Co-expression of several human syntaxin genes in neutrophils and differentiating HL-60 cells: variant isoforms and detection of syntaxin 1. (1/464)

Syntaxins are major components of vesicle trafficking and their pattern of expression depends on the cell type. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cloning, and sequencing techniques, we have found that human neutrophils and neutrophil-differentiated HL-60 cells co-express syntaxins 1A, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 16. These genes are also expressed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, which, unlike neutrophils, also expressed syntaxin 10. We have identified two isoforms of syntaxin 3. Syntaxin 3A, similar to the previously reported syntaxin 3, and the novel isoform syntaxin 3B, which is identical to syntaxin 3A but lacks 37 amino acid residues at the carboxy-terminal region. Syntaxin 1 was mainly located to neutrophil granule membranes by confocal microscopy and by immunoblotting of subcellular fractions. These data indicate that syntaxin 1 cannot be considered specific to neural tissues. The level of expression of syntaxins 3, 4, 6, and 11 was increased during neutrophil differentiation of HL-60 cells, whereas that of syntaxins 1A, 5, 9, and 16 was unchanged. Syntaxin 7 was not expressed in undifferentiated HL-60 cells, but its expression was induced on neutrophil differentiation. The expression of several syntaxin genes in human neutrophils could be related to the high secretory capacity of these cells as well as to the presence of different cytoplasmic granules with distinct exocytic capabilities.  (+info)

A stable interaction between syntaxin 1a and synaptobrevin 2 mediated by their transmembrane domains. (2/464)

The proteins synaptobrevin (VAMP), SNAP-25 and syntaxin 1 are essential for neuronal exocytosis. They assemble into a stable ternary complex which is thought to initiate membrane fusion. In vitro, the transmembrane domains of syntaxin and synaptobrevin are not required for association. Here we report a novel interaction between synaptobrevin and syntaxin that requires the presence of the transmembrane domains. When co-reconstituted into liposomes, the proteins form a stable binary complex that cannot be disassembled by NSF and that is resistant to denaturation by SDS. Cleavage of synaptobrevin with tetanus toxin does not affect the interaction. Furthermore, the complex is formed when a truncated version of syntaxin is used that contains only 12 additional amino acid residues outside the membrane anchor. We conclude that the interaction is mediated by the transmembrane domains.  (+info)

HPC-1/syntaxin 1A suppresses exocytosis of PC12 cells. (3/464)

The membrane protein syntaxin (originally named HPC-1) is involved in vesicle trafficking and required for neurotransmitter release at nerve terminals. The presence of syntaxin on target membranes is hypothesized to confer specificity to targeting and fusion via interactions with complementary vesicle-associated proteins. To elucidate the function of syntaxin 1A in exocytosis, HPC-1/syntaxin 1A-reduced PC12h cells (PC12h/Deltasyx) that were stably transfected with a plasmid for antisense syntaxin 1A expression were constructed. Depolarizing stimulation of PC12h/Deltasyx enhanced dopamine release, compared with PC12h. There was a strong inverse correlation between syntaxin 1A protein expression and enhancement of dopamine release. Reduction of syntaxin 1A had no effect on increase of the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration by depolarized stimulation. Moreover, PC12h/Deltasyx clones similarly enhanced of exocytosis by native secretagogues. These results indicate that syntaxin 1A has more than one function in exocytosis.  (+info)

Interactions between proteins implicated in exocytosis and voltage-gated calcium channels. (4/464)

Neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicles is triggered by voltage-gated calcium influx through P/Q-type or N-type calcium channels. Purification of N-type channels from rat brain synaptosomes initially suggested molecular interactions between calcium channels and two key proteins implicated in exocytosis: synaptotagmin I and syntaxin 1. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments were consistent with the hypothesis that both N- and P/Q-type calcium channels, but not L-type channels, are associated with the 7S complex containing syntaxin 1, SNAP-25, VAMP and synaptotagmin I or II. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy at the frog neuromuscular junction confirmed that calcium channels, syntaxin 1 and SNAP-25 are co-localized at active zones of the presynaptic plasma membrane where transmitter release occurs. Experiments with recombinant proteins were performed to map synaptic protein interaction sites on the alpha 1A subunit, which forms the pore of the P/Q-type calcium channel. In vitro-translated 35S-synaptotagmin I bound to a site located on the cytoplasmic loop linking homologous domains II and III of the alpha 1A subunit. This direct link would target synaptotagmin, a putative calcium sensor for exocytosis, to a microdomain of calcium influx close to the channel mouth. Cysteine string proteins (CSPs) contain a J-domain characteristic of molecular chaperones that cooperate with Hsp70. They are located on synaptic vesicles and thought to be involved in modulating the activity of presynaptic calcium channels. CSPs were found to bind to the same domain of the calcium channel as synaptotagmin, and also to associate with VAMP. CSPs may act as molecular chaperones in association with Hsp70 to direct assembly or dissociation of multiprotein complexes at the calcium channel.  (+info)

Beta-cell hypertrophy in fa/fa rats is associated with basal glucose hypersensitivity and reduced SNARE protein expression. (5/464)

