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Abstract: S100A3, a member of the EF-hand-type Ca2+-binding S100 protein family, is unique in its exceptionally high cysteine content and Zn2+ affinity. We produced human S100A3 protein and its mutants in insect cells using a baculovirus expression system. The purified wild-type S100A3 and the pseudo-citrullinated form (R51A) were crystallized with ammonium sulfate in N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine buffer and, specifically for postrefolding treatment, with Ca2+/Zn2+ supplementation. We identified two previously undocumented disulfide bridges in the crystal structure of properly folded S100A3: one disulfide bridge is between Cys30 in the N-terminal pseudo-EF-hand and Cys68 in the C-terminal EF-hand (SS1), and another disulfide bridge attaches Cys99 in the C-terminal coil structure to Cys81 in helix IV (SS2). Mutational disruption of SS1 (C30A+C68A) abolished the Ca2+ binding property of S100A3 and retarded the citrullination of Arg51 by peptidylarginine deiminase type III (PAD3), while SS2 disruption inversely increased both Ca2+ affinity and PAD3 reactivity in vitro. Similar backbone structures of wild type, R51A, and C30A+C68A indicated that neither Arg51 conversion by PAD3 nor SS1 alters the overall dimer conformation. Comparative inspection of atomic coordinates refined to 2.15−1.40 Å resolution shows that SS1 renders the C-terminal classical Ca2+-binding loop flexible, which are essential for its Ca2+ binding properties, whereas SS2 structurally shelters Arg51 in the metal-free form. We propose a model of the tetrahedral coordination of a Zn2+ by (Cys)3His residues that is compatible with SS2 formation in S100A3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ca2+ signals through store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) channels, activated by the depletion of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum, regulate various physiological events. Orail is the poreforming subunit of the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel, the best characterized SOC channel. Orail is activated by stromal interaction molecule (STIM) 1, a Ca2+ sensor located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Orail and STIM1 are crucial for SOC channel activation, but the molecular mechanisms regulating Orail function are not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate that protein kinase C (PKC) suppresses store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) by phosphorylation of Orail. PKC inhibitors and knockdown of PKCβ both resulted in increased Ca2+ influx. Orail is strongly phosphorylated by PKC in vitro and in vivo at N-terminal Ser-27 and Ser-30 residues. Consistent with these results, substitution of endogenous Orail with an Orail S27A/S30A mutant resulted in increased SOCE and CRAC channel currents. We propose that PKC suppresses SOCE and CRAC channel function by phosphorylation of Orail at N-terminal serine residues Ser-27 and Ser-30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DGKδ (diacylglycerol kinase δ), which phosphorylates DAG (diacylglycerol) and converts it into PA (phosphatidic acid), has an important role in signal transduction. In the present study, we have demonstrated the molecular mechanism of DGKδ-mediated regulation of clathrin-dependent endocytosis that controls the internalization, recycling and degradation of receptors. Involvement of DGKδ in the regulation of clathrin-dependent endocytosis was previously proposed following genome-wide RNAi (RNA interference) screening. Clathrin-coated pits are mainly formed by clathrin and AP-2 (adaptor protein 2) complex. These proteins assemble a polyhedral lattice at the membrane and gather several endocytic accessory proteins. As the intracellular localization of DGKδ2 overlapped with clathrin-coated pits, we predicted the possible regulation of clathrin-dependent endocytosis by DGKδ2 and its interaction with some endocytosis-regulatory proteins. DGKδ2 contained the DXF-type binding motifs, and DGKδ2 bound to AP2α, a subunit of the AP-2 complex. DGKδ2 interacted with the platform subdomain in the AP2α ear domain via F369DTFRIL and D746PF sequences in the catalytic domain of DGKδ2. For further insight into the role for DGKδ2 in clathrin-dependent endocytosis, we measured the transferrin and EGF (epidermal growth factor) uptake-expressing wild-type or mutant DGKδ2 under knockdown of endogenous DGKδ. Mutants lacking binding ability to AP2α as well as kinase-negative mutants could not compensate for the uptake of transferrin inhibited by siRNA (small interfering RNA) treatment, whereas overexpression of wild-type DGKδ2 completely recovered the transferrin uptake. These results demonstrate that binding between DGKδ2 and AP2α is involved in the transferrin internalization and that DGK activity is also necessary for the regulation of the endocytic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in protein kinase Cγ (PKCγ). Interestingly, 18 of 22 mutations are concentrated in the Cl domain, which binds diacylglycerol and is necessary for translocation and regulation of PKCγ kinase activity. To determine the effect of these mutations on PKCγ function and the pathology of SCA14, we investigated the enzymological properties of the mutant PKCγs. We found that wild-type PKCγ, but not Cl domain mutants, inhibits Ca2+ influx in response to muscarinic receptor stimulation. The sustained Ca2+ influx induced