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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Caveolae/lipid rafts in fibroblast-like synoviocytes: ectopeptidase-rich membrane microdomains.

Membrane peptidases play important roles in cell activation, proliferation and communication. Human fibroblast-like synoviocytes express considerable amounts of aminopeptidase N/CD13, dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26, and neprilysin/CD10, transmembrane proteins previously proposed to be involved in the regulation of intra-articular levels of neuropeptides and chemotactic mediators as well as in adhesion and cell-cell interactions. Here, we report these peptidases in synoviocytes to be localized predominantly in glycolipid- and cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains known as 'rafts'. At the ultrastructural level, aminopeptidase N/CD13 and dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26 were found in caveolae, in particular in intracellular yet surface-connected vesicle-like structures and 'rosettes' made up of several caveolae. In addition, clusters of peptidases were seen at the cell surface in flat patches ranging in size from about 60 to 160 nm. Cholesterol depletion of synoviocytes by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin disrupted >90% of the caveolae and reduced the raft localization of aminopeptidase N/CD13 without affecting Ala-p-nitroanilide-cleaving activity of confluent cell cultures. In co-culture experiments with T-lymphocytes, cholesterol depletion of synoviocytes greatly reduced their capability to induce an early lymphocytic expression of aminopeptidase N/CD13. We propose caveolae/rafts to be peptidase-rich 'hot-spot' regions of the synoviocyte plasma membrane required for functional cell-cell interactions with lymphocytes. The peptidases may act in concert with other types of proteins such as receptors and signal transducers localized in these specialized membrane domains.

Blotting, Western↗

Cholesterol-dependent gamma-secretase activity in buoyant cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains.

Buoyant membrane fractions containing presenilin 1 (PS1), an essential component of the gamma-secretase complex, and APP CTFbeta, a gamma-secretase substrate, can be isolated from cultured cells and brain by several different fractionation procedures that are compatible with in vitro gamma-secretase assays. Analysis of these gradients for amyloid beta protein (Abeta) and CTFgamma production indicated that gamma-secretase activity is predominantly localized in these buoyant membrane microdomains. Consistent with this localization, we find that gamma-secretase activity is cholesterol dependent. Depletion of membrane cholesterol completely inhibits gamma-secretase cleavage, which can be restored by cholesterol replacement. Thus, altering cholesterol levels may influence the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by influencing production and deposition of Abeta within cholesterol rich membrane microdomains.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Cholesterol-dependent localization of NAP-22 on a neuronal membrane microdomain (raft).

A membrane microdomain called raft has been under extensive study since the assembly of various signal-transducing molecules into this region has been envisaged. This domain is isolated as a low buoyant membrane fraction after the extraction with a nonionic detergent such as Triton X-100. The characteristic low density of this fraction is ascribed to the enrichment of several lipids including cholesterol. To clear the molecular mechanism of raft formation, several extraction methods were applied to solubilize raft components. Cholesterol extraction using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin was found to be effective to solubilize NAP-22, a neuron-enriched Ca(2+)-dependent calmodulin-binding protein as well as one of the main protein components of brain raft. Purified NAP-22 bound to the liposomes that were made from phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. This binding was dependent on the amount of cholesterol in liposomes. Calmodulin inhibited this binding in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the presence of a calcium-dependent regulatory mechanism works on the assembly of raft within the neuron.

Animals↗

CD4 segregates into specific detergent-resistant T-cell membrane microdomains.

