Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Microfilament proteins'

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 105 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 149 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The serotonin receptor 2A (5-HT₂[A]) is a member of the G-protein coupled receptor family and is of interest due to its role in physiological functions such as smooth muscle contraction, platelet aggregation, thermoregulation, learning and memory. More importantly, 5-HT₂[A] has also been implicated in CNS disorders including schizophrenia, depression and anxiety. A yeast two-hybrid screen had previously been carried out to identify proteins that interacted with 5-HT₂[A] and therefore may modulate intracellular function. The cytoskeletal actin-binding protein filamin-C was identified as a possible 5-HT₂[A] interacting partner. The aim of the research in this thesis was to further investigate the potential interaction between 5-HT₂[A] and filamin-C and to investigate functional roles for the interaction. A fragment of human filamin-C, aa 2162-2725, was shown to interact with the C-terminus of human 5-HT₂[A] using two in vitro techniques, the yeast-two hybrid system and a GST capture assay. The region of filamin-C needed to bind to 5-HT₂[A] was narrowed to the start of repeat 20, aa 2251, through to aa 2424 at the beginning of repeat 22 and comprises 182 residues. The 5-HT₂[A] region needed to bind to filamin-C was ascertained via yeast two-hybrid to be 31 amino acids between 394-423. Work was performed to determine whether FLNC mRNA was expressed in neural and glial cells and whether FLNC and HTR2A mRNA were co-expressed in any cells. FLNC mRNA was identified in seven out of eight neural and glial cell lines and western blot analysis confirmed this finding at the protein level. Two cell lines, U-118MG and A172, were found to contain both HTR2A and FLNC mRNA. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed endogenous filamin-C bound to endogenous 5-HT₂[A] and this complex could be precipitated using anti-filamin-C antibody. Additionally, a GST-5-HT₂[A] fusion complex was found to bind to endogenous filamin-C from U-118MG cells. Immunofluorescent labelling of cells was used to study filamin-C and 5-HT₂[A] proteins in vivo. U-118MG cells showed staining for 5-HT₂[A] around the membrane of the cell, as well as in the cytoplasm, whereas filamin-C staining occurred in the cytoplasm. Co-localisation analysis identified some areas of overlap between 5-HT₂[A] and filamin-C in the cytoplasm of U-118MG cells. The functional role for the 5-HT₂[A]/filamin-C colocalisation was investigated. It was postulated that filamin-C may be involved in the internalisation of 5-HT₂[A]. To test this hypothesis, an in vivo model system was used to investigate whether disruption of the filamin-C/5-HT₂[A] interaction affects internalisation of the receptor. The key preliminary findings of this study, which used expression of a competitor peptide, to disrupt and co-interact, suggested that the filamin-C/5-HT₂[A] interaction is not essential for the internalisation of receptors in response to ligand binding. However, this interaction was important for delivery or maintenance of 5-HT₂[A] to the cell membrane, and expression of the competing peptide caused an accumulation of cytoplasmic 5-HT₂[A].

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 1999.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 163 p. : ill. (some col.) Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 115 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-105).

The process of metastasis is initiated through the acquisition of inherent and autonomous motile and invasive properties by tumor cells. These phenomena are initiated through a balance between forward cancer cell membrane protrusion and tail retraction, and occur via cell cytoskeleton remodeling, actin reorganization, and coordinated focal adhesion assembly and disassembly events. Among the vast network of cytoskeletal proteins, the actin-bundling protein fascin plays a major function in cell cytoskeleton remodeling. It is a 55-kDa protein involved in the formation of filopodia and cell migration, and found to be upregulated in many cancers. We report herein key functions for fascin in the regulation of prostate and breast cancer progression. Fascin expression is upregulated in localized and hormone refractory prostate cancer, responsible for a more aggressive clinical course. In addition, functional dissection of fascin reveals a novel function in the regulation of focal adhesion turnover dynamics, by modulating the phosphorylation state of central focal adhesion proteins through a potential collaboration with the protein tyrosine phosphatase, PEST. Together, our data support the importance of fascin in cancer cell invasion and as a significant prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for aggressive cancers.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) is an attaching and effacing pathogen that upon attachment to host cells, induce characteristic attaching and effacing lesions and formation of F-actin rich pedestals beneath sites of bacterial attachment. EHEC harbors a Type III secretion system through which it delivers dozens of effectors into the host cell. The two secreted effectors critical for EHEC-mediated actin pedestal formation are the translocated intimin receptor (Tir) and EspFU. EspFU consists of an N-terminal secretion signal and a C-terminus containing six tandem 47-residue proline-rich repeats, each of which can bind and activate the actin nucleation promoting factor N-WASP. Structural and functional analyses described here have identified the mechanism of N-WASP activation by EspFU and the minimal domains and specific residues required for this activity. While EspFU and Tir are the only bacterial effectors required for F-actin pedestal formation, recruitment of EspFU to Tir is mediated by an unidentified putative host factor. To identify the host factor responsible for linking these two effectors, a combination of in vitro and functional assays were used to identify the host factor, IRTKS and the residues required for these interactions were defined. Further, the presence of at least two 47-residue repeats in all characterized clinical isolates of canonical EHEC strains led us to address the minimal requirements for EspFU functional domains to promote recruitment to Tir and N-WASP activation. Here we show that two proline-rich elements of EspFU are required for recruitment of EspFU by IRTKS to sites of bacterial attachment. Furthermore, once artificially clustered at the membrane, a single N-WASP binding element of EspFU can induce actin pedestal formation.

