Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Plasma membrane signaling'

Secretion of appropriate amounts of insulin from pancreatic β-cells is crucial for glucose homeostasis. The β-cells release insulin in response to glucose and other nutrients, hormones and neurotransmitters, which trigger intracellular signaling cascades, that result in exocytotic fusion of insulin-containing vesicles with the plasma membrane. Increases of the intracellular concentration of calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) trigger exocytosis, whereas the messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) amplifies various steps of the secretion process. The protein Epac2 mediates some effects of cAMP, but little is known about its regulation in β-cells. In this study, the spatio-temporal dynamics of Epac2 was investigated in insulin-secreting MIN6-cells and primary β-cells using various cell signaling biosensors and live-cell fluorescence microscopy approaches. Increases in the cAMP concentration triggered translocation of Epac2 from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane. Oscillations of cAMP induced by glucose and the insulin-releasing hormone GLP-1 were associated with cyclic translocation of Epac2. Analyses of Epac2 mutants showed that the high-affinity cyclic nucleotide-binding domain and Ras-association domains were crucial for the translocation, whereas neither the DEP domain, nor the low-affinity cAMP-binding domain were required for membrane binding. However, the latter domain targeted Epac2 to insulin granules at the plasma membrane, which promoted their priming for exocytosis. Depolarization-induced elevations of [Ca2+]i also stimulated Epac2 translocation, but the effects were complex and in the presence of high cAMP concentrations, [Ca2+]i increases often reduced membrane binding. The stimulatory effect of Ca2+ was mediated by increased Ras activity, while the inhibitory effect reflected reduced concentrations of the membrane phospholipid PtdIns(4,5)P2. Anti-diabetic drugs of the sulfonylurea class, suggested to directly activate Epac2, induced translocation indirectly by depolarizing β-cells to increase [Ca2+]i. Epac2 is an activator of Rap GTPases, and its translocation increased Rap activity at the plasma membrane. It is concluded that the subcellular localization of Epac2 is controlled by a complex interplay between cAMP, Ca2+ and PtdIns(4,5)P2 and that the protein controls insulin release by binding to the exocytosis machinery. These results provide new insights into the regulation of β-cell function and may facilitate the development of new anti-diabetic drugs that amplify insulin secretion.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2010.
At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: In press.

In response to external stimuli, many intracellular signaling proteins undergo dynamic changes in localization to the plasma membrane. Using the Saccharomyces cerevisiaemating pathway as a model, I investigated the molecular interactions that govern plasma membrane localization of signaling proteins, and how the plasma membrane compartmentalization of a signaling complex influences the overall signaling behavior of the pathway. Signaling proteins often consist of multiple interaction domains that collectively dictate their localization and function. Ste20 is a p21-activated kinase (PAK) that functions downstream of the Rho-type GTPase Cdc42 to activate several mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways in budding yeast, including the mating pathway. I identified a short domain in Ste20 that directly binds to membrane lipids via electrostatic interaction. A mutation in this domain abolishes both the localization and function of Ste20. Thus, the previously known Cdc42 binding is necessary but not sufficient; instead, direct membrane binding by Ste20 is also critical. By replacing this domain with heterologous membranebinding domains, I demonstrated that phospholipid specificity is not essential in vivo. Functionally important short membrane-binding domains were also found in the Cdc42 effectors Gic1 and Gic2, indicating that generic membrane binding can work in concert with the CRIB domain to regulate activation of Cdc42 targets. These results underscore the importance of cooperation between protein-protein and protein-membrane interaction in achieving proper localization of signaling proteins at the cell cortex. At the system level, MAP kinase cascades can be graded or switch-like. The budding yeast mating pathway exhibits a graded response to increasing levels of pheromone. Previously the scaffold protein Ste5 was hypothesized to contribute to this graded response. To test this idea, I activated the pathway in a variety of ways and measured the response at the single cell level. I found that the graded response is not perturbed by the deletion of negative regulators of the pathway whereas the response became switch-like when the pathway was activated by a crosstalk stimulus that bypasses the upstream components. Interestingly, activation of the pathway in the cytoplasm using the graded expression of MAPKKK resulted in an ultrasensitive response. In contrast, activation of the pathway at the plasma membrane using the graded expression of membranetargeted active pathway components remained graded. In these settings, the scaffold protein Ste5 increased ultrasensitivity when limited to the cytosol; however, if Ste5 was allowed to function at the plasma membrane, signaling was graded. The results suggest that, in the mating pathway, the inherently ultrasensitive MAPK cascade is converted to a graded system by the scaffoldmediated assembly of signaling complexes at the plasma membrane. Therefore, the plasma membrane localization of Ste5 helps shape the input-output properties of the mating MAPK pathway in a manner that is suitable for the biology of mating. Taken together, this thesis underscores the importance of plasma membrane localization during mating pathway signaling in yeast. The examples described here provide further appreciation of how multiple interaction domains can function together to achieve specific targeting of the signaling proteins, as well as advances in understanding the role of scaffold proteins in modulating signaling behavior to promote graded signaling at the plasma membrane.