In T cells, glycolipids, glycoproteins attached to the membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, and Src-like tyrosine kinases are highly enriched in a membrane fraction resistant to solubilization by nonionic detergents. We have investigated the distribution of CD4 in T-cell membranes and found that approximately 10% of the CD4 co-receptor is associated with detergent-insoluble membrane microdomains, whilst the remaining 90% is in soluble membranes. Moreover, approximately 60% of the "insoluble CD4" is present in membrane microdomains containing GPI-anchored proteins and high glycolipid-dependent kinase activity, whereas the remaining 40% displays no association with GPI-anchored proteins and lacks glycolipid-associated kinase activity These results indicate that CD4 segregates at least into three different membrane microenvironments: 1) soluble membranes; 2) insoluble membrane microdomains containing GPI-anchored proteins; and 3) insoluble membrane microdomains devoid of GPI-anchored proteins. The level of CD4 in insoluble membranes was not modified upon triggering activation by T-cell receptor-crosslinking but detectable amounts of CD3 subunits were recruited into these specialized membranes under those conditions. The physical separation of CD4 into different membrane microenvironments raises the possibility of that some of the multiple functions of CD4 might segregate into distinct types of lipid microenvironment. The fact that components of T-cell receptor/CD3 complex were recruited into insoluble membranes upon stimulation is consistent with the CD4 present in this membrane fraction might participate in T-cell receptor-triggered activation events.

Animals↗

Identification of low-density Triton X-100-insoluble plasma membrane microdomains in higher plants.

Low density Triton X-100-insoluble plasma membrane microdomains can be isolated from different mammalian cell types and are proposed to be involved in membrane trafficking, cell morphogenesis and signal transduction. Heterotrimeric G-proteins and their receptors are often associated with such domains, suggesting that these structures are involved in G-protein-coupled signaling. Here we report that detergent-insoluble plasma membrane microdomains also exist in higher plants and contain about 15% of membrane-bound heterotrimeric G-protein beta-subunit (Gbeta). Plasma membrane microdomains were isolated from tobacco leaves. They have low buoyant density relative to the surrounding plasma membrane, and are insoluble in Triton X-100 at 4 degrees C. Detergent-insoluble vesicles were examined by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. They have sizes in the range 100-400 nm, and often contain aggregated protein complexes. The majority of plasma membrane proteins cannot be detected in the Triton X-100-insoluble fraction, while few polypeptides are highly enriched. We identified six proteins with molecular masses of 22, 28, 35, 60, 67 and 94 kDa in detergent-insoluble fractions that are glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored.

Cell Membrane↗

Localization of neuronal growth-associated, microtubule-destabilizing factor SCG10 in brain-derived raft membrane microdomains.

Raft is a mobile membrane subdomain enriched in sphingolipid and cholesterol and also various signaling molecules. Previous observation suggested that brain-derived rafts contain tubulin but that rafts of non-neural origin do not. We hypothesized that SCG10, one of the neuronal growth-associated proteins (nGAPs), might be a neuron-specific molecule that anchors tubulin to neuronal rafts, and we explored biochemically its subcellular localization, interaction with tubulin, and effects on microtubule dynamics. In postnatal rat brain extracts, SCG10 was recovered mostly in membrane-associated fractions, and at least half was included in the raft fraction that was also enriched in GAP-43 and NAP-22. SCG10-enriched brain rafts also contained tubulin, and chemical cross-linking experiments revealed that SCG10 was closely associated with tubulin. In addition, SCG10 was able to inhibit polymerization of tubulin. These results indicate that SCG10 is a component of neuronal rafts as are other nGAPs, and suggest that SCG10 may be involved in signaling events in membranes for cytoskeletal reorganization around neuronal rafts.

Animals↗

Lipid rafts and little caves. Compartmentalized signalling in membrane microdomains.

Lipid rafts are liquid-ordered membrane microdomains with a unique protein and lipid composition found on the plasma membrane of most, if not all, mammalian cells. A large number of signalling molecules are concentrated within rafts, which have been proposed to function as signalling centres capable of facilitating efficient and specific signal transduction. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the composition, structure, and dynamic nature of lipid rafts, as well as a number of different signalling pathways that are compartmentalized within these microdomains. Potential mechanisms through which lipid rafts carry out their specialized role in signalling are discussed in light of recent experimental evidence.

Animals↗

Multimerization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag promotes its localization to barges, raft-like membrane microdomains.

