Taka-Aki Sato

Identification of mRNA/Protein (mRNP) Complexes Containing Purα, mStaufen, Fragile X Protein, and Myosin Va and their Association with Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum Equipped with a Kinesin Motor

Purα, which is involved in diverse aspects of cellular functions, is strongly expressed in neuronal cytoplasm. Previously, we have reported that this protein controls BC1 RNA expression and its subsequent distribution within dendrites and that Purα is associated with polyribosomes. Here, we report that, following treatment with EDTA, Purα was released from polyribosomes in mRNA/protein complexes (mRNPs), which also contained mStaufen, Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), myosin Va, and other proteins with unknown functions. As the coimmunoprecipitation of these proteins by an anti-Purα antibody was abolished by RNase treatment, Purα may assist mRNP assembly in an RNA-dependent manner and be involved in targeting mRNPs to polyribosomes in cooperation with other RNA-binding proteins. The immunoprecipitation of mStaufen- and FMRP-containing mRNPs provided additional evidence that the anti-Purα detected structurally or functionally related mRNA subsets, which are distributed in the somatodendritic compartment. Furthermore, mRNPs appear to reside on rough endoplasmic reticulum equipped with a kinesin motor. Based on our present findings, we propose that this rough endoplasmic reticulum structure may form the molecular machinery that mediates and regulates multistep transport of polyribosomes along microtubules and actin filaments, as well as localized translation in the somatodendritic compartment.

Epigenetic Activation of a Subset of mRNAs by eIF4E Explains Its Effects on Cell Proliferation

Background Translation deregulation is an important mechanism that causes aberrant cell growth, proliferation and survival. eIF4E, the mRNA 5′ cap-binding protein, plays a major role in translational control. To understand how eIF4E affects cell proliferation and survival, we studied mRNA targets that are translationally responsive to eIF4E. Methodology/Principal Findings Microarray analysis of polysomal mRNA from an eIF4E-inducible NIH 3T3 cell line was performed. Inducible expression of eIF4E resulted in increased translation of defined sets of mRNAs. Many of the mRNAs are novel targets, including those that encode large- and small-subunit ribosomal proteins and cell growth-related factors. In addition, there was augmented translation of mRNAs encoding anti-apoptotic proteins, which conferred resistance to endoplasmic reticulum-mediated apoptosis. Conclusions/Significance Our results shed new light on the mechanisms by which eIF4E prevents apoptosis and transforms cells. Downregulation of eIF4E and its downstream targets is a potential therapeutic option for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs.

NADE, a p75NTR-associated Cell Death Executor, Is Involved in Signal Transduction Mediated by the Common Neurotrophin Receptor p75NTR

The low affinity neurotrophin receptor p75NTR can mediate cell survival as well as cell death of neural cells by NGF and other neurotrophins. To elucidate p75NTR-mediated signal transduction, we screened p75NTR-associated proteins by a yeast two-hybrid system. We identified one positive clone and named NADE (p75NTR-associated cell deathexecutor). Mouse NADE has marked homology to the human HGR74 protein. NADE specifically binds to the cell-death domain of p75NTR. Co-expression of NADE and p75NTR induced caspase-2 and caspase-3 activities and the fragmentation of nuclear DNA in 293T cells. However, in the absence of p75NTR, NADE failed to induce apoptosis, suggesting that NADE expression is necessary but insufficient for p75NTR-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, p75NTR/NADE-induced cell death was dependent on NGF but not BDNF, NT-3, or NT-4/5, and the recruitment of NADE to p75NTR (intracellular domain) was dose-dependent. We obtained similar results from PC12 cells, nnr5 cells, and oligodendrocytes. Taken together, NADE is the first signaling adaptor molecule identified in the involvement of p75NTR-mediated apoptosis induced by NGF, and it may play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurogenetic diseases.

The Molecular Interaction of Fas and FAP-1 A TRIPEPTIDE BLOCKER OF HUMAN Fas INTERACTION WITH FAP-1 PROMOTES Fas-INDUCED APOPTOSIS

Fas (APO-1/CD95), which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is a cell surface receptor that induces apoptosis. A protein tyrosine phosphatase, Fas-associated phosphatase-1 (FAP-1), that was previously identified as a Fas binding protein interacts with the C-terminal 15 amino acids of the regulatory domain of the Fas receptor. To identify the minimal region of the Fas C-terminal necessary for binding to FAP-1, we employed an in vitro inhibition assay of Fas/FAP-1 binding using a series of synthetic peptides as well as a screen of random peptide libraries by the yeast two-hybrid system. The results showed that the C-terminal three amino acids (SLV) of human Fas were necessary and sufficient for its interaction with the third PDZ (GLGF) domain of FAP-1. Furthermore, the direct cytoplasmic microinjection of this tripeptide (Ac-SLV) resulted in the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis in a colon cancer cell line that expresses both Fas and FAP-1. Since t(S/T)X(V/L/I) motifs in the C termini of several other receptors have been shown to interact with PDZ domain in signal transducing molecules, this may represent a general motif for protein-protein interactions with important biological functions.

