Nuclear phosphoinositides: a signaling enigma wrapped in a compartmental conundrum

Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-Kinase 1α Modulates Ribosomal RNA Gene Silencing through Its Interaction with Histone H3 Lysine 9 Trimethylation and Heterochromatin Protein HP1-α

Phosphoinositide signaling has been implicated in the regulation of numerous cellular processes including cytoskeletal dynamics, cellular motility, vesicle trafficking, and gene transcription. Studies have also shown that nuclear phosphoinositide(s) regulates processes such as mRNA export, cell cycle progression, gene transcription, and DNA repair. We have shown previously that the nuclear form of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase 1α (PIP5K), the enzyme responsible for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate synthesis, is modified by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-1. In this study, we have shown that due to the site-specific Lys to Ala mutations of PIP5K at Lys-244 and Lys-490, it is unable to localize in the nucleus and nucleolus, respectively. Furthermore, by using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we have observed that PIP5K associates with the chromatin silencing complex constituted of H3K9me3 and heterochromatin protein 1α at multiple ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci. These interactions followed a definite cyclical pattern of occupancy (mostly G1) and release from the rDNA loci (G1/S) throughout the cell cycle. Moreover, the immunoprecipitation results clearly demonstrate that PIP5K SUMOylated at Lys-490 interacts with components of the chromatin silencing machinery, H3K9me3 and heterochromatin protein 1α. However, PIP5K does not interact with the gene activation signature protein H3K4me3. This study, for the first time, demonstrates that PIP5K, an enzyme actively associated with lipid modification pathway, has additional roles in rDNA silencing.

Phosphorylation regulates the Star-PAP-PIPKIα interaction and directs specificity toward mRNA targets

Star-PAP is a nuclear non-canonical poly(A) polymerase (PAP) that shows specificity toward mRNA targets. Star-PAP activity is stimulated by lipid messenger phosphatidyl inositol 4,5 bisphoshate (PI4,5P2) and is regulated by the associated Type I phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase that synthesizes PI4,5P2 as well as protein kinases. These associated kinases act as coactivators of Star-PAP that regulates its activity and specificity toward mRNAs, yet the mechanism of control of these interactions are not defined. We identified a phosphorylated residue (serine 6, S6) on Star-PAP in the zinc finger region, the domain required for PIPKIα interaction. We show that S6 is phosphorylated by CKIα within the nucleus which is required for Star-PAP nuclear retention and interaction with PIPKIα. Unlike the CKIα mediated phosphorylation at the catalytic domain, Star-PAP S6 phosphorylation is insensitive to oxidative stress suggesting a signal mediated regulation of CKIα activity. S6 phosphorylation together with coactivator PIPKIα controlled select subset of Star-PAP target messages by regulating Star-PAP-mRNA association. Our results establish a novel role for phosphorylation in determining Star-PAP target mRNA specificity and regulation of 3'-end processing.

Control of mammalian gene expression by selective mRNA export

Nuclear export of mRNAs is a crucial step in the regulation of gene expression, linking transcription in the nucleus to translation in the cytoplasm. Although important components of the mRNA export machinery are well characterized, such as transcription-export complexes TREX and TREX-2, recent work has shown that, in some instances, mammalian mRNA export can be selective and can regulate crucial biological processes such as DNA repair, gene expression, maintenance of pluripotency, haematopoiesis, proliferation and cell survival. Such findings show that mRNA export is an unexpected, yet potentially important, mechanism for the control of gene expression and of the mammalian transcriptome.

Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate 5-Kinase Iγ and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Signaling Couple to Promote Oncogenic Growth