Salmonella enterica subtype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is one of many non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica strains responsible for over one million cases of salmonellosis in the United States each year. These Salmonella strains are also a leading cause of diarrheal disease in developing countries. Nontyphoidal salmonellosis induces gastrointestinal distress that is characterized histopathologically by an influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), the non-specific effects of which lead to tissue damage and contribute to diarrhea. Prior studies from our lab have demonstrated that the type III secreted bacterial effector SipA is a key regulator of PMN influx during S. Typhimurium infection and that its activity requires processing by caspase-3. Although we established caspase-3 activity is required for the activation of inflammatory pathways during S. Typhimurium infection, the mechanisms by which caspase-3 is activated remain incompletely understood. Most challenging is the fact that SipA is responsible for activating caspase-3, which begs the question of how SipA can activate an enzyme it requires for its own activity. In the present study, we describe our findings that the eukaryotic tetraspanning membrane protein PERP is required for the S. Typhimuriuminduced influx of PMNs. We further show that S. Typhimurium infection induces PERP accumulation at the apical surface of polarized colonic epithelial cells, and that this accumulation requires SipA. Strikingly, PERP accumulation occurs in the absence of caspase-3 processing of SipA, which is the first time we have shown SipA mediates a cellular event without first requiring caspase-3 processing. Previous work demonstrates that PERP mediates the activation of caspase-3, and we find that PERP is required for Salmonella-induced caspase-3 activation. Our combined data support a model in which SipA triggers caspase-3 activation via its cellular modulation of PERP. Since SipA can set this pathway in motion without being cleaved by caspase-3, we propose that PERP-mediated caspase-3 activation is required for the activation of SipA, and thus is a key step in the inflammatory response to S. Typhimurium infection. Our findings further our understanding of how SipA induces inflammation during S. Typhimurium infection, and also provide additional insight into how type III secreted effectors manipulate host cells.

Salmonella enterica subtype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is one of many non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica strains responsible for over one million cases of salmonellosis in the United States each year. These Salmonella strains are also a leading cause of diarrheal disease in developing countries. Nontyphoidal salmonellosis induces gastrointestinal distress that is characterized histopathologically by an influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), the non-specific effects of which lead to tissue damage and contribute to diarrhea. Prior studies from our lab have demonstrated that the type III secreted bacterial effector SipA is a key regulator of PMN influx during S. Typhimurium infection and that its activity requires processing by caspase-3. Although we established caspase-3 activity is required for the activation of inflammatory pathways during S. Typhimurium infection, the mechanisms by which caspase-3 is activated remain incompletely understood. Most challenging is the fact that SipA is responsible for activating caspase-3, which begs the question of how SipA can activate an enzyme it requires for its own activity. In the present study, we describe our findings that the eukaryotic tetraspanning membrane protein PERP is required for the S. Typhimuriuminduced influx of PMNs. We further show that S. Typhimurium infection induces PERP accumulation at the apical surface of polarized colonic epithelial cells, and that this accumulation requires SipA. Strikingly, PERP accumulation occurs in the absence of caspase-3 processing of SipA, which is the first time we have shown SipA mediates a cellular event without first requiring caspase-3 processing. Previous work demonstrates that PERP mediates the activation of caspase-3, and we find that PERP is required for Salmonella-induced caspase-3 activation. Our combined data support a model in which SipA triggers caspase-3 activation via its cellular modulation of PERP. Since SipA can set this pathway in motion without being cleaved by caspase-3, we propose that PERP-mediated caspase-3 activation is required for the activation of SipA, and thus is a key step in the inflammatory response to S. Typhimurium infection. Our findings further our understanding of how SipA induces inflammation during S. Typhimurium infection, and also provide additional insight into how type III secreted effectors manipulate host cells.