Cell Biology
Ph.D.
In this study, we assessed the contributions of plasma membrane (PM) microdomain targeting to the functions of H-Ras and R-Ras. These paralogues have identical effector-binding regions, but variant C-terminal targeting domains (tDs) which are responsible for lateral microdomain distribution: activated H-Ras targets to lipid ordered/disordered (Lo/Ld) domain borders, and R-Ras to Lo domains (rafts). We hypothesized that PM distribution regulates Ras effector interactions and downstream signaling. We used tD swap mutants, and assessed effects on signal transduction, cell proliferation, transformation, and tumorigenesis. R-Ras harboring the H-Ras tD (R-Ras-tH) interacted with Raf, and induced Raf and ERK phosphorylation similar to H-Ras. R-Ras-tH stimulated proliferation and transformation in vitro, and these effects were blocked by both MEK and PI3K inhibition. Conversely, the R-Ras tD suppressed H-Ras-mediated Raf activation and ERK phosphorylation, proliferation, and transformation. Thus, Ras access to Raf at the PM is sufficient for MAPK activation and is a principal component of Ras mitogenesis and transformation. Fusion of the R-Ras extended N-terminal domain to H-Ras had no effect on proliferation, but inhibited transformation and tumor progression, indicating that the R-Ras N-terminus also contributes negative regulation to these Ras functions. PI3K activation was tD-independent; however, H-Ras was a stronger activator of PI3K than R-Ras, with either tD. PI3K inhibition nearly ablated transformation by R-Ras-tH, H-Ras, and H-Ras-tR, whereas MEK inhibition had a modest effect on Ras-tH-driven transformation but no effect on H-Ras-tR transformation. R-Ras-tH supported tumor initiation, but not tumor progression. Whereas H-Ras-tR-induced transformation was reduced relative to H-Ras, tumor progression was robust and similar to H-Ras. H-Ras tumor growth was moderately suppressed by MEK inhibition, which had no effect on H-Ras-tR tumor growth. In contrast, PI3K inhibition markedly suppressed tumor growth by H-Ras and H-Ras-tR, indicating that sustained PI3K signaling is a critical pathway for H-Ras-driven tumor progression, independent of microdomains. In the second phase of the study, we investigated the combinatorial use of two drugs currently either in active use as anti-cancer agents (Rapamycin) or in clinical trials (OTX008), as a novel strategy to inhibit H-Ras-driven tumor progression. H-Ras anchored to the plasma membrane shuttles from the lipid ordered (Lo) domain to the lipid ordered/lipid disordered border upon activation, and retention of H-Ras at these sites requires Galectin-1 (Gal-1). We have previously found that genetically-mediated Lo sequestration of H-Ras inhibited MAPK signaling but not PI3K activation. Here we show that inhibition of Gal-1 with OTX008 sequestered H-Ras in the Lo domain, blocked H-Ras-mediated MAPK signaling, and attenuated H-Ras-driven tumor progression in mice. H-Ras-driven tumor growth was also attenuated by treatment with mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin, and this effect was further enhanced in tumors driven by Lo-sequestered H-Ras. These drugs also revealed bidirectional cross-talk in H-Ras pathways. Moreover, dual pathway inhibition with OTX008 and Rapamycin resulted in nearly complete ablation of H-Ras-driven tumor growth. These findings indicate that membrane microdomain sequestration of H-Ras with OTX008, coupled with mTOR inhibition, may support a novel therapeutic approach to treat H-Ras mutant cancers.
Temple University--Theses

The connection between T cell activation, plasma membrane order and actin filament dynamics was the main focus of this study. Laurdan and di-4-ANEPPDHQ, membrane order sensing probes, were shown to report only on lipid packing rather than being influenced by the presence of membrane-inserted peptides justifying their use in membrane order studies. These dyes were used to follow plasma membrane order in live cells at 37°C. Disrupting actin filaments had a disordering effect while stabilizing actin filaments had an ordering effect on the plasma membrane, indicating there is a basal level of ordered domains in resting cells. Lowering PI(4,5)P2 levels decreased the proportion of ordered domains strongly suggesting that the connection of actin filaments to the plasma membrane is responsible for the maintaining the level of ordered membrane domains. Membrane blebs, which are detached from the underlying actin filaments, contained a low fraction of ordered domains. Aggregation of membrane components resulted in a higher proportion of ordered plasma membrane domains and an increase in cell peripheral actin polymerization. This strongly suggests that the attachment of actin filaments to the plasma membrane induces the formation of ordered domains. Limited cholesterol depletion with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin triggered peripheral actin polymerization. Cholesterol depleted cells showed an increase in plasma membrane order as a result of actin filament accumulation underneath the membrane. Moderate cholesterol depletion also induced membrane domain aggregation and activation of T cell signaling events. The T cell receptor (TCR) aggregation caused redistribution of domains resulting in TCR patches of higher order and the bulk membrane correspondingly depleted of ordered domains. This suggests the preexistence of small ordered membrane domains in resting T cells that aggregate upon cell activation. Increased actin polymerization at the TCR aggregation sites showed that actin polymerization is strongly correlated with the changes in the distribution of ordered domains. The distribution of the TCR in resting cells and its colocalization with actin filaments is cell cycle dependent. We conclude that actin filament attachment to the plasma membrane, which is regulated via PI(4,5)P2, plays a crucial role in the formation of ordered domains.
At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 4: Manuscript.

Les REMORINES du groupe 1 sont des protéines spécifiques des plantes, localisées dans la membrane plasmique. Nous avons montré que StREM1.3 (REM) constitue un marqueur des radeaux lipidiques, des domaines membranaires du plasmalemme enrichis en stérols et sphingolipides. De plus, REM se trouve enrichie dans les plasmodesmes (PD), des canaux ancrés dans la paroi qui assurent les communications intercellulaires. Nous avons mis en évidence pour la première fois le rôle physiologique de REM dans la plante, cette protéine est capable de ralentir la propagation virale du Potato Virus X (PVX) et d’autres virus. Par ailleurs, l’activité antivirale de REM est régulée par phosphorylation et conduit à une modification de la taille du pore des PD par dépôt de callose. Des candidats protéiques ont été sélectionnées et leur validation fonctionnelle a été initiée in planta par des approches de transgénèse, en expression transitoire et sur des plantes transgéniques soumises à des infections virales pour étudier la propagation des virus. Des approches de biochimie d’interaction des protéines, et d’imagerie ont également été envisagés. Le sujet de cette thèse vise à appréhender les mécanismes de l’interaction de REM avec ses partenaires dans la membrane lors de l’infection virale, en se focalisant sur les interactions protéines-protéines lors de la réponse au PVX. Nous nous intéresserons plus particulièrement aux protéines des PD et des radeaux membranaires qui sont très probablement ciblées lors de cette interaction avec les virus
Group 1 REMORINs are plant-specific proteins located at the plasma membrane. We have shown that StREM1.3 (REM) is a marker of lipid rafts, plasma membrane domains enriched in sterols and sphingolipids. In addition, REM is enriched in plasmodesmata channels (PD) which are anchored within the cell wall and enable intercellular communication between virtually all plant cells. We have demonstrated for the first time the physiological role of REM in plants, this protein is able to reduce the viral cell-to-cell movement of Potato Virus X (PVX) and other viruses. Moreover, the antiviral activity of REM is regulated by phosphorylation and leads to a modification of the pore size of PD via the accumulation of callose, a sugar polymer, around the neck regions of PD. In order to understand how REM is able to induce the accumulation of callose in these specific regions, a large set of proteins have been selected and the deciphering of their functions have been initiated in planta by transgenic approaches, in transient expression and on transgenic plants, which will be subjected to viral infections to study the spread of viruses. Protein interaction, biochemistry and imaging approaches were also used to study this question. This thesis aims at understanding the mechanisms of the REM interaction with its membrane partners during viral infection, focusing on the protein-protein interactions during the response to PVX. We will focus more particularly on PD proteins and membrane rafts that are most likely targeted during this interaction with viruses