The assembly of signaling complexes at the plasma membrane is required for the initiation and propagation of cellular signaling upon cell activation. The class I PI3K and the serine/threonine-specific protein kinase Akt signaling pathways (PI3K/Akt) are often activated in tumors. These pathways are initiated by the generation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) by PI3K-mediated phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PIP2), synthesized by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPKI) enzymes. The mechanism of how tumor cells recruit and organize the PIP2-synthesizing enzymes with PI3K in the plasma membrane for activation of PI3K/Akt signaling is not defined. Here, we demonstrated a role for the phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase Iγ (PIPKIγ) in PI3K/Akt signaling. PIPKIγ is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancers. Loss of PIPKIγ or its focal adhesion-targeting variant, PIPKIγi2, impaired PI3K/Akt activation upon stimulation with growth factors or extracellular matrix proteins in different tumor cells. PIPKIγi2 assembles into a complex containing Src and PI3K; Src was required for the recruitment of PI3K enzyme into the complex. PIPKIγi2 interaction with Src and its lipid kinase activity were required for promoting PI3K/Akt signaling. These results define a mechanism by which PIPKIγi2 and PI3K are integrated into a complex regulated by Src, resulting in the spatial generation of PIP2, which is the substrate PI3K required for PIP3 generation and subsequent Akt activation. This study elucidates the mechanism by which PIP2-generating enzyme controls Akt activation upstream of a PI3K enzyme. This pathway may represent a signaling nexus required for the survival and growth of metastasizing and circulating tumor cells in vivo.

PIP kinases define PI4,5P₂signaling specificity by association with effectors

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P₂) is an essential lipid messenger with roles in all eukaryotes and most aspects of human physiology. By controlling the targeting and activity of its effectors, PI4,5P₂modulates processes, such as cell migration, vesicular trafficking, cellular morphogenesis, signaling and gene expression. In cells, PI4,5P₂has a much higher concentration than other phosphoinositide species and its total content is largely unchanged in response to extracellular stimuli. The discovery of a vast array of PI4,5P₂ binding proteins is consistent with data showing that the majority of cellular PI4,5P₂is sequestered. This supports a mechanism where PI4,5P₂functions as a localized and highly specific messenger. Further support of this mechanism comes from the de novo synthesis of PI4,5P₂which is often linked with PIP kinase interaction with PI4,5P₂effectors and is a mechanism to define specificity of PI4,5P₂signaling. The association of PI4,5P₂-generating enzymes with PI4,5P₂effectors regulate effector function both temporally and spatially in cells. In this review, the PI4,5P₂effectors whose functions are tightly regulated by associations with PI4,5P₂-generating enzymes will be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phosphoinositides.

Histones and DNA compete for binding polyphosphoinositides in bilayers

Recent discoveries on the presence and location of phosphoinositides in the eukaryotic cell nucleoplasm and nuclear membrane prompted us to study the putative interaction of chromatin components with these lipids in model membranes (liposomes). Turbidimetric studies revealed that a variety of histones and histone combinations (H1, H2AH2B, H3H4, octamers) caused a dose-dependent aggregation of phosphatidylcholine vesicles (large unilamellar vesicle or small unilamellar vesicle) containing negatively charged phospholipids. 5 mol % phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP) was enough to cause extensive aggregation under our conditions, whereas with phosphatidylinositol (PI) at least 20 mol % was necessary to obtain a similar effect. Histone binding to giant unilamellar vesicle and vesicle aggregation was visualized by confocal microscopy. Histone did not cause vesicle aggregation in the presence of DNA, and the latter was able to disassemble the histone-vesicle aggregates. At DNA/H1 weight ratios 0.1-0.5 DNA- and PIP-bound H1 appear to coexist. Isothermal calorimetry studies revealed that the PIP-H1 association constant was one order of magnitude higher than that of PI-H1, and the corresponding lipid/histone stoichiometries were ~0.5 and ~1, respectively. The results suggest that, in the nucleoplasm, a complex interplay of histones, DNA, and phosphoinositides may be taking place, particularly at the nucleoplasmic reticula that reach deep within the nucleoplasm, or during somatic and nonsomatic nuclear envelope assembly. The data described here provide a minimal model for analyzing and understanding the mechanism of these interactions.

An inside-out origin for the eukaryotic cell

BACKGROUND

Although the origin of the eukaryotic cell has long been recognized as the single most profound change in cellular organization during the evolution of life on earth, this transition remains poorly understood. Models have always assumed that the nucleus and endomembrane system evolved within the cytoplasm of a prokaryotic cell.

