Sharon Kaisari

Disassembly of mitotic checkpoint complexes by the joint action of the AAA-ATPase TRIP13 and p31comet

Significance The mitotic checkpoint system has an important role to ensure accurate segregation of chromosomes in mitosis. This system regulates the activity of the ubiquitin ligase Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) by the formation of a negatively acting Mitotic Checkpoint Complex (MCC). When the checkpoint is satisfied, MCC is disassembled, but the mechanisms of MCC disassembly are not well understood. We show here that the ATP-hydrolyzing enzyme Thyroid Receptor Interacting Protein 13 (TRIP13), along with the MCC-targeting protein p31comet, promote the disassembly of the mitotic checkpoint complexes and the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint. The results reveal an important molecular mechanism in the regulation of APC/C by the mitotic checkpoint. The mitotic (or spindle assembly) checkpoint system delays anaphase until all chromosomes are correctly attached to the mitotic spindle. When the checkpoint is active, a Mitotic Checkpoint Complex (MCC) assembles and inhibits the ubiquitin ligase Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C). MCC is composed of the checkpoint proteins Mad2, BubR1, and Bub3 associated with the APC/C activator Cdc20. When the checkpoint signal is turned off, MCC is disassembled and the checkpoint is inactivated. The mechanisms of the disassembly of MCC are not sufficiently understood. We have previously observed that ATP hydrolysis is required for the action of the Mad2-binding protein p31comet to disassemble MCC. We now show that HeLa cell extracts contain a factor that promotes ATP- and p31comet-dependent disassembly of a Cdc20–Mad2 subcomplex and identify it as Thyroid Receptor Interacting Protein 13 (TRIP13), an AAA-ATPase known to interact with p31comet. The joint action of TRIP13 and p31comet also promotes the release of Mad2 from MCC, participates in the complete disassembly of MCC and abrogates checkpoint inhibition of APC/C. We propose that TRIP13 plays centrally important roles in the sequence of events leading to MCC disassembly and checkpoint inactivation.

Lifestyle and Sarcopenia—Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment

The term sarcopenia describes the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function in old age. As the world population continues to grow older, more attention is given to the phenomena of sarcopenia and the search for strategies of prevention and treatment. The progression of sarcopenia is affected by age-related physiological and systemic changes in the body, including alterations in skeletal muscle tissue, hormonal changes, increased inflammatory activities, and oxidative stress. Sarcopenia progression is also affected by lifestyle factors which are far more controllable. These factors include various aspects of nutrition, physical activity, exercise, alcohol intake, and tobacco use. Raising the public awareness regarding the impact of these factors, as causes of sarcopenia and potential strategies of prevention and treatment, is of great importance. In this review we aim to describe various lifestyle factors that affect the etiology, prevention, and treatment of sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia and smoking: a possible cellular model of cigarette smoke effects on muscle protein breakdown

Sarcopenia, the age‐related loss of muscle mass and strength, is a multifactorial impaired state of health. Lifestyle habits such as physical activity and nutrition have a major impact on sarcopenia progression. Several epidemiological studies have also shown an association between cigarette smoking and increased levels of sarcopenia in elderly long‐time smokers. Clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies have tried to investigate the mechanism behind exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) and the subsequent effects on skeletal muscles. The aim of this review is to present a cellular model of CS‐induced skeletal muscle protein breakdown based on recent studies dealing with this issue and to propose new potential research directions that may explain the effects of exposure to CS on skeletal muscle integrity.

Mode of interaction of TRIP13 AAA-ATPase with the Mad2-binding protein p31comet and with mitotic checkpoint complexes

Significance The mitotic checkpoint system is important to ensure accurate segregation of chromosomes in mitosis. It acts by the formation of a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), which inhibits the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). When the checkpoint is turned off, MCC is disassembled by the joint action of an ATP-utilizing enzyme, thyroid receptor interacting protein 13 (TRIP13), and a Mad2-binding protein, p31comet. It is not well understood how p31comet targets TRIP13 to disassemble MCC. We show here that p31comet and MCC mutually promote the binding of each other to oligomeric TRIP13 and propose a model for the mode of the action of TRIP13 in MCC disassembly. Thus, the results reveal an important molecular mechanism in the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint. The AAA-ATPase thyroid hormone receptor interacting protein 13 (TRIP13), jointly with the Mad2-binding protein p31comet, promotes the inactivation of the mitotic (spindle assembly) checkpoint by disassembling the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC). This checkpoint system ensures the accuracy of chromosome segregation by delaying anaphase until correct bipolar attachment of chromatids to the mitotic spindle is achieved. MCC inhibits the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), a ubiquitin ligase that targets for degradation securin, an inhibitor of anaphase initiation. MCC is composed of the checkpoint proteins Mad2, BubR1, and Bub3, in association with the APC/C activator Cdc20. The assembly of MCC in active checkpoint is initiated by the conversion of Mad2 from an open (O-Mad2) to a closed (C-Mad2) conformation, which then binds tightly to Cdc20. Conversely, the disassembly of MCC that takes place when the checkpoint is turned off involves the conversion of C-Mad2 back to O-Mad2. Previously, we found that the latter process is mediated by TRIP13 together with p31comet, but the mode of their interaction remained unknown. Here, we report that the oligomeric form of TRIP13 binds both p31comet and MCC. Furthermore, p31comet and checkpoint complexes mutually promote the binding of each other to oligomeric TRIP13. We propose that p31comet bound to C-Mad2–containing checkpoint complex is the substrate for the ATPase and that the substrate-binding site of TRIP13 is composed of subsites specific for p31comet and C-Mad2–containing complex. The simultaneous occupancy of both subsites is required for high-affinity binding to TRIP13.