It has been already demonstrated that the oligosaccharide chain (OligoGM1) of the ganglioside GM1, β-Gal-(1-3)-β-GalNAc-(1-4)-[α-Neu5Ac-(2-3)]-β-Gal-(1-4)-β-Glc-(1-1)-Ceramide, promotes neurodifferentiation in the Neuro2a murine neuroblastoma cells, used as a model, by directly interacting with the NGF specific receptor TrkA, leading to the activation of ERK1/2 downstream pathway. In this context, my PhD work aimed to investigate which other biochemical pathways, in addition to TrkA-MAPK cascade activation, are prompted by OligoGM1, with an emphasis on Ca2+ modulating factors. A proteomic analysis (nLC-ESi-MS-MS) performed on Neuro2a cells treated with 50 µM OligoGM1 for 24 hours led to the identification and quantification of 324 proteins exclusively expressed by OligoGM1-treated cells. Interestingly, some of these proteins are involved in the regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis and in Ca2+-dependent differentiative pathways. In order to evaluate if OligoGM1 administration was able to modulate Ca2+ flow, we performed calcium-imaging experiments on Neuro2a cells using the Ca2+-sensitive Fluo-4 probe. Starting from 5 minutes upon OligoGM1 administration to undifferentiated Neuro2a, a significant increase in Ca2+ influx occurs. At the same time an increased activation of TrkA membrane receptor was observed and, importantly, the addition of a specific TrkA inhibitor abolished the OligoGM1 mediated increase of the cytosolic Ca2+, suggesting that the opening of the cell Ca2+ channels following OligoGM1 administration depends on the activation of TrkA receptor. To unveil which cellular pathway activated by OligoGM1 could lead to the increase of intracellular Ca2+, time-course immunoblotting analyses were performed. The data revealed that following TrkA activation, OligoGM1 induced the activation of phospholipase PLCγ1 which converts phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to diacyglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), the second messengers that propagate cellular signalling via Ca2+ mobilization. Moreover, we observed a hyperphosphorylation of the DAG substrate, protein kinase C (PKC), which is a priming event that enables its catalytic activation in response to lipid second messengers, and we found its enrichment in lipid rafts, events that consolidate its activation. When calcium-imaging experiments where performed in the presence of xestospongin C, a potent inhibitor of IP3 receptors on endoplasmic reticulum, a reduction of about 50% of Ca2+ influx was observed, suggesting that the Ca2+ flows moved by the OligoGM1 come not only from intracellular storages, but probably also from the extracellular environment. Accordingly, in the presence of both extracellular (EGTA) and intracellular (BAPTA-AM) Ca2+ chelators the neuritogenic effect induced by OligoGM1 was abolished. The work described in this thesis confirms that the effects of GM1 ganglioside on neuronal differentiation are mediated by its oligosaccharide portion. In particular, here I highlight that the oligosaccharide, initiating a signalling cascade on the cell surface, is responsible alone for the balancing of the intracellular Ca2+ levels that underlie neurite sprouting, which have historically been attributed to the whole GM1 ganglioside and its role as lipid inserted into the plasma membrane. In this way, these data give additional information on the molecular characterization of the mechanisms by which GM1 exerts its neuronal functions.

