scholarly journals Isoform-specific phosphorylation-dependent regulation of connexin hemichannels

2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 3014-3022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jette Skov Alstrøm ◽  
Daniel Bloch Hansen ◽  
Morten Schak Nielsen ◽  
Nanna MacAulay
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junction ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Transmembrane Flux ◽  
Specific Permeability ◽  
Specific Regulation ◽  
Pkc Activation ◽  
Connexin Hemichannels

Connexins form gap junction channels made up of two connexons (hemichannels) from adjacent cells. Unopposed hemichannels may open toward the extracellular space upon stimulation by, e.g., removal of divalent cations from the extracellular solution and allow isoform-specific transmembrane flux of fluorescent dyes and physiologically relevant molecules, such as ATP and ions. Connexin (Cx)43 and Cx30 are the major astrocytic connexins. Protein kinase C (PKC) regulates Cx43 in its cell-cell gap junction configuration and may also act to keep Cx43 hemichannels closed. In contrast, the regulation of Cx30 hemichannels by PKC is unexplored. To determine phosphorylation-dependent regulation of Cx30 and Cx43 hemichannels, these were heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and opened with divalent cation-free solution. Inhibition of PKC activity did not affect hemichannel opening of either connexin. PKC activation had no effect on Cx43-mediated hemichannel activity, whereas both dye uptake and current through Cx30 hemichannels were reduced. We detected no PKC-induced connexin internalization from the plasma membrane, indicating that PKC reduced Cx30 hemichannel activity by channel closure. In an attempt to resolve the PKC phosphorylation site(s) on Cx30, alanine mutations of putative cytoplasmic PKC consensus sites were created to prevent phosphorylation (T5A, T8A, T102A, S222A, S225A, S239A, and S258A). These Cx30 mutants responded to PKC activation, suggesting that Cx30 hemichannels are not regulated by phosphorylation of a single site. In conclusion, Cx30, but not Cx43, hemichannels close upon PKC activation, illustrating that connexin hemichannels display not only isoform-specific permeability profiles but also isoform-specific regulation by PKC.

scholarly journals Voltage-dependent facilitation of Cx46 hemichannels

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (1) ◽  
pp. C132-C139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio A. Retamal ◽  
ShengYong Yin ◽  
Guillermo A. Altenberg ◽  
Luis Reuss
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junction ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Ion Concentration ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Gap Junction Channels ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
In Series ◽  
Extracellular Side ◽  
Current Facilitation

Gap junction channels are formed by two hemichannels in series (one from each neighboring cell), which are in turn connexin hexamers. Under normal conditions, hemichannels at the plasma membrane are mostly closed but can be opened by changes in membrane voltage, extracellular divalent ion concentration, phosphorylation, pH, and redox potential. Recently, interactions between channels have been found to modulate the activity of several ion channels, including gap junction channels. Here, we studied whether connexin46 (Cx46) hemichannels display such behavior. We studied the response of the Cx46 hemichannels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes to consecutive depolarization pulses. Hemichannels formed by wild-type Cx46 and a COOH-terminal domain truncation mutant (Cx46ΔCT) were activated by voltage pulses. When the hemichannels were depolarized repeatedly from −60 mV to +80 mV, the amplitude of the outward and tail currents increased progressively with successive pulses. This phenomenon (“current facilitation”) depended on the amplitude of the depolarization, reaching a maximum at approximately +60 mV in oocytes expressing Cx46, and on the interval between pulses, disappearing with intervals longer than about 20 s. The current facilitation was also present in oocytes expressing Cx46ΔCT, ruling out a primary role of this domain in the facilitation. Nominal removal of divalent cations from the extracellular side caused maximal current activation of Cx46 and Cx46ΔCT hemichannels and prevented facilitation. The results suggest that Cx46 hemichannels show a cooperative activation independent of their COOH-terminal domain.

scholarly journals Glucocorticoid Receptor Phosphorylation Differentially Affects Target Gene Expression

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1754-1766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiwei Chen ◽  
Thoa Dang ◽  
Raymond D. Blind ◽  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Claudio N. Cavasotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Receptor Occupancy ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Interacting Protein