Cigarette smoke and muscle catabolism in C2 myotubes.

Previous studies have revealed evidence of muscular damage and up-regulation of genes associated with impaired muscle maintenance in smokers. Cigarette smoking has also been associated with sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. In order to investigate the cellular mechanisms by which cigarette smoke (CS) promotes muscle catabolism, C2 myotubes from an in vitro skeletal muscle cell line, were exposed to different levels of whole vapor phase CS using a controlled CS exposure apparatus. Exposure of C2 myotubes to CS caused a reduction in diameter of myotubes and a time- and dose-dependent degradation of myosin heavy chain. Also, CS exposure resulted in increased intracellular oxidative stress and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, which led to up-regulation of the muscle specific E3 ubiquitin ligases: MAFbx/atrogin-1 and MuRF1. Pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB203580 prevented CS induced catabolism. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that exposure of skeletal myotubes to CS leads to increased oxidative stress and activation of the p38 MAPK pathway resulting in muscle cell atrophy and breakdown of muscle protein mediated by muscle specific E3 ubiquitin ligases. Our findings provide a possible molecular mechanism for the catabolic effects of CS in skeletal muscle.

The effects of acetaldehyde and acrolein on muscle catabolism in C2 myotubes.

The toxic aldehydes acetaldehyde and acrolein were previously suggested to damage skeletal muscle. Several conditions in which exposure to acetaldehyde and acrolein is increased were associated with muscle wasting and dysfunction. These include alcoholic myopathy, renal failure, oxidative stress, and inflammation. A main exogenous source of both acetaldehyde and acrolein is cigarette smoking, which was previously associated with increased muscle catabolism. Recently, we have shown that exposure of skeletal myotubes to cigarette smoke stimulated muscle catabolism via increased oxidative stress, activation of p38 MAPK, and upregulation of muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of acetaldehyde and acrolein on catabolism of skeletal muscle. Skeletal myotubes differentiated from the C2 myoblast cell line were exposed to acetaldehyde or acrolein and their effects on signaling pathways related to muscle catabolism were studied. Exposure of myotubes to acetaldehyde did not promote muscle catabolism. However, exposure to acrolein caused increased generation of free radicals, activation of p38 MAPK, upregulation of the muscle-specific E3 ligases atrogin-1 and MuRF1, degradation of myosin heavy chain, and atrophy of myotubes. Inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB203580 abolished acrolein-induced muscle catabolism. Our findings demonstrate that acrolein but not acetaldehyde activates a signaling cascade resulting in muscle catabolism in skeletal myotubes. Although within the limitations of an in vitro study, these findings indicate that acrolein may promote muscle wasting in conditions of increased exposure to this aldehyde.

Role of CCT chaperonin in the disassembly of mitotic checkpoint complexes.

Significance The mitotic checkpoint system has an important role in ensuring correct segregation of chromosomes in mitosis. As long as not all chromosomes are attached correctly to the mitotic spindle, a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) is assembled and prevents chromosome separation by inhibiting the action of the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). When the mitotic checkpoint system is turned off, MCC is disassembled to allow chromosome separation, but the mechanisms of MCC disassembly are poorly understood. Here we show that an important pathway in MCC disassembly is mediated by chaperonin containing TCP1, a complex previously known to play a role only in protein folding. The present study provides insight into molecular events responsible for mitotic checkpoint inactivation. The mitotic checkpoint system prevents premature separation of sister chromatids in mitosis and thus ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation. When this checkpoint is active, a mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), composed of the checkpoint proteins Mad2, BubR1, Bub3, and Cdc20, is assembled. MCC inhibits the ubiquitin ligase anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), whose action is necessary for anaphase initiation. When the checkpoint signal is turned off, MCC is disassembled, a process required for exit from checkpoint-arrested state. Different moieties of MCC are disassembled by different ATP-requiring processes. Previous work showed that Mad2 is released from MCC by the joint action of the TRIP13 AAA-ATPase and the Mad2-binding protein p31comet. Now we have isolated from extracts of HeLa cells an ATP-dependent factor that releases Cdc20 from MCC and identified it as chaperonin containing TCP1 or TCP1–Ring complex (CCT/TRiC chaperonin), a complex known to function in protein folding. Bacterially expressed CCT5 chaperonin subunits, which form biologically active homooligomers [Sergeeva, et al. (2013) J Biol Chem 288(24):17734–17744], also promote the disassembly of MCC. CCT chaperonin further binds and disassembles subcomplexes of MCC that lack Mad2. Thus, the combined action of CCT chaperonin with that of TRIP13 ATPase promotes the complete disassembly of MCC, necessary for the inactivation of the mitotic checkpoint.