Il ganglioside GM1 è un glicosfingolipide mono-sialilato presente nello strato esterno della membrana plasmatica cellulare ed è particolarmente abbondante nei neuroni. Numerosi studi in vitro e in vivo evidenziano il ruolo del GM1 non solo come componente strutturale ma anche come regolatore di diversi processi cellulari. Infatti, l'arricchimento di GM1 nei microdomini di membrana promuove il differenziamento e la protezione neuronale. Inoltre il contenuto di GM1 è essenziale per la sopravvivenza e il mantenimento dei neuroni. Nonostante vi siano numerose evidenze sugli effetti neuronotrofici mediati dal GM1, la conoscenza del meccanismo d'azione sottostante è scarsa. Recentemente, la catena oligosaccaridica del GM1 (oligoGM1) è stata identificata come responsabile delle proprietà neuritogeniche del ganglioside GM1 nelle cellule di neuroblastoma. Gli effetti mediati dall’oligoGM1 dipendono dal suo legame con il recettore specifico dell’ NGF, il TrkA, determinando così l'attivazione della via TrkA-MAPK. In questo contesto, il mio lavoro di dottorato mirava a confermare il ruolo dell’oligoGM1, come componente bioattiva dell’intero ganglioside GM1, capace di stimolare i processi di differenziaziamento e maturazione dei neuroni granulari cerebellari di topo. Come prima cosa, abbiamo eseguito analisi morfologiche in time -course sui neuroni primari coltivati in presenza o in assenza dei gangliosidi GM1 o GD1a (il quale rappresenta il diretto precursore catabolico del GM1), somministrati esogenamente. Abbiamo osservato che entrambi i gangliosidi aumentavano l’aggregazione e l'arborizzazione dei neuroni. Dopo successiva somministrazione dei rispettivi oligosaccaridi, abbiamo osservato che solo l’oligoGM1 favoriva la migrazione dei neuroni, mentre l’oligoGD1a non induceva nessun effetto discriminante rispetto alle cellule controllo. Questo risultato suggerisce l'importanza della specifica struttura saccaridica del GM1 nella mediazione degli effetti neuronotrofici del ganglioside. Quindi abbiamo caratterizzato biochimicamente l'effetto mediato dall’oligoGM1 nei neuroni e abbiamo osservato un più elevato tasso di fosforilazione delle proteine FAK e Src, le quali rappresentano i regolatori intracellulari chiave della motilità neuronale. Inoltre, in presenza dell’ oligoGM1 i neuroni granulari cerebellari mostravano un aumento del livello di marcatori neuronali specifici (ad es. β3-Tubulina, Tau, Neuroglicano C, Sinapsina), suggerendo uno stadio di maturazione più avanzato rispetto ai controlli. Inoltre, abbiamo scoperto che l'oligoGM1 accelera l'espressione del pattern di gangliosidi tipico dei neuroni maturi che è caratterizzato da alti livelli di gangliosidi complessi (cioè GM1, GD1a, GD1b e GT1b) e basso livello del ganglioside più semplice GM3. Per studiare il meccanismo d'azione dell'oligoGM1, abbiamo usato il suo derivato marcato con il trizio e abbiamo scoperto che l'oligoGM1 interagisce con la superficie cellulare senza entrare nelle cellule. Questa scoperta suggerisce la presenza di un bersaglio biologico sulla membrana plasmatica neuronale. È interessante notare che abbiamo riscontrato una precoce attivazione della via di segnalazione del TrkA associata alle MAP chinasi in seguito alla somministrazione dell’oligoGM1 nelle culture neuronali. Questo risultato suggerisce che questo evento rappresenti un punto di partenza degli effetti dell’ oligoGM1 nei neuroni. I nostri dati rivelano che gli effetti del ganglioside GM1 sul differenziamento e la maturazione neuronale sono mediati dalla sua porzione di oligosaccaride. Infatti, l’oligoGM1 interagisce con la superficie cellulare, innescando così l'attivazione di processi biochimici intracellulari che sono responsabili della migrazione neuronale, dell'emissione dei dendriti e della crescita degli assoni. Nel complesso, i nostri risultati sottolineano l'importanza dell’ oligoGM1 come un nuovo e promettente fattore neurotrofico.
The GM1 ganglioside is a mono-sialylated glycosphingolipid present in the outer layer of the cell plasma membrane and abundant in neurons. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies highlight the role of GM1 not only as a structural component but also as a functional regulator. Indeed, GM1 enrichment in membrane microdomains promotes neuronal differentiation and protection, and the GM1 content is essential for neuronal survival and maintenance. Despite many lines of evidence on the GM1-mediated neuronotrophic effects, our knowledge on the underlying mechanism of action is scant. Recently, the oligosaccharide chain of GM1 (oligoGM1) has been identified as responsible for the neuritogenic properties of the GM1 ganglioside in neuroblastoma cells. The oligoGM1-mediated effects depend on its binding to the NGF specific receptor TrkA, thus resulting in the TrkA-MAPK pathway activation. In this context, my PhD work aimed to confirm the role of the oligoGM1, as the bioactive portion of the entire GM1 ganglioside, capable of enhancing the differentiation and maturation processes of mouse cerebellar granule neurons. First, we performed time course morphological analyses on mouse primary neurons plated in the presence or absence of exogenously administered gangliosides GM1 or GD1a (direct GM1 catabolic precursor). We found that both gangliosides increased neuron clustering and arborization, however only oligoGM1 and not oligoGD1a induced the same effects in prompting neuron migration. This result suggests the importance of the specific GM1 saccharide structure in mediating neuronotrophic effects. Then we characterized biochemically the oligoGM1-mediated effect in mouse primary neurons, and we observed a higher phosphorylation rate of FAK and Src proteins which are the intracellular key regulators of neuronal motility. Moreover, in the presence of oligoGM1 cerebellar granule neurons showed increased level of specific neuronal markers (e.g., β3-Tubulin, Tau, Neuroglycan C, Synapsin), suggesting an advanced stage of maturation compared to controls. In addition, we found that the oligoGM1 accelerates the expression of the typical ganglioside pattern of mature neurons which is characterized by high levels of complex gangliosides (i.e., GM1, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b) and low level of the simplest one, the GM3 ganglioside. To study the mechanism of action of the oligoGM1, we used its tritium labeled derivative and we found that the oligoGM1 interacts with the cell surface without entering the cells. This finding suggests the presence of a biological target at the neuronal plasma membrane. Interestingly, we observed the TrkA-MAP kinase pathway activation as an early event underlying oligoGM1 effects in neurons. Our data reveal that the effects of GM1 ganglioside on neuronal differentiation and maturation are mediated by its oligosaccharide portion. Indeed, oligoGM1 interacts with the cell surface, thus triggering the activation of intracellular biochemical pathways that are responsible for neuronal migration, dendrites emission and axon growth. Overall, our results point out the importance of oligoGM1 as a new promising neurotrophic player.

Afin d’assurer un état physiologique optimal des cellules, l’organisation de tous les composants de leur membrane plasmique (MP) est finement régulée. L’un des paramètres permettant de rendre compte de l’agencement des composants entre eux et du niveau d’organisation de la MP est le degré d’ordre. Ici, nous avons utilisé, la di-4-ANEPPDHQ, une sonde fluorescente sensible à son environnement, pour suivre le degré d’ordre de la MP de cellules de tabac BY-2 dans deux contextes différents ; lors de la régénération de cellules à partir de protoplastes et dans le cadre d’une élicitation par la cryptogéine.Nous avons ainsi mesuré que le degré d’ordre de la MP de cellules de tabac BY-2 est modulé au cours du lent processus de leur régénération. Cette régulation est découplée de la néosynthèse de la paroi et indépendante de la forme des cellules, mais est corrélée au niveau de différenciation cellulaire. A cette dimension temporelle, s’ajoute une dimension locale de la régulation de l’organisation de la MP. De fait, la cartographie des périmètres de protoplastes et de cellules en suspension de tabac a montré une organisation sous forme de mosaïque de petits domaines (288X288 nm) aux niveaux d’ordre très variés. Les deux modèles étudiés diffèrent par l’organisation de cette mosaïque. En effet, les cellules en suspension présentent une zone, à dimension micrométrique, d’enrichissement en domaines de degré d’ordre plus élevé, située entre deux cellules adjacentes. Nous discutons l’implication du trafic membranaire dans la modulation du RGM des cellules, via un adressage de lipides/protéines à la MP, qui mènerait à l’acquisition d’une identité cellulaire.Une approche pharmacologique a permis d’identifier les formes actives d’oxygènes responsables de la réorganisation rapide de la MP chez les cellules de tabac BY-2 observée en réponse à la cryptogéine. Ainsi, l’effet du H2O2 sur le degré d’ordre présente des similarités avec celui de la cryptogéine, dont un effet dose dépendant. De plus, une inhibition partielle de l’accumulation de H2O2 en réponse à la cryptogéine est associée à une inhibition partielle de la hausse du degré d’ordre membranaire normalement induite chez les cellules de tabac BY-2. Ces résultats suggérant que le H2O2 soit capable de réguler finement le degré d’ordre membranaire des cellules lors de la réponse à la cryptogéine. Le mécanisme d’action du H2O2 a été étudié, et deux hypothèses classiques ont pu être éliminées. La première implique une modification de la composition de la MP via une arrivée de domaines ordonnés à la MP et la seconde une formation de novo de ces domaines à la surface de la MP via une modification directe des composants membranaires. Nous discutons l’existence d’un nouveau rôle pour le H2O2 qui agirait directement sur le degré d’ordre de la MP
Spatial distribution of pasma membranes (PM) components is tightly regulated to provide the cell an optimal physiological state. The level of order degree is a suitable parameter to study PM organization, reflecting the intensity of interactions taking place between PM components and so the level of their packing. During our work, we used the environment sensitive probe di-4-ANEPPDHQ to assess the level of order degree of tobacco BY-2 cells PM in different situations: during the time-course of cell regeneration and in the particular case of an elicitation by cryptogein.We measured that the level of order degree of PM is modulated during the slow process of cell regeneration. This regulation isn’t related to the cell wall neo-synthesis neither the cell morphology, but is correlated to the differentiation state. The mapping of the level of order degree along the PM perimeter of protoplasts and suspension cells revealed a global common organization with a mosaic like distribution of domains (288X288 nm) exhibiting high diversity of level of order degree. The two models differed by the organization of this mosaic, the cell PM exhibiting enrichment in highest ordered domains in a specific area between two adjacent cells. Then, we discus about a possible involvement of membrane trafficking in the regulation of the level of order degree allowing specific targeting of lipids/proteins, and subsequent cellular identity acquisition.A pharmacological approach allowed the identification of the reactive oxygen species involved in the PM reorganization observed at the surface of tobacco BY-2 cells in response to cryptogein. We report that H2O2 has similar effects on the PM level of order degree compared to cryptogein’s one, both acting doses dependently. Furthermore, a partial inhibition of the H2O2 accumulation occurring in response to cryptogein is linked to a partial inhibition in the increase of the level of order degree usually induced by cryptogein. Those results suggest that H2O2 could finely regulates The PM level of order degree during the response of tobacco cells to cryptogein. The potential mechanisms involved has been studied. Two current hypotheses were studied in parallel, and both were rejected. The first one involves a modification of PM composition by an arrival of ordered domain to the PM. In the second one, a de novo formation of PM component structure. So, we discuss about a new role for H2O2, which would act directly on the PM level of order degree