by muscarinic receptor ligation caused prolonged membrane localization of mutant PKCγ. Pharmacological experiments showed that canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels are responsible for the Ca2+ influx regulated by PKCγ. Although in vitro kinase assays revealed that most C1 domain mutants are constitutively active, they could not phosphorylate TRPC3 channels in vivo. Single molecule observation by the total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy revealed that the membrane residence time of mutant PKCγs was significantly shorter than that of the wild-type. This fact indicated that, although membrane association of the C1 domain mutants was apparently prolonged, these mutants have a reduced ability to bind diacylglycerol and be retained on the plasma membrane. As a result, they fail to phosphorylate TRPC channels, resulting in sustained Ca2+ entry. Such an alteration in Ca2+ homeostasis and Ca2+-mediated signaling in Purkinje cells may contribute to the neurodegeneration characteristic of SCA14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family and plays critical roles in facilitating type-2 immune responses. IL-33 is localized in the nucleus and released to the extracellular milieu during cell death, although the precise mechanisms underlying IL-33 mobilization remain unclear. Here, we found that nigericin, a toxin derived from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, promoted IL-33 translocation from the nucleus to the cytosol before extracellular release. This translocation was inhibited by chelating Ca 2+ with EGTA or membrane protection by glycine treatment. Ca 2+ ionophore A23187 stimulation caused IL-33 translocation to the cytoplasm but was not sufficient for extracellular release. However, IL-33 release was induced by detergent treatment, which indicates that membrane rupture is required for IL-33 release. The pore-forming pyroptosis executor gasdermin D was cleaved following nigericin stimulation, and overexpression of the cleaved gasdermin D-N-terminal fragment that forms the membrane pore sufficiently induced IL-33 release, which was blocked by EGTA and glycine. Together, these findings suggest that Ca 2+ -dependent signals and gasdermin D pore formation are required for robust IL-33 production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

During viral and bacterial infections, the innate immune system recognizes various types of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as nucleic acids, via a series of membrane-bound or cytosolic pattern-recognition receptors. These include Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), AIM2-like receptors (ALRs), and cytosolic DNA sensors. The binding of PAMPs to these receptors triggers the production of type I interferon (IFN) and inflammatory cytokines. Type I IFN induces the expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), which protect surrounding cells from infection. Some ISGs are nucleic acids-binding proteins that bind viral nucleic acids and suppress their replication. As nucleic acids are essential components that store and transmit genetic information in every species, infectious pathogens have developed systems to escape from the host nucleic acid recognition system. Host cells also have their own nucleic acids that are frequently released to the extracellular milieu or the cytoplasm during cell death or stress responses, which, if able to bind pattern-recognition receptors, would induce autoimmunity and inflammation. Therefore, host cells have acquired mechanisms to protect themselves from contact with their own nucleic acids. In this review, we describe recent research progress into the nucleic acid recognition mechanism and the molecular bases of discrimination between self and non-self-nucleic acids., (© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the phagocytic cell, NADPH oxidase (Nox2) system, cytoplasmic regulators (p47(phox), p67(phox), p40(phox), and Rac) translocate and associate with the membrane-spanning flavocytochrome b(558), leading to activation of superoxide production. We examined membrane targeting of phox proteins and explored conformational changes in p40(phox) that regulate its translocation to membranes upon stimulation. GFP-p40(phox) translocates to early endosomes, whereas GFP-p47(phox) translocates to the plasma membrane in response to arachidonic acid. In contrast, GFP-p67(phox) does not translocate to membranes when expressed alone, but it is dependent on p40(phox) and p47(phox) for its translocation to early endosomes or the plasma membrane, respectively. Translocation of GFP-p40(phox) or GFP-p47(phox) to their respective membrane-targeting sites is abolished by mutations in their phox (PX) domains that disrupt their interactions with their cognate phospholipid ligands. Furthermore, GFP-p67(phox) translocation to either membrane is abolished by mutations that disrupt its interaction with p40(phox) or p47(phox). Finally, we detected a head-to-tail (PX-Phox and Bem1 [PB1] domain) intramolecular interaction within p40(phox) in its resting state by deletion mutagenesis, cell localization, and binding experiments, suggesting that its PX domain is inaccessible to interact with phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate without cell stimulation. Thus, both p40(phox) and p47(phox) function as diverse p67(phox) "carrier proteins" regulated by the unmasking of membrane-targeting domains in distinct mechanisms.