Compartmentalized signalling of Ras

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.R. Philips
Keyword(s):  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Hypervariable Region ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Outer Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Ras Proteins ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Transient Activation ◽  
Sustained Activation

Ras proteins associate with cellular membranes by virtue of a series of post-translational modifications of their C-terminal CAAX sequences. The discovery that two of the three enzymes that modify CAAX proteins are restricted to the endoplasmic reticulum led to the recognition that all nascent Ras proteins transit endomembranes en route to the PM (plasma membrane) and that at steady-state N-Ras and H-Ras are highly expressed on the Golgi apparatus. To test the hypothesis that Ras proteins on internal membranes can signal, we developed a fluorescent probe that reports when and where in living cells Ras becomes active. We found that growth factors stimulated rapid and transient activation of Ras on the PM followed by delayed and sustained activation on the Golgi. We mapped one pathway responsible for this activity as involving PLCγ (phospholipase Cγ)/DAG (diacylglycerol)+Ca2+/RasGRP1. Using mammalian cells and fission yeast, we have shown that differential localization of activated Ras preferentially activates distinct signalling pathways. In very recent work, we have found that (i) the subcellular localization of K-Ras can be acutely modulated by phosphorylation of its C-terminal hypervariable region by PKC, (ii) among the membranes upon which phosphorylated K-Ras accumulates is the outer mitochondrial membrane and (iii) phosphorylated, internalized K-Ras promotes apoptosis. Thus the signalling output of Ras depends on its subcellular localization.

scholarly journals Applications of In-Cell NMR in Structural Biology and Drug Discovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
CongBao Kang
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Nmr Studies ◽  
Post Translational Modifications

In-cell nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a method to provide the structural information of a target at an atomic level under physiological conditions and a full view of the conformational changes of a protein caused by ligand binding, post-translational modifications or protein–protein interactions in living cells. Previous in-cell NMR studies have focused on proteins that were overexpressed in bacterial cells and isotopically labeled proteins injected into oocytes of Xenopus laevis or delivered into human cells. Applications of in-cell NMR in probing protein modifications, conformational changes and ligand bindings have been carried out in mammalian cells by monitoring isotopically labeled proteins overexpressed in living cells. The available protocols and successful examples encourage wide applications of this technique in different fields such as drug discovery. Despite the challenges in this method, progress has been made in recent years. In this review, applications of in-cell NMR are summarized. The successful applications of this method in mammalian and bacterial cells make it feasible to play important roles in drug discovery, especially in the step of target engagement.

Single-Molecule Imaging of Active Mitochondrial Nitroreductases using a Photo-Crosslinking Fluorescent Sensor

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zacharias Thiel ◽  
Pablo Rivera-Fuentes
Keyword(s):  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Fluorescent Probe ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Sensor ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Localization Microscopy ◽  
Drug Activation ◽  
Nitroreductase Activity ◽  
Single Molecule Localization Microscopy

Many biomacromolecules are known to cluster in microdomains with specific subcellular localization. In the case of enzymes, this clustering greatly defines their biological functions. Nitroreductases are enzymes capable of reducing nitro groups to amines and play a role in detoxification and pro-drug activation. Although nitroreductase activity has been detected in mammalian cells, the subcellular localization of this activity remains incompletely characterized. Here, we report a fluorescent probe that enables super-resolved imaging of pools of nitroreductase activity within mitochondria. This probe is activated sequentially by nitroreductases and light to give a photo-crosslinked adduct of active enzymes. In combination with a general photoactivatable marker of mitochondria, we performed two-color, threedimensional, single-molecule localization microscopy. These experiments allowed us to image the sub-mitochondrial organization of microdomains of nitroreductase activity.<br>

Single-Molecule Imaging of Active Mitochondrial Nitroreductases using a Photo-Crosslinking Fluorescent Sensor

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zacharias Thiel ◽  
Pablo Rivera-Fuentes
Keyword(s):  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Fluorescent Probe ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Sensor ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Localization Microscopy ◽  
Drug Activation ◽  
Nitroreductase Activity ◽  
Single Molecule Localization Microscopy

Many biomacromolecules are known to cluster in microdomains with specific subcellular localization. In the case of enzymes, this clustering greatly defines their biological functions. Nitroreductases are enzymes capable of reducing nitro groups to amines and play a role in detoxification and pro-drug activation. Although nitroreductase activity has been detected in mammalian cells, the subcellular localization of this activity remains incompletely characterized. Here, we report a fluorescent probe that enables super-resolved imaging of pools of nitroreductase activity within mitochondria. This probe is activated sequentially by nitroreductases and light to give a photo-crosslinked adduct of active enzymes. In combination with a general photoactivatable marker of mitochondria, we performed two-color, threedimensional, single-molecule localization microscopy. These experiments allowed us to image the sub-mitochondrial organization of microdomains of nitroreductase activity.<br>

scholarly journals A Novel Nanobody Precisely Visualizes Phosphorylated Histone H2AX in Living Cancer Cells under Drug-Induced Replication Stress

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3317
Author(s):  
Eric Moeglin ◽  
Dominique Desplancq ◽  
Audrey Stoessel ◽  
Christian Massute ◽  
Jeremy Ranniger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Chromatin Modification ◽  
Replication Stress ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Histone H2ax ◽  
C Terminus

