scholarly journals Membrane curvature directs the localization of Cdc42p to novel foci required for cell–cell fusion

2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (12) ◽  
pp. 3971-3980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean A. Smith ◽  
Allison E. Hall ◽  
Mark D. Rose

Cell fusion is ubiquitous in eukaryotic fertilization and development. The highly conserved Rho–GTPase Cdc42p promotes yeast fusion through interaction with Fus2p, a pheromone-induced amphiphysin-like protein. We show that in prezygotes, Cdc42p forms a novel Fus2p-dependent focus at the center of the zone of cell fusion (ZCF) and remains associated with remnant cell walls after initial fusion. At the ZCF and during fusion, Cdc42p and Fus2p colocalized. In contrast, in shmoos, both proteins were near the cortex but spatially separate. Cdc42p focus formation depends on ZCF membrane curvature: mutant analysis showed that Cdc42p localization is negatively affected by shmoo-like positive ZCF curvature, consistent with the flattening of the ZCF during fusion. BAR-domain proteins such as the fusion proteins Fus2p and Rvs161p are known to recognize membrane curvature. We find that mutations that disrupt binding of the Fus2p/Rvs161p heterodimer to membranes affect Cdc42p ZCF localization. We propose that Fus2p localizes Cdc42p to the flat ZCF to promote cell wall degradation.

2018 ◽  
Vol 218 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Wang ◽  
Ziyi Yan ◽  
Helena Vihinen ◽  
Ove Eriksson ◽  
Weihuan Wang ◽  
...  

Mitochondrial function is closely linked to its dynamic membrane ultrastructure. The mitochondrial inner membrane (MIM) can form extensive membrane invaginations known as cristae, which contain the respiratory chain and ATP synthase for oxidative phosphorylation. The molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial ultrastructure remain poorly understood. The Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs (BAR) domain proteins are central regulators of diverse cellular processes related to membrane remodeling and dynamics. Whether BAR domain proteins are involved in sculpting membranes in specific submitochondrial compartments is largely unknown. In this study, we report FAM92A1 as a novel BAR domain protein localizes to the matrix side of the MIM. Loss of FAM92A1 caused a severe disruption to mitochondrial morphology and ultrastructure, impairing organelle bioenergetics. Furthermore, FAM92A1 displayed a membrane-remodeling activity in vitro, inducing a high degree of membrane curvature. Collectively, our findings uncover a role for a BAR domain protein as a critical organizer of the mitochondrial ultrastructure that is indispensable for mitochondrial function.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison E. Hall ◽  
Mark D. Rose

During mating, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells must degrade the intervening cell wall to allow fusion of the partners. Because improper timing or location of cell wall degradation would cause lysis, the initiation of cell fusion must be highly regulated. Here, we find that yeast cell fusion is negatively regulated by components of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway. Loss of the cell wall sensor, MID2, specifically causes “mating-induced death” after pheromone exposure. Mating-induced death is suppressed by mutations in cell fusion genes ( FUS1, FUS2, RVS161, CDC42), implying that mid2Δ cells die from premature fusion without a partner. Consistent with premature fusion, mid2Δ shmoos had thinner cell walls and lysed at the shmoo tip. Normally, Cdc42p colocalizes with Fus2p to form a focus only when mating cells are in contact (prezygotes) and colocalization is required for cell fusion. However, Cdc42p was aberrantly colocalized with Fus2p to form a focus in mid2Δ shmoos. A hyperactive allele of the CWI kinase Pkc1p ( PKC1*) caused decreased cell fusion and Cdc42p localization in prezygotes. In shmoos, PKC1* increased Cdc42p localization; however, it was not colocalized with Fus2p or associated with cell death. We conclude that Mid2p and Pkc1p negatively regulate cell fusion via Cdc42p and Fus2p.


2016 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 357a
Author(s):  
Zhiming Chen ◽  
Zheng Shi ◽  
Katarzyna I. Jankowska ◽  
Tobias Baumgart

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 3054-3069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Young Youn ◽  
Helena Friesen ◽  
Takuma Kishimoto ◽  
William M. Henne ◽  
Christoph F. Kurat ◽  
...  