The Gag polyprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) organizes the assembly of nascent virions at the plasma membrane of infected cells. Here we demonstrate that a population of Gag is present in distinct raft-like membrane microdomains that we have termed "barges." Barges have a higher density than standard rafts, most likely due to the presence of oligomeric Gag-Gag assembly complexes. The regions of the Gag protein responsible for barge targeting were mapped by examining the flotation behavior of wild-type and mutant proteins on Optiprep density gradients. N-myristoylation of Gag was necessary for association with barges. Removal of the NC and p6 domains shifted much of the Gag from barges into typical raft fractions. These data are consistent with a model in which multimerization of myristoylated Gag proteins drives association of Gag oligomers into raft-like barges. The functional significance of barge association was revealed by several lines of evidence. First, Gag isolated from virus-like particles was almost entirely localized in barges. Moreover, a comparison of wild-type Gag with Fyn(10)Gag, a chimeric protein containing the N-terminal sequence of Fyn, revealed that Fyn(10)Gag exhibited increased affinity for barges and a two- to fourfold increase in particle production. These results imply that association of Gag with raft-like barge membrane microdomains plays an important role in the HIV-1 assembly process.

Animals↗

Recent advances in membrane microdomains: rafts, caveolae, and intracellular cholesterol trafficking.

Cellular cholesterol homeostasis is a balance of influx, catabolism and synthesis, and efflux. Unlike vascular lipoprotein cholesterol transport, intracellular cholesterol trafficking is only beginning to be resolved. Exogenous cholesterol and cholesterol ester enter cells via the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor/lysosomal and less so by nonvesicular, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor/caveolar pathways. However, the mechanism(s) whereby cholesterol enters the lysosomal membrane, translocates, and transfers out of the lysosome to the cell interior are unknown. Likewise, the steps whereby cholesterol enters the cytofacial leaflet of the plasma membrane caveolae, rapidly translocates, leaves the exofacial leaflet, and transfers to extracellular HDL are unclear. Increasing evidence obtained with model and isolated cell membranes, transfected cells, genetic mutants, and gene-ablated mice suggests that proteins such as caveolin, sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2), Niemann-Pick C1 protein, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and other intracellular proteins mediate intracellular cholesterol transfer. While these proteins bind cholesterol and/or interact with cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains (e.g., caveolae, rafts, and annuli), their relative contributions to direct molecular versus vesicular cholesterol transfer remain to be resolved. The formation, regulation, and role of membrane microdomains in regulating cholesterol uptake/efflux and trafficking are unclear. Some cholesterol-binding proteins exert opposing effects on cellular cholesterol uptake/efflux, transfer of cholesterol out of the lysosomal membrane, and/or intracellular cholesterol trafficking to select membranous organelles. Resolving these cholesterol pathways and the role of membrane cholesterol microdomains is essential to our understanding not only of processes that affect cholesterol metabolism, but also of the abnormal regulation that may lead to disease (diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, neutral lipid storage, Niemann-Pick C, congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia, etc.).

Animals↗

Active Lyn protein tyrosine kinase is selectively enriched within membrane microdomains of resting platelets.

Circulating platelets are primed to respond very rapidly to thrombogenic stimuli, but most platelets complete their lifespan without ever becoming activated. Platelet activation is accompanied by waves of sequential tyrosine phosphorylation thought to involve members of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). We show here that resting platelets contain highly active pp53/56(Lyn) PTK within membrane microdomains (rafts) isolated biochemically with or without the use of detergent. This fraction is also greatly enriched in the transmembrane glycoprotein CD36, known to associate with Lyn PTK, but in transfection studies we could find no evidence to suggest that CD36 affects the distribution or function of Lyn. Upon platelet activation Lyn activity remains constant or diminishes and pp60(c-src) PTK within this fraction becomes highly activated, indicating the dynamic nature of the membrane microdomains. It is suggested that the function of active Lyn PTK in the resting platelet is to allow prolonged survival of this anucleate cell.

Animals↗

Changes in membrane microdomains and caveolae constituents in multidrug-resistant cancer cells.