Ribosome components are associated with sites of transcription.

It is generally believed that eukaryotic ribosomes first associate with mRNA in the cytoplasm. However, we show with chromosomal immunostaining and in situ hybridization that ribosomal subunits are present at transcription sites of Drosophila salivary gland chromosomes. Immunostaining was carried out with antibodies specific for 27 ribosomal proteins, two translation factors and one that specifically recognizes rRNA. In situ hybridization was with several probes specific for both rRNA subunits. The kinetics of recruitment following transcription initiation suggest that the association is with newly transcribed pol II transcripts. These data indicate that ribosome components associate with nascent RNP complexes within the nucleus.

Functional interaction of Fas‐associated phosphatase‐1 (FAP‐1) with p75NTR and their effect on NF‐κB activation

The common neurotrophin receptor p75NTR, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, plays an important role in several cellular signaling cascades, including that leading to apoptosis. FAP‐1 (Fas‐associated phosphatase‐1), which binds to the cytoplasmic tail of Fas, was originally identified as a negative regulator of Fas‐mediated apoptosis. Here we have shown by co‐immunoprecipitation that FAP‐1 also binds to the p75NTR cytoplasmic domain in vivo through the interaction between the third PDZ domain of FAP‐1 and C‐terminal Ser‐Pro‐Val residues of p75NTR. Furthermore, cells expressing a FAP‐1/green fluorescent protein showed intracellular co‐localization of FAP‐1 and p75NTR at the plasma membrane. To elucidate the functional role of this physical interaction, we examined TRAF6 (TNF receptor‐associated factor 6)‐mediated NF‐κB activation and tamoxifen‐induced apoptosis in 293T cells expressing p75NTR. The results revealed that TRAF6‐mediated NF‐κB activation was suppressed by p75NTR and that the p75NTR‐mediated NF‐κB suppression was reduced by FAP‐1 expression. Interestingly, a mutant of the p75NTR intracellular domain with a single substitution of a Met for Val in its C‐terminus, which cannot interact with FAP‐1, displayed enhanced pro‐apoptotic activity in 293T transfected cells. Thus, similar to Fas, FAP‐1 may be involved in suppressing p75NTR‐mediated pro‐apoptotic signaling through its interaction with three C‐terminal amino acids (tSPV). Thus, FAP‐1 may regulate p75NTR‐mediated signal transduction by physiological interaction through its third PDZ domain.

Differential Expression of Ribosomal Proteins in Human Normal and Neoplastic Colorectum

Ribosomal proteins are a major component of ribosomes and play critical roles in protein biosynthesis. Recently it has been shown that the ribosomal proteins also function during various cellular processes that are independent of protein biosynthesis therefore called extraribosomal functions. In this study we have, for the first time, determined the expression profile of 12 ribosomal proteins (Sa, S8, S11, S12, S18, S24, L7, L13a, L18, L28, L32, and L35a) in normal epithelia of human colorectal mucosa using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and then compared their expression patterns with those of colorectal cancer. In the normal mucosa, ribosomal proteins were largely associated with the ribosomes of mucosal epithelia, and the expression level of ribosomal proteins, except for S11 and L7 proteins, was markedly increased in associated with maturation of the mucosal cells. On the other hand, these ribosomal proteins were markedly decreased in colorectal cancer compared with the normal mucosa. By contrast, S11 and L7 ribosomal proteins were rarely associated with the ribosomes of colorectal epithlia except immature mucosal cells, whereas their expression levels were significantly enchanced in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, L7 ribosomal protien was detected in the secretory granules of the enterochromaffin cells in the colorectal mucosa and in carcinoma cells expressing chromogranin A. These results indicate that the expression of ribosomal proteins is differentially regulated not only in normal mucosa but also in carcinoma of human colorectum, and suggest an extraribosomal function of L7 ribosomal protein in neuroendocrine function.