La signalisation par le récepteur de l'interleukine-2 (IL-2R), est régulée par son endocytose indépendante de la clathrine (EIC) et sa dégradation ultérieure, tout en jouant un rôle essentiel dans l'immunité. L'endocytose indépendante de la clathrine étant dépourvue de manteau protéique induisant la formation des puits, la question qui se pose est de savoir comment la vésicule d’IL-2R est-elle initiée. Le regroupement local des protéines peut induire des changements de conformation de la membrane et créer une invagination. Sachant que l'IL-2R s'accumule à la base des protubérances membranaires avant d’initier sa vésicule d’endocytose, nous avons analysé si le regroupement des récepteurs pourrait favoriser son internalisation. Pour étudier l’importance du regroupement de l'IL-2R, nous avons généré une lignée lymphocytaire humaine éditée (CRISPR) pour exprimer GFP-IL-2Rᵧ. Nous avons ensuite analysé la stoechiométrie du récepteur au niveau de la membrane plasmique, par microscopie TIRF couplée à une méthode de suivi de GFP-IL-2Rᵧ en molécule unique et identifié des populations distinctes d’oligomérisation. L'IL-2Rᵧ semble atteindre la surface cellulaire sous forme d'oligomères pré-assemblés auxquels d'autres molécules sont ajoutées, atteignant ainsi une taille d'oligomérisation optimale qui est essentielle à son internalisation. La liaison de l'IL-2 favorise la formation de ces oligomères, compétents pour l’endocytose, ce qui souligne l'importance du regroupement des récepteurs dans l'internalisation EIC.De plus, nous avons constaté que la déplétion du cholestérol augmentait la proportion de gros oligomères, non compétents pour l’endocytose mais induisant une forte signalisation. La perturbation du réseau d'actine favorise également la formation de gros oligomères, mais cette fois en diminuant la signalisation de l’IL-2R. Ainsi, les deux facteurs régulent l'endocytose et la signalisation de l'IL-2R de manière distincte. Nos résultats apportent de nouvelles connaissances sur les mécanismes régulant la signalisation des récepteurs et l’EIC
Signaling by the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) is regulated by its clathrin-independent endocytosis (CIE) and subsequent degradation, while playing a critical role in immunity. Interestingly, CIE lacks a coat protein that drives pit formation, raising the question of how the CIE vesicle is initiated. Protein clustering generates forces that can induce membrane conformational changes. Notably, IL-2R has been shown to accumulate at the base of membrane protrusions, where receptors might cluster and thereby initiate the pit.To study the relevance of IL-2R clustering in its endocytosis, we generated a CRISPR-edited T cell line expressing GFP-IL-2Rᵧ and analyzed its stoichiometry at the plasma membrane, by TIRF microscopy coupled to a single-molecule endocytic tracking method. We identified distinct IL-2Rᵧ cluster populations. IL-2Rᵧ seems to reach the cell surface as a preassembled cluster to which further molecules are added, reaching an optimal cluster size that is key for its internalization. Binding of IL-2 promotes the formation of endocytic clusters and receptor uptake, highlighting the importance of clustering for CIE internalization.Moreover, we found that cholesterol depletion increases the proportion of large, non-endocytic clusters as well as IL-2R signaling. Disruption of the actin meshwork also promotes the formation of large clusters, yet it decreases IL-2R signaling. Thus, both factors regulate IL-2R endocytosis and signaling in a distinct manner. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms regulating receptor signaling and CIE

Human melanoma has been shown to be marked by an atypical cellular ganglioside profile and by the upregulation of plasma membrane sialidase NEU3. In this PhD thesis, I analyzed NEU3 silencing effects on the two human primary melanoma cell lines, named L3 and L6. These cell lines were stably transfected with a lentiviral vector. Previous results already demonstrated that NEU3 silenced melanoma cells reduced their migration potential and their growth in soft agar medium. Based on these data, my PhD work was focused towards the molecular features and signaling pathways alterations induced by NEU3 silencing in primary melanoma cell lines. Whole genome microarray analysis revealed the presence of differentially expressed genes above all associated with migration, motility, and control of cell death (G0 biological processes enrichment analysis). Some of these genes were validated by Real Time PCR: MAL, SEMA 3B, SEMA 3C and SEMA 5A. NEU3 silenced clones of both cell lines, 3C, 6A and 6B underwent to the upregulation of MAL, SEMA 3B and 3C. In contrast, SEMA 5A was downregulated. Different expression of markers related to epithelial mesenchymal transitions (N and E cadherin, MITF, vimentin, claudin 1, zo 1) was also revealed in NEU3 silenced clones. This proved the acquisition of a different molecular phenotype after NEU3 silencing that could explain the less motile properties. Moreover, we analyzed the activation of signaling pathways involved in these processes and we found a less activation of PI3K/AKT/PRAS40 axis and p38 kinases. Significantly, both these signaling pathways are involved in melanoma migration and differentiation control. All these results suggest that NEU3 upregulation could enhance melanoma malignancy by altering specific signaling pathways that are involved in cell motility and cell differentiation and thus NEU3 could be a novel target for treating melanoma.

