Search

Griscelli syndrome type 2 (GS-2) is an inborn error of immunity characterized by partial albinism and episodes of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). It is caused by RAB27A mutations that encode RAB27A, a member of the Rab GTPase family. RAB27A is expressed in many tissues and regulates vesicular transport and organelle dynamics. Occasionally, GS-2 patients with RAB27A mutation display normal pigmentation. The study of such variants provides the opportunity to map distinct binding sites for tissue-specific effectors on RAB27A. Here we present a new case of GS-2 without albinism (GS-2 sine albinism) caused by a novel missense mutation (Val143Ala) in the RAB27A and characterize its functional cellular consequences. Using pertinent animal cell lines, the Val143Ala mutation impairs both the RAB27A-SLP2-A interaction and RAB27A-MUNC13-4 interaction, but it does not affect the RAB27A-melanophilin (MLPH)/SLAC2-A interaction that is crucial for skin and hair pigmentation. We conclude that disruption of the RAB27A-MUNC13-4 interaction in cytotoxic lymphocytes leads to the HLH predisposition of the GS-2 patient with the Val143Ala mutation. Finally, we include a review of GS-2 sine albinism cases reported in the literature, summarizing their genetic and clinical characteristics. ispartof: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY vol:11 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Regulation of organelle transport by the cytoskeleton is fundamental for eukaryotic survival. Cytoskeleton motors are typically modular proteins with conserved motor and diverse cargo binding domains. Motor:cargo interactions are often indirect and mediated by adaptor proteins e.g. Rab GTPases. Rab27a, via effector melanophilin (Mlph), recruits myosin-Va to melanosomes and thereby disperses them into melanocytes dendrites. To better understand how adaptors regulate motor:cargo interaction we used single melanosome fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (smFRAP) to characterise the association kinetics between myosin-Va, its adaptors and melanosomes. We found that myosin-Va and Mlph rapidly recovered after photo-bleaching, while Rab27a did not, indicating that myosin-Va and Mlph dynamically associate with melanosomes and Rab27a does not. This suggests that dynamic Rab27a:effector interaction rather than Rab27a melanosome:cytosol cycling regulates myosin-Va:melanosome association. Accordingly a Mlph-Rab27a fusion protein reduced myosin-Va smFRAP, indicating that it stabilised melanosomal myosin-Va. Finally, we tested the functional importance of dynamic myosin-Va:melanosome interaction. We found that while a myosin-Va-Rab27a fusion protein dispersed melanosomes in myosin-Va deficient cells, dendrites were significantly less elongated than in wild-type cells. Given that dendrites are the prime sites of melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes we suggest that dynamic myosin-Va:melanosome interaction is important for pigmentation in vivo.

Honey bees have brain structures with specialized and developed systems of communication that account for memory, learning capacity and behavioral organization with a set of genes homologous to vertebrate genes. Many microtubule- and actin-based molecular motors are involved in axonal/dendritic transport. Myosin-Va is present in the honey bee Apis mellifera nervous system of the larvae and adult castes and subcastes. DYNLL1/LC8 and myosin-IIb, -VI and -IXb have also been detected in the adult brain. SNARE proteins, such as CaMKII, clathrin, syntaxin, SNAP25, munc18, synaptophysin and synaptotagmin, are also expressed in the honey bee brain. Honey bee myosin-Va displayed ATP-dependent solubility and was associated with DYNLL1/LC8 and SNARE proteins in the membrane vesicle-enriched fraction. Myosin-Va expression was also decreased after the intracerebral injection of melittin and NMDA. The immunolocalization of myosin-Va and -IV, DYNLL1/LC8, and synaptophysin in mushroom bodies, and optical and antennal lobes was compared with the brain morphology based on Neo-Timm histochemistry and revealed a distinct and punctate distribution. This result suggested that the pattern of localization is associated with neuron function. Therefore, our data indicated that the roles of myosins, DYNLL1/LC8, and SNARE proteins in the nervous and visual systems of honey bees should be further studied under different developmental, caste and behavioral conditions.

