Polarized Rac1 signaling is a hallmark of many cellular functions, including cell adhesion, motility, and cell division. The two steps of Rac1 activation are its translocation to the plasma membrane and the exchange of nucleotide from GDP to GTP. It is, however, unclear whether these two processes are regulated independent of each other and what their respective roles are in polarization of Rac1 signaling. We designed a single-particle tracking (SPT) method to quantitatively analyze the kinetics of Rac1 membrane translocation in living cells. We found that the rate of Rac1 translocation was significantly elevated in protrusions during cell spreading on collagen. Furthermore, combining FRET sensor imaging with SPT measurements in the same cell, the recruitment of Rac1 was found to be polarized to an extent similar to that of the nucleotide exchange process. Statistical analysis of singlemolecule trajectories and optogenetic manipulation of membrane lipids revealed that Rac1 membrane translocation precedes nucleotide exchange, and is governed primarily by interactions with phospholipids, particularly PI(3,4,5)P 3 , instead of protein factors. Overall, the study highlights the significance of membrane translocation in spatial Rac1 signaling, which is in addition to the traditional view focusing primarily on GEF distribution and exchange reaction.super-resolution microscopy C ell polarization is critical for many biological processes, such as front−rear polarity during directed cell migration (chemotaxis, haptotaxis, wound healing, etc.), apical−basal polarity in epithelial cells, and axon specification in neuronal cells. The asymmetric distribution of signaling molecules, adhesion components, and cytoskeletal structures is important for the establishment of polarization. Among signaling proteins, the Rho family small GTPase Rac1 is ubiquitously required for cytoskeletal changes leading to a polarized morphology in many cells (1-4).Most small GTPases function as molecular switches, cycling between a GTP-bound active state and a GDP-bound inactive state. Activation of small GTPases typically requires guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that promote the exchange of GDP for GTP. Inactivation requires the inherent GTPase activity, enhanced by the GTPase Activating Proteins (GAPs) (5, 6). Thus, each Rac1 molecule continuously cycles between the active and inactive state during their intracellular existence.Besides the guanine nucleotide binding cycle, another cycle that governs Rac1 activity is the membrane/cytoplasm translocation cycle. Rac1 GTPase, as with many other small GTPases, is posttranslationally prenylated at its C terminus and is capable of binding to lipid bilayers (7,8). Under basal conditions, the majority of Rac1 localizes to the cytoplasm in complex with RhoGDI molecules, which block its interactions with GEFs and GAPs and its downstream effectors (9-12). To become active, Rac1 needs to translocate to the membrane and be free from RhoGDI binding, allowing for its activation by GEFs and its inter...
Bacterial RNA processing and degradation involves the co-ordinated action of a large number of RNases, RNA helicases and other proteins. It is not known how this functional network is organized within the cell nor how it is co-ordinated or regulated. In the present study, we show that multiple components of the RNA degradation and processing network of Escherichia coli are localized within extended cellular structures that appear to coil around the periphery of the cell. These include Orn, Hfq, PAP I, RNase III, RppH, RraA and RraB in addition to the previously reported proteins RNase II and RNaseE. Double-label localization studies of several of the proteins showed co-localization of the proteins within the observed structures. Assembly of the proteins into the structures was independent of the MreBCD or MinCDE cytoskeletal systems, RNA synthesis, or nucleoid positioning within the cell. Our results indicate that the components of the RNA processing and degradation network are compartmentalized within the cell rather than diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm. This sequestration provides the cell with a possible mechanism to control access to RNA substrates and to functionally co-ordinate the multiple players of the RNA processing and degradation pathways.
Bone marrow transplantation can provide an effective cell-based strategy to enhance bone repair. However, the fate of implanted cells and the extent of their contribution to bone osteoinduction remain uncertain. To define the fate of bone marrow-derived cells and their contribution in vivo, we used a bone-specific collagen I promoter (2.3Col) driving green fluorescent protein (GFP) (2.3ColGFP) within a lentiviral vector. Prior to in vivo cell fate determination, we verified a high efficiency of lentiviral transduction in human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs), without altering the proliferation or differentiation potential of these cells. We showed that the 2.3ColGFP marker responded to endogenous transcriptional regulation signals. In a mouse ossicle model, we demonstrated that the 2.3ColGFP marker is able to specifically define human bone marrow-derived stem cells that enter the osteoblast lineage in vivo. In addition, cells labeled with 2.3ColGFP with the donor origin, directly make a major contribution to bone formation. Furthermore, we also demonstrated in a calvarial defect model that a mixture of human bone marrow-derived populations, have stronger bone regenerative potential than that of hBMSCs, and an optimal dose is required for bone regeneration by the mixed populations.
The Escherichia coli RNA degradosome proteins are organized into a helical cytoskeletal-like structure within the cell. Here we describe the ATP-dependent assembly of the RhlB component of the degradosome into polymeric filamentous structures in vitro, which suggests that extended polymers of RhlB are likely to comprise a basic core element of the degradosome cytoskeletal structures.
Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) is caused by heterozygous inactivation of GNAS, a complex locus that encodes the alpha-stimulatory subunit of GPCRs (Gsα) in addition to NESP55 and XLαs due to alternative first exons. AHO skeletal manifestations include brachydactyly, brachymetacarpia, compromised adult stature, and subcutaneous ossifications. AHO patients with maternally-inherited GNAS mutations develop pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1A (PHP1A) with resistance to multiple hormones that mediate their actions through GPCRs requiring Gsα (eg., PTH, TSH, GHRH, calcitonin) and severe obesity. Paternally-inherited GNAS mutations cause pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), in which patients have AHO skeletal features but do not develop hormonal resistance or marked obesity. These differences between PHP1A and PPHP are caused by tissue-specific reduction of paternal Gsα expression. Previous reports in mice have shown loss of Gsα causes osteopenia due to impaired osteoblast number and function and suggest AHO patients could display evidence of reduced bone mineral density (BMD). However, we previously demonstrated PHP1A patients display normal-increased BMD measurements without any correlation to body mass index or serum PTH. Due to these observed differences between PHP1A and PPHP, we utilized an AHO mouse model generated in our laboratory to address whether Gsα heterozygous inactivation by the targeted disruption of exon 1 of Gnas differentially affects bone remodeling based on the parental inheritance of the mutation. Mice with paternally-inherited (Gnas E1+/-p) and maternally-inherited (Gnas E1+/-m) mutations displayed reductions in osteoblasts along the bone surface compared to wildtype. Gnas E1+/-p mice displayed reduced cortical and trabecular bone parameters due to impaired bone formation and excessive bone resorption. Gnas E1+/-m mice however displayed enhanced bone parameters due to increased osteoblast activity and normal bone resorption. These distinctions in bone remodeling between Gnas E1+/-p and Gnas E1+/-m mice appear to be secondary to changes in the bone microenvironment driven by calcitonin-resistance within Gnas E1+/-m osteoclasts and therefore warrant further studies into understanding how Gsα influences osteoblast-osteoclast coupling interactions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.