scholarly journals Lipid Rafts: Keys to Sperm Maturation, Fertilization, and Early Embryogenesis

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natsuko Kawano ◽  
Kaoru Yoshida ◽  
Kenji Miyado ◽  
Manabu Yoshida
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Cell Signaling ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Early Embryogenesis ◽  
Sperm Maturation ◽  
Protein Receptors ◽  
Structure And Functions

Cell membranes are composed of many different lipids and protein receptors, which are important for regulating intracellular functions and cell signaling. To orchestrate these activities, the cell membrane is compartmentalized into microdomains that are stably or transiently formed. These compartments are called “lipid rafts”. In gamete cells that lack gene transcription, distribution of lipids and proteins on these lipid rafts is focused during changes in their structure and functions such as starting flagella movement and membrane fusion. In this paper, we describe the role of lipid rafts in gamete maturation, fertilization, and early embryogenesis.

scholarly journals Epigenetic regulation by the menin pathway

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. T147-T159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zijie Feng ◽  
Jian Ma ◽  
Xianxin Hua
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cell Signaling ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis ◽  
Endocrine Organs

There is a trend of increasing prevalence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and the inherited multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome serves as a genetic model to investigate how NETs develop and the underlying mechanisms. Menin, encoded by the MEN1 gene, at least partly acts as a scaffold protein by interacting with multiple partners to regulate cellular homeostasis of various endocrine organs. Menin has multiple functions including regulation of several important signaling pathways by controlling gene transcription. Here, we focus on reviewing the recent progress in elucidating the key biochemical role of menin in epigenetic regulation of gene transcription and cell signaling, as well as posttranslational regulation of menin itself. In particular, we will review the progress in studying structural and functional interactions of menin with various histone modifiers and transcription factors such as MLL, PRMT5, SUV39H1 and other transcription factors including c-Myb and JunD. Moreover, the role of menin in regulating cell signaling pathways such as TGF-beta, Wnt and Hedgehog, as well as miRNA biogenesis and processing will be described. Further, the regulation of the MEN1 gene transcription, posttranslational modifications and stability of menin protein will be reviewed. These various modes of regulation by menin as well as regulation of menin by various biological factors broaden the view regarding how menin controls various biological processes in neuroendocrine organ homeostasis.

Modulation of Tissue Factor-Factor VIIa Signaling by Lipid Rafts and Caveolae.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1744-1744
Author(s):  
Vineet Awasthi ◽  
Samir Mandal ◽  
Veena Papanna ◽  
L. Vijaya Mohan Rao ◽  
Usha Pendurthi
Keyword(s):  
Cell Signaling ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
G Proteins ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Factor Viia ◽  
Membrane Microdomains ◽  
Caveolin 1 ◽  
Intracellular Signaling Pathways ◽  
Plasma Membrane Microdomains

Abstract Tissue factor (TF) is a cellular receptor for clotting factor VIIa (VIIa) and the formation of TF-VIIa complexes on cell surfaces not only triggers the coagulation cascade but also transduces cell signaling via activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs), particularly PAR2. Although a number of recent studies provide valuable information on intracellular signaling pathways that are activated by TF-VIIa, the role of various cell surface components in mediating the interaction of TF-VIIa with PARs, and the subsequent signal transmittance are unknown. Unlike thrombin and trypsin, VIIa has to bind to its cellular receptor (TF) to activate PARs. The inability of TF-VIIa to effectively activate Ca2+ signaling and failure to desensitize the signaling to subsequently added trypsin suggest that the TF-VIIa is a poor activator of PAR2. Despite this, a number of studies have shown that VIIa is as effective as trypsin or PAR2 agonist peptide in activating intracellular signaling pathways and gene expression in cells expressing TF. Although the potential mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown, compartmentalization of TF, PAR2, and G-proteins in plasma membrane microdomains could facilitate a robust TF-VIIa-induced PAR2-mediated cell signaling. Although certain G-protein coupled receptors and G-proteins are known to be segregated into specialized membrane microdomains, lipid rafts and caveolae, little is known whether PARs are segregated into lipid rafts and caveolae, and how such segregation might influence their activation by TF-VIIa and the subsequent coupling to G-proteins. To obtain answers to some of these questions, in the present study, we have characterized TF and PAR2 distribution on tumor cell surfaces and investigated the role of lipid raft/caveolae in modulating the TF-VIIa signaling in tumor cells. Detergent extraction of cells followed by fractionation on sucrose gradient centrifugation showed that TF and PAR2 were distributed both in lipid rafts (low-density) and soluble fractions. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed that TF at the cell surface is localized in discrete plasma membrane microdomains, and colocalized with caveolin-1, a structural integral protein of caveolae, indicating caveolar localization of TF. Similar to TF, PAR2 also displayed significant punctuate staining and colocalization with caveloin-1. Further, a substantial fraction of TF and PAR2 was colocalized in caveolae. Disruption of lipid rafts/caveolae by ß-methyl cyclodextrin or filipin treatments reduced TF association with PAR2 in lipid rafts and caveolar fractions and impaired the TF-VIIa-induced cell signaling (PI hydrolysis and IL-8 gene expression). Additional studies showed that both mßCD and filipin treatments specifically impaired TF-VIIa cleavage of PAR2 and but had no significant effect on trypsin cleavage of PAR2. Disruption of caveolae with caveolin-1 silencing had no effect on the TF-VIIa coagulant activity but inhibited the TF-VIIa-induced cell signaling. In summary, the data presented herein demonstrate that TF localization at the cell membrane could influence different functions of TF differently. While caveolar localization of TF had no influence in propagating the procoagulant activity of TF, it is essential in supporting the TF-VIIa-induced cell signaling.