As major urothelial differentiation products, uroplakins are targeted to the apical surface of umbrella cells. Via the sequential actions of Rabs 11, 8, and 27b and their effectors, uroplakin vesicles are transported to a subapical zone above a K20 network and fuse, via a SNARE-mediated and MAL-facilitated step, with the urothelial apical membrane., Uroplakins (UPs) are major differentiation products of urothelial umbrella cells and play important roles in forming the permeability barrier and in the expansion/stabilization of the apical membrane. Further, UPIa serves as a uropathogenic Escherichia coli receptor. Although it is understood that UPs are delivered to the apical membrane via fusiform vesicles (FVs), the mechanisms that regulate this exocytic pathway remain poorly understood. Immunomicroscopy of normal and mutant mouse urothelia show that the UP-delivering FVs contained Rab8/11 and Rab27b/Slac2-a, which mediate apical transport along actin filaments. Subsequently a Rab27b/Slp2-a complex mediated FV–membrane anchorage before SNARE-mediated and MAL-facilitated apical fusion. We also show that keratin 20 (K20), which forms a chicken-wire network ∼200 nm below the apical membrane and has hole sizes allowing FV passage, defines a subapical compartment containing FVs primed and strategically located for fusion. Finally, we show that Rab8/11 and Rab27b function in the same pathway, Rab27b knockout leads to uroplakin and Slp2-a destabilization, and Rab27b works upstream from MAL. These data support a unifying model in which UP cargoes are targeted for apical insertion via sequential interactions with Rabs and their effectors, SNAREs and MAL, and in which K20 plays a key role in regulating vesicular trafficking.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais CHAPTER II: Myosin-IIB is a non-muscle isoform in the brain with increased expression in the brains of diabetic rats. Chronic hyperglycemia caused by diabetes can impair learning and memory. Oral hypoglycemic agents such as glibenclamide have been used to control hyperglycemia. We report changes in the expression and distribution of myosin-IIB in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide. To establish this, brains were harvested after 43 days of treatment with glibenclamide (6 mg/kg bw orally), homogenized and analyzed by Western blotting, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. As expected, myosin-IIB expression increased in the brains of diabetic rats. However, protein levels returned to normalcy after treatment with glibenclamide. In addition, MYH10 gene expression decreased in diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide. Moreover, we found weak myosin-IIB labeling in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats treated with glibenclamide. Therefore, the expression of myosin-IIB is affected by diabetes mellitus and may be modulated by glibenclamide treatment in rats. Structural changes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are reversible, and glibenclamide treatment may reduce patho-physiological changes in the brain. Our findings suggest a possible correlation between glibenclamide effects and myosin-IIB function in the brain of diabetised rats. CHAPTER III: Introduction: Diabetes increases oxidative stress and causes several changes in protein transport and docking of synaptic vesicles. Plant extracts have long been used to treat hyperglycemia and diabetes. Aqueous extracts of Vochysia rufa, a species endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado ecossistem, have increasingly been prescribed and used as a complementary or alternative treatment. Objective: We examined the effects of an aqueous extract of Vochysia rufa on oxidative stress markers and on the expression and localization of transport proteins and synaptic vesicle docking in the diabetic rat brain. Design/Methods: Thirty-two male Wister rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: non-diabetic, diabetic, diabetic treated with glibenclamide (6 mg / kg bw orally) and diabetic treated with Vochysia rufa extract (500 mg/kg bw orally) for forty-three days. After the treatments, brains were collected and the following parameters were evaluated: enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase concentration, total sulfhydryl, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione. The levels and localization of proteins such as CaMKII, myosin-Va, synapsin-1, SNAP-25 and GLUT4 were also analyzed. Results: Vochysia rufa extract decreased SOD, GSH, TBARS and total sulfhydryl levels and increased GST levels. Additionally, myosin-Va and synapsin-1 expression decreased and levels proteins such as CaMKII and SNAP-25 increased. These results were confirmed by immunolocalization. Conclusion: The results suggest that an aqueous extract of Vochysia rufa has a neuroprotective effect on diabetic rat brains by reducing oxidative stress and controlling changes in myosin-Va and synapsin-1 expression. O diabetes aumenta o estresse oxidativo e provoca várias alterações no transporte de proteínas e de ancoragem das vesículas sinápticas. Os extratos de plantas têm sido muito utilizados para tratar a hiperglicemia e diabetes. Extratos aquosos de Vochysia rufa, uma espécie do Cerrado brasileiro, têm sido prescritos e utilizados como tratamento complementar ou alternativo. Foram analisados os efeitos do extrato aquoso de Vochysia rufa sobre marcadores de estresse oxidativo e na expressão e localização de proteínas de transporte e ancoragem das vesículas sinápticas no cérebro de ratos diabéticos. Trinta e dois ratos Wistar machos foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos: não-diabéticos, diabéticos, diabéticos tratados com glibenclamida (6 mg/kg de peso corporal por via oral) e diabéticos tratados com extrato de Vochysia rufa (500 mg/kg de peso corporal por via oral) por 43 dias. Após os tratamentos, os cérebros foram coletadas e os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: atividade enzimática da glutationa peroxidase e glutationa S- transferase, a concentração de superóxido dismutase, sulfidrila total, a peroxidação lipídica e de glutationa reduzida. Os níveis e localização de proteínas, como CaMKII, miosina - Va, sinapsina -1, SNAP -25 e GLUT4 também foram analisados. O extrato de Vochysia rufa diminuiu SOD, GSH, TBARS e os níveis totais de sulfidrila e aumentou os níveis de GST. Além disso, a miosina -Va e sinapsina -1 apresentaram os níveis de expressão diminuídas, ao contrário de CaMKII e SNAP-25 que aumentaram. Estes resultados foram confirmados por imunohistoquímica. Os resultados sugerem que o extrato aquoso de Vochysia rufa tem um efeito neuroprotetor em cérebros de ratos diabéticos, reduzindo o estresse oxidativo e controlando as mudanças na miosina -Va e sinapsina -1. Mestre em Genética e Bioquímica