Before mammalian spermatozoa gain the capacity to fertilise, they must undergo capacitation, a maturation event involving a series of intensely regulated mechanisms that are induced upon exposure to factors within the female reproductive tract or defined in vitro media. The loss of cholesterol from the sperm plasma membrane, also known as cholesterol efflux, is one such mechanism that occurs during capacitation and is required for successful fertilisation. Unlike the majority of mammalian species, traditional in vitro media like Tyrodes with albumin, lactate and pyruvate (TALP) is unable to effectively stimulate capacitation in ram spermatozoa. Only when spermatozoa from this species are incubated with a combination of factors that upregulate cAMP production (collectively termed cAMP up-regulators), these being the metabolic inert cAMP analog dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP) and two phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, caffeine and theophylline, is there evidence of successful capacitation. Though this is established in literature, there is limited knowledge of the capacitation-related processes that are supported under these elevated cAMP conditions, specifically cholesterol efflux. The research within this thesis investigates the requirements necessary to facilitate cholesterol efflux and explores the mechanisms that may be responsible for regulating this process in ram spermatozoa.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive form of cancer with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Since many patients present with metastatic disease and are thus ineligible for surgical resection, PDAC is almost ubiquitously fatal; new treatment options are therefore needed to combat this disease. A key hallmark of many cancers, including PDAC, is metabolic reprogramming and a shift towards a high glycolytic rate, known as the Warburg effect. This allows cancer cells to generate ATP in the face of hypoxia and to meet the increased metabolic requirements associated with rapid proliferation. We hypothesised that this shift towards glycolytic metabolism has important implications for the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in PDAC, since the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA), which is critical for maintaining low [Ca2+]i and thus cell survival, is dependent on ATP to extrude cytosolic Ca2+. The relative contributions of mitochondrial vs glycolytic ATP in fuelling the PMCA in human PDAC cell lines (PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2) were therefore assessed. Moreover, the effects of numerous mechanistically distinct metabolic inhibitors on key readouts of cell death, [Ca2+]i and ATP were investigated. Treatment with glycolytic inhibitors induced significant ATP depletion, PMCA inhibition, [Ca2+]i overload and cell death in both PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells, while mitochondrial inhibitors had no effect. Subsequently, these experiments were repeated on PDAC cells cultured in media formulated to "switch" their highly glycolytic phenotype back to one more reliant on mitochondrial metabolism. Culture in nominal glucose-free media supplemented with either galactose (10 mM) or alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC, 2 mM) resulted in a switch in metabolism in MIA PaCa-2 cells, where proliferation rate and glycolysis were significantly decreased, and in the case of cells cultured in KIC, oxidative phosphorylation rate was preserved (assessed using Seahorse XF technology). Following culture of MIA PaCa-2 cells in either galactose or KIC, glycolytic inhibition failed to recapitulate the profound ATP depletion, PMCA inhibition and [Ca2+]i overload observed in glucose-cultured MIA PaCa-2 cells. These data demonstrate that in PDAC cells exhibiting a high rate of glycolysis, glycolytically-derived ATP is important for fuelling [Ca2+]i homeostasis and thus is critical for survival. Finally, using a cell surface biotinylation assay, the keyglycolytic enzymes LDHA, PFKP, GAPDH, PFKFB3 and PKM2 were all found to associate with the plasma membrane in MIA PaCa-2 cells, possibly in a tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent manner. To investigate whether the dynamic membrane-association of glycolytic enzymes provides a privileged supply of ATP to the PMCA in PDAC, the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors was assessed on PMCA activity. However, while these inhibited PMCA activity, this occurred without accompanying global ATP depletion. These data indicate that glycolytic ATP is critical for the regulation of [Ca2+]i by the PMCA in PDAC, and that the glycolytic regulation of the PMCA may be an important therapeutic locus. However, further research is required to determine whether membrane-bound glycolytic enzymes regulate its activity.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) binding to its membrane receptor CD47 results in an inhibtion of the nitric oxide (NO) receptor soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and a decrease in intracellular cGMP levels. This causes physiologic effects such as vasoconstriction and a rise in blood pressure. The mechanism by which TSP-1 binds to CD47 at the membrane to decrease sGC activity is largely unknown. CD47 can physically associate with a number of binding partners, including α(v)β₃ and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Binding of a C-terminal fragment of TSP-1 called E3CaG1 to CD47 leads to a rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺](i)), which decreases sGC activity via a phosphorylation event. Binding of E3CaG1 is also known to disrupt the interaction between CD47 and VEGFR2, leading to a decrease in endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and cGMP levels through an Akt signaling pathway. However, it is not known whether other membrane proteins associated with CD47 are required for E3CaG1 binding and a subsequent [Ca²⁺](i) increase. Plasmon-waveguide resonance (PWR) spectroscopy was employed to elucidate the mechanism of TSP-1 inhibition of sGC activity through membrane complexes involving CD47. Using PWR, I found E3CaG1 can bind specifically to CD47 within native Jurkat membranes with picomolar and nanomolar dissociation constants (K(d)), suggesting multiple CD47 complexes are present. Among these complexes, CD47/VEGFR2 was found to bind E3CaG1 with a picomolar K(d)and CD47/α(v)β₃ was found to bind E3CaG1 with a nanomolar K(d). In addition, the presence of an anti-VEGFR2 antibody inhibited the E3CaG1-induced calcium response, which suggested CD47 in complex with VEGFR2 was responsible for TSP-1 reduction of sGC activity. I show that when both CD47 and VEGFR2 are returned to a HEK 293T cell line that does not contain these receptors, an increase in [Ca²⁺](i) upon E3CaG1 binding is restored. Interestingly, E3CaG1 was also found to bind to VEGFR2 in complex with the integrin α(v)β₃ on CD47-null cell lines and their derivations, causing a decrease in [Ca²⁺](i) levels. Therefore, the third type 2 repeat and C-terminal domains of TSP-1 can cause both increases and decreases in calcium based upon the availability of protein complexes to which it binds.

