scholarly journals Cellular mechanisms underlying prostaglandin-induced transient cAMP signals near the plasma membrane of HEK-293 cells

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. C319-C331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Rich ◽  
Wenkuan Xin ◽  
Celine Mehats ◽  
Kathryn A. Hassell ◽  
Leslie A. Piggott ◽  
...  

We have previously used cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels as sensors to measure cAMP signals in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells. We found that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) triggered transient increases in cAMP concentration near the plasma membrane, whereas total cAMP levels rose to a steady plateau over the same time course. In addition, we presented evidence that the decline in the near-membrane cAMP levels was due primarily to a PGE1-induced stimulation of phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, and that the differences between near-membrane and total cAMP levels were largely due to diffusional barriers and differential PDE activity. Here, we examine the mechanisms regulating transient, near-membrane cAMP signals. We observed that 5-min stimulation of HEK-293 cells with prostaglandins triggered a two- to threefold increase in PDE4 activity. Extracellular application of H89 (a PKA inhibitor) inhibited stimulation of PDE4 activity. Similarly, when we used CNG channels to monitor cAMP signals we found that both extracellular and intracellular (via the whole-cell patch pipette) application of H89, or the highly selective PKA inhibitor, PKI, prevented the decline in prostaglandin-induced responses. Following pretreatment with rolipram (a PDE4 inhibitor), H89 had little or no effect on near-membrane or total cAMP levels. Furthermore, disrupting the subcellular localization of PKA with the A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) disruptor Ht31 prevented the decline in the transient response. Based on these data we developed a plausible kinetic model that describes prostaglandin-induced cAMP signals. This model has allowed us to quantitatively demonstrate the importance of PKA-mediated stimulation of PDE4 activity in shaping near-membrane cAMP signals.

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail A Robertson ◽  
Harinath Sale ◽  
David Tester ◽  
Thomas J O’Hara ◽  
Pallavi Phartiyal ◽  
...  

Cardiac I Kr is a critical repolarizing current in the heart and a target for inherited and acquired long QT syndrome. Biochemical studies show that native I Kr channels are heteromers composed of both hERG 1a and 1b subunits, yet our current understanding of I Kr functional properties derives primarily from studies of homo-oligomers of the original hERG 1a isolate. The hERG 1a and 1b subunits are identical except at the amino (NH2) terminus, which in hERG 1b is much shorter and has a unique primary sequence. We compared the biophysical properties of currents produced by hERG 1a and 1a/1b channels expressed in HEK-293 cells at near-physiological temperatures. We found that heteromeric hERG 1a/1b currents are much larger than hERG 1a currents and conduct 80% more charge during an action potential. This surprising difference corresponds to a two-fold increase in the apparent rates of activation and recovery from inactivation, which reduces rectification and facilitates current rebound during repolarization. Kinetic modeling shows these gating differences account quantitatively for the differences in current amplitude between the two channel types. Depending on the action potential model used, loss of 1b predicts an increase in action potential duration of 27 ms (7%) or 41 ms (17%), respectively. Drug sensitivity was also different. Compared to homomeric 1a channels, heteromeric 1a/1b channels were inhibited by E-4031 with a slower time course and a corresponding four-fold positive shift in the IC 50 . Differences in current kinetics and drug sensitivity were modeled by “NH2 mode” gating with conformational states bound by the amino terminus in hERG 1a homomers but not 1a/1b heteromers. The importance of hERG 1b in vivo is supported by the identification of a 1b-specific A8V missense mutation in 1/269 unrelated genotype-negative LQTS patients and absent in 400 control alleles. Mutant 1bA8V expressed alone or with hERG 1a in HEK-293 cells nearly eliminated 1b protein. Thus, mutations specifically disrupting hERG 1b function are expected to reduce cardiac I Kr , prolong QT interval and enhance drug sensitivity, thus representing a potential mechanism underlying inherited or acquired LQTS.


