Effects of movement protein mutations on the formation of tubules in plant protoplasts expressing a fusion between the green fluorescent protein and Cauliflower mosaic virus movement protein.
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Fusions between the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) movement protein (MP) induce the formation of fluorescent foci and surface tubules in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf mesophyll protoplasts. Tubules elongate coordinately and progressively in an assembly process approximately 6 to 12 h following transfection of protoplasts with GFP-MP constructs. Tubules are not formed in protoplasts transfected by GFP-MP(ER2A), a MP mutation that renders CaMV noninfectious. A small number of short tubules are formed on protoplasts transfected by GFP-MP(N6) and GFP-MP(N13), two second-site revertants of ER2A that partially restore infectivity. Protoplasts cotransfected with cyan fluorescent protein (CFP)-MP(WT) and GFP-MP(ER2A) form tubules containing both MP fusions, indicating that although the GFP-MP(ER2A) cannot induce tubule formation, GFP-MP(ER2A) can coassemble or colocalize with CFP-MP(WT) in tubules. Thus, CaMV MP-induced tubule formation in protoplasts correlates closely with the infectivity of mutation ER2A and its revertants, suggesting that tubule-forming capacity in plant protoplasts reflects a process required for virus infection or movement. (+info)
The pyramidal cell in cognition: a comparative study in human and monkey.
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Here we present evidence that the pyramidal cell phenotype varies markedly in the cortex of different anthropoid species. Regional and species differences in the size of, number of bifurcations in, and spine density of the basal dendritic arbors cannot be explained by brain size. Instead, pyramidal cell morphology appears to accord with the specialized cortical function these cells perform. Cells in the prefrontal cortex of humans are more branched and more spinous than those in the temporal and occipital lobes. Moreover, cells in the prefrontal cortex of humans are more branched and more spinous than those in the prefrontal cortex of macaque and marmoset monkeys. These results suggest that highly spinous, compartmentalized, pyramidal cells (and the circuits they form) are required to perform complex cortical functions such as comprehension, perception, and planning. (+info)
Cell surface tissue transglutaminase is involved in adhesion and migration of monocytic cells on fibronectin.
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Expression of tissue transglutaminase (transglutaminase II, tTG) was shown to increase drastically during monocyte differentiation into macrophages; however, its role in monocytic cells remains largely unknown. This study describes a novel function of cell surface tTG as an adhesion and migration receptor for fibronectin (Fn). Two structurally related transglutaminases, tTG and the A subunit of factor XIII (FXIIIA), are expressed on the surface of monocytic cells, whereas only surface tTG is associated with multiple integrins of the beta1 and beta3 subfamilies. Both surface levels of tTG and the amounts of integrin-bound tTG are sharply up-regulated during the conversion of monocytes into macrophages. In contrast, a reduction in biosynthesis and surface expression of FXIIIA accompanies monocyte differentiation. Cell surface tTG is colocalized with beta1- and beta3-integrins in podosomelike adhesive structures of macrophages adherent on Fn. Down-regulation of surface tTG by expression of antisense tTG construct or its inhibition by function-blocking antibodies significantly decreases adhesion and spreading of monocytic cells on Fn and, in particular, on the gelatin-binding fragment of Fn consisting of modules I6II1,2I7-9. Likewise, interfering with the adhesive function of surface tTG markedly reduces migration of myeloid cells on Fn and its gelatin-binding fragment. These data demonstrate that cell surface tTG serves as an integrin-associated adhesion receptor that might be involved in extravasation and migration of monocytic cells into tissues containing Fn matrices during inflammation. (+info)
An effector region in Eps8 is responsible for the activation of the Rac-specific GEF activity of Sos-1 and for the proper localization of the Rac-based actin-polymerizing machine.
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Genetic and biochemical evidence demonstrated that Eps8 is involved in the routing of signals from Ras to Rac. This is achieved through the formation of a tricomplex consisting of Eps8-E3b1-Sos-1, which is endowed with Rac guanine nucleotide exchange activity. The catalytic subunit of this complex is represented by Sos-1, a bifunctional molecule capable of catalyzing guanine nucleotide exchange on Ras and Rac. The mechanism by which Sos-1 activity is specifically directed toward Rac remains to be established. Here, by performing a structure-function analysis we show that the Eps8 output function resides in an effector region located within its COOH terminus. This effector region, when separated from the holoprotein, activates Rac and acts as a potent inducer of actin polymerization. In addition, it binds to Sos-1 and is able to induce Rac-specific, Sos-1-dependent guanine nucleotide exchange activity. Finally, the Eps8 effector region mediates a direct interaction of Eps8 with F-actin, dictating Eps8 cellular localization. We propose a model whereby the engagement of Eps8 in a tricomplex with E3b1 and Sos-1 facilitates the interaction of Eps8 with Sos-1 and the consequent activation of an Sos-1 Rac-specific catalytic ability. In this complex, determinants of Eps8 are responsible for the proper localization of the Rac-activating machine to sites of actin remodeling. (+info)
RhoA inactivation by p190RhoGAP regulates cell spreading and migration by promoting membrane protrusion and polarity.