Previous studies proposed that myosin-Va regulates apoptosis by sequestering pro-apoptotic Bmf to the actin cytoskeleton through dynein light chain-2 (DLC2). Adhesion loss or other cytoskeletal perturbations would unleash Bmf, allowing it to bind and inhibit pro-survival Bcl2 proteins. Here, we demonstrated that overexpression of a myosin-Va medial tail fragment (MVaf) harboring the binding site for DLC2 dramatically decreased melanoma cell viability. Morphological and molecular changes, including surface blebbing, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, cytochrome-c and Smac release, as well as caspase-9/-3 activation and DNA fragmentation indicated that melanoma cells died of apoptosis. Immobilized MVaf interacted directly with DLCs, but complexed MVaf/DLCs did not interact with Bmf. Overexpression of DLC2 attenuated MVaf-induced apoptosis. Thus, we suggest that, MVaf induces apoptosis by sequestering DLC2 and DLC1, thereby unleashing the pair of sensitizer and activator BH3-only proteins Bmf and Bim. Murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking Bim and Bmf or Bax and Bak were less sensitive to apoptosis caused by MVaf expression than wild-type MEFs, strengthening the putative role of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in this response. Finally, MVaf expression attenuated B16-F10 solid tumor growth in mice, suggesting that this peptide may be useful as an apoptosis-inducing tool for basic and translational studies.