scholarly journals Roles of Cholesterol in Early and Late Steps of the Nipah Virus Membrane Fusion Cascade

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik M. Contreras ◽  
Gunner P. Johnston ◽  
David W. Buchholz ◽  
Victoria Ortega ◽  
I. Abrrey Monreal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Nipah Virus ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Membrane Cholesterol ◽  
Enveloped Viruses ◽  
Cell Cell

Cholesterol has been implicated in various viral life cycle steps for different enveloped viruses, including viral entry into host cells, cell-cell fusion, and viral budding from infected cells. Enveloped viruses acquire their membranes from their host cells. Though cholesterol has been associated with binding and entry of various enveloped viruses into cells, cholesterol’s exact function in the viral-cell membrane fusion process remains largely elusive, particularly for the paramyxoviruses. Further, paramyxoviral fusion occurs at the host cell membrane and is essential for both virus entry (virus-cell fusion) and syncytia formation (cell-cell fusion), central to viral pathogenicity. Nipah virus (NiV) is a deadly member of the Paramyxoviridae family, which also includes Hendra, measles, mumps, human parainfluenza, and various veterinary viruses. The zoonotic NiV causes severe encephalitis, vasculopathy, and respiratory symptoms, leading to a high mortality rate in humans. We used NiV as a model to study the role of membrane cholesterol in paramyxoviral membrane fusion. We used a combination of methyl-beta cyclodextrin (MβCD), lovastatin, and cholesterol to deplete or enrich cell membrane cholesterol outside cytotoxic concentrations. We found that the levels of cellular membrane cholesterol directly correlated with the levels of cell-cell fusion induced. These phenotypes were paralleled using NiV/vesicular stomatitis virus (NiV/VSV) pseudotyped viral infection assays. Remarkably, our mechanistic studies revealed that cholesterol reduces an early F-triggering step but enhances a late fusion pore formation step in the NiV membrane fusion cascade. Thus, our results expand our mechanistic understanding of the paramyxoviral/henipaviral entry and cell-cell fusion processes. IMPORTANCE Cholesterol has been implicated in various steps of the viral life cycle for different enveloped viruses. Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic enveloped virus in the Henipavirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family, capable of causing a high mortality rate in humans and high morbidity in domestic and agriculturally important animals. The role of cholesterol for NiV or the henipaviruses is unknown. Here we show that the levels of cholesterol influence the levels of NiV-induced cell-cell membrane fusion during syncytia formation, and virus-cell membrane fusion during viral entry. Further, the specific role of cholesterol in membrane fusion is not well defined for the paramyxoviruses. We show that the levels of cholesterol affect an early F-triggering step and a late fusion pore formation step during the membrane fusion cascade. Thus, our results expand our mechanistic understanding of the viral entry and cell-cell fusion processes, which may aid the development of antivirals.

scholarly journals Cholesterol in the Cell Membrane—An Emerging Player in Atherogenesis

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 533
Author(s):  
Karel Paukner ◽  
Ivana Králová Lesná ◽  
Rudolf Poledne
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Lipid Raft ◽  
Transport Mechanism ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Membrane Cholesterol ◽  
Cholesterol Transport