RESULTS

Drawing on diverse aspects of cell biology and phylogenetic data, we invert the traditional interpretation of eukaryotic cell evolution. We propose that an ancestral prokaryotic cell, homologous to the modern-day nucleus, extruded membrane-bound blebs beyond its cell wall. These blebs functioned to facilitate material exchange with ectosymbiotic proto-mitochondria. The cytoplasm was then formed through the expansion of blebs around proto-mitochondria, with continuous spaces between the blebs giving rise to the endoplasmic reticulum, which later evolved into the eukaryotic secretory system. Further bleb-fusion steps yielded a continuous plasma membrane, which served to isolate the endoplasmic reticulum from the environment.

CONCLUSIONS

The inside-out theory is consistent with diverse kinds of data and provides an alternative framework by which to explore and understand the dynamic organization of modern eukaryotic cells. It also helps to explain a number of previously enigmatic features of cell biology, including the autonomy of nuclei in syncytia and the subcellular localization of protein N-glycosylation, and makes many predictions, including a novel mechanism of interphase nuclear pore insertion.

Phosphoinositide control of membrane protein function: a frontier led by studies on ion channels

Anionic phospholipids are critical constituents of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, ensuring appropriate membrane topology of transmembrane proteins. Additionally, in eukaryotes, the negatively charged phosphoinositides serve as key signals not only through their hydrolysis products but also through direct control of transmembrane protein function. Direct phosphoinositide control of the activity of ion channels and transporters has been the most convincing case of the critical importance of phospholipid-protein interactions in the functional control of membrane proteins. Furthermore, second messengers, such as [Ca(2+)]i, or posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation, can directly or allosterically fine-tune phospholipid-protein interactions and modulate activity. Recent advances in structure determination of membrane proteins have allowed investigators to obtain complexes of ion channels with phosphoinositides and to use computational and experimental approaches to probe the dynamic mechanisms by which lipid-protein interactions control active and inactive protein states.

c-Fos-activated synthesis of nuclear phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P₂] promotes global transcriptional changes

c-Fos is a well-recognized member of the AP-1 (activator protein-1) family of transcription factors. In addition to this canonical activity, we previously showed that cytoplasmic c-Fos activates phospholipid synthesis through a mechanism independent of its genomic AP-1 activity. c-Fos associates with particular enzymes of the lipid synthesis pathway at the endoplasmic reticulum and increases the Vmax of the reactions without modifying the Km values. This lipid synthesis activation is associated with events of differentiation and proliferation that require high rates of membrane biogenesis. Since lipid synthesis also occurs in the nucleus, and different phospholipids have been assigned transcription regulatory functions, in the present study we examine if c-Fos also acts as a regulator of phospholipid synthesis in the nucleus. Furthermore, we examine if c-Fos modulates transcription through its phospholipid synthesis activator capacity. We show that nuclear-localized c-Fos associates with and activates PI4P5K (phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate 5-kinase), but not with PI4KIIIβ (type IIIβ phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase) thus promoting PtdIns(4,5)P₂ (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate) formation, which, in turn, promotes transcriptional changes. We propose c-Fos as a key regulator of nuclear PtdIns(4,5)P₂ synthesis in response to growth signals that results in c-Fos-dependent transcriptional changes promoted by the newly synthesized lipids.

Poly(A) polymerase (PAP) diversity in gene expression--star-PAP vs canonical PAP

Almost all eukaryotic mRNAs acquire a poly(A) tail at the 3'-end by a concerted RNA processing event: cleavage and polyadenylation. The canonical PAP, PAPα, was considered the only nuclear PAP involved in general polyadenylation of mRNAs. A phosphoinositide-modulated nuclear PAP, Star-PAP, was then reported to regulate a select set of mRNAs in the cell. In addition, several non-canonical PAPs have been identified with diverse cellular functions. Further, canonical PAP itself exists in multiple isoforms thus illustrating the diversity of PAPs. In this review, we compare two nuclear PAPs, Star-PAP and PAPα with a general overview of PAP diversity in the cell. Emerging evidence suggests distinct niches of target pre-mRNAs for the two PAPs and that modulation of these PAPs regulates distinct cellular functions.

