Yohei Saito

A Peptide Derived from Tenascin-C Induces β1 Integrin Activation through Syndecan-4

Tenascin-C (TN-C) is unique for its cell adhesion modulatory function. We have shown that TNIIIA2, a synthetic 22-mer peptide derived from TN-C, stimulated β1 integrin-mediated cell adhesion of nonadherent and adherent cell types, by inducing activation of β1 integrin. The active site of TNIIIA2 appeared cryptic in the TN-C molecule but was exposed by MMP-2 processing of TN-C. The following results suggest that cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan (HSPG), including syndecan-4, participated in TNIIIA2-induced β1 integrin activation: 1) TNIIIA2 bound to cell surface HSPG via its HS chains, as examined by photoaffinity labeling; 2) heparitinase I treatment of cells abrogated β1 integrin activation induced by TNIIIA2; 3) syndecan-4 was isolated by affinity chromatography using TNIIIA2-immobilized beads; 4) small interfering RNA-based down-regulation of syndecan-4 expression reduced TNIIIA2-induced β1 integrin activation, and consequent cell adhesion to fibronectin; 5) overexpression of syndecan-4 core protein enhanced TNIIIA2-induced activation of β1 integrin. However, treatments that targeted the cytoplasmic region of syndecan-4, including ectopic expression of its mutant truncated with the cytoplasmic domains and treatment with protein kinase Cα inhibitor Gö6976, did not influence the TNIIIA2 activity. These results suggest that a TNIIIA2-related matricryptic site of the TN-C molecule, exposed by MMP-2 processing, may have bound to syndecan-4 via its HS chains and then induced conformational change in β1 integrin necessary for its functional activation. A lateral interaction of β1 integrin with the extracellular region of the syndecan-4 molecule may be involved in this conformation change.

Turn-ON fluorescent affinity labeling using a small bifunctional O-nitrobenzoxadiazole unit

Affinity labeling has become a powerful tool to identify target proteins, as well as to visualize/characterize target functions in living cells. However, although various functional groups have been utilized for affinity labeling, many of them have disadvantages such as complex structure and large size. To address this problem, we designed a simple chemical probe bearing a small bifunctional O-NBD unit (NBD: nitrobenzoxadiazole). Model ligand–protein experiments showed that the O-NBD unit has excellent characteristics for target-specific labeling even in the presence of a large excess of non-target proteins. Moreover, attachment of the O-NBD unit to N,N-dialkyl-2-phenylindol-3-ylglyoxylamides (PIGAs), which are recently developed translocator protein (TSPO) ligands, enabled us to visualize mitochondria expressing TSPO in living cells by means of “turn-ON” fluorescence. Two-dimensional PAGE analysis of the labeled mouse kidney mitochondria strongly suggested that our synthetic probe selectively modified a partner protein of TSPO, voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC).

VDAC3 gating is activated by suppression of disulfide-bond formation between the N-terminal region and the bottom of the pore

The voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs), VDAC1, VDAC2, and VDAC3, are pore-forming proteins that control metabolite flux between mitochondria and cytoplasm. VDAC1 and VDAC2 have voltage-dependent gating activity, whereas VDAC3 is thought to have weak activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the channel properties of all three human VDAC isoforms and to clarify the channel function of VDAC3. Bacterially expressed recombinant human VDAC proteins were reconstituted into artificial planar lipid bilayers and their gating activities were evaluated. VDAC1 and VDAC2 had typical voltage-dependent gating activity, whereas the gating of VDAC3 was weak, as reported. However, gating of VDAC3 was evoked by dithiothreitol (DTT) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), which are thought to suppress disulfide-bond formation. Several cysteine mutants of VDAC3 also exhibited typical voltage-gating. Our results indicate that channel gating was induced by reduction of a disulfide-bond linking the N-terminal region to the bottom of the pore. Thus, channel gating of VDAC3 might be controlled by redox sensing under physiological conditions.

Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 1A Induces Anoikis by Triggering Cell Detachment

Background: Fibronectin harbors a cryptic antiadhesive site that is able to inactivate β-1 integrins. Results: Spontaneous anoikis of nontransformed fibroblasts was caused by exposure of this antiadhesive site and its recognition by membrane-resident eEF1A. Conclusion: eEF1A functions as a membrane receptor triggering cell detachment, resulting in anoikis. Significance: The results demonstrate a new function of eEF1A that contributes to cell regulation, including anoikis. Anoikis, apoptosis because of loss of cell anchorage, is crucial for tissue homeostasis. Fibronectin not only provides a scaffold for cell anchorage but also harbors a cryptic antiadhesive site capable of inducing β1-integrin inactivation. In this study, this cryptic antiadhesive site is implicated in spontaneous induction of anoikis. Nontransformed fibroblasts (NIH3T3) adhering to a fibronectin substratum underwent anoikis during serum starvation culture. This anoikis was caused by proteolytic exposure of the cryptic antiadhesive site in fibronectin by matrix metalloproteinase. Eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) was identified as a membrane receptor for the exposed antiadhesive site. Serum starvation raised the membrane residence of eEF1A, and siRNA-based disruption of this increase rendered cells anoikis-resistant. By contrast, cells became more susceptible to anoikis in parallel with increased membrane residence of eEF1A by enforced expression. These results demonstrate that eEF1A acts as a membrane receptor for the cryptic antiadhesive site of fibronectin, which contributes to cell regulation, including anoikis, through negative regulation of cell anchorage.