Cancer chemotherapy often fails because of the development of tumors which are resistant to most commonly used cytotoxic drugs. This phenomenon, multidrug resistance (MDR), is usually mediated by overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATPase that pumps out the drugs used in chemotherapy, thereby preventing their accumulation in cancer cells and greatly reducing their cytotoxic efficacy. A large body of work indicates that MDR is associated also with marked changes in membrane lipid composition. Most notably, elevated levels of cholesterol, glycosphingolipids (e.g., glucosylceramide), and sphingomyelin have been reported. These lipids are enriched in caveolae and in membrane microdomains termed detergent-insoluble glycosphingolipid-enriched complexes (DIGs). Recently we demonstrated that in multidrug-resistant tumor cells there is a dramatic increase in the number of caveolae and in the level of caveolin-1, an essential structural constituent of caveolae. Another constituent of membrane microdomains, phospholipase D, is also elevated in MDR cells. These findings may be related to the fact that a significant fraction of cellular P-gp is associated with caveolin-rich membrane domains. The possible role of DIGs and caveolae in the acquisition and/or maintenance of the multidrug resistant phenotype is discussed.

Animals↗

Clostridium difficile toxins disrupt epithelial barrier function by altering membrane microdomain localization of tight junction proteins.

The anaerobic bacterium Clostridium difficile is the etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis. C. difficile toxins TcdA and TcdB are UDP-glucosyltransferases that monoglucosylate and thereby inactivate the Rho family of GTPases (W. P. Ciesla, Jr., and D. A. Bobak, J. Biol. Chem. 273:16021-16026, 1998). We utilized purified reference toxins of C. difficile, TcdA-10463 (TcdA) and TcdB-10463 (TcdB), and a model intestinal epithelial cell line to characterize their influence on tight-junction (TJ) organization and hence to analyze the mechanisms by which they contribute to the enhanced paracellular permeability and disease pathophysiology of pseudomembranous colitis. The increase in paracellular permeability induced by TcdA and TcdB was associated with disorganization of apical and basal F-actin. F-actin restructuring was paralleled by dissociation of occludin, ZO-1, and ZO-2 from the lateral TJ membrane without influencing the subjacent adherens junction protein, E-cadherin. In addition, we observed decreased association of actin with the TJ cytoplasmic plaque protein ZO-1. Differential detergent extraction and fractionation in sucrose density gradients revealed TcdB-induced redistribution of occludin and ZO-1 from detergent-insoluble fractions constituting "raft-like" membrane microdomains, suggesting an important role of Rho proteins in maintaining the association of TJ proteins with such microdomains. These toxin-mediated effects on actin and TJ structure provide a mechanism for early events in the pathophysiology of pseudomembranous colitis.

Actins↗

LAT palmitoylation: its essential role in membrane microdomain targeting and tyrosine phosphorylation during T cell activation.

The linker molecule LAT is a critical substrate of the tyrosine kinases activated upon TCR engagement. Phosphorylated LAT binds Grb2, PLC-gamma1, and other signaling molecules. We demonstrate that human LAT is palmitoylated and that palmitoylated LAT predominantly localizes into glycolipid-enriched microdomains (GEMs). Although the LAT transmembrane domain is sufficient for membrane localization, palmitoylation at C26 and C29 is essential for efficient partitioning into GEMs. LAT palmitoylation is necessary for its tyrosine phosphorylation. After T cell activation, most tyrosine-phosphorylated LAT molecules and a fraction of PLC-gamma1 and other signaling molecules are present in GEMs. LAT is central to T cell activation and is a novel linker molecule shown to require targeting to membrane microdomains for signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Detergent-resistant membrane microdomains and apical sorting of GPI-anchored proteins in polarized epithelial cells.

Detergent-insoluble microdomains or rafts play a crucial role in many cellular functions: membrane traffic, cell signalling and human diseases. In this work we investigate the role of rafts in the sorting of GPI-anchored proteins in polarized epithelial cells. In contrast to MDCK cells, the majority of endogenous GPI-anchored proteins are sorted to the basolateral surface of Fischer rat thyroid cells (Zurzolo et al., J. Cell Biol. 121, 1031-1039, 1993). We analyzed a set of transfected GPI proteins in order to understand the role of the GPI anchor and of association with rafts for apical sorting. We found that the GPI moiety is necessary but not sufficient for apical sorting of GPI proteins and that the ectodomain has a major role. We propose a new model in which the stabilization of proteins into rafts, probably mediated by interactions between protein ectodomains and a putative receptor, plays a crucial role in apical sorting.