Accessibility of different histone H3-binding domains of UHRF1 is allosterically regulated by phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate

UHRF1 is a multidomain protein crucially linking histone H3 modification states and DNA methylation. While the interaction properties of its specific domains are well characterized, little is known about the regulation of these functionalities. We show that UHRF1 exists in distinct active states, binding either unmodified H3 or the H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) modification. A polybasic region (PBR) in the C terminus blocks interaction of a tandem tudor domain (TTD) with H3K9me3 by occupying an essential peptide-binding groove. In this state the plant homeodomain (PHD) mediates interaction with the extreme N terminus of the unmodified H3 tail. Binding of the phosphatidylinositol phosphate PI5P to the PBR of UHRF1 results in a conformational rearrangement of the domains, allowing the TTD to bind H3K9me3. Our results define an allosteric mechanism controlling heterochromatin association of an essential regulatory protein of epigenetic states and identify a functional role for enigmatic nuclear phosphatidylinositol phosphates.

Rho, nuclear actin, and actin-binding proteins in the regulation of transcription and gene expression

Actin cytoskeleton is one of the main targets of Rho GTPases, which act as molecular switches on many signaling pathways. During the past decade, actin has emerged as an important regulator of gene expression. Nuclear actin plays a key role in transcription, chromatin remodeling, and pre-mRNA processing. In addition, the "status" of the actin cytoskeleton is used as a signaling intermediate by at least the MKL1-SRF and Hippo-pathways, which culminate in the transcriptional regulation of cytoskeletal and growth-promoting genes, respectively. Rho GTPases may therefore regulate gene expression by controlling either cytoplasmic or nuclear actin dynamics. Although the regulation of nuclear actin polymerization is still poorly understood, many actin-binding proteins, which are downstream effectors of Rho, are found in the nuclear compartment. In this review, we discuss the possible mechanisms and key proteins that may mediate the transcriptional regulation by Rho GTPases through actin.

Simultaneous detection of multiple targets for ultrastructural immunocytochemistry

Simultaneous detection of biological molecules by means of indirect immunolabeling provides valuable information about their localization in cellular compartments and their possible interactions in macromolecular complexes. While fluorescent microscopy allows for simultaneous detection of multiple antigens, the sensitive electron microscopy immunodetection is limited to only two antigens. In order to overcome this limitation, we prepared a set of novel, shape-coded metal nanoparticles readily discernible in transmission electron microscopy which can be conjugated to antibodies or other bioreactive molecules. With the use of novel nanoparticles, various combinations with commercial gold nanoparticles can be made to obtain a set for simultaneous labeling. For the first time in ultrastructural histochemistry, up to five molecular targets can be identified simultaneously. We demonstrate the usefulness of the method by mapping of the localization of nuclear lipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate together with four other molecules crucial for genome function, which proves its suitability for a wide range of biomedical applications.

Disentangling biological signaling networks by dynamic coupling of signaling lipids to modifying enzymes

An unresolved problem in biological signal transduction is how particular branches of highly interconnected signaling networks can be decoupled, allowing activation of specific circuits within complex signaling architectures. Although signaling dynamics and spatiotemporal mechanisms serve critical roles, it remains unclear if these are the only ways cells achieve specificity within networks. The transcription factor Steroidogenic Factor-1 (SF-1) is an excellent model to address this question, as it forms dynamic complexes with several chemically distinct lipid species (phosphatidylinositols, phosphatidylcholines and sphingolipids). This property is important since lipids bound to SF-1 are modified by lipid signaling enzymes (IPMK & PTEN), regulating SF-1 biological activity in gene expression. Thus, a particular SF-1/lipid complex can interface with a lipid signaling enzyme only if SF-1 has been loaded with a chemically compatible lipid substrate. This mechanism permits dynamic downstream responsiveness to constant upstream input, disentangling specific pathways from the full network. The potential of this paradigm to apply generally to nuclear lipid signaling is discussed, with particular attention given to the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors and their phospholipid ligands.

p11 and its role in depression and therapeutic responses to antidepressants

Studies of the multifunctional protein p11 (also known as S100A10) are shedding light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying depression. Here, we review data implicating p11 in both the amplification of serotonergic signalling and the regulation of gene transcription. We summarize studies demonstrating that levels of p11 are regulated in depression and by antidepressant regimens and, conversely, that p11 regulates depression-like behaviours and/or responses to antidepressants. Current and future studies of p11 may provide a molecular and cellular framework for the development of novel antidepressant therapies.