Crucial to a cell’s ability to migrate is the organization of its plasma membrane and associated proteins in a polarized manner to interact with and respond to its surrounding environment. Cells interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) through specialized contact sites, including podosomes and invadopodia. Tumor cells use F-actin-rich invadopodia to degrade ECM and invade tissues; related structures, termed podosomes, are sites of dynamic ECM interaction and degradation. We show here that supervillin (SV), a peripheral membrane protein that binds F-actin and myosin II,reorganizes the actin cytoskeleton and potentiates invadopodial function. Overexpressed SV increases the number of F-actin punctae, which are highly dynamic and co-localize with markers of podosomes and invadopodia. Endogenous SV localizes to the cores of Src-generated podosomes in COS-7 cells and with invadopodia in MDA-MB-231 cells. EGFP-SV overexpression increases the average amount of matrix degradation; RNAi-mediated downregulation of SV decreases degradation. Cortactin, an essential component of both podosomes and invadopodia, binds SV sequences in vitro and contributes to the formation of EGFP-SV induced punctae. Additionally, SV affects cortactin localization,which could provide a mechanism for SV action at invadopodia. The formation of cholesterol-rich membrane rafts is one method of plasma membrane organization. A property of membrane rafts is resistance to extraction with cold Triton X-100 and subsequent flotation to low buoyant densities. The actin cytoskeleton has been implicated in many signaling events localized to membrane rafts, but interactions between actin and raft components are not well characterized. Our laboratory isolated a heavy detergent resistant membrane fraction from neutrophils, called DRM-H, that contains at least 23 plasma membrane proteins. DRM-H is rich in cytoskeletal proteins, including fodrin, actin, myosin II, as well as supervillin. DRM-H also contains proteins implicated in both raft organization and membrane-mediated signaling. DRM-H complexes exhibit a higher buoyant density than do most DRMs (referred to as DRM-L), which are deficient in cytoskeletal proteins. By using similar purification methods, I find that COS-7 cells also contain cytoskeleton-associated DRMs. In addition, when transfected into COS-7 cells, estrogen receptor (ER)α associates with DRM-H, while ERβ is seen in both DRM-L and DRM-H populations, suggesting a role for DRM-H in nongenomic estrogen signaling. Thus, the cytoskeleton-associated DRM-H not limited to hematopoietic cells and could constitute a scaffold for membrane raftcytoskeleton signaling events in many cells. Taken together, our results show that SV is a component of cytoskeleton-associated membrane rafts as well as podosomes and invadopodia, and that SV plays a role in invadopodial function. SV, with its connections to both membrane rafts and the cytoskeleton, is well situated to mediate cortactin localization, activation state, and/or dynamics of matrix metalloproteases at the ventral cell surface for proper matrix degradation through invadopodia. The molecular dissection of invadopodia formation and function may contribute to a greater understanding of in vivo invasion, and thus, tumor cell metastasis.

Embargoed until 1 January 2011
The filamin family act as scaffolding proteins associating with actin filmanents, acting through a highly conserved actin binding domain (ABD). The ABD of the filamins is homologous to that found in other F-actin binding proteins such as dystrophin. Mutations in the filamin A gene cause a wide range of disease symptoms in humans reflecting the diversity of the roles that filamin A has in cell structure and signalling pathways. The diseases fall into two separate phenotypic groups. Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH) generally results from the complete loss of filamin A protein, and affects the central nervous system. The clinically separate otopalatodigital disorders (OPD) spectrum disorders are skeletal disorders and were hypothesised to be gain of function phenotype diseases. At the beginning of this work, there was very little structural data available for the human filamins, and none for the crucial highly conserved actin binding domain. This lack of structural data limited the interpretation of the biochemical and genetic data and constrained our understanding of the disease associated mutations that cluster in this domain. These studies aimed to provide insights into the structure and mechanism of actin binding domains, and thus provide a better understanding of the diseases caused when this domain is mutated. A secondary structural analysis and crystal structures of the wildtype and OPD2 associated mutant ABDs were obtained. The overall fold of the three proteins was equivalent as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy and x-ray crystallography. The ABD from filamin A E254K showed 3.7 fold increased F-actin affinity, accompanied by a reduced thermostability (of 5.6 °C). Western blotting of OPD2, frontometaphyseal dysplasia (FMD) and PVNH patient fibroblast lysates showed similar levels of filamin A compared to the control cells. In addition the OPD and PVNH patient fibroblasts were able to adhere to fibronectin and migrate with an equivalent rate to control cells. Together these results have allowed correlations to be developed between structure, protein stability, actin affinity, cellular phenotype and the overall clinical phenotype. Showing that, at least in one example, OPD2 may be due to an increased actin affinity providing further evidence for a gain of function mechanism of OPD2.