Membrane cholesterol is essential for cell membrane properties, just as serum cholesterol is important for the transport of molecules between organs. This review focuses on cholesterol transport between lipoproteins and lipid rafts on the surface of macrophages. Recent studies exploring this mechanism and recognition of the central dogma—the key role of macrophages in cardiovascular disease—have led to the notion that this transport mechanism plays a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The exact molecular mechanism of this transport remains unclear. Future research will improve our understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of lipid raft-associated cholesterol transport.

scholarly journals Identification of the LWYIK Motif Located in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmembrane gp41 Protein as a Distinct Determinant for Viral Infection

2008 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 870-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve S.-L. Chen ◽  
Polung Yang ◽  
Po-Yuan Ke ◽  
Hsiao-Fen Li ◽  
Woan-Eng Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT The highly conserved LWYIK motif located immediately proximal to the membrane-spanning domain of the gp41 transmembrane protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 has been proposed as being important for the surface envelope (Env) glycoprotein's association with lipid rafts and gp41-mediated membrane fusion. Here we employed substitution and deletion mutagenesis to understand the role of this motif in the virus life cycle. None of the mutants examined affected the synthesis, precursor processing, CD4 binding, oligomerization, or cell surface expression of the Env, nor did they alter Env incorporation into the virus. All of the mutants, particularly the ΔYI, ΔIK, and ΔLWYIK mutants, in which the indicated residues were deleted, exhibited greatly reduced one-cycle viral replication and the Env trans-complementation ability. All of these deletion mutant proteins were still localized in the lipid rafts. With the exception of the Trp-to-Ala (WA) mutant, which exhibited reduced viral infectivity albeit with normal membrane fusion, all mutants displayed loss of some or almost all of the membrane fusion ability. Although these deletion mutants partially inhibited in trans wild-type (WT) Env-mediated fusion, they were more effective in dominantly interfering with WT Env-mediated viral entry when coexpressed with the WT Env, implying a role of this motif in postfusion events as well. Both T20 and L43L peptides derived from the two gp41 extracellular C- and N-terminal α-helical heptad repeats, respectively, inhibited WT and ΔLWYIK Env-mediated viral entry with comparable efficacies. Biotin-tagged T20 effectively captured both the fusion-active, prehairpin intermediates of WT and mutant gp41 upon CD4 activation. Env without the deletion of the LWYIK motif still effectively mediated lipid mixing but inhibited content mixing. Our study demonstrates that the immediate membrane-proximal LWYIK motif acts as a unique and distinct determinant located in the gp41 C-terminal ectodomain by promoting enlargement of fusion pores and postfusion activities.

scholarly journals Caveolin-1 directly interacts with UT-A1 urea transporter: the role of caveolae/lipid rafts in UT-A1 regulation at the cell membrane

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (6) ◽  
pp. F1514-F1520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuyan Feng ◽  
Haidong Huang ◽  
Yuan Yang ◽  
Otto Fröhlich ◽  
Janet D. Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Cell Fractionation ◽  
Urea Transporter ◽  
Cell Plasma Membrane ◽  
Caveolin 1 ◽  
Cell Plasma

The cell plasma membrane contains specialized microdomains called lipid rafts which contain high amounts of sphingolipids and cholesterol. Lipid rafts are involved in a number of membrane protein functions. The urea transporter UT-A1, located in the kidney inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD), is important for urine concentrating ability. In this study, we investigated the possible role of lipid rafts in UT-A1 membrane regulation. Using sucrose gradient cell fractionation, we demonstrated that UT-A1 is concentrated in the caveolae-rich fraction both in stably expressing UT-A1 HEK293 cells and in freshly isolated kidney IMCD suspensions. In these gradients, UT-A1 at the cell plasma membrane is codistributed with caveolin-1, a major component of caveolae. The colocalization of UT-A1 in lipid rafts/caveolae was further confirmed in isolated caveolae from UT-A1-HEK293 cells. The direct association of UT-A1 and caveolin-1 was identified by immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assay. Examination of internalized UT-A1 in pEGFP-UT-A1 transfected HEK293 cells fluorescent overlap with labeled cholera toxin subunit B, a marker of the caveolae-mediated endocytosis pathway. Disruption of lipid rafts by methyl-β-cyclodextrin or knocking down caveolin-1 by small-interference RNA resulted in UT-A1 cell membrane accumulation. Functionally, overexpression of caveolin-1 in oocytes decreased UT-A1 urea transport activity and UT-A1 cell surface expression. Our results indicate that lipid rafts/caveolae participate in UT-A1 membrane regulation and this effect is mediated via a direct interaction of caveolin-1 with UT-A1.