Phosphatidic acid interacts with a MYB transcription factor and regulates its nuclear localization and function in Arabidopsis

Phosphatidic acid (PA) has emerged as a class of cellular mediators involved in various cellular and physiological processes, but little is known about its mechanism of action. Here we show that PA interacts with werewolf (WER), a R2R3 MYB transcription factor involved in root hair formation. The PA-interacting region is confined to the end of the R2 subdomain. The ablation of the PA binding motif has no effect on WER binding to DNA, but abolishes its nuclear localization and its function in regulating epidermal cell fate. Inhibition of PA production by phospholipase Dζ also suppresses WER's nuclear localization, root hair formation, and elongation. These results suggest a role for PA in promoting protein nuclear localization.

Cinderella story: PI4P goes from precursor to key signaling molecule

Phosphatidylinositol lipids are signaling molecules involved in nearly all aspects of cellular regulation. Production of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) has long been recognized as one of the first steps in generating poly-phosphatidylinositol phosphates involved in actin organization, cell migration, and signal transduction. In addition, progress over the last decade has brought to light independent roles for PI4P in membrane trafficking and lipid homeostasis. Here, we describe recent advances that reveal the breadth of processes regulated by PI4P, the spectrum of PI4P effectors, and the mechanisms of spatiotemporal control that coordinate crosstalk between PI4P and cellular signaling pathways.

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase Iγi2 in association with Src controls anchorage-independent growth of tumor cells

A fundamental property of tumor cells is to defy anoikis, cell death caused by a lack of cell-matrix interaction, and grow in an anchorage-independent manner. How tumor cells organize signaling molecules at the plasma membrane to sustain oncogenic signals in the absence of cell-matrix interactions remains poorly understood. Here, we describe a role for phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPK) Iγi2 in controlling anchorage-independent growth of tumor cells in coordination with the proto-oncogene Src. PIPKIγi2 regulated Src activation downstream of growth factor receptors and integrins. PIPKIγi2 directly interacted with the C-terminal tail of Src and regulated its subcellular localization in concert with talin, a cytoskeletal protein targeted to focal adhesions. Co-expression of PIPKIγi2 and Src synergistically induced the anchorage-independent growth of nonmalignant cells. This study uncovers a novel mechanism where a phosphoinositide-synthesizing enzyme, PIPKIγi2, functions with the proto-oncogene Src, to regulate oncogenic signaling.

Arranged marriage in lipid signalling? The limited choices of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in finding the right partner

Inositol-containing phospholipids (phosphoinositides, PIs) control numerous cellular processes in eukaryotic cells. For plants, a key involvement of PIs has been demonstrated in the regulation of membrane trafficking, cytoskeletal dynamics and in processes mediating the adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)) mediates its cellular functions via binding to various alternative target proteins. Such downstream targets of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) are characterised by the possession of specific lipid-binding domains, and binding of the PtdIns(4,5)P(2) ligand exerts effects on their activity or localisation. The large number of potential alternative binding partners - and associated cellular processes - raises the question how alternative or even contrapuntal effects of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) are orchestrated to enable cellular function. This article aims to provide an overview of recent insights and new views on how distinct functional pools of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) are generated and maintained. The emerging picture suggests that PtdIns(4,5)P(2) species containing different fatty acids influence the lateral mobility of the lipids in the membrane, possibly enabling specific interactions of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) pools with certain downstream targets. PtdIns(4,5)P(2) pools with certain functions might also be defined by protein-protein interactions of PI4P 5-kinases, which pass PtdIns(4,5)P(2) only to certain downstream partners. Individually or in combination, PtdIns(4,5)P(2) species and specific protein-protein interactions of PI4P 5-kinases might contribute to the channelling of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) signals towards specific functional effects. The dynamic nature of PI-dependent signalling complexes with specific functions is an added challenge for future studies of plant PI signalling.

Nuclear pool of phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate 5 kinase 1α is modified by polySUMO-2 during apoptosis

Phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate 5 kinase 1α (PIP5K) is mainly localized in the cytosol and plasma membrane. Studies have also indicated its prominent association with nuclear speckles. The exact nature of this nuclear pool of PIP5K is not clear. Using biochemical and microscopic techniques, we have demonstrated that the nuclear pool of PIP5K is modified by SUMO-1 in HEK-293 cells stably expressing PIP5K. Moreover, this SUMOylated pool of PIP5K increased during apoptosis. PolySUMO-2 chain conjugated PIP5K was detected by pull-down experiment using affinity-tagged RNF4, a polySUMO-2 binding protein, during late apoptosis.