L’organisation et la dynamique du cytosquelette d’actine sont régulées par de nombreuses protéines de fixation à l’actine (« actin-binding proteins »). Récemment, les protéines à deux domaines LIM (LIMs) ont été caractérisées comme de nouvelles protéines impliquées dans le pontage (« crosslinking ») des filaments d’actine chez les animaux et les végétaux. Chez ces derniers, les protéines LIMs peuvent être classées en deux sous-familles dont les profils d’expression diffèrent. Les membres de la sous-famille WLIM sont largement exprimés dans les tissus végétatifs alors que les membres de la sous-famille PLIM sont abondamment et quasi exclusivement exprimés dans le pollen. Une question centrale était de savoir pourquoi les plantes possèdent plusieurs protéines LIMs et si les différents membres d’une même famille possèdent ou non les mêmes fonctions. Afin d’aborder cette question, nous avons caractérisé et comparé les activités régulatrices du cytosquelette d’actine des six membres de la famille des protéines LIMs d’Arabidopsis. L’analyse par microscopie confocale de plantes d’Arabidopsis exprimant chacune des protéines LIMs fusionnée à la « Green Fluorescent Protein » (GFP-LIM) ainsi que des analyses biochimiques in vitro démontrent que les protéines LIMs d’Arabidopsis sont toutes de véritables « actin-binding proteins » capables d’interagir directement avec le cytosquelette d’actine. De plus, les six protéines LIMs d’Arabidopsis stabilisent les filaments d’actine et induisent la formation d’épais câbles d’actine in vitro ainsi que dans les plantes exprimant les GFP-LIMs. Par ailleurs, des investigations in vitro ont suggéré que les membres des sous-familles WLIM et PLIM sont régulés de façon différente. Ainsi, seules les protéines PLIMs sont inactivées pas des valeurs de pH et/ou de [Ca2+] élevées. Ces résultats ont pu être confirmés par des expériences dans des cellules d’Arabidopsis dont le pH et la [Ca2+] cytoplasmiques ont été artificiellement modifiés. Enfin, le domaine C-terminal a été identifié comme le domaine régulateur conférant aux protéines PLIMs une sensibilité au pH et au Ca2+
Actin cytoskeleton organisation and dynamics are regulated by different types of actin-binding proteins. Recently, novel actin filament crosslinkers involved in the formation of parallel bundles have been characterized in both plants and animals: the two LIM domain-containing (LIM) proteins. In plants, these proteins can be divided into two sub-families whose members differ in their expression pattern. The WLIM sub-family members are widely expressed in vegetative tissues (WLIMs) whereas the PLIM subfamily members (PLIMs) are highly and almost exclusively expressed in pollen grains. An important question that remained to be answered is: why do plants have several proteins of this family and are the different members functionally distinct, or do they share one or several functions? To address these issues, we characterised and compared the actin regulatory activities of all six LIM proteins from Arabidopsis. Confocal analyses of transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing individual GFP- fused LIM proteins and in vitro biochemical assays demonstrate that all the Arabidopsis LIM proteins are “true” actin-binding proteins able to directly interact with the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, all six Arabidopsis LIM proteins retain the ability to stabilize actin filaments and to trigger the formation of thick actin bundles in vitro as well as in transgenic LIM-expressing plants. Interestingly, in vitro investigations suggest that the members of WLIM and PLIM subfamilies are differentially regulated. Indeed, only PLIM respond to changes in pH and [Ca2+]. Whereas the modification of these parameters has no significant effects on WLIM activities, an increase of pH or [Ca2+] markedly inhibits PLIM activities. These data are strongly supported by live cell experiments in which we artificially modulated the cytoplasmic pH and [Ca2+] of cells derived from the transgenic LIM-overexpressing plants. The C-terminal domain of PLIMs has been identified as necessary for their regulation by pH and Ca2+

