Biomedical subjects

Won Jin Cho

Publications and source records attributed to Won Jin Cho.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cholesterol is critical to the integrity of neuronal porosome/fusion pore.

Secretion is one of the most fundamental cellular processes. Porosomes have been demonstrated as the universal secretory machinery in cells. Earlier studies determine the presence of a number of proteins in porosomes, among them the N- and P/Q-type calcium channels, actin, syntaxin-1, synaptotagmin-1, vimentin, the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), the chloride channel CLC-3, and the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein G(o). Studies demonstrate that t-SNAREs localize at the base of porosomes, and directly interact with calcium channels. In the present study, we demonstrate that Syntaxin-1 co-localizes with cholesterol in solubilized synaptosomal membrane preparations. Depletion of cholesterol, results in the dissociation of both Syntaxin-1 and N-type calcium channel from neuronal porosomes. Thus, cholesterol participates as an integral component of the neuronal porosome complex, and is required for its stability.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Secretory vesicles in live cells are not free-floating but tethered to filamentous structures: a study using photonic force microscopy.

It is well established that actin and microtubule cytoskeletal systems are involved in organelle transport and membrane trafficking in cells. This is also true for the transport of secretory vesicles in neuroendocrine cells and neurons. It was however unclear whether secretory vesicles remain free-floating, only to associate with such cytoskeletal systems when needing transport. This hypothesis was tested using live pancreatic acinar cells in physiological buffer solutions, using the photonic force microscope (PFM). When membrane-bound secretory vesicles (0.2-1.2 microm in diameter) in live pancreatic acinar cells were trapped at the laser focus of the PFM and pulled, they were all found tethered to filamentous structures. Mild exposure of cells to nocodazole and cytochalasin B, disrupts the tether. Immunoblot analysis of isolated secretory vesicles, further demonstrated the association of actin, myosin V, and kinesin. These studies demonstrate for the first time that secretory vesicles in live pancreatic acinar cells are tethered and not free-floating, suggesting that following vesicle biogenesis, they are placed on their own railroad track, ready to be transported to their final destination within the cell when required. This makes sense, since precision and regulation are the hallmarks of all cellular process, and therefore would hold true for the transport and localization of subcellular organelles such as secretory vesicles.

Actins↗

PubMed2006

Energy-dependent disassembly of self-assembled SNARE complex: observation at nanometer resolution using atomic force microscopy.

Full-length v-SNARE protein reconstituted in lipid vesicles, when exposed to t-SNARE-reconstituted lipid membrane, results in the self-assembly of a t-/v-SNARE complex in a ring pattern, forming pores and the establishment of continuity between the opposing bilayers. In contrast, when v-SNARE protein alone (without liposomes) is exposed to t-SNARE-reconstituted lipid membrane, they also self-assemble to form t-/v-SNARE complexes, although such complexes fail to possess the characteristic ring pattern, nor do they help in the establishment of continuity between the opposing bilayers. Hence, t-SNAREs and v-SNARE need to be membrane-associated to interact in a circular array to form conducting pores in the presence of calcium. This study demonstrates that, irrespective of their arrangement, both forms of the SNARE complex can be disassembled in the presence of NSF-ATP.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2005

Size of supramolecular SNARE complex: membrane-directed self-assembly.

Full length v-SNARE protein in lipid vesicles when exposed to t-SNARE-reconstituted lipid membrane results in the self-assembly of a t-/v-SNARE complex in a ring pattern, forming pores, and establishing continuity between the opposing bilayers. It is known that smaller vesicles fuse more efficiently than larger ones, and hence the curvature of secretory vesicles may dictate the potency and efficacy of their fusion at the cell plasma membrane. The diameter of t- and v-SNARE vesicles may, therefore, reflect the size of the t-/v-SNARE complex formed. In the present study, this hypothesis was tested, and results from the study demonstrate that the size of the t-/v-SNARE complex is directly proportional to the vesicle diameter (R2 = 0.9725).

Lipid Bilayers↗

PubMed2005

Interaction between cationic surfactants and montmorillonites under nonequilibrium condition.

Surfactant adsorption by two different montmorillonites was characterized by examining the time dependence of surfactant behavior on clay surfaces. Surfactants with different micelle concentrations were conducted in our experiment to observe a nonequilibrium activity of cationic surfactant on the clay over reaction periods ranging from 0.1 min to 11 days. Compared with Ca-montmorillonite (SAz), a more active intrusion of surfactant molecules into the interlayers was found in Na-montmorillonite (SWy). During a short "initiation" stage, the basal spacing of SWy montmorillonite increased rapidly with logarithmic time. For SAz montmorillonite, however, the abrupt basal spacing increase occurred at a later stage of the reaction. From the results, it is assumed that the difference in the adsorption behavior exhibited by the two montmorillonite types partly arises from their intrinsic nature; that is, inorganic cations originally existed on the clay surfaces. Additionally, the micelle concentration of the surfactants affects the development of organomontmorillonite, especially in the intercalant formation and stabilization under nonequilibrium.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Involvement of water channels in synaptic vesicle swelling.

Vesicle swelling is critical for secretion; however, the underlying mechanism of synaptic vesicle (SV) swelling is unknown. A G alphai3-phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-mediated involvement of the water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) in the regulation of secretory vesicle swelling in the exocrine pancreas has been previously reported. In the present study, the association and involvement of water channels in SV swelling was explored. Results from the study demonstrate that water channels AQP1 and AQP6, and the heterotrimeric Go protein are associated with SVs and participate in their swelling.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Structure, isolation, composition and reconstitution of the neuronal fusion pore.

Neuronal communication is dependent on the fusion of 40-50 nm in diameter synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters, at the presynaptic membrane. Here we report for the first time at 5-8A resolution, the presence of 8-10 nm in diameter cup-shaped neuronal fusion pores or porosomes at the presynaptic membrane, where synaptic vesicles dock and fuse to release neurotransmitters. The structure, isolation, composition, and functional reconstitution of porosomes present at the nerve terminal are described. These findings reveal the molecular mechanism of neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic membrane of nerve terminals.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Vesicle swelling regulates content expulsion during secretion.

The involvement of secretory vesicle swelling has been proposed in secretion; however, little is known about its role. Using both the pancreatic acinar cell and neuronal model, we show secretory vesicle swelling in live cells. Our study reveals that vesicle swelling potentiates its fusion at the cell plasma membrane, and is required for expulsion of intravesicular contents. Since the extent of swelling is directly proportional to the amount of vesicular contents expelled, this provides cells with the ability to regulate release of secretory products. These direct observations of the requirement of secretory vesicle swelling in secretion, provides an understanding of the appearance of partially empty vesicles following the process.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Direct interaction between SNAP-23 and L-type Ca2+ channel.

During secretion, membrane-bound secretory vesicles dock and fuse at the base of porosomes in the cell plasma membrane. Among other proteins, the porosome is composed of SNAREs and Ca2+-channels. Ca2+-channels and SNAREs have been implicated in cell secretion. Several immunoprecipitation and binding studies suggest the physical interaction of the t-SNARE proteins, Syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25 with various Ca2+-channels. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid and immunoanalysis, we demonstrate for the first time, direct interaction of SNAP-23 and a L-type Ca2+-channel at the plasma membrane in pancreas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