Abstract The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is phosphorylated at multiple sites within its N terminus (S203, S211, S226), yet the role of phosphorylation in receptor function is not understood. Using a range of agonists and GR phosphorylation site-specific antibodies, we demonstrated that GR transcriptional activation is greatest when the relative phosphorylation of S211 exceeds that of S226. Consistent with this finding, a replacement of S226 with an alanine enhances GR transcriptional response. Using a battery of compounds that perturb different signaling pathways, we found that BAPTA-AM, a chelator of intracellular divalent cations, and curcumin, a natural product with antiinflammatory properties, reduced hormone-dependent phosphorylation at S211. This change in GR phosphorylation was associated with its decreased nuclear retention and transcriptional activation. Molecular modeling suggests that GR S211 phosphorylation promotes a conformational change, which exposes a novel surface potentially facilitating cofactor interaction. Indeed, S211 phosphorylation enhances GR interaction with MED14 (vitamin D receptor interacting protein 150). Interestingly, in U2OS cells expressing a nonphosphorylated GR mutant S211A, the expression of IGF-binding protein 1 and interferon regulatory factor 8, both MED14-dependent GR target genes, was reduced relative to cells expressing wild-type receptor across a broad range of hormone concentrations. In contrast, the induction of glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper, a MED14-independent GR target, was similar in S211A- and wild-type GR-expressing cells at high hormone levels, but was reduced in S211A cells at low hormone concentrations, suggesting a link between GR phosphorylation, MED14 involvement, and receptor occupancy. Phosphorylation also affected the magnitude of repression by GR in a gene-selective manner. Thus, GR phosphorylation at S211 and S226 determines GR transcriptional response by modifying cofactor interaction. Furthermore, the effect of GR S211 phosphorylation is gene specific and, in some cases, dependent upon the amount of activated receptor.

Properties of the mammalian and yeast metal-ion transporters DCT1 and Smf1p expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sacher ◽  
A. Cohen ◽  
N. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Ion Uptake ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Ion Transporters ◽  
Divalent Metal Ions ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Metal Ion Uptake

Transition metals are essential for many metabolic processes, and their homeostasis is crucial for life. Metal-ion transporters play a major role in maintaining the correct concentrations of the various metal ions in living cells. Little is known about the transport mechanism of metal ions by eukaryotic cells. Some insight has been gained from studies of the mammalian transporter DCT1 and the yeast transporter Smf1p by following the uptake of various metal ions and from electrophysiological experiments using Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with RNA copies (c-RNA) of the genes for these transporters. Both transporters catalyze the proton-dependent uptake of divalent cations accompanied by a ‘slippage’ phenomenon of different monovalent cations unique to each transporter. Here, we further characterize the transport activity of DCT1 and Smf1p, their substrate specificity and their transport properties. We observed that Zn(2+) is not transported through the membrane of Xenopus laevis oocytes by either transporter, even though it inhibits the transport of the other metal ions and enables protons to ‘slip’ through the DCT1 transporter. A special construct (Smf1p-s) was made to enhance Smf1p activity in oocytes to enable electrophysiological studies of Smf1p-s-expressing cells. 54Mn(2+) uptake by Smf1p-s was measured at various holding potentials. In the absence of Na(+) and at pH 5.5, metal-ion uptake was not affected by changes in negative holding potentials. Elevating the pH of the medium to 6.5 caused metal-ion uptake to be influenced by the holding potential: ion uptake increased when the potential was lowered. Na(+) inhibited metal-ion uptake in accordance with the elevation of the holding potential. A novel clutch mechanism of ion slippage that operates via continuously variable stoichiometry between the driving-force pathway (H(+)) and the transport pathway (divalent metal ions) is proposed. The possible physiological advantages of proton slippage through DCT1 and of Na(+) slippage through Smf1p are discussed.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation triggers presynaptic phase separation of Liprin-α3 to control active zone structure

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Emperador-Melero ◽  
Man Yan Wong ◽  
Shan Shan H. Wang ◽  
Giovanni de Nola ◽  
Tom Kirchhausen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Active Zone ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Zone Structure ◽  
And Function ◽  
Pkc Activation ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

AbstractLiquid-liquid phase separation enables the assembly of membrane-less subcellular compartments, but testing its biological functions has been difficult. The presynaptic active zone, protein machinery in nerve terminals that defines sites for neurotransmitter release, may be organized through phase separation. Here, we discover that the active zone protein Liprin-α3 rapidly and reversibly undergoes phase separation upon phosphorylation by PKC at a single site. RIM and Munc13 are co-recruited to membrane-attached condensates, and phospho-specific antibodies establish Liprin-α3 phosphorylation in vivo. At synapses of newly generated Liprin-α2/α3 double knockout mice, RIM, Munc13 and the pool of releasable vesicles were reduced. Re-expression of Liprin-α3 restored these defects, but mutating the Liprin-α3 phosphorylation site to abolish phase condensation prevented rescue. Finally, PKC activation acutely increased RIM, Munc13 and neurotransmitter release, which depended on the presence of phosphorylatable Liprin-α3. We conclude that Liprin-α3 phosphorylation rapidly triggers presynaptic phase separation to modulate active zone structure and function.