Histone H2AX phosphorylated at serine 139 (γ-H2AX) is a hallmark of DNA damage, signaling the presence of DNA double-strand breaks and global replication stress in mammalian cells. While γ-H2AX can be visualized with antibodies in fixed cells, its detection in living cells was so far not possible. Here, we used immune libraries and phage display to isolate nanobodies that specifically bind to γ-H2AX. We solved the crystal structure of the most soluble nanobody in complex with the phosphopeptide corresponding to the C-terminus of γ-H2AX and show the atomic constituents behind its specificity. We engineered a bivalent version of this nanobody and show that bivalency is essential to quantitatively visualize γ-H2AX in fixed drug-treated cells. After labelling with a chemical fluorophore, we were able to detect γ-H2AX in a single-step assay with the same sensitivity as with validated antibodies. Moreover, we produced fluorescent nanobody-dTomato fusion proteins and applied a transduction strategy to visualize with precision γ-H2AX foci present in intact living cells following drug treatment. Together, this novel tool allows performing fast screenings of genotoxic drugs and enables to study the dynamics of this particular chromatin modification in individual cancer cells under a variety of conditions.

scholarly journals Trends in SPR Cytometry: Advances in Label-Free Detection of Cell Parameters

Biosensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Schasfoort ◽  
Fikri Abali ◽  
Ivan Stojanovic ◽  
Gestur Vidarsson ◽  
Leon Terstappen
Keyword(s):  
Surface Plasmon Resonance ◽  
Surface Plasmon ◽  
Plasmon Resonance ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Cell Parameters ◽  
Spr Imaging ◽  
Label Free Detection

SPR cytometry entails the measurement of parameters from intact cells using the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon. Specific real-time and label-free binding of living cells to sensor surfaces has been made possible through the availability of SPR imaging (SPRi) instruments and researchers have started to explore its potential in the last decade. Here we will discuss the mechanisms of detection and additionally describe the problems and issues of mammalian cells in SPR biosensing, both from our own experience and with information from the literature. Finally, we build on the knowledge and applications that has already materialized in this field to give a forecast of some exciting applications for SPRi cytometry.

scholarly journals E2F activity is regulated by cell cycle-dependent changes in subcellular localization.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 7268-7282 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Verona ◽  
K Moberg ◽  
S Estes ◽  
M Starz ◽  
J P Vernon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Nuclear Localization ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Restriction Point ◽  
Cycle Dependent ◽  
Almost All

E2F directs the cell cycle-dependent expression of genes that induce or regulate the cell division process. In mammalian cells, this transcriptional activity arises from the combined properties of multiple E2F-DP heterodimers. In this study, we show that the transcriptional potential of individual E2F species is dependent upon their nuclear localization. This is a constitutive property of E2F-1, -2, and -3, whereas the nuclear localization of E2F-4 is dependent upon its association with other nuclear factors. We previously showed that E2F-4 accounts for the majority of endogenous E2F species. We now show that the subcellular localization of E2F-4 is regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner that results in the differential compartmentalization of the various E2F complexes. Consequently, in cycling cells, the majority of the p107-E2F, p130-E2F, and free E2F complexes remain in the cytoplasm. In contrast, almost all of the nuclear E2F activity is generated by pRB-E2F. This complex is present at high levels during G1 but disappears once the cells have passed the restriction point. Surprisingly, dissociation of this complex causes little increase in the levels of nuclear free E2F activity. This observation suggests that the repressive properties of the pRB-E2F complex play a critical role in establishing the temporal regulation of E2F-responsive genes. How the differential subcellular localization of pRB, p107, and p130 contributes to their different biological properties is also discussed.

Subcellular localization and function of mouse radial spoke protein 3 in mammalian cells and central nervous system

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 723-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinde Hu ◽  
Runchuan Yan ◽  
Lingzhen Song ◽  
Xi Lu ◽  
Shulin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Radial Spoke ◽  
And Function

scholarly journals Heterologous expression and purification of recombinant human protoporphyrinogen oxidase IX: A comparative study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259837
Author(s):  
Zora Novakova ◽  
Daria Khuntsaria ◽  
Marketa Gresova ◽  
Jana Mikesova ◽  
Barbora Havlinova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heterologous Expression ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase ◽  
Intracellular Targeting ◽  
Alternative Systems ◽  
Protein Functions ◽  
The Impact

Human protoporphyrinogen oxidase IX (hPPO) is an oxygen-dependent enzyme catalyzing the penultimate step in the heme biosynthesis pathway. Mutations in the enzyme are linked to variegate porphyria, an autosomal dominant metabolic disease. Here we investigated eukaryotic cells as alternative systems for heterologous expression of hPPO, as the use of a traditional bacterial-based system failed to produce several clinically relevant hPPO variants. Using bacterially-produced hPPO, we first analyzed the impact of N-terminal tags and various detergent on hPPO yield, and specific activity. Next, the established protocol was used to compare hPPO constructs heterologously expressed in mammalian HEK293T17 and insect Hi5 cells with prokaryotic overexpression. By attaching various fusion partners at the N- and C-termini of hPPO we also evaluated the influence of the size and positioning of fusion partners on expression levels, specific activity, and intracellular targeting of hPPO fusions in mammalian cells. Overall, our results suggest that while enzymatically active hPPO can be heterologously produced in eukaryotic systems, the limited availability of the intracellular FAD co-factor likely negatively influences yields of a correctly folded protein making thus the E.coli a system of choice for recombinant hPPO overproduction. At the same time, PPO overexpression in eukaryotic cells might be preferrable in cases when the effects of post-translational modifications (absent in bacteria) on target protein functions are studied.

scholarly journals Fabricating polyacrylamide microbeads by inverse emulsification to mimic the size and elasticity of living cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas R. Labriola ◽  
Edith Mathiowitz ◽  
Eric M. Darling
Keyword(s):  
Elastic Properties ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Living Cells

Inverse emulsification was used to fabricate polyacrylamide (PAAm) microbeads with size and elastic properties similar to typical, mammalian cells.

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