Peroxynitrite Induces Degradation of Myosin Heavy Chain via p38 MAPK and Muscle-Specific E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in C2 Skeletal Myotubes

Oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in the catabolism of skeletal muscles. Recently, cigarette smoke (CS) was shown to stimulate muscle catabolism by activation of p38 MAPK and up-regulation of the muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) atrogin-1 and MuRF1 which are over-expressed during muscle atrophy. Peroxynitrite (ONOO-), an oxidative ingredient of CS, also produced during oxidative stress and inflammation, was previously shown to induce ubiquitination and degradation of muscle proteins. To investigate the involvement of p38 MAPK and the muscle-specific E3s in ONOO--induced muscle catabolism, C2 myotubes, differentiated from a myoblast cell line, were exposed to ONOO- (25 μM) in a time-dependent manner. Following exposure, degradation of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) and actin, activation of p38 MAPK, and levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 were studied by Western blotting. Peak phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was observed at 1 h of ONOO- exposure. ONOO- caused a significant increase in the levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF1. In accordance, a significant decrease in MyHC levels was observed in a time-dependent manner. These findings support previous studies in which the catabolic effects of ONOO- were shown. In addition, ONOO- was demonstrated to induce degradation of muscle proteins by activation of p38 MAPK and up-regulation of the muscle-specific E3s atrogin-1 and MuRF1.

Intermediates in the assembly of mitotic checkpoint complexes and their role in the regulation of the anaphase-promoting complex.

Significance The mitotic checkpoint system has important roles to ensure accurate segregation of chromosomes in mitosis. This system regulates the activity of the ubiquitin ligase Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) by the formation of inhibitors including the Mitotic Checkpoint Complex (MCC). The mode of the assembly of MCC is not sufficiently understood, and it is also not known whether checkpoint complexes different from MCC also inhibit the APC/C. We find that complexes lacking Mad2, a protein component of MCC, have greatly reduced APC/C inhibitory action. On the other hand, a previously unknown species of MCC that contains an additional molecule of Cdc20 is a strong inhibitor of APC/C. These results reveal important molecular mechanisms in the action of the mitotic checkpoint system. The mitotic (or spindle assembly) checkpoint system prevents premature separation of sister chromatids in mitosis and thus ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation. Kinetochores that are not attached properly to the mitotic spindle produce an inhibitory signal that prevents progression into anaphase. The checkpoint system acts on the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase, which targets for degradation inhibitors of anaphase initiation. APC/C is inhibited by the Mitotic Checkpoint Complex (MCC), which assembles when the checkpoint is activated. MCC is composed of the checkpoint proteins BubR1, Bub3, and Mad2, associated with the APC/C coactivator Cdc20. The intermediary processes in the assembly of MCC are not sufficiently understood. It is also not clear whether or not some subcomplexes of MCC inhibit the APC/C and whether Mad2 is required only for MCC assembly and not for its action on the APC/C. We used purified subcomplexes of mitotic checkpoint proteins to examine these problems. Our results do not support a model in which Mad2 catalytically generates a Mad2-free APC/C inhibitor. We also found that the release of Mad2 from MCC caused a marked (although not complete) decrease in inhibitory action, suggesting a role of Mad2 in MCC for APC/C inhibition. A previously unknown species of MCC, which consists of Mad2, BubR1, and two molecules of Cdc20, contributes to the inhibition of APC/C by the mitotic checkpoint system.

Involvement of NF-κB and Muscle Specific E3 Ubiquitin Ligase MuRF1 in Cigarette Smoke-Induced Catabolism in C2 Myotubes

Cigarette smoking has been identified as a risk factor for muscular damage and sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength in old age. Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced oxidative stress and p38 MAPK activation have been shown to be the main cellular mechanisms leading to skeletal muscle catabolism. In order to investigate the involvement of NF-κB as another possible cellular mechanism by which CS promotes muscle catabolism, C2 myotubes, from an in vitro skeletal muscle cell line, were exposed to different time periods of whole vapor phase CS in the presence or absence of NF-κB inhibitor, IMD-0354. The CS-induced reduction in diameter of myotubes and time-dependent degradation of the main contractile protein myosin heavy chain were abolished by NF-κB inhibition. Also, C2 exposure to CS resulted in IκB-α degradation and NF-κB activation, which led to upregulation of the muscle specific E3 ubiquitin ligase MuRF1, but not MAFbx/atrogin-1. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that vapor phase CS exposure to skeletal myotubes triggers NF-κB activation leading to skeletal muscle cell damage and breakdown of muscle proteins mediated by muscle specific E3 ubiquitin ligase MuRF1. Our findings provide another possible molecular mechanism for the catabolic effects of CS in skeletal muscle.