2004 ◽  
Vol 378 (3) ◽  
pp. 1015-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne C. CHEUNG ◽  
Reinhart A. F. REITHMEIER

AE1 (anion exchanger 1) is a glycoprotein found in the plasma membrane of erythrocytes, where it mediates the electroneutral exchange of chloride and bicarbonate, a process important in CO2 removal from tissues. It had been previously shown that human AE1 purified from erythrocytes is covalently modified at Cys-843 in the membrane domain with palmitic acid. In this study, the role of Cys-843 in human AE1 trafficking was investigated by expressing various AE1 and Cys-843Ala (C843A) mutant constructs in transiently transfected HEK-293 cells. The AE1 C843A mutant was expressed to a similar level to AE1. The rate of N-glycan conversion from high-mannose into complex form in a glycosylation mutant (N555) of AE1 C843A, and thus the rate of trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi, were comparable with that of AE1 (N555). Like AE1, AE1 C843A could be biotinylated at the cell surface, indicating that a cysteine residue at position 843 is not required for cell-surface expression of the protein. The turnover rate of AE1 C843A was not significantly different from AE1. While other proteins could be palmitoylated, labelling of transiently transfected HEK-293 cells or COS7 cells with [3H]palmitic acid failed to produce any detectable AE1 palmitoylation. These results suggest that AE1 is not palmitoylated in HEK-293 or COS7 cells and can traffic to the plasma membrane.


2007 ◽  
Vol 403 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoko Nakano ◽  
Botond Banfi ◽  
Algirdas J. Jesaitis ◽  
Mary C. Dinauer ◽  
Lee-Ann H. Allen ◽  
...  

Otoconia are small biominerals in the inner ear that are indispensable for the normal perception of gravity and motion. Normal otoconia biogenesis requires Nox3, a Nox (NADPH oxidase) highly expressed in the vestibular system. In HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells) transfected with the Nox regulatory subunits NoxO1 (Nox organizer 1) and NoxA1 (Nox activator 1), functional murine Nox3 was expressed in the plasma membrane and exhibited a haem spectrum identical with that of Nox2, the electron transferase of the phagocyte Nox. In vitro Nox3 cDNA expressed an ∼50 kDa primary translation product that underwent N-linked glycosylation in the presence of canine microsomes. RNAi (RNA interference)-mediated reduction of endogenous p22phox, a subunit essential for stabilization of Nox2 in phagocytes, decreased Nox3 activity in reconstituted HEK-293 cells. p22phox co-precipitated not only with Nox3 and NoxO1 from transfectants expressing all three proteins, but also with NoxO1 in the absence of Nox3, indicating that p22phox physically associated with both Nox3 and with NoxO1. The plasma membrane localization of Nox3 but not of NoxO1 required p22phox. Moreover, the glycosylation and maturation of Nox3 required p22phox expression, suggesting that p22phox was required for the proper biosynthesis and function of Nox3. Taken together, these studies demonstrate critical roles for p22phox at several distinct points in the maturation and assembly of a functionally competent Nox3 in the plasma membrane.


2000 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Qi ◽  
K Murase ◽  
S Obata ◽  
M Sokabe

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (7) ◽  
pp. 3236-3245 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Filardo ◽  
J. Quinn ◽  
Y. Pang ◽  
C. Graeber ◽  
S. Shaw ◽  
...  

G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), a seven-transmembrane receptor (7TMR), is associated with rapid estrogen-dependent, G protein signaling and specific estrogen binding. At present, the subcellular site of GPR30 action is unclear. Previous studies using antibodies and fluorochrome-labeled estradiol (E2) have failed to detect GPR30 on the cell surface, suggesting that GPR30 may function uniquely among 7TMRs as an intracellular receptor. Here, we show that detectable expression of GPR30 on the surface of transfected HEK-293 cells can be selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Expression of GPR30 on the cell surface was confirmed by confocal microscopy using the lectin concanavalin A as a plasma membrane marker. Stimulation of GPR30-expressing HEK-293 cells with 17β-E2 caused sequestration of GPR30 from the cell surface and resulted in its codistribution with clathrin and mobilization of intracellular calcium stores. Evidence that GPR30 signals from the cell surface was obtained from experiments demonstrating that the cell-impermeable E2-protein conjugates E2-BSA and E2-horseradish peroxidase promote GPR30-dependent elevation of intracellular cAMP concentrations. Subcellular fractionation studies further support the plasma membrane as a site of GPR30 action with specific [3H]17β-E2 binding and G protein activation associated with plasma membrane but not microsomal, or other fractions, prepared from HEK-293 or SKBR3 breast cancer cells. These results suggest that GPR30, like other 7TMRs, functions as a plasma membrane receptor.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (6) ◽  
pp. C1797-C1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Sweeney ◽  
Wenyan Niu ◽  
Victor A. Canfield ◽  
Robert Levenson ◽  
Amira Klip