In normal isolated beta-cells, the response to glucose is heterogeneous and characterized by an increasing number of secretory cells as glucose concentration rises (Pipeleers DG, Kiekens R, Ling Z, Wilikens A, Schuit F: Physiologic relevance of heterogeneity in the pancreatic beta-cell population. Diabetologia 37 (Suppl. 2):S57-S64, 1994). We hypothesized that fasting hyperinsulinemia in obesity might be explained by altered beta-cell heterogeneity of signal transduction mechanisms, possibly involving exocytotic proteins. Insulin secretion from individual beta-cells sorted according to the size of the islet donor (<125 microm, >250 microm, and intermediate diameter) was measured by reverse hemolytic plaque assay. Beta-cells from fa/fa rats were hypertrophied 25-40%, independent of donor islet size. This was accompanied by an increased proportion of secretory cells (recruitment) at 5.5-11.0 mmol/l glucose, increased secretion per cell at 2.8 mmol/l glucose, and decreased insulin content after acute glucose exposure without an increase in secretion per cell. Decreased expression of exocytotic (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein receptor [SNARE]) proteins, vesicle-associated membrane protein isoform 2 (VAMP-2), synaptosomal protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25), and syntaxin-1 and -2 in fa/fa beta-cells may contribute to the failure to sustain excessive plaque size at higher glucose concentrations. Fasting hyperinsulinemia may be maintained by increased recruitment and an exaggerated secretory response in all fa-derived islet populations. Glucose regulates beta-cell responsiveness in the short term, and these effects may involve altered expression of SNARE proteins.  (+info)

Mixed and non-cognate SNARE complexes. Characterization of assembly and biophysical properties. (6/464)

Assembly of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins between two opposing membranes is thought to be the key event that initiates membrane fusion. Many new SNARE proteins have recently been localized to distinct intracellular compartments, supporting the view that sets of specific SNAREs are specialized for distinct trafficking steps. We have now investigated whether other SNAREs can form complexes with components of the synaptic SNARE complex including synaptobrevin/VAMP 2, SNAP-25, and syntaxin 1. When the Q-SNAREs syntaxin 2, 3, and 4, and the R-SNARE endobrevin/VAMP 8 were used in various combinations, heat-resistant complexes were formed. Limited proteolysis revealed that these complexes contained a protease-resistant core similar to that of the synaptic complex. All complexes were disassembled by the ATPase N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein and its cofactor alpha-SNAP. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that major conformational changes occur during assembly, which are associated with induction of structure from unstructured monomers. Furthermore, no preference for synaptobrevin was observed during the assembly of the synaptic complex when endobrevin/VAMP 8 was present in equal concentrations. We conclude that cognate and non-cognate SNARE complexes are very similar with respect to biophysical properties, assembly, and disassembly, suggesting that specificity of membrane fusion in intracellular membrane traffic is not due to intrinsic specificity of SNARE pairing.  (+info)

Blockade of membrane transport and disassembly of the Golgi complex by expression of syntaxin 1A in neurosecretion-incompetent cells: prevention by rbSEC1. (7/464)

The t-SNAREs syntaxin1A and SNAP-25, i.e. the members of the complex involved in regulated exocytosis at synapses and neurosecretory cells, are delivered to their physiological site, the plasma membrane, when transfected into neurosecretion-competent cells, such as PC12 and AtT20. In contrast, when transfection is made into cells incompetent for neurosecretion, such as those of a defective PC12 clone and the NRK fibroblasts, which have no endogenous expression of these t-SNAREs, syntaxin1A (but neither two other syntaxin family members nor SNAP-25) remains stuck in the Golgi-TGN area with profound consequences to the cell: blockade of both membrane (SNAP-25, GAT-1) and secretory (chromogranin B) protein transport to the cell surface; progressive disassembly of the Golgi complex and TGN; ultimate disappearance of the latter structures, with intermixing of their markers (mannosidase II; TGN-38) with those of the endoplasmic reticulum (calreticulin) and with syntaxin1A itself. When, however, syntaxin 1A is transfected together with rbSec1, a protein known to participate in neurosecretory exocytosis via its dynamic interaction with the t-SNARE, neither the blockade nor the alterations of the Golgi complex take place. Our results demonstrate that syntaxin1A, in addition to its role in exocytosis at the cell surface, possesses a specific potential to interfere with intracellular membrane transport and that its interaction with rbSec1 is instrumental to its physiological function not only at the plasma membrane but also within the cell. At the latter site, the rbSec1-induced conversion of syntaxin1A into a form that can be transported and protects the cell from the development of severe structural and membrane traffic alterations.  (+info)

Regulation of the UNC-18-Caenorhabditis elegans syntaxin complex by UNC-13. (8/464)

The Caenorhabditis elegans unc-13, unc-18, and unc-64 genes are required for normal synaptic transmission. The UNC-18 protein binds to the unc-64 gene product C. elegans syntaxin (Ce syntaxin). However, it is not clear how this protein complex is regulated. We show that UNC-13 transiently interacts with the UNC-18-Ce syntaxin complex, resulting in rapid displacement of UNC-18 from the complex. Genetic and biochemical evidence is presented that UNC-13 contributes to the modulation of the interaction between UNC-18 and Ce syntaxin.  (+info)