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The binding of extracellular matrix proteins to integrins triggers rearrangements in the actin cytoskeleton by regulating the Rho family of small GTPases. The signaling events that mediate changes in the activity of Rho proteins in response to the extracellular matrix remain largely unknown. We have demonstrated in previous studies that integrin signaling transiently suppresses RhoA activity through stimulation of p190RhoGAP. Here, we investigated the biological significance of adhesion-dependent RhoA inactivation by manipulating p190RhoGAP signaling in Rat1 fibroblasts. The inhibition of RhoA activity that is induced transiently by adhesion was antagonized by expression of dominant negative p190RhoGAP. This resulted in impaired cell spreading on a fibronectin substrate, reduced cell protrusion, and premature assembly of stress fibers. Conversely, overexpression of p190RhoGAP augmented cell spreading. Dominant negative p190RhoGAP elevated RhoA activity in cells on fibronectin and inhibited migration, whereas overexpression of the wild-type GAP decreased RhoA activity, promoted the formation of membrane protrusions, and enhanced motility. Cells expressing dominant negative p190RhoGAP, but not control cells or cells overexpressing the wild-type GAP, were unable to establish polarity in the direction of migration. Taken together, these data demonstrate that integrin-triggered RhoA inhibition by p190RhoGAP enhances spreading and migration by regulating cell protrusion and polarity. (+info)
A role for cofilin and LIM kinase in Listeria-induced phagocytosis.
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The pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is able to invade nonphagocytic cells, an essential feature for its pathogenicity. This induced phagocytosis process requires tightly regulated steps of actin polymerization and depolymerization. Here, we investigated how interactions of the invasion protein InlB with mammalian cells control the cytoskeleton during Listeria internalization. By fluorescence microscopy and transfection experiments, we show that the actin-nucleating Arp2/3 complex, the GTPase Rac, LIM kinase (LIMK), and cofilin are key proteins in InlB-induced phagocytosis. Overexpression of LIMK1, which has been shown to phosphorylate and inactivate cofilin, induces accumulation of F-actin beneath entering particles and inhibits internalization. Conversely, inhibition of LIMK's activity by expressing a dominant negative construct, LIMK1(-), or expression of the constitutively active S3A cofilin mutant induces loss of actin filaments at the phagocytic cup and also inhibits phagocytosis. Interestingly, those constructs similarly affect other actin-based phenomenons, such as InlB-induced membrane ruffling or Listeria comet tail formations. Thus, our data provide evidence for a control of phagocytosis by both activation and deactivation of cofilin. We propose a model in which cofilin is involved in the formation and disruption of the phagocytic cup as a result of its local progressive enrichment. (+info)
CED-12/ELMO, a novel member of the CrkII/Dock180/Rac pathway, is required for phagocytosis and cell migration.
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The C. elegans genes ced-2, ced-5, and ced-10, and their mammalian homologs crkII, dock180, and rac1, mediate cytoskeletal rearrangements during phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and cell motility. Here, we describe an additional member of this signaling pathway, ced-12, and its mammalian homologs, elmo1 and elmo2. In C. elegans, CED-12 is required for engulfment of dying cells and for cell migrations. In mammalian cells, ELMO1 functionally cooperates with CrkII and Dock180 to promote phagocytosis and cell shape changes. CED-12/ELMO-1 binds directly to CED-5/Dock180; this evolutionarily conserved complex stimulates a Rac-GEF, leading to Rac1 activation and cytoskeletal rearrangements. These studies identify CED-12/ELMO as an upstream regulator of Rac1 that affects engulfment and cell migration from C. elegans to mammals. (+info)
Expression of CCR-7, MIP-3beta, and Th-1 chemokines in type I IFN-induced monocyte-derived dendritic cells: importance for the rapid acquisition of potent migratory and functional activities.
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The migration capability of dendritic cells (DCs) is regulated by their response to factors, namely chemokines, that characterize maturation stage and shape their functional activities. This study examines the morphology, expression of chemokines/chemokine receptors, and migration properties of DCs generated after treatment of monocytes with type I interferon (IFN) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (IFN-DCs). IFN-DCs showed phenotypical and morphologic features undetectable in DCs generated in the presence of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and GM-CSF, such as expression of CD83 and CD25 and the presence of CD44+, highly polarized, thin, and long dendrites. IFN-DCs markedly migrated in response to beta-chemokines (especially MIP-1beta) and expressed the Th-1 chemokine IP-10. Notably, IFN-DCs showed an up-regulation of CCR7 as well as of its natural ligand MIP-3beta, characteristics typical of mature DCs. Of interest, IFN-DCs exhibited a marked chemotactic response to MIP-3beta in vitro and strong migratory behavior in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. In SCID mice reconstituted with human peripheral blood leukocytes, IFN-DCs induced a potent primary human antibody response and IFN-gamma production, indicative of a Th-1 immune response. These results define the highly specialized maturation state of IFN-DCs and point out the existence of a "natural alliance" between type I IFN and monocyte/DC development, instrumental for ensuring an efficient connection between innate and adaptive immunity. (+info)