Insulin stimulates K+ uptake and Na+ efflux via the Na+-K+ pump in kidney, skeletal muscle, and brain. The mechanism of insulin action in these tissues differs, in part, because of differences in the isoform complement of the catalytic α-subunit of the Na+-K+ pump. To analyze specifically the effect of insulin on the α1-isoform of the pump, we have studied human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells stably transfected with the rat Na+-K+ pump α1-isoform tagged on its first exofacial loop with a hemagglutinin (HA) epitope. The plasma membrane content of α1-subunits was quantitated by binding a specific HA antibody to intact cells. Insulin rapidly increased the number of α1-subunits at the cell surface. This gain was sensitive to the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin and to the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide. Furthermore, the insulin-stimulated gain in surface α-subunits correlated with an increase in the binding of an antibody that recognizes only the nonphosphorylated form of α1 (at serine-18). These results suggest that insulin regulates the Na+-K+ pump in HEK-293 cells, at least in part, by decreasing serine phosphorylation and increasing plasma membrane content of α1-subunits via a signaling pathway involving PI 3-kinase and PKC.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 2060-2074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Macarena Pampillo ◽  
Natasha Camuso ◽  
Jay E. Taylor ◽  
Jacob M. Szereszewski ◽  
Maryse R. Ahow ◽  
...  

Abstract Kisspeptin and its receptor, GPR54, are major regulators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis as well as regulators of human placentation and tumor metastases. GPR54 is a Gq/11-coupled G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), and activation by kisspeptin stimulates phosphatidy linositol 4, 5-biphosphate hydrolysis, Ca2+ mobilization, arachidonic acid release, and ERK1/2 MAPK phosphorylation. Physiological evidence suggests that GPR54 undergoes agonist-dependent desensitization, but underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Furthermore, very little has been reported on the early events that regulate GPR54 signaling. The lack of information in these important areas led to this study. Here we report for the first time on the role of GPCR serine/threonine kinase (GRK)2 and β-arrestin in regulating GPR54 signaling in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, a model cell system for studying the molecular regulation of GPCRs, and genetically modified MDA MB-231 cells, an invasive breast cancer cell line expressing about 75% less β-arrestin-2 than the control cell line. Our study reveals that in HEK 293 cells, GPR54 is expressed both at the plasma membrane and intracellularly and also that plasma membrane expression is regulated by cytoplasmic tail sequences. We also demonstrate that GPR54 exhibits constitutive activity, internalization, and association with GRK2 and β- arrestins-1 and 2 through sequences in the second intracellular loop and cytoplasmic tail of the receptor. We also show that GRK2 stimulates the desensitization of GPR54 in HEK 293 cells and that β-arrestin-2 mediates GPR54 activation of ERK1/2 in MDA-MB-231 cells. The significance of these findings in developing molecular-based therapies for treating certain endocrine-related disorders is discussed.


2007 ◽  
Vol 407 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Li ◽  
Zhifeng Cui ◽  
Fang Fang ◽  
Jin Young Lee ◽  
Nazzareno Ballatori

Co-immunoprecipitation studies using mouse ileal proteins and transfected HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney-293) cells revealed that the two proteins, Ostα and Ostβ, which generate the organic-solute transporter are able to immunoprecipitate each other, indicating a heteromeric complex. Mouse ileal Ostα protein appeared on Western blots largely as bands of 40 and 80 kDa, the latter band consistent with an Ostα homodimer, and both of these bands were sensitive to digestion by the glycosidase PNGase F (peptide:N-glycosidase F). Ostβ appeared as bands of 17 and 19 kDa, and these bands were not sensitive to PNGase F. Both the 40 and 80 kDa forms of Ostα, and only the 19 kDa form of Ostβ, were detected among the immunoprecipitated proteins, indicating that the interaction between Ostα and Ostβ is associated with specific post-translational processing. Additional evidence for homodimerization of Ostα and for a direct interaction between Ostα and Ostβ was provided by BiFC (bimolecular fluorescence complementation) analysis of HEK-293 cells transfected with Ostα and Ostβ tagged with yellow-fluorescent-protein fragments. BiFC analysis and surface immunolabelling of transfected HEK-293 cells also indicated that the C-termini of both Ostα and Ostβ are facing the intracellular space. The interaction between Ostα and Ostβ was required not only for delivery of the proteins to the plasma membrane, but it increased their stability, as noted in transfected HEK-293 cells and in tissues from Ostα-deficient (Ostα−/−) mice. In Ostα−/− mice, Ostβ mRNA levels were maintained, yet Ostβ protein was not detectable, indicating that Ostβ protein is not stable in the absence of Ostα. Overall, these findings identify the membrane topology of Ostα and Ostβ, demonstrate that these proteins are present as heterodimers and/or heteromultimers, and indicate that the interaction between Ostα and Ostβ increases the stability of the proteins and is required for delivery of the heteromeric complex to the plasma membrane.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. C205-C214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry E. Machen ◽  
Mary Jae Leigh ◽  
Carmen Taylor ◽  
Tohru Kimura ◽  
Shinji Asano ◽  
...  