SMARCA3, a chromatin-remodeling factor, is required for p11-dependent antidepressant action

p11, through unknown mechanisms, is required for behavioral and cellular responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). We show that SMARCA3, a chromatin-remodeling factor, is a target for the p11/annexin A2 heterotetrameric complex. Determination of the crystal structure indicates that SMARCA3 peptide binds to a hydrophobic pocket in the heterotetramer. Formation of this complex increases the DNA-binding affinity of SMARCA3 and its localization to the nuclear matrix fraction. In the dentate gyrus, both p11 and SMARCA3 are highly enriched in hilar mossy cells and basket cells. The SSRI fluoxetine induces expression of p11 in both cell types and increases the amount of the ternary complex of p11/annexin A2/SMARCA3. SSRI-induced neurogenesis and behavioral responses are abolished by constitutive knockout of SMARCA3. Our studies indicate a central role for a chromatin-remodeling factor in the SSRI/p11 signaling pathway and suggest an approach to the development of improved antidepressant therapies. PAPERCLIP:

Endosomal type Iγ PIP 5-kinase controls EGF receptor lysosomal sorting

Endosomal trafficking and degradation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) play an essential role in the control of its signaling. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns4,5P(2)) is an established regulator of endocytosis, whereas PtdIns3P modulates endosomal trafficking. However, we demonstrate here that type I gamma phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase i5 (PIPKIγi5), an enzyme that synthesizes PtdIns4,5P(2), controls endosome-to-lysosome sorting of EGFR. In this pathway, PIPKIγi5 interacts with sorting nexin 5 (SNX5), a protein that binds PtdIns4,5P(2) and other phosphoinositides. PIPKIγi5 and SNX5 localize to endosomes, and loss of either protein blocks EGFR sorting into intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) of the multivesicular body. Loss of ILV sorting greatly enhances and prolongs EGFR signaling. PIPKIγi5 and SNX5 prevent Hrs ubiquitination, and this facilitates the Hrs association with EGFR that is required for ILV sorting. These findings reveal that PIPKIγi5 and SNX5 form a signaling nexus that controls EGFR endosomal sorting, degradation, and signaling.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate: targeted production and signaling

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P(2)) is a key lipid signaling molecule that regulates a vast array of biological activities. PI4,5P(2) can act directly as a messenger or can be utilized as a precursor to generate other messengers: inositol trisphosphate, diacylglycerol, or phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. PI4,5P(2) interacts with hundreds of different effector proteins. The enormous diversity of PI4,5P(2) effector proteins and the spatio-temporal control of PI4,5P(2) generation allow PI4,5P(2) signaling to control a broad spectrum of cellular functions. PI4,5P(2) is synthesized by phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs). The array of PIPKs in cells enables their targeting to specific subcellular compartments through interactions with targeting factors that are often PI4,5P(2) effectors. These interactions are a mechanism to define spatial and temporal PI4,5P(2) synthesis and the specificity of PI4,5P(2) signaling. In turn, the regulation of PI4,5P(2) effectors at specific cellular compartments has implications for understanding how PI4,5P(2) controls cellular processes and its role in diseases.

Regulation of mRNA export by the PI3 kinase/AKT signal transduction pathway

After inhibition of the PI3 kinase/AKT pathway, the binding of mRNA export proteins in nuclear complexes is reduced. The nuclear export of bulk poly(A) RNA and of a subset of specific mRNAs is increased after AKT inhibition. The results show that mRNA export can be regulated by the PI3 kinase/AKT pathway.