The role of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA), a calcium extruding enzyme, in cardiac physiology is not yet entirely clear. Two isoforms of PMCA, PMCAl and 4, are expressed in the myocardium. In the heart PMCA had originally been thought to play a rather minor role in cardiac relaxation. However, our group has suggested a new function for PMCA4b as a modulator of signal transduction pathways through its interaction with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in a cellular model; however, the role of the PMCA4-nN0S complex in the heart is still unclear. In addition, the differential role of the isoforms 1 and 4 remained enigmatic. The aim of the current study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which PMCA isoforms (1 and 4) modulate cardiac contractility.

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Unregulated angiogenesis is associated with several diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and tumour growth. Many signal transduction pathways have been implicated in the regulation of angiogenesis such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and of particular interest the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) pathway. Inhibition of calcineurin activity by the drug cyclopsorin A (CsA) has been shown to inhibit processes required for successful angiogenesis such as in vitro cell migration, tube formation and additionally attenuates corneal angiogenesis in vivo. CsA is associated with severe side effects and therefore the identification of an endogenous regulator of this pathway would be beneficial. One possibility is the plasma membrane calcium ATPases (PMCAs). These high affinity calcium extrusion pumps have been shown to interact with calcineurin in mammalian cells and cardiomyocytes and down-regulate the calcineurin/NFAT pathway. This is hypothesised to be due to the interaction between the two proteins which maintains calcineurin in a low calcium micro-environment generated by the calcium removal function of the pump. Interestingly, PMCA4 has been shown to interact with calcineurin in endothelial cells. The aim of our study was to further our understanding of PMCA4s regulation of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway specifically in endothelial cells and establish if PMCA4 has a role in the regulation of angiogenesis. ‘Gain of function’ by adenoviral over-expression of PMCA4 and ‘loss of function’ by either si-RNA mediated knockdown of PMCA4 or isolation of PMCA4-/- MLEC were used as models. Over-expression of PMCA4 in HUVEC resulted in inhibition of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway with the opposite result occurring in the case of the knockout of PMCA4, identifying PMCA4 as a negative-regulator of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway in endothelial cells. Over-expression of PMCA4 significantly attenuated VEGF-induced protein and mRNA expression of the pro-angiogenic proteins RCAN1.4 and Cox-2, endothelial cell migration and in vitro and in vivo tube formation with the opposite result occurring in knockdown or knockout studies, confirming PMCA4 as a down-regulator of angiogenesis. Interestingly, over-expression or knockdown of PMCA4 had no effect on VEGF-induced HUVEC proliferation or Erk1/2 phopshorylation proposing PMCA4 may be a potential inhibitor of angiogenesis without compromising cell survival. Disruption of the interaction between PMCA4 and calcineurin by generation and ectopic expression of an adenovirus encoding the region of PMCA4 that interacts with calcineurin (428-651) (Ad-ID4) resulted in an increase in NFAT activity, RCAN1.4 protein expression and in vitro tube formation. These results identify the mechanism of PMCA4s inhibitory effect of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway and consequently angiogenesis is a result of the interaction between the two proteins. The novel findings of this study establish PMCA4 as a negative-regulator of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway in endothelial cells and angiogenesis. These results are far reaching and highlight a potential role for PMCA4 as a therapeutic target in a variety of diseases that are associated with pathological angiogenesis.