Le syndrome de l'X Fragile, qui constitue la forme la plus fréquente de retard mental héréditaire, est du à l'absence de FMRP, une protéine de liaison à l'ARN qui régulerait la traduction au niveau synaptique. Afin de mieux comprendre le role de FMRP, nous avons réalisé un criblage double-hybride dans la levure pour identifier certains de ses interacteurs. Deux protéines ont été isolées, CYFIP1 et CYFIP2 (Cytoplasmic FMRP Interacting Proteins 1/2). Ces deux protéines cytoplasmiques sont hautement homologues mais interagissent différement avec les deux autres protéines de la famille FXR, FXR1P et FXR2P. Le site de liaison à CYFIP recouvre le site d'homo- et d'hétérodimérisation de FMRP, suggérant que la liaison à CYFIP pourrait moduler l'activité de FMRP. D'autre part, l'interaction entre CYFIP1 et Rac1 a été démontrée précédemment. Rac1, une protéine de la famille des Rho GTPase, est un des principaux régulateurs de la réorganisation du cytosquelette d'actine et joue un role clé dans la maturation et la maintenance des épines dendritiques, structures synaptiques riches en actine anormalement développées chez les patients X-Fragile et dans les souris invalidées pour FMRP. De nombreux gènes des voies Rho/Rac étant impliqués dans des retards mentaux, Rac1, CYFIP1 et FMRP pourraient participer à une voie commune contrôlant la morphogénèse synaptique et le fonctionnement cognitif. Pour valider cette hypothèse in vivo, nous avons choisi Drosophila melanogaster comme organisme modèle. Nous avons découvert que CYFIP y est très exprimé dans le système nerveux embryonnaire, et s'accumule notamment dans les axones centraux et aux jonctions neuro-musculaires (JNM). Des mutations de CYFIP causent des défauts de croissance, de ramification et de connexion des axones et conduisent à une morphologie anormale des synapses des JNM. Ainsi, l'absence de CYFIP provoque des défauts similaires à ceux précedemment décrits chez les mutants dFMR1 et/ou dRac1. L'analyse des interactions génétiques et biochimiques entre ces trois protéines suggère que, lorsque la voie est activée, dRac1 inhibe CYFIP qui régule à son tour négativement dFMR1
Fragile X Syndrome is the most frequent form of hereditary mental retardation and caused by the absence of FMRP, an RNA binding protein that seems to regulate local protein translation at synapses. To better understand the physiological function of FMRP, we conducted a yeast two-hybrid screen to determine interacting proteins. We identified CYFIP1 and CYFIP2 (Cytoplasmic FMRP Interacting Proteins 1/2), two highly homologous cytoplasmic proteins, which show a different pattern of interaction with the two FMRP-related proteins FXR1P and FXR2P. The CYFIP binding site of FMRP overlaps with its homo- and heteromerisation domain, suggesting that binding to CYFIP may modulate FMRP function. Importantly, CYFIP1 has been previously reported to interact with Rac1. Rac1, a Rho GTPase, is a key regulator of actin cytoskeleton remodelling with a well-established role in maturation and maintenance of dendritic spines, which are actin-rich synaptic structures that are abnormally developed in Fragile X patients and FMRP null mice. Since several genes of Rac/Rho signalling pathways are implicated in mental retardation, our work suggested that Rac1, CYFIP and FMRP work in a common pathway determining synapse morphogenesis and cognitive function. To address this hypothesis in vivo, we have chosen the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic model organism. Drosophila CYFIP, a previously undescribed gene, is highly expressed in the embryonic nervous system, where it strongly accumulates in central axons and at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). CYFIP mutations induce defects in axon growth, branching and pathfinding and result in abnormal synapse morphology at the neuromuscular junction. Hence, loss of CYFIP involves defects that have been previously described in dFMR1 and/or dRac1 mutants. Analyses of biochemical and genetic interactions amongst these three proteins suggest that upon activation, dRac1 acts antagonistically on CYFIP, which in turn negatively regulates dFMR1

Nos recherches ont porte sur l'interrelation entre le spumaretrovirus humain (hfv) et la cellule hote. Dans un premier temps, nous avons mis en evidence une regulation de l'expression de genes cellulaires, les genes hla de classe un, dans les cellules infectees par hfv. Nous avons caracterise deux elements de reponse a hfv dans le promoteur hla, un element de regulation positive et un element de regulation negative. De plus nous avons montre que le gene bel un etait implique dans la regulation positive des genes hla. L'alteration de l'expression des genes hla dans les cellules infectees pourrait etre impliquee dans des processus physiologiques ou pathologiques. Dans une seconde partie de notre travail, nous avons mis en evidence une association des proteines gag d'hfv avec le cytosquelette de la cellule hote. Nous avons montre, par des experiences d'immunoprecipitation, une quasi absence de clivage, par la protease virale, des precurseurs gag, dans les differents compartiments des cellules infectees. Cependant, nous avons mis en evidence, pour la premiere fois chez hfv, un processus complet de maturation des proteines gag lors des etapes precoces de l'adsorption virale et dans des conditions experimentales incluant un traitement a l'adnase. L'association des precurseurs gag avec les microfilaments d'actine expliquerait l'inhibition de leur clivage par la protease virale. Ainsi, notre travail a montre qu'il existe une interraction forte entre le virus hfv et la cellule hote, le virus etant capable de reguler l'expression des hla et de moduler la maturation des proteines gag par leur association avec l'actine