Tenascin-C-derived Peptide TNIIIA2 Highly Enhances Cell Survival and Platelet-derived Growth Factor (PDGF)-dependent Cell Proliferation through Potentiated and Sustained Activation of Integrin α5β1

Background: The tenascin-C-derived peptide TNIIIA2 is capable of activating β1-integrins. Results: TNIIIA2 greatly enhanced cell survival and PDGF-dependent proliferation through potentiated and sustained activation of integrin α5β1, resulting in continuous proliferation even after reaching confluency. Conclusion: TNIIIA2-induced integrin α5β1 activation causes deregulated cell growth. Significance: These results offer a new insight into the physiological/pathological role of tenascin-C in tissues where it is highly expressed. Tenascin-C is an adhesion modulatory matrix protein that is highly expressed in tumors; however, its biochemical activity involved in tumorigenesis is not fully understood. On the other hand, increasing evidence indicates the importance of integrin α5β1 in cancer development. We previously demonstrated that tenascin-C harbors a functional site that can be released as a proadhesive peptide such as TNIIIA2. Peptide TNIIIA2 is capable of inducing activation of β1-integrins including α5β1 via syndecan-4. In this study the proadhesive effect of TNIIIA2 was characterized by potentiated and sustained activation of integrin α5β1. Based on this effect, TNIIIA2 rendered nontransformed fibroblasts (NIH3T3) resistant to serum deprivation-elicited anoikis through activation of the Akt/Bcl-2 pathway. Moreover, TNIIIA2 hyperstimulated PDGF-dependent proliferation of NIH3T3 by activating integrin α5β1. Tenascin-C, a parental protein of TNIIIA2, also stimulated PDGF-dependent proliferation, which was blocked by a matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 inhibitor and an anti-TNIIIA2 function-blocking antibody, suggesting proteolytic exposure of the proadhesive effect of TNIIIA2. Mechanistic analyses revealed that TNIIIA2 induced a lateral association of PDGF receptor β with the molecular complex of activated integrin α5β1 and syndecan-4 in the membrane microdomains enriched with cholesterol/caveolin-1, resulting in prolonged activation of PDGF receptor β and the subsequent Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in a PDGF-dependent manner. Of note, TNIIIA2 induced continuous proliferation in NIH3T3 in an integrin α5β1-dependent manner even after they formed a confluent monolayer. Thus, it was proposed that tenascin-C might be involved in deregulated cell growth through potentiated and sustained activation of integrin α5β1 after exposure of the proadhesive effect of TNIIIA2.

Apoptotic death of hematopoietic tumor cells through potentiated and sustained adhesion to fibronectin via VLA-4.

It has been postulated that inactivated β1-integrins are involved in the disordered growth of hematopoietic tumor cells. We recently found that TNIIIA2, a peptide derived from tenascin-C, strongly activates β1-integrins through binding with syndecan-4. We show here that Ramos Burkitts lymphoma cells can survive and grow in suspension but undergo apoptosis when kept adhering to fibronectin by stimulation with TNIIIA2. Other integrin activators, Mg2+ and TS2/16 (an integrin-activating antibody), were also capable of inducing apoptosis. The inactivation of ERK1/2 and Akt and the subsequent activation of Bad were involved in the apoptosis. The results using other hematopoietic tumor cell lines expressing different levels of fibronectin receptors (VLA-4 and VLA-5) showed that potentiated and sustained adhesion to fibronectin via VLA-4 causally induces apoptosis also in various types of hematopoietic tumor cells in addition to Ramos cells. Because TNIIIA2 requires syndecan-4 as a membrane receptor for activation of β1-integrins, it induced apoptosis preferentially in hematopoietic tumor cells, which expressed both VLA-4 and syndecan-4 as membrane receptors mediating the effects of fibronectin and TNIIIA2, respectively. Therefore, normal peripheral blood cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, which poorly expressed syndecan-4, were almost insusceptible to TNIIIA2-induced apoptosis. The TNIIIA2-related matricryptic site of TN-C could contribute, once exposed, to preventing prolonged survival of hematopoietic malignant progenitors through potentiated and sustained activation of VLA-4.

Isomeric iodinated analogs of nimesulide: Synthesis, physicochemical characterization, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity, and transport across Caco-2 cells.

Isomeric iodinated derivatives of nimesulide, with an iodine substituent on the phenoxy ring, were prepared with the aim of identifying potential candidate compounds for the development of imaging agents targeting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the brain. Both the experimental logP7.4 and pKa values for these iodinated analogs were in the acceptable range for passive brain penetration. The para-iodo-substituted analog was a more potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor than nimesulide, with a potency that was comparable to the reference drug, celecoxib. Iodination at the ortho- or meta-position of the phenoxy ring was associated with a substantial loss of COX-2 inhibitory activity. Transport studies across Caco-2 cell monolayers in the presence and absence of a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor, verapamil, indicated that the para-iodo-substituted analog was not a P-gp transport substrate; this feature is a prerequisite for potential in vivo brain imaging compounds. The para-iodo-substituted analog of nimesulide appears to be an attractive candidate for the development of radioiodine-labeled tracers for in vivo brain imaging of COX-2 levels.

The cell adhesion and proliferation activities of a peptide derived from human tenascin-C are dependent on two Ile residues.

A tenascin-C derived peptide (TNIIIA2 peptide, 1) stimulated β1 integrin-mediated cell adhesion via binding to syndecan-4. Ala-substituted peptides were synthesized to understand the structure-activity relationship. Peptides in which basic amino acids were substituted showed reduced cell adhesion activity, but their proliferation activities were similar to or higher than those mediated by peptide 1. In contrast, peptides in which the Ile residues of peptide 1 were replaced were inactive, indicating that the Ile residues are critical for the peptides activity. CD analysis suggested that the Ile residues are necessary for the formation of a specific conformation required for binding to syndecan-4.