scholarly journals Hematopoiesis is regulated by cholesterol efflux pathways and lipid rafts: connections with cardiovascular diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 667-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooranee K. Morgan ◽  
Longhou Fang ◽  
Graeme I. Lancaster ◽  
Andrew J. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Lipid Raft ◽  
Cholesterol Efflux ◽  
Receptor Occupancy ◽  
Cholesterol Homeostasis ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Stem And Progenitor Cells ◽  
Feedback Pathways

Lipid rafts are highly ordered regions of the plasma membrane that are enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids and play important roles in many cells. In hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), lipid rafts house receptors critical for normal hematopoiesis. Lipid rafts also can bind and sequester kinases that induce negative feedback pathways to limit proliferative cytokine receptor cycling back to the cell membrane. Modulation of lipid rafts occurs through an array of mechanisms, with optimal cholesterol efflux one of the major regulators. As such, cholesterol homeostasis also regulates hematopoiesis. Increased lipid raft content, which occurs in response to changes in cholesterol efflux in the membrane, can result in prolonged receptor occupancy in the cell membrane and enhanced signaling. In addition, certain diseases, like diabetes, may contribute to lipid raft formation and affect cholesterol retention in rafts. In this review, we explore the role of lipid raft-related mechanisms in hematopoiesis and CVD (specifically, atherosclerosis) and discuss how defective cholesterol efflux pathways in HSPCs contribute to expansion of lipid rafts, thereby promoting myelopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. We also discuss the utility of cholesterol acceptors in contributing to lipid raft regulation and disruption, and highlight the potential to manipulate these pathways for therapeutic gain in CVD as well as other disorders with aberrant hematopoiesis.

scholarly journals Distinct Roles for Sialoside and Protein Receptors in Coronavirus Infection

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enya Qing ◽  
Michael Hantak ◽  
Stanley Perlman ◽  
Tom Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Sialic Acids ◽  
Zoonotic Transmission ◽  
Virus Spread ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Protein Receptors ◽  
Cell Cell ◽  
Spike Proteins

ABSTRACT Coronaviruses (CoVs) are common human and animal pathogens that can transmit zoonotically and cause severe respiratory disease syndromes. CoV infection requires spike proteins, which bind viruses to host cell receptors and catalyze virus-cell membrane fusion. Several CoV strains have spike proteins with two receptor-binding domains, an S1A that engages host sialic acids and an S1B that recognizes host transmembrane proteins. As this bivalent binding may enable broad zoonotic CoV infection, we aimed to identify roles for each receptor in distinct infection stages. Focusing on two betacoronaviruses, murine JHM-CoV and human Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), we found that virus particle binding to cells was mediated by sialic acids; however, the transmembrane protein receptors were required for a subsequent virus infection. These results favored a two-step process in which viruses first adhere to sialic acids and then require subsequent engagement with protein receptors during infectious cell entry. However, sialic acids sufficiently facilitated the later stages of virus spread through cell-cell membrane fusion, without requiring protein receptors. This virus spread in the absence of the prototype protein receptors was increased by adaptive S1A mutations. Overall, these findings reveal roles for sialic acids in virus-cell binding, viral spike protein-directed cell-cell fusion, and resultant spread of CoV infections. IMPORTANCE CoVs can transmit from animals to humans to cause serious disease. This zoonotic transmission uses spike proteins, which bind CoVs to cells with two receptor-binding domains. Here, we identified the roles for the two binding processes in the CoV infection process. Binding to sialic acids promoted infection and also supported the intercellular expansion of CoV infections through syncytial development. Adaptive mutations in the sialic acid-binding spike domains increased the intercellular expansion process. These findings raise the possibility that the lectin-like properties of many CoVs contribute to facile zoonotic transmission and intercellular spread within infected organisms.

Critical role of lipid rafts in CD154-mediated T cell signaling

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 770-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef El Fakhry ◽  
Haydar Alturaihi ◽  
Djibril Diallo ◽  
Yehye Merhi ◽  
Walid Mourad
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Signaling ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
T Cell Signaling
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