulated by the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton inside, which is controlled by actin binding proteins such as non-muscle myosin. Previously, we demonstrated that the subcellular localization and function of myosin IIb are regulated by its binding partner, filamin-A interacting protein (FILIP). However, how the subcellular distribution of myosin IIb is controlled by FILIP is not yet known. The objective of this study was to identify potential binding partners of FILIP that contribute to its regulation of non-muscle myosin IIb. Pull-down assays detected a 70-kDa protein that was identified by mass spectrometry to be the chaperone protein Hsc70. The binding of Hsc70 to FILIP was controlled by the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of Hsc70. Further, FILIP bound to Hsc70 via a domain that was not required for binding non-muscle myosin IIb. Inhibition of ATPase activity of Hsc70 impaired the effect of FILIP on the subcellular distribution of non-muscle myosin IIb. Further, in primary cultured neurons, an inhibitor of Hsc70 impeded the morphological change in spines induced by FILIP. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Hsc70 interacts with FILIP to mediate its effects on non-muscle myosin IIb and to regulate spine morphology.

Regulation of dendritic spine morphology by FILIP

ingly, typical ritual behaviors for courtship were normal in Dark-fly, but pairs of Dark-fly male and female copulated quickly even in dark conditions. Therefore, we suggest that multimodal sensory signals regulating courtship behaviors might be stronger in Dark-fly. The composition of Dark-fly’s cuticle hydrocarbons, known as sexual pheromone, was characteristic, and Dark-fly exhibited preference for kin’s chemical signals. On the other hand, courtship song played by Dark-fly male was mostly identical to that of the wild-type male, but Dark-fly seems to be sensitive to a smaller volume of song. Our results suggest that olfactory and auditory signals for courtship behaviors might have evolved under the vision-less environment. To precisely evaluate behaviors excited by sensory signals, we constructed automatic quantitative systems for analyzing fly’s behaviors. We will present the results of analysis of olfactoryand auditory-based behaviors and will discuss Dark-fly’s adaptive behaviors. Research fund: Kyoto University Global COE Program (biodiversity), Leave a nest Co., Leaveanest Grant.

Molecular analysis of amyloid beta precursor protein on the neuronal network formation using in utero electroporation gene transfer combined with inducible gene expression system

p0 progenitor cells and V0 neurons in zebrafish. We generated transgenic lines that express fluorescent proteins in dbx1-expressing cells and/or their progeny. Using these lines, we first examined neurotransmitter properties of V0 neurons. The results indicated that zebrafish V0 neurons consisted of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons, consistent with the situation in V0 neurons in mice. In addition, morphologixal analysis showed excitatory neurons were heterogeneous. Based on the trajectories of axons on the contralateral side of the body, V0 excitatory neurons could be subdivided into three groups: ascending, bifurcating and descending neurons. Next, we examined whether lineages of V0 neurons had any relationship with types of V0 neurons. We performed single-cell labeling of individual p0 progenitors, and followed the fate of their progenies by time-lapse observations. Our results suggested that excitatory and inhibitory neurons were produced from different progenitor cells. Moreover, we found some progenitors that only produced ascending excitatory neurons. These results suggest that there is heterogeneity among p0 progenitor, which may underlie the diversity of V0 neurons.