Animals↗

Biochemical isolation of a membrane microdomain from resting platelets highly enriched in the plasma membrane glycoprotein CD36.

Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction isolated from lysates of platelets by flotation in sucrose gradients. Transmission electron microscopy of the insoluble material revealed a heterogeneous population of vesicles ranging in size from 20 to 1000 nm, and Western blot analyses of platelet lysates for the caveolae structural coat protein, caveolin/VIP21, were negative. Biochemical characterization of the Triton X-100-insoluble fraction showed it to be cholesterol-rich, greatly and specifically enriched in the plasma membrane glycoprotein CD36, and also to contain Src and the Src-related kinase, Lyn. CD36 within this fraction is shown to be palmitoylated, but the fraction itself is not generally enriched in palmitoylated platelet proteins. These results suggest that this fraction represents caveolin-negative, CD36-rich microdomains in the resting platelet membrane. CD36 can form associations with certain Src-related kinases and can signal to activate platelets. These results suggest the possibility that such microdomains are implicated in platelet activation.

Blood Platelets↗

Distinct patterns of membrane microdomain partitioning in Th1 and th2 cells.

Here we show that activated Th1 and Th2 cells have distinct patterns of membrane compartmentalization into lipid rafts. TCR complex members are recruited efficiently to rafts and aggregate with rafts at the site of MHC/peptide contact in Th1 cells but not Th2 cells. TCR/raft association in Th1 cells is deficient in the absence of CD4, suggesting that CD4 aids recruitment of the TCR to rafts. We show differential utilization of rafts in Th1 and Th2 cells by cholesterol depletion studies, which alters calcium signaling in Th1 but not Th2 cells. Furthermore, Th2 cells have a decreased ability to respond to low-affinity peptide stimulation. These studies indicate that components of membrane microdomains are differentially regulated in functionally distinct CD4 T cells.

Animals↗

Recruitment of CD40 and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors 2 and 3 to membrane microdomains during CD40 signaling.

Signals delivered to antigen-presenting cells through CD40 are critical for the activation of immune responses. Intracellular tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) are key elements of the signal transduction pathways of many TNF receptor family members, including CD40. We show for the first time that engagement of CD40 in intact B cells induces the rapid translocation of TRAF2 from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane. We found that CD40 engagement also results in its recruitment, together with TRAF2 and TRAF3, to membrane microdomains, regions of the plasma membrane enriched in signaling molecules such as the Src family kinases. Using a membrane-permeable chelator of zinc or a mutant TRAF2 molecule, we show that the putative zinc-binding domains of TRAFs contribute to their recruitment to microdomains and to the downstream activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. We suggest that the zinc RING and zinc finger domains of TRAFs are required for communication between CD40 and microdomain-associated signaling molecules and may serve a similar role in the signal transduction pathways of other TNF receptor family members.

Animals↗

Myofibroblast differentiation: plasma membrane microdomains and cell phenotype.

Myofibroblast differentiation characterizes a prominent cellular phenotype identified in experimental models of progressive kidney disease and human kidney biopsies. Mesangial cells, tubulointerstitial fibroblasts and, perhaps, tubular epithelial cells undergo myofibroblast differentiation, a process characterized by alpha-actin expression, synthesis of interstitial collagens and a growth response. Inhibition of myofibroblast differentiation could prevent kidney disease progression but may be difficult to accomplish, since inhibition of multiple signaling pathways would be required. Cell biology advances have enabled a better understanding of how information from many microenvironmental stimuli are integrated by spatial compartmentalization of extracellular receptors and cytosolic signaling molecules within specialized plasma membrane domains, such as focal adhesions and lipid rafts. We review this information and hypothesize that myofibroblast differentiation of renal cells can only proceed if the spatial arrangement of intracellular molecules, in large part determined by extracellular matrix-regulated cytoskeletal organization, permits activation of appropriate signaling pathways by soluble molecules interacting with receptors in specialized plasma membrane microdomains. If proven, this hypothesis suggests targeting key molecules within adhesion complexes and rafts (in some cases with drugs that are already clinically available) may provide more effective therapy for kidney disease progression.

Animals↗