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli O127:H7 (EPEC) induce characteristic F-actin rich pedestals on infected mammalian cells. Each pathogen delivers its own translocated intimin receptor (Tir) to the host cell to act as a receptor for the bacterial outer membrane adhesin, intimin. Interaction of translocated Tir with intimin is essential for mammalian cell binding and host colonization, as well as to induce actin pedestal formation in vitro. In spite of these parallels, EHEC and EPEC Tir appear to generate actin pedestals by distinct mechanisms. Further, while the ability to form actin pedestals is a striking phenotype, the function of pedestals during infection remains unclear. To address these issues, a systematic and quantitative analysis of Tir-mediated actin assembly was conducted. We identified a three-residue Tir sequence involved in actin pedestal formation for both EHEC and EPEC, and developed evidence that the two pathogens trigger a common pathway for actin assembly. Further, the ability of these bacteria to promote actin assembly appears to promote both intimin-mediated bacterial binding in vitro and optimal colonization during experimental animal infection.

Lau Yee-Man.
"June 2003."
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 172-179).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2000.
Spine title: Palladin & actin organization. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 209-251). Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

CFTR基因突變或者功能缺失是否導致包括胃腸道在內的各種組織惡性腫瘤的發生風險增加目前仍然是一個充滿爭議的問題。同時，眾所周知，緊密連接分子在腫瘤發生和轉移的過程發揮了關鍵的作用。本論文首次發現了CFTR基因與一種緊密連接分子AF-6/afadin的在人類結直腸腫瘤中的表達水平呈高度相關，并研究了CFTR和AF-6/afadin之間潛在的相互作用及其在結直腸腫瘤轉移中的功能。
論文的第一部份首先用實時定量PCR和免疫組織化學的方法比較了CFTR在結直腸腫瘤和正常組織的表達情況，發現CFTR表達水平在腫瘤組織中有顯著的下降。令人感興趣的是，我們同時發現CFTR和AF-6/afadin在腫瘤組織中的表達呈高度正相關，并由此展開了後續的體外實驗，研究對CFTR與AF-6/afadin之間可能的相互聯繫。利用免疫螢光染色和免疫共沉澱的方法，我們發現了這兩種蛋白分子共表達在結直腸腫瘤細胞的接觸面，并存在相互作用。用CFTR突變蛋白的免疫共沉澱實驗進一步發現，這種相互作用需要CFTR分子在細胞膜表面的正確定位及其PDZ結構域結合位點。實驗還發現與CFTR的相互作用加強了AF-6/afadin與細胞骨架蛋白系統的結合。在結直腸腫瘤細胞中CFTR基因敲减导致了AF-6/afadin蛋白定位混亂，從細胞連接位點轉移到細胞漿內，并因此破壞了上皮細胞的緊密性。極性生長細胞的跨上皮電阻降低而滲透性增強的實驗結果證實了CFTR基因敲減導致的上皮細胞緊密性的破壞。同時，AF-6/afadin蛋白水平也隨著CFTR基因敲減而降低，但mRNA水平未發生明顯的改變。蛋白降解系統的抑製劑逆轉了CFTR基因敲減細胞中AF-6/afadin蛋白的減少，提示CFTR基因敲減增加了AF-6/afadin的蛋白降解。這些實驗結果揭示了通過與細胞連接分子AF-6/afadin的相互作用以及調節，CFTR可能在上皮細胞極性的調節以及腫瘤發展過程中起重要作用。
論文的第二部份研究了CFTR和AF-6/afadin在結直腸腫瘤細胞上皮細胞間充質化（EMT）和轉移過程中的功能及機制。我們之前的工作已經揭示抑制CFTR的功能可以誘導結直腸腫瘤LIM1863細胞的EMT過程。本研究在另外三株不同的結直腸腫瘤細胞（SW480，SW1116和HRT-18）中進一步證實了抑制CFTR誘導的EMT過程。細胞形態轉變，上皮細胞標誌物的下調，間充質細胞標誌物的上調以及受損的上皮細胞緊密性均證實了對CFTR的抑制可以在這三種細胞中成功誘導EMT的發生。我們發現在以上所有細胞EMT的過程中，AF-6/afadin的蛋白表達水平都發生了顯著的下調。在HRT-18細胞中過表達AF-6/afadin，可以逆轉由CFTR抑製劑誘導的上皮細胞標誌分子的下調和間充質標誌分子的上調，表明抑制CFTR誘導的EMT過程是由AF-6/afadin參與介導的。此外，CFTR基因敲減導致結直腸腫瘤細胞的惡性表型強化，包括減弱的細胞粘附性，增強的貼壁依賴性生長、侵襲和遷移。另外，CFTR基因敲減激活了ERK的磷酸化，過表達AF-6/afadin可以阻斷ERK途徑的激活。CFTR基因敲減而增強的細胞侵襲性也可以被外源性AF-6/afadin或者ERK途徑的抑製劑U0126完全逆轉，提示作為AF-6/afadin的下游靶信號，ERK介導了CFTR在腫瘤侵襲中的作用。更重要的是，我們分析了CFTR和AF-6/afadin的表達水平與結直腸癌病人腫瘤進展的關係，發現在嚴重TNM腫瘤分期或者有腫瘤遠處轉移的病人中CFTR的表達水平顯著低於輕型分期或未发生转移的病人中的水平，而且CFTR和/或AF-6/afadin低表達的病人的預後更差。這些實驗結果顯示CFTR的缺失可能通過抑制AF-6/afadin和激活ERK通路而與EMT和結直腸癌癥轉移的過程高度相關。
綜上所述，本研究揭示了以往未報道過的CFTR在結直腸腫瘤發病機理中的功能，提示CFTR可以用作一種新的腫瘤的潛在預後指標。
The question whether mutation or dysfunction of CFTR increases the risk of malignancies in various tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract, remains highly controversial. Meanwhile, it is well-known that adherens junctions play critical roles in the process of cancer development and metastasis. In this thesis we found for the first time a highly correlation between expression levels of CFTR and an adherens junction molecule AF-6/afadin in human colorectal tumours, and investigated the potential interaction between CFTR and AF-6/afadin and their functional roles in the metastasis of colorectal cancer.
In the first section of this thesis, we started our studies with comparing the expression of CFTR between human colorectal tumours and normal colorectal tissues. Real time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry results revealed a dramatically reduced CFTR level in the cancer tissues. Intriguingly, we noticed a highly positive correlation between CFTR and AF-6/afadin expression in tumours, which prompted the further in vitro investigation of possible interaction between CFTR and AF-6/afadin. Using immunofluoresent staining and co-immunoprecipitation, we found that the two proteins were colocalized at cell-cell junctions and interacted with each other in colorectal cancer cell lines. Further Co-IP experiments performed with CFTR mutations revealed that this protein interaction requires the proper localization of CFTR in cell membrane and its PDZ-interacting domain. Moreover the interaction with CFTR strengthens the binding of AF-6/afadin to the cytoskeleton system. Knockdown of CFTR in colorectal cancer cells resulted in the disorganized localization of AF-6/afadin protein from junctional sites to the cytoplasm and impaired epithelial tightness, which was confirmed by significantly reduced transepithelial resistance and increased permeability of polarized cells. Meanwhile, the protein level of AF-6/afadin was down-regulated in CFTR-knockdown cells, while no significant changes were detected at the mRNA level. Protein degradation inhibitor reversed the repression of AF-6/afadin protein in CFTR knockdown cells, suggesting the protein degradation of AF-6/afadin was increased by CFTR knockdown. These data revealed that CFTR interacts with and regulates the cell adhesion molecular AF-6/afadin in colorectal cells, which may be important in the regulation of epithelial cell polarity and cancer development.