The influences of the gastric H+/K+ pump on organelle pH during trafficking to and from the plasma membrane were investigated using HEK-293 cells stably expressing the α- and β-subunits of human H+/K+-ATPase (H+/K+-α,β cells). The pH values of trans-Golgi network (pHTGN) and recycling endosomes (pHRE) were measured by transfecting H+/K+-α,β cells with the pH-sensitive GFP pHluorin fused to targeting sequences of either TGN38 or synaptobrevin, respectively. Immunofluorescence showed that H+/K+-ATPase was present in the plasma membrane, TGN, and RE. The pHTGN was similar in both H+/K+-α,β cells (pHTGN 6.36) and vector-transfected (“mock”) cells (pHTGN 6.34); pHRE was also similar in H+/K+-α,β (pHRE 6.40) and mock cells (pHRE 6.37). SCH28080 (inhibits H+/K+-ATPase) caused TGN to alkalinize by 0.12 pH units; subsequent addition of bafilomycin (inhibits H+ v-ATPase) caused TGN to alkalinize from pH 6.4 up to a new steady-state pHTGN of 7.0–7.5, close to pHcytosol. Similar results were observed in RE. Thus H+/K+-ATPases that trafficked to the plasma membrane were active but had small effects to acidify the TGN and RE compared with H+ v-ATPase. Mathematical modeling predicted a large number of H+ v-ATPases (8,000) active in the TGN to balance a large, passive H+ leak (with PH ∼10–3 cm/s) via unidentified pathways out of the TGN. We propose that in the presence of this effective, though inefficient, buffer system in the Golgi and TGN, H+/K+-ATPases (estimated to be ∼4,000 active in the TGN) and other transporters have little effect on luminal pH as they traffic to the plasma membrane.


2008 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenkuan Xin ◽  
Tuan M. Tran ◽  
Wito Richter ◽  
Richard B. Clark ◽  
Thomas C. Rich

An important focus in cell biology is understanding how different feedback mechanisms regulate G protein–coupled receptor systems. Toward this end we investigated the regulation of endogenous β2 adrenergic receptors (β2ARs) and phosphodiesterases (PDEs) by measuring cAMP signals in single HEK-293 cells. We monitored cAMP signals using genetically encoded cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels. This high resolution approach allowed us to make several observations. (a) Exposure of cells to 1 μM isoproterenol triggered transient increases in cAMP levels near the plasma membrane. Pretreatment of cells with 10 μM rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, prevented the decline in the isoproterenol-induced cAMP signals. (b) 1 μM isoproterenol triggered a sustained, twofold increase in phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) activity. (c) The decline in isoproterenol-dependent cAMP levels was not significantly altered by including 20 nM PKI, a PKA inhibitor, or 3 μM 59-74E, a GRK inhibitor, in the pipette solution; however, the decline in the cAMP levels was prevented when both PKI and 59-74E were included in the pipette solution. (d) After an initial 5-min stimulation with isoproterenol and a 5-min washout, little or no recovery of the signal was observed during a second 5-min stimulation with isoproterenol. (e) The amplitude of the signal in response to the second isoproterenol stimulation was not altered when PKI was included in the pipette solution, but was significantly increased when 59-74E was included. Taken together, these data indicate that either GRK-mediated desensitization of β2ARs or PKA-mediated stimulation of PDE4 activity is sufficient to cause declines in cAMP signals. In addition, the data indicate that GRK-mediated desensitization is primarily responsible for a sustained suppression of β2AR signaling. To better understand the interplay between receptor desensitization and PDE4 activity in controlling cAMP signals, we developed a mathematical model of this system. Simulations of cAMP signals using this model are consistent with the experimental data and demonstrate the importance of receptor levels, receptor desensitization, basal adenylyl cyclase activity, and regulation of PDE activity in controlling cAMP signals, and hence, on the overall sensitivity of the system.


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