The molecular mechanism for the transport of newly formed secretory granules to the cell periphery is largely unknown. This work shows that the Rab27a effector exophilin8 is essential for the delivery and fusion of insulin granules to the plasma membrane by transiently trapping granules in the cortical actin network close to the microtubule plus-ends., Exophilin8/MyRIP/Slac2-c is an effector protein of the small GTPase Rab27a and is specifically localized on retinal melanosomes and secretory granules. We investigated the role of exophilin8 in insulin granule trafficking. Exogenous expression of exophilin8 in pancreatic β cells or their cell line, MIN6, polarized (exophilin8-positive) insulin granules at the cell corners, where both cortical actin and the microtubule plus-end–binding protein, EB1, were present. Mutation analyses indicated that the ability of exophilin8 to act as a linker between Rab27a and myosin Va is essential for its granule-clustering activity. Moreover, exophilin8 and exophilin8-associated insulin granules were markedly stable and immobile. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy indicated that exophilin8 restricts the motion of insulin granules at a region deeper than that where another Rab27a effector, granuphilin, accumulates docked granules directly attached to the plasma membrane. However, the exophilin8-induced immobility of insulin granules was eliminated upon secretagogue stimulation and did not inhibit evoked exocytosis. Furthermore, exophilin8 depletion prevents insulin granules from being transported close to the plasma membrane and inhibits their fusion. These findings indicate that exophilin8 transiently traps insulin granules into the cortical actin network close to the microtubule plus-ends and supplies them for release during the stimulation.

Melanosome transport in melanocytes is a model system for the study of cytoskeletal regulation of intracellular transport. Melanophilin (Mlph) is a Rab27a- and myosin Va (MyoVa)-binding protein that regulates this process. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified MT plusend binding protein (EB1) as a melanocyte-expressed Mlph-interacting protein. To address the role of EB1 versus Rab27a and MyoVa interactions in Mlph targeting and function, we used siRNA and Mlph mutations to specifically disrupt each interaction in cultured melanocytes. Using the Mlph R35W mutant that blocks Mlph-Rab27a interaction and Rab27a siRNA we show this interaction is required for melanosome targeting and stability of Mlph. Mutants and siRNA that affect MlpMyoVa and Mlph-EB1 interactions reveal that while neither MyoVa nor EB1 affect Mlph targeting to melanosomes, MyoVa but not EB1 interaction is required for transport of melanosomes to peripheral dendrites. We propose that Mlph is targeted to and/or stabilised on melanosomes by Rab27a, and then recruits MyoVa, which provides additional stability to the complex and allows melanosomes to transfer from MT to actin-based transport and achieve peripheral distribution. EB1 appears to be non-essential to this process in cultured melanocytes, which suggests that it plays a redundant role and/or is required for melanocyte/keratinocyte contacts and melanosome transfer. publishersversion published

Microtubules and F-actin, and their associated motor proteins, are considered to play complementary roles in long- and short-range organelle transport. However, there is growing appreciation that myosin/F-actin networks can drive long-range transport. In melanocytes, myosin-Va and kinesin-1 have both been proposed as long-range centrifugal transporters moving melanosomes into the peripheral dendrites. Here, we investigated the role of kinesin-1 heavy chain (Kif5b) and its suggested targeting factor Rab1a in transport. We performed confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation, but did not detect Kif5b or Rab1a on melanosomes. Meanwhile functional studies, using siRNA knockdown and dominant negative mutants, did not support a role for Kif5b or Rab1a in melanosome transport. To probe the potential of Kif5b to function in transport, we generated fusion proteins that target active Kif5b to melanosomes and tested their ability to rescue perinuclear clustering in myosin-Va-deficient cells. Expression of these chimeras, but not full-length Kif5b, dispersed melanosomes with similar efficiency to myosin-Va. Our data indicate that kinesin and microtubules can compensate for defects in myosin-Va and actin-based transport in mammals, but that endogenous Kif5b does not have an important role in transport of melanocytes due to its inefficient recruitment to melanosomes., Highlighted Article: We show that Kif5b can compensate for defects in myosin-Va-based transport in mammals, but that endogenous Kif5b plays a minimal role in transport in melanocytes due to inefficient recruitment to melanosomes.