In the second section of this thesis, we studied the functional roles and mechanisms of CFTR and AF-6/afadin in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis of human colorectal cancer cells. Our previous work has revealed inhibition of CFTR can induce EMT in a colorectal cancer cell line, LIM1863. This study further confirmed the induction of EMT by inhibiting CFTR in several other colorectal cancer cell lines (SW480, SW1116 and HRT-18), which was evaluated by morphological changes, down-regulation of epithelial markers or up-regulation of mesenchymal markers, and impaired epithelial cell tightness. In all these cell lines, we found that the protein levels of AF-6/afadin were significantly reduced. Over-expression of AF-6/afadin in HRT-18 cells reversed the down-regulated epithelial markers and up-regulated mesenchymal markers induced by CFTR inhibition, indicating that the CFTR inhibition-induced EMT is mediated by AF-6/afadin. Moreover, knockdown of CFTR in HRT-18 or RKO cells resulted in enhanced malignant phenotypes, including decreased cell adhesion, increased anchorage-independent cell growth, invasion, and migration. In addition, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was activated by CFTR knockdown, which was abolished by over-expression of AF-6/afadin. The enhanced invasiveness of CFTR knockdown cells was also completely inhibited by either exogenous AF-6/afadin or ERK inhibitor, U0126, suggesting that ERK, the downstream target of AF-6/afadin, is involved in mediating the effect of CFTR in cancer invasion. More importantly, we analyzed the association of CFTR and AF-6/afadin expression levels with tumour progression of patients with colorectal cancer, and revealed that CFTR expression was significantly lower in patients with more severe TNM stage or with metastasis to distant organs than those with milder stage or with no metastasis. The prognosis was poorer in patients with lower expression of CFTR and/or AF-6/afadin than those with higher expressions. These data showed that dysfunction of CFTR is highly associated with EMT and colorectal cancer metastasis, probably via repression of AF-6/afadin and activation of ERK pathways.
In summary, the present study has revealed a previously undefined role of CFTR in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer and indicated its potential as a new prognostic indicator.
Detailed summary in vernacular field only.
Detailed summary in vernacular field only.
Detailed summary in vernacular field only.
Detailed summary in vernacular field only.
Sun, Tingting.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-127).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Abstract also in Chinese.
Abstract --- p.i
中文摘要 --- p.iv
Publications --- p.vi
Conference Abstract --- p.vii
Declaration --- p.viii
Acknowledgements --- p.x
List of Figures --- p.xi
List of Tables --- p.xiii
List of Abbreviations --- p.xiv
Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1
Chapter 1.1. --- Colorectal Cancer --- p.1
Chapter 1.1.1. --- Structure of Human Normal Colon and Rectum Epithelium --- p.1
Chapter 1.1.2. --- Staging of Colorectal Cancer --- p.3
Chapter 1.1.3. --- Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer --- p.3
Chapter 1.1.4. --- K-Ras mutation and It Downstream Pathways in Colorectal Cancer Metastasis --- p.11
Chapter 1.1.5. --- Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer --- p.14
Chapter 1.2. --- Epithelial Cell Junctional Complexes --- p.14
Chapter 1.2.1. --- Junctional Complexes and Epithelial Cell Polarity --- p.15
Chapter 1.2.2. --- Classic Cadherin-catenin Complex --- p.17
Chapter 1.2.3. --- Novel Nectin-afadin Complex --- p.19
Chapter 1.2.4. --- Cell Polarity and Cancer Progression --- p.23
Chapter 1.3. --- Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) --- p.24
Chapter 1.3.1. --- Structure of CFTR --- p.24
Chapter 1.3.2. --- Mutations of CFTR --- p.24
Chapter 1.3.3. --- Functions of CFTR --- p.26
Chapter 1.3.4. --- Cancer Risk of CF Patients --- p.33
Chapter 1.4. --- Hypothesis and Aims --- p.34
Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.35
Chapter 2.1. --- Materials --- p.35
Chapter 2.1.1. --- Reagents and Chemicals --- p.35
Chapter 2.1.2. --- Antibodies --- p.35
Chapter 2.1.3. --- Primers --- p.35
Chapter 2.1.4. --- Solutions and Buffers --- p.35
Chapter 2.1.5. --- Human Specimens --- p.36
Chapter 2.2. --- Methods --- p.36
Chapter 2.2.1. --- Cell Culture --- p.36
Chapter 2.2.2. --- Transfection --- p.36
Chapter 2.2.3. --- Selection of Stable Clones --- p.40
Chapter 2.2.4. --- RNA Extraction and RT-PCR --- p.40
Chapter 2.2.5. --- Quantitative Real Time PCR --- p.41
Chapter 2.2.6. --- Protein Extraction and Western Blotting --- p.42
Chapter 2.2.7. --- Immunostaining --- p.45
Chapter 2.2.8. --- In vitro Cell Functional Assays --- p.46
Chapter 2.2.9. --- Epithelial Tightness Measurement --- p.48
Chapter 2.2.10. --- Statistical Analysis --- p.49
Chapter Chapter 3 --- Interaction of CFTR with AF-6/afadin and Its Importance in Maintaining Colorectal Epithelial Cell Polarity --- p.50
Chapter 3.1. --- Introduction --- p.50
Chapter 3.2. --- Objectives --- p.53
Chapter 3.3. --- Experimental plan --- p.54
Chapter 3.4. --- Results --- p.55
Chapter 3.4.1. --- The expression of CFTR and AF-6/afadin is decreased and positively correlated in human colorectal cancer --- p.55
Chapter 3.4.2. --- CFTR colocalizes and interacts with AF-6/afadin in human colorectal cancer cells --- p.58
Chapter 3.4.3. --- PDZ binding motif and membrane localization of CFTR are necessary for the interaction between CFTR and AF-6/afadin --- p.64
Chapter 3.4.4. --- Knockdown of CFTR interferes with cell junction formation in colorectal cancer cells --- p.66
Chapter 3.5. --- Discussion --- p.71
Chapter Chapter 4 --- CFTR as a Suppressor and Prognosis Indicator of Metastasis in Human Colorectal Cancer --- p.77