Characterization of transport mechanisms and determinants critical for Na+-dependent Pisymport of the PiT family paralogs human PiT1 and PiT2

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (6) ◽  
pp. C1377-C1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernille Bøttger ◽  
Susanne E. Hede ◽  
Morten Grunnet ◽  
Boy Høyer ◽  
Dan A. Klærke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Maximal Activity ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Transport Function ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Uptake Medium ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

The general phosphate need in mammalian cells is accommodated by members of the Pitransport (PiT) family ( SLC20), which use either Na+or H+to mediate inorganic phosphate (Pi) symport. The mammalian PiT paralogs PiT1 and PiT2 are Na+-dependent Pi(NaPi) transporters and are exploited by a group of retroviruses for cell entry. Human PiT1 and PiT2 were characterized by expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes with32Pias a traceable Pisource. For PiT1, the Michaelis-Menten constant for Piwas determined as 322.5 ± 124.5 μM. PiT2 was analyzed for the first time and showed positive cooperativity in Piuptake with a half-maximal activity constant for Piof 163.5 ± 39.8 μM. PiT1- and PiT2-mediated Na+-dependent Piuptake functions were not significantly affected by acidic and alkaline pH and displayed similar Na+dependency patterns. However, only PiT2 was capable of Na+-independent Pitransport at acidic pH. Study of the impact of divalent cations Ca2+and Mg2+revealed that Ca2+was important, but not critical, for NaPitransport function of PiT proteins. To gain insight into the NaPicotransport function, we analyzed PiT2 and a PiT2 Pitransport knockout mutant using22Na+as a traceable Na+source. Na+was transported by PiT2 even without Piin the uptake medium and also when Pitransport function was knocked out. This is the first time decoupling of Pifrom Na+transport has been demonstrated for a PiT family member. Moreover, the results imply that putative transmembrane amino acids E55and E575are responsible for linking Piimport to Na+transport in PiT2.

Spatiotemporal expression of three gap junction gene products involved in fetomaternal communication during rat pregnancy

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Risek ◽  
N.B. Gilula
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junction ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Giant Cells ◽  
Yolk Sac ◽  
Chorionic Villi ◽  
Pregnant Uterus ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Visceral Yolk Sac ◽  
Beta 2 ◽  
Specific Regulation

The expression of three different members of the gap junction multigene family, alpha 1 (Cx43), beta 1 (Cx32), and beta 2 (Cx26), was analysed in the rat implantation chamber (a structural unit containing fetal, extraembryonic and maternal components within the pregnant uterus) during mid- and late stages of gestation as well as in the delivering, post-partum and non-pregnant uterus. A differential, spatiotemporal and cell-type-specific regulation of gap junctional coexpression was observed for beta 1 and beta 2 in all epithelia examined (visceral, luminal and glandular), as well as for alpha 1 and beta 2 in decidual cells and keratinocytes of the fetal epidermis. alpha 1 antigen was detected in the mesometrial stroma, mesometrial myometrium, connective tissue, mesothelia of the amnion and visceral yolk sac and in the allantoic mesodermal layer throughout gestation. In addition, expression of alpha 1 in the placental basal zone and trophoblast giant cells coincided with the differentiation of these cells. beta 2 expression was observed prominently in the chorionic villi of the placental labyrinth. The presence of beta 1 and beta 2 in the visceral epithelium (visceral yolk sac = the primary route for embryonic nourishment prior to the formation of the chorioallantoic placenta) and beta 2 in the chorionic villi (placental barrier = the major fetomaternal exchange route) suggests that gap junctions have an important role in fetomaternal communication.

scholarly journals Zinc Modulation of Hemi-Gap-Junction Channel Currents in Retinal Horizontal Cells

2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 1774-1780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziyi Sun ◽  
Dao-Qi Zhang ◽  
Douglas G. McMahon
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junction ◽  
Inhibitory Action ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Horizontal Cells ◽  
Visual Signals ◽  
Histidine Residues ◽  
Gap Junction Channel ◽  
And Function ◽  
Channel Currents

Hemi-gap-junction (HGJ) channels of retinal horizontal cells (HCs) function as transmembrane ion channels that are modulated by voltage and calcium. As an endogenous retinal neuromodulator, zinc, which is coreleased with glutamate at photoreceptor synapses, plays an important role in shaping visual signals by acting on postsynaptic HCs in vivo. To understand more fully the regulation and function of HC HGJ channels, we examined the effect of Zn2+ on HGJ channel currents in bass retinal HCs. Hemichannel currents elicited by depolarization in Ca2+-free medium and in 1 mM Ca2+ medium were significantly inhibited by extracellular Zn2+. The inhibition by Zn2+ of hemichannel currents was dose dependent with a half-maximum inhibitory concentration of 37 μM. Compared with other divalent cations, Zn2+ exhibited higher inhibitory potency, with the order being Zn2+ > Cd2+ ≈ Co2+ > Ca2+ > Ba2+ > Mg2+. Zn2+ and Ca2+ were found to modulate HGJ channels independently in additivity experiments. Modification of histidine residues with N-bromosuccinimide suppressed the inhibitory action of Zn2+, whereas modification of cysteine residues had no significant effect on Zn2+ inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that zinc acts on HGJ channels in a calcium-independent way and that histidine residues on the extracellular domain of HGJ channels mediate the inhibitory action of zinc.