BAR domains are protein modules that bind to membranes and promote membrane curvature. One type of BAR domain, the N-BAR domain, contains an additional N-terminal amphipathic helix, which contributes to membrane-binding and bending activities. The only known N-BAR-domain proteins in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rvs161 and Rvs167, are required for endocytosis. We have explored the mechanism of N-BAR-domain function in the endocytosis process using a combined biochemical and genetic approach. We show that the purified Rvs161–Rvs167 complex binds to liposomes in a curvature-independent manner and promotes tubule formation in vitro. Consistent with the known role of BAR domain polymerization in membrane bending, we found that Rvs167 BAR domains interact with each other at cortical actin patches in vivo. To characterize N-BAR-domain function in endocytosis, we constructed yeast strains harboring changes in conserved residues in the Rvs161 and Rvs167 N-BAR domains. In vivo analysis of the rvs endocytosis mutants suggests that Rvs proteins are initially recruited to sites of endocytosis through their membrane-binding ability. We show that inappropriate regulation of complex sphingolipid and phosphoinositide levels in the membrane can impinge on Rvs function, highlighting the relationship between membrane components and N-BAR-domain proteins in vivo.


2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Ren ◽  
Parimala Vajjhala ◽  
Janet S. Lee ◽  
Barbara Winsor ◽  
Alan L. Munn

SUMMARY The Bin1/amphiphysin/Rvs167 (BAR) domain proteins are a ubiquitous protein family. Genes encoding members of this family have not yet been found in the genomes of prokaryotes, but within eukaryotes, BAR domain proteins are found universally from unicellular eukaryotes such as yeast through to plants, insects, and vertebrates. BAR domain proteins share an N-terminal BAR domain with a high propensity to adopt α-helical structure and engage in coiled-coil interactions with other proteins. BAR domain proteins are implicated in processes as fundamental and diverse as fission of synaptic vesicles, cell polarity, endocytosis, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, transcriptional repression, cell-cell fusion, signal transduction, apoptosis, secretory vesicle fusion, excitation-contraction coupling, learning and memory, tissue differentiation, ion flux across membranes, and tumor suppression. What has been lacking is a molecular understanding of the role of the BAR domain protein in each process. The three-dimensional structure of the BAR domain has now been determined and valuable insight has been gained in understanding the interactions of BAR domains with membranes. The cellular roles of BAR domain proteins, characterized over the past decade in cells as distinct as yeasts, neurons, and myocytes, can now be understood in terms of a fundamental molecular function of all BAR domain proteins: to sense membrane curvature, to bind GTPases, and to mold a diversity of cellular membranes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Chatzi ◽  
Gary L. Westbrook

Dendritic spines, the distinctive postsynaptic feature of central nervous system (CNS) excitatory synapses, have been studied extensively as electrical and chemical compartments, as well as scaffolds for receptor cycling and positioning of signaling molecules. The dynamics of the shape, number, and molecular composition of spines, and how they are regulated by neural activity, are critically important in synaptic efficacy, synaptic plasticity, and ultimately learning and memory. Dendritic spines originate as outward protrusions of the cell membrane, but this aspect of spine formation and stabilization has not been a major focus of investigation compared to studies of membrane protrusions in non-neuronal cells. We review here one family of proteins involved in membrane curvature at synapses, the BAR (Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs) domain proteins. The subfamily of inverse BAR (I-BAR) proteins sense and introduce outward membrane curvature, and serve as bridges between the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton. We focus on three I-BAR domain proteins that are expressed in the central nervous system: Mtss2, MIM, and IRSp53 that promote negative, concave curvature based on their ability to self-associate. Recent studies suggest that each has distinct functions in synapse formation and synaptic plasticity. The action of I-BARs is also shaped by crosstalk with other signaling components, forming signaling platforms that can function in a circuit-dependent manner. We discuss another potentially important feature—the ability of some BAR domain proteins to impact the function of other family members by heterooligomerization. Understanding the spatiotemporal resolution of synaptic I-BAR protein expression and their interactions should provide insights into the interplay between activity-dependent neural plasticity and network rewiring in the CNS.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng-Ching Tsai ◽  
Aurélie Bertin ◽  
Hugo Bousquet ◽  
John Manzi ◽  
Yosuke Senju ◽  
...  

AbstractOne challenge in current cell biology is to decipher the biophysical mechanisms governing protein enrichment on curved membranes and the resulting membrane deformation. The ERM protein ezrin is abundant and associated with cellular membranes that are flat or with positive or negative curvatures. Using in vitro and cell biology approaches, we assess mechanisms of ezrin’s enrichment on curved membranes. We evidence that ezrin (ezrinWT) and its phosphomimetic mutant T567D (ezrinTD) do not deform membranes but self-assemble anti-parallelly, zipping adjacent membranes. EzrinTD’s specific conformation reduces intermolecular ezrin interactions, allows binding to actin filaments, and promotes ezrin binding to positively curved membranes. While neither ezrinTD nor ezrinWT senses negative membrane curvature alone, we demonstrate that interacting with curvature sensors I-BAR-domain proteins facilitates ezrin enrichment in negatively curved membrane protrusions. Overall, our work reveals new mechanisms, specific conformation or binding to a curvature sensor partner, for targeting curvature insensitive proteins to curved membranes.


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