Chapter 4.1. --- Introduction --- p.77
Chapter 4.2. --- Objectives --- p.80
Chapter 4.3. --- Experimental plan --- p.81
Chapter 4.4. --- Results --- p.82
Chapter 4.4.1. --- CFTR inhibition-induced EMT in colorectal cancer cells involves AF-6/afadin --- p.82
Chapter 4.4.2. --- Knockdown of CFTR aggravates malignant phenotype of colorectal cancer cells --- p.86
Chapter 4.4.3. --- AF-6/afadin mediates the effect of CFTR on cell invasion in colon cancer through ERK --- p.91
Chapter 4.4.4. --- CFTR and AF-6/afadin expression is correlated with the prognosis of colorectal cancer --- p.97
Chapter 4.5. --- Discussion --- p.100
Chapter Chapter 5 --- General Discussion and Conclusion --- p.105
Chapter 5.1. --- The diversified roles of CFTR in epithelial cells --- p.105
Chapter 5.2. --- The unfolding relationship between CFTR and cancer development --- p.107
Chapter 5.3. --- Future studies --- p.109
Chapter 5.4. --- Conclusions --- p.112
Reference List --- p.113
Chapter Appendix A --- Reagents and Chemicals --- p.128
Chapter Appendix B --- Antibody List --- p.131
Chapter Appendix C --- Primer List --- p.132
Chapter Appendix D --- Solution Recipe --- p.133

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
The contractile activation of airway smooth muscle tissues stimulates actin polymerization and the inhibition of actin polymerization inhibits tension development. Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin are members of a family of actin–binding proteins that mediate the severing of F–actin when activated by dephosphorylation at serine 3. The role of ADF/cofilin activation in the regulation of actin dynamics and tension development during the contractile activation of airway smooth was evaluated in intact canine tracheal smooth muscle tissues. Two–dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that ADF and cofilin exist in similar proportions in the muscle tissues and that approximately 40% of the total ADF/cofilin in unstimulated tissues is phosphorylated (inactivated). Phospho–ADF/cofilin decreased concurrently with tension development in response to stimulation with acetylcholine (ACh) or potassium depolarization indicating the activation of ADF/cofilin. Expression of an inactive phospho–cofilin mimetic (cofilin S3E), but not WT cofilin in the smooth muscle tissues inhibited endogenous ADF/cofilin dephosphorylation and ACh–induced actin polymerization. Expression of cofilin S3E in the tissues depressed tension development in response to ACh, but it did not affect myosin light chain phosphorylation. The ACh–induced dephosphorylation of ADF/cofilin required the Ca2+–dependent activation of calcineurin (PP2B). Expression of Slingshot (SSH) inactive phosphatase (C393S) decreased force development and cofilin dephosphorylation. Activation of ADF/cofilin was also required for the relaxation of tracheal muscle tissues induced by forskolin and isoproterenol. Cofilin activation in response to forskolin was not Ca2+–dependent and was not inhibited by calcineurin inhibitors, suggesting it was regulated by a different mechanism. Cofilin activation is required for actin dynamics and tension development in response to the contractile stimulation of tracheal smooth muscle and is regulated by both contractile and relaxing stimuli. These concepts are critical to understanding the mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction and relaxation, which may provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of abnormal airway responsiveness.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of ischemic injury is necessary for understanding acute kidney injury and devising optimal treatment regimens. The cortical actin cytoskeleton in the proximal tubule epithelial cells of the kidney nephron, playing an important role in both the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity, is drastically disrupted by the onset of ischemia. We found that in LLC-PK cells (a porcine kidney proximal tubule epithelial cell line), cortactin, an important regulator of actin assembly and organization, translocated from the cell cortex to the cytoplasmic regions upon ischemia/ATP-depletion. Meanwhile both the tyrosine phosphorylation level of cortactin and cortactin’s interaction with either F-actin or the actin nucleator Arp2/3 complex were down-regulated upon ischemia/ATP-depletion or inhibition of Src kinase activity. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation plays an important role in regulating cortactin’s cellular function and localization in the scenario of kidney ischemia. The Rho GTPase signaling pathways is also a critical mediator of the effects of ATP depletion and ischemia on the actin cytoskeleton, but the mechanism by which ATP depletion leads to altered RhoA and Rac1 activity is unknown. We propose that ischemia and ATP depletion result in activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and that this affects Rho GTPase activity and cytoskeletal organization (possibly via TSC1/2 complex and/or mTOR complex). We found that AMPK was rapidly activated (≤5 minutes) by ATP depletion in S3 epithelial cells derived from the proximal tubule in mouse kidney, and there was a corresponding decrease in RhoA and Rac1 activity. During graded ATP-depletion, we found intermediate levels of AMPK activity at the intermediate ATP levels, and that the activity of RhoA and Rac1 activity correlated inversely with the activity of AMPK. Activation of AMPK using two different drugs suppressed RhoA activity, and also led to morphological changes of stress fibers. In addition, the inhibition of AMPK activation partially rescued the disruption of stress fibers caused by ATP-depletion. This evidence supports our hypothesis that the activation of AMPK is upstream of the signaling pathways that eventually lead to RhoA inactivation and cytoskeletal dysregulation during ATP-depletion.