Biomedical subjects

M Cecilia Larocca

Publications and source records attributed to M Cecilia Larocca.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

AKAP350 modulates microtubule dynamics.

AKAP350 is a multiply spliced type II protein kinase A-anchoring protein that localizes to the centrosomes in most cells and the Golgi apparatus in epithelial cells. Multiple studies suggest that AKAP350 is involved in microtubule nucleation at the centrosome. Our previous studies demonstrated that AKAP350 was necessary for the maintenance of Golgi apparatus integrity. These data suggested that AKAP350 might be necessary for normal cytoskeletal interactions with the Golgi. To examine the relationship of AKAP350 with the microtubule cytoskeleton, we analyzed the effect of the depletion of AKAP350 on microtubule regrowth after nocodazole treatment in HeLa cells. The decrease in AKAP350 expression with short interfering RNA induced a delay in microtubule elongation with no effect on microtubule aster formation. In contrast, overexpression of the centrosomal targeting domain of AKAP350 elicited alterations in aster formation, but did not affect microtubule elongation. RNA interference for AKAP350 also induced an increase in cdc42 activity during microtubule regrowth. Our data suggest that AKAP350 has a role in the remodeling of the microtubule cytoskeleton.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗

PubMed2004

AKAP350 interaction with cdc42 interacting protein 4 at the Golgi apparatus.

The A kinase anchoring protein 350 (AKAP350) is a multiply spliced type II protein kinase A anchoring protein that localizes to the centrosomes in most cells and to the Golgi apparatus in epithelial cells. In the present study, we sought to identify AKAP350 interacting proteins that could yield insights into AKAP350 function at the Golgi apparatus. Using yeast two-hybrid and pull-down assays, we found that AKAP350 interacts with a family of structurally related proteins, including FBP17, FBP17b, and cdc42 interacting protein 4 (CIP4). CIP4 interacts with the GTP-bound form of cdc42, with the Wiscott Aldrich Syndrome group of proteins, and with microtubules, and exerts regulatory effects on cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking. CIP4 is phosphorylated by protein kinase A in vitro, and elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP with forskolin stimulates in situ phosphorylation of CIP4. Our results indicate that CIP4 interacts with AKAP350 at the Golgi apparatus and that either disruption of this interaction by expressing the CIP4 binding domain in AKAP350, or reduction of AKAP350 expression by RNA interference leads to changes in Golgi structure. The results suggest that AKAP350 and CIP4 influence the maintenance of normal Golgi apparatus structure.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2003

Glucagon induces the plasma membrane insertion of functional aquaporin-8 water channels in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Although glucagon is known to stimulate the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated hepatocyte bile secretion, the precise mechanisms accounting for this choleretic effect are unknown. We recently reported that hepatocytes express the water channel aquaporin-8 (AQP8), which is located primarily in intracellular vesicles, and its relocalization to plasma membranes can be induced with dibutyryl cAMP. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that glucagon induces the trafficking of AQP8 to the hepatocyte plasma membrane and thus increases membrane water permeability. Immunoblotting analysis in subcellular fractions from isolated rat hepatocytes indicated that glucagon caused a significant, dose-dependent increase in the amount of AQP8 in plasma membranes (e.g., 102% with 1 micromol/L glucagon) and a simultaneous decrease in intracellular membranes (e.g., 38% with 1 micromol/L glucagon). Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy in cultured hepatocytes confirmed the glucagon-induced redistribution of AQP8 from intracellular vesicles to plasma membrane. Polarized hepatocyte couplets showed that this redistribution was specifically to the canalicular domain. Glucagon also significantly increased hepatocyte membrane water permeability by about 70%, which was inhibited by the water channel blocker dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The inhibitors of protein kinase A, H-89, and PKI, as well as the microtubule blocker colchicine, prevented the glucagon effect on both AQP8 redistribution to hepatocyte surface and cell membrane water permeability. In conclusion, our data suggest that glucagon induces the protein kinase A and microtubule-dependent translocation of AQP8 water channels to the hepatocyte canalicular plasma membrane, which in turn leads to an increase in membrane water permeability. These findings provide evidence supporting the molecular mechanisms of glucagon-induced hepatocyte bile secretion.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

AKAP350 at the Golgi apparatus. II. Association of AKAP350 with a novel chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) family member.

AKAP350 can scaffold a number of protein kinases and phosphatases at the centrosome and the Golgi apparatus. We performed a yeast two-hybrid screen of a rabbit parietal cell library with a 3.2-kb segment of AKAP350 (nucleotides 3611-6813). This screen yielded a full-length clone of rabbit chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1). CLIC1 belongs to a family of proteins, all of which contain a high degree of homology in their carboxyl termini. All CLIC family members were able to bind a 133-amino acid domain within AKAP350 through the last 120 amino acids in the conserved CLIC carboxyl termini. Antibodies developed against a bovine CLIC, p64, immunoprecipitated AKAP350 from HCA-7 colonic adenocarcinoma cell extracts. Antibodies against CLIC proteins recognized at least five CLIC species including a novel 46-kDa CLIC protein. We isolated the human homologue of bovine p64, CLIC5B, from HCA-7 cell cDNA. A splice variant of CLIC5, the predicted molecular mass of CLIC5B corresponds to the molecular mass of the 46-kDa CLIC immunoreactive protein in HCA-7 cells. Antibodies against CLIC5B colocalized with AKAP350 at the Golgi apparatus with minor staining of the centrosomes. AKAP350 and CLIC5B association with Golgi elements was lost following brefeldin A treatment. Furthermore, GFP-CLIC5B-(178-410) targeted to the Golgi apparatus in HCA-7 cells. The results suggest that AKAP350 associates with CLIC proteins and specifically that CLIC5B interacts with AKAP350 at the Golgi apparatus in HCA-7 cells.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗

PubMed2002

Hepatocyte membrane water permeability measured by silicone layer filtering centrifugation.

We previously found that hepatocytes are able to control their osmotic membrane water permeability (P(f)) by regulating the number of surface aquaporin water channels. Hepatocyte P(f) has been assessed by phase-contrast microscopy and cell image analysis, an established but relatively laborious procedure. We report here an alternative method to assess hepatocyte P(f) based on a single silicone layer filtering centrifugation system. Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated in hypotonic or isotonic buffers containing (3)H(2)O as a tracer and, then, were filtered by rapid centrifugation through a silicone layer down to a lysis layer. Osmotically driven radioactivity (i.e., (3)H(2)O) within hepatocytes was calculated as the difference between the dpm in lysis media measured under hypotonic and isotonic conditions. The P(f) calculated from the initial slope of the radioactivity-versus-time curve was 18 microm/s at 4 degrees C. Hepatocytes treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, to increase P(f) through the plasma membrane insertion of aquaporins, showed an increased P(f) value of 37 microm/s. The aquaporin blocker dimethyl sulfoxide selectively prevented the agonist-induced hepatocyte P(f). These data are in good agreement with the corresponding values determined by quantitative phase-contrast microscopy; thus, the method developed allows the rapid and reliable measurement of hepatocyte P(f).

Animals↗