scholarly journals Gap junction permeability: selectivity for anionic and cationic probes

2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (3) ◽  
pp. C600-C609 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kanaporis ◽  
P. R. Brink ◽  
V. Valiunas
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junction ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Second Messengers ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Weak Charge ◽  
Axial Diameter ◽  
Gap Junction Channels ◽  
Charge Selectivity ◽  
Specific Permeability ◽  
A Charge

Gap junction channels formed by different connexins exhibit specific permeability to a variety of larger solutes including second messengers, polypeptides, and small interfering RNAs. Here, we report the permeability of homotypic connexin26 (Cx26), Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 gap junction channels stably expressed in HeLa cells to solutes with different size and net charge. Channel permeability was determined using simultaneous measurements of junctional conductance and the cell-cell flux of a fluorescent probe. All four connexins allowed passage of both cationic and anionic probes, but the transfer rates were connexin dependent. The negatively charged probes [Lucifer yellow (LY; median axial diameter 9.9 Å, charge −2), carboxyfluorescein (CF; 8.2 Å; −2), and Alexa Fluor350 (AF350, 5.4 Å; −1)] exhibited the following permeability order: Cx43 > Cx45 > Cx26 > Cx40. In contrast, for the positively charged species permeability, the orders were as follows: Cx26 ≈ Cx43 ≈ Cx40 ≈ Cx45 for N, N, N-trimethyl-2-[methyl-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiol-4-yl) amino] ethanaminium (NBD-m-TMA; 5.5 Å, +1) and Cx26 ≥ Cx43 ≈ Cx40 > Cx45 for ethidium bromide (10.3 Å, +1). Comparison of probe permeability relative to K+ revealed that Cx43 and Cx45 exhibited similar permeability for NBD-m-TMA and AF350, indicating weak charge selectivity. However, lesser transfer of CF and LY through Cx45 relative to Cx43 channels suggests stronger size-dependent discrimination of solute. The permeability of NBD-m-TMA for Cx40 and Cx26 channels was approximately three times higher than to anionic AF350 despite the fact that both have similar minor diameters, suggesting charge selectivity. In conclusion, these results confirm that channels formed from individual connexins can discriminate for solutes based on size and charge, suggesting that channel selectivity may be a key factor in cell signaling.

scholarly journals Mycobacterium tuberculosis Expresses a Novel Ph-Dependent Divalent Cation Transporter Belonging to the Nramp Family

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 (5) ◽  
pp. 717-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Agranoff ◽  
Irene M. Monahan ◽  
Joseph A. Mangan ◽  
Philip D. Butcher ◽  
Sanjeev Krishna
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Natural Resistance ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Acidic Extracellular Ph ◽  
Macrophage Protein

Mammalian natural resistance–associated macrophage protein (Nramp) homologues are important determinants of susceptibility to infection by diverse intracellular pathogens including mycobacteria. Eukaryotic Nramp homologues transport divalent cations such as Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis (bacillus Calmette-Guérin [BCG]) also encode an Nramp homologue (Mramp). RNA encoding Mramp induces ∼20-fold increases in 65Zn2+ and 55Fe2+ uptake when injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes. Transport is dependent on acidic extracellular pH and is maximal between pH 5.5 and 6.5. Mramp-mediated 65Zn2+ and 55Fe2+ transport is abolished by an excess of Mn2+ and Cu2+, confirming that Mramp interacts with a broad range of divalent transition metal cations. Using semiquantitative reverse transcription PCR, we show that Mramp mRNA levels in M. tuberculosis are upregulated in response to increases in ambient Fe2+ and Cu2+ between <1 and 5 μM concentrations and that this upregulation occurs in parallel with mRNA for y39, a putative metal-transporting P-type ATPase. Using a quantitative ratiometric PCR technique, we demonstrate a fourfold decrease in Mramp/y39 mRNA ratios from organisms grown in 5–70 μM Cu2+. M. bovis BCG cultured axenically and within THP-1 cells also expresses mRNA encoding Mramp. Mramp exemplifies a novel prokaryotic class of metal ion transporter. Within phagosomes, Mramp and Nramp1 may compete for the same divalent cations, with implications for intracellular survival of mycobacteria.

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