Endocytosis of growth factor receptors plays an important role in the activation and propagation as well as the attenuation of signaling pathways. Its malfunctioning can cause several pathologies, e.g. by controlling the level of receptors at the cell surface. BMPs are members of the TGF-ß superfamily and are involved in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, chemotaxis and apoptosis. BMP signaling is initiated at two types of transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, BRI and BRII. BMP receptor activation occurs upon ligand binding to preformed complexes (PFCs) or BMP2-induced signaling complexes (BISCs) composed of BRI and BRII. Binding of BMP2 to PFCs results in activation of the Smad pathway, whereas BISCs initiate the activation of Smad-independent pathways via p38 resulting in the induction of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). BMP receptor endocytosis has not been extensively studied and the potential role of localization to different regions of the plasma membrane in determining the signaling pathways activated by PFCs and BISCs was not explored so far. In the present work, the localization of BMP receptors in distinct membrane domains and the consequential impact on BMP signaling were investigated. By separating detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) from cell lysates and subsequent gradient ultracentrifugation, it could be demonstrated that BRI and BRII cofractionate with cav-1, the marker protein of caveolae. Moreover, both receptor types interacted with cav-1 and showed a partially colocalization with cav-1 at the plasma membrane. Although these results point to a caveolar localization, BMP receptors cofractionated also with DRMs in cells exhibiting no caveolae, suggesting an additional non-caveolar raft localization. Beyond that, BRII could also be localized to clathrin-coated pits (CCPs) by means of immuno-electronmicroscopy studies. The second part of this thesis demonstrated that both membrane regions influence BMP signaling in distinct ways. Smad1/5 was shown to be phosphorylated independently of endocytic events at the cell surface. On the one hand, disruption of DRM regions by cholesterol depletion inhibited specifically BMP2-mediated ALP production, while Smad signaling was unaffected. On the other hand, inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis by specific inhibitors affected BMP2-induced Smad signaling as well as the induction of ALP, suggesting that both Smad-dependent and Smad-independent signaling pathways are required for BMP2 induced ALP production. These findings propose an important regulatory impact of different endocytic routes and membrane regions on BMP signaling as well as that a distinct membrane localization of BMP receptors account for specific signaling properties initiated at PFCs or BISCs
Endozytose von Wachstumsfaktor-Rezeptoren spielt eine entscheidende Rolle bei Aktivierung und Übertragung wie auch bei der Schwächung von Signalen. Störungen der Endozytose können schwere Krankheitsbilder hervorrufen, z.B. durch ihren Einfluss auf die Regulation der Rezeptormenge an der Zelloberfläche. BMPs sind Mitglieder der TGF-ß Superfamilie und sind involviert in die Regulation von Proliferation, Differenzierung, Chemotaxis und Apoptose. Zwei Arten von Transmembranproteinen, die Serin/Threonin-Kinase Aktivität besitzen, sind bedeutend für den BMP Signalweg – die BMP Rezeptoren BRI und BRII. Die Aktivierung von BRI und BRII erfolgt durch Ligandenbindung an präformierte Komplexe (PFCs) oder BMP2-induzierte Signalkomplexe (BISCs), die aus beiden Rezeptorarten bestehen. Wenn BMP2 an PFCs bindet, wird die Smad-Signalkaskade initiiert, wohingegen BISCs Smad-unabhängige Signale über p38 weiterleiten, was schließlich zur Produktion von alkalischer Phosphatase (ALP) führt. Das Feld der BMP Rezeptor Endozytose wurde noch nicht sehr ausführlich untersucht, genauso wenig wie die potentielle Rolle, die unterschiedliche Rezeptorlokalisierungen in verschiedenen Plasmamembran-Regionen bei der Initiierung der Signalwege, die durch PFCs bzw. BISCs aktiviert werden, spielen könnten. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Lokalisierung von BMP Rezeptoren in speziellen Membrandomänen sowie deren Einfluss auf die BMP Signalkaskade untersucht. Mittels Reinigung von Detergenz-resistenten Membranen (DRMs) aus Zelllysaten und anschließender Gradientenultrazentrifugation konnte gezeigt werden, dass BRI und BRII mit dem caveolären Markerprotein cav-1 kofraktionieren. Darüber hinaus interagieren beide Rezeptorarten mit cav-1 und kolokalisieren auch teilweise mit cav-1 an der Plasmamembran. Obwohl diese Ergebnisse auf ein eindeutiges Vorkommen der Rezeptoren in Caveolae schließen lassen, kofraktionieren sie auch mit DRMs in Zellen, die von Natur aus keine Caveolae ausbilden, woraus man eine zusätzliche nichtcaveoläre Raft-Lokalisierung schlussfolgern kann. Des Weiteren konnte BRII mittels Immun- Elektronenmikroskopie in „clathrin-coated pits“ (CCPs) lokalisiert werden. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass beide untersuchten Membranregionen die BMP Signalkaskade auf unterschiedliche Art und Weise beeinflussen. Es wurde bewiesen, dass Smad1/5 unabhängig von endozytotischen Vorgängen an der Plasmamembran phosphoryliert wird. Einerseits führte die Zerstörung von DRM-Regionen durch Cholesterindepletion zur spezifischen Inhibierung der BMP2-vermittelten ALP Produktion, ohne gleichzeitig die BMP Signalkaskade über Smads zu beeinflussen. Andererseits bewirkte eine spezifische Blockierung der Clathrin-vermittelten Endozytose eine Inhibition des BMP2-induzierten Smad-Signalwegs und auch der ALP Produktion, was auf ein Zusammenspiel von Smad-unabhängigen und Smad-abhängigen Signalwegen bei der ALP-Induzierung schließen lässt. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie lassen die Schlussfolgerung zu, dass verschiedene endozytotische Wege und Membranregionen einen bedeutenden, regulatorischen Einfluss auf die BMP Signalkaskade ausüben. Weiterhin wurde festgestellt, dass die Membranlokalisierung von BMP Rezeptoren für das Einschlagen verschiedener Signalwege ausgehend von PFCs und BISCs verantwortlich ist

Study of HEK293 cells stably expressing fusion protein between delta opioid receptor (δ-OR) and pertussis toxin-insensitive mutant of Gi1α protein, δ-OR-Gi1α (Cys351 -Ile351 ), provided the following results. Decrease of plasma membrane cholesterol content (cholesterol depletion) induced by cyclic oligosaccharide β-cyclodextrin did not affect binding of specific δ-OR agonist, [3 H]DADLE. Neither the maximum number of binding sites nor the affinity of [3 H]DADLE binding was changed by cholesterol depletion. However, the ability of δ-OR to activate cognate trimeric G proteins was impaired. EC50 value of agonist-stimulated [35 S]GTPγS binding was an order of magnitude higher. This effect was observed in case of both control and pertussis toxin-treated cells. It means that cholesterol depletion markedly reduced the efficiency of functional coupling of δ-OR to endogenously expressed pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins of Gi/Go family as well as covalently bound Gi1α (Cys351 -Ile351 ) protein. Unchanged plasma membrane cholesterol content is therefore important requirement for proper δ-OR function. Detection of the effect of cholesterol depletion on the functional activity of δ-OR was supported by the analysis of changes in biophysical state of plasma membrane using fluorescent membrane probes,...

In this thesis, we start with the description of the biophysical properties of the plasma membrane models upon signaling processess such as the increased cytoso- lic concentration of calcium ions, or posttranslational modifications of membrane proteins. Calcium signaling is characterized by a rapid increase of its cytosolic concentration. We identify calcium binding sites and characterize the binding in the plasma membrane models of increasing complexity from pure phospholipid bilayers, through cholesterol and peptide rich lipid membranes, to membranes ex- tracted from HEK293 cells. We use Time-Dependent Fluorescent Shift method, which provides direct information on hydration and mobility in defined regions of a lipid bilayer, accompanied with molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, which give molecular details of the studied interactions. The initial step of signaling mediated by PAG protein is its double palmi- toylation. We investigate changes of the biophysical properties of both the lipid membrane and the peptide itself upon the incorporation of the palmitoyls. Em- ploying all atom MD simulations, we study inter- and intramolecular interactions as well as changes in membrane hydration, thickness, or lipid ordering. The second part of the thesis, realized in a direct collaboration with a phar- macological...

Membrane domains are an important structure in plasamatic membrane. They concentrate various signaling molecules. Their main structural component is cholesterol and by its removal the membrane domains are disrupted. The aim of our work was to examine the effect of cholesterol depeletion on signaling initiated thyreothropin releasing hormone (TRH). Although its signaling cascade is located within membrane domains the receptor itself is not. We showed that cholesterol depletion by -cyclodextrin caused release of Gq/11 proteins and caveolin 2 from membrane domains. We also discovered that cholesterol depletion decreases potency of TRH to activate G proteins as well as induction of release of intracellular Ca2+ In the last part we investigated the effect of disruption of the cell membrane integrity by cholesterol depletion on thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor (TRH-R) surface mobility and internalization in HEK293 cells stably expressing TRH-R-eGFP fusion protein. CLSM studies indicated that the internalization of receptor molecules initiated by TRH stimulation was significantly attenuated. The detailed analysis of recovery of TRH-R-eGFP fluorescence in bleached spots of different sizes indicated that cholesterol depletion results in an increase of overall receptor mobility. We suggest that migration of...