Development of serum glycoproteomic profiling technique; simultaneous identification of glycosylation sites and site-specific quantification of glycan structure changes

Characterization and interpretation of disease-associated alterations of protein glycosylation are the central aims of the emerging glycoproteomics projects, which are expected to lead to more sensitive and specific diagnosis and improve therapeutic outcomes for various diseases. Here we report a new approach to identify carbohydrate-targeting serum biomarkers, termed isotopic glycosidase elution and labeling on lectin-column chromatography (IGEL). This technology is based on glycan structure-specific enrichment of glycopeptides by lectin-column chromatography and site-directed tagging of N-glycosylation sites by (18)O during the elution with N-glycosidase. The combination of IGEL with 8-plex isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) stable isotope labeling enabled us not only to identify N-glycosylation sites effectively but also to compare glycan structures on each glycosylation site quantitatively in a single LC/MS/MS analysis. We applied this method to eight sera from lung cancer patients and controls, and finally identified 107 glycopeptides in their sera, including A2GL_Asn151, A2GL_Asn290, CD14_Asn132, CO8A_Asn417, C163A_Asn64, TIMP1_Asn30, and TSP1_Asn1049 which showed the significant change of the affinity to Concanavalin A (ConA) lectin between the lung cancer samples and the controls (p < 0.05 and more than twofold change). These screening results were further confirmed by the conventional lectin-column chromatography and immunoblot analysis using additional serum samples. Our novel methodology, which should be valuable for diverse biomarker discoveries, can provide high-throughput and quantitative profiling of glycan structure alterations.

Targeted serum glycoproteomics for the discovery of lung cancer-associated glycosylation disorders using lectin-coupled ProteinChip arrays.

To screen for glycoproteins showing aberrant sialylation patterns in sera of cancer patients and apply such information for biomarker identification, we performed SELDI‐TOF MS analysis coupled with lectin‐coupled ProteinChip arrays (Jacalin or SNA) using sera obtained from lung cancer patients and control individuals. Our approach consisted of three processes (i) removal of 14 abundant proteins in serum, (ii) enrichment of glycoproteins with lectin‐coupled ProteinChip arrays, and (iii) SELDI‐TOF MS analysis with acidic glycoprotein‐compatible matrix. We identified 41 protein peaks showing significant differences (p<0.05) in the peak levels between the cancer and control groups using the Jacalin‐ and SNA‐ProteinChips. Among them, we identified loss of Neu5Ac (α2,6) Gal/GalNAc structure in apolipoprotein C‐III (apoC‐III) in cancer patients through subsequent MALDI‐QIT‐TOF MS/MS. Furthermore, subsequent validation experiments using an additional set of 60 lung adenocarcinoma patients and 30 normal controls demonstrated that there is a higher frequency of serum apoC‐III with loss of α2,6‐linkage Neu5Ac residues in lung cancer patients compared to controls. Our results have demonstrated that lectin‐coupled ProteinChip technology allows the high‐throughput and specific recognition of cancer‐associated aberrant glycosylations, and implied a possibility of its applicability to studies on other diseases.

Human tastin, a proline-rich cytoplasmic protein, associates with the microtubular cytoskeleton.

Tastin was originally identified as an accessory protein for trophinin, a cell adhesion molecule that potentially mediates the initial attachment of the human embryo to the uterine epithelium. However, no information regarding tastins function is available to date. The present study is aimed at understanding the role of tastin in mammalian cells. Hence, we examined the intracellular localization of tastin in human cell lines transfected with an expression vector encoding influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA)-tagged tastin. Ectopically expressed HA-tastin was seen as a pattern resembling the fibres that overlap the microtubular cytoskeleton. When HA-tastin-expressing cells were cultured with nocodazole to disrupt microtubule (MT) polymerization, tastin was dispersed to the entire cytoplasm and an MT sedimentation assay showed tastin in the supernatant; however, tastin was sedimented with polymeric MTs in cell lysates not treated with nocodazole. Sedimentation assays using HA-tastin mutants deleted at the N- or C-terminus revealed MT-binding activity associated with the N-terminal basic region of tastin. A yeast two-hybrid screen for tastin-interacting proteins identified Tctex-1, one of the light chains of cytoplasmic dynein, as a tastin-binding protein. Immunoprecipitation and Western-blot analysis confirmed binding of HA-tagged tastin and FLAG (Asp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys epitope)-tagged Tctex-1 in human cells. Furthermore, in vitro assays have demonstrated the binding between a fusion protein, glutathione S-transferase-Tctex-1, and in vitro translated (35)S-labelled tastin. As Tctex-1 is a component of a MT-based molecular motor, these results suggest that tastin plays an important role in mammalian cells by associating with the microtubular cytoskeleton.