UAP56, ALY/REF, and NXF1 are mRNA export factors that sequentially bind at the 5′ end of a nuclear mRNA but are also reported to associate with the exon junction complex (EJC). To screen for signal transduction pathways regulating mRNA export complex assembly, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching to measure the binding of mRNA export and EJC core proteins in nuclear complexes. The fraction of UAP56, ALY/REF, and NXF1 tightly bound in complexes was reduced by drug inhibition of the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3 kinase)/AKT pathway, as was the tightly bound fraction of the core EJC proteins eIF4A3, MAGOH, and Y14. Inhibition of the mTOR mTORC1 pathway decreased the tight binding of MAGOH. Inhibition of the PI3 kinase/AKT pathway increased the export of poly(A) RNA and of a subset of candidate mRNAs. A similar effect of PI3 kinase/AKT inhibition was observed for mRNAs from both intron-containing and intronless histone genes. However, the nuclear export of mRNAs coding for proteins targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum or to mitochondria was not affected by the PI3 kinase/AKT pathway. These results show that the active PI3 kinase/AKT pathway can regulate mRNA export and promote the nuclear retention of some mRNAs.

Prevalence, specificity and determinants of lipid-interacting PDZ domains from an in-cell screen and in vitro binding experiments

BACKGROUND

PDZ domains are highly abundant protein-protein interaction modules involved in the wiring of protein networks. Emerging evidence indicates that some PDZ domains also interact with phosphoinositides (PtdInsPs), important regulators of cell polarization and signaling. Yet our knowledge on the prevalence, specificity, affinity, and molecular determinants of PDZ-PtdInsPs interactions and on their impact on PDZ-protein interactions is very limited.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We screened the human proteome for PtdInsPs interacting PDZ domains by a combination of in vivo cell-localization studies and in vitro dot blot and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) experiments using synthetic lipids and recombinant proteins. We found that PtdInsPs interactions contribute to the cellular distribution of some PDZ domains, intriguingly also in nuclear organelles, and that a significant subgroup of PDZ domains interacts with PtdInsPs with affinities in the low-to-mid micromolar range. In vitro specificity for the head group is low, but with a trend of higher affinities for more phosphorylated PtdInsPs species. Other membrane lipids can assist PtdInsPs-interactions. PtdInsPs-interacting PDZ domains have generally high pI values and contain characteristic clusters of basic residues, hallmarks that may be used to predict additional PtdInsPs interacting PDZ domains. In tripartite binding experiments we established that peptide binding can either compete or cooperate with PtdInsPs binding depending on the combination of ligands.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our screen substantially expands the set of PtdInsPs interacting PDZ domains, and shows that a full understanding of the biology of PDZ proteins will require a comprehensive insight into the intricate relationships between PDZ domains and their peptide and lipid ligands.

Vps factors are required for efficient transcription elongation in budding yeast

There is increasing evidence that certain Vacuolar protein sorting (Vps) proteins, factors that mediate vesicular protein trafficking, have additional roles in regulating transcription factors at the endosome. We found that yeast mutants lacking the phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P] kinase Vps34 or its associated protein kinase Vps15 display multiple phenotypes indicating impaired transcription elongation. These phenotypes include reduced mRNA production from long or G+C-rich coding sequences (CDS) without affecting the associated GAL1 promoter activity, and a reduced rate of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) progression through lacZ CDS in vivo. Consistent with reported genetic interactions with mutations affecting the histone acetyltransferase complex NuA4, vps15Δ and vps34Δ mutations reduce NuA4 occupancy in certain transcribed CDS. vps15Δ and vps34Δ mutants also exhibit impaired localization of the induced GAL1 gene to the nuclear periphery. We found unexpectedly that, similar to known transcription elongation factors, these and several other Vps factors can be cross-linked to the CDS of genes induced by Gcn4 or Gal4 in a manner dependent on transcriptional induction and stimulated by Cdk7/Kin28-dependent phosphorylation of the Pol II C-terminal domain (CTD). We also observed colocalization of a fraction of Vps15-GFP and Vps34-GFP with nuclear pores at nucleus-vacuole (NV) junctions in live cells. These findings suggest that Vps factors enhance the efficiency of transcription elongation in a manner involving their physical proximity to nuclear pores and transcribed chromatin.

Alterations in the MA and NC domains modulate phosphoinositide-dependent plasma membrane localization of the Rous sarcoma virus Gag protein

Retroviral Gag proteins direct virus particle assembly from the plasma membrane (PM). Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2)] plays a role in PM targeting of several retroviral Gag proteins. Here we report that depletion of intracellular PI(4,5)P(2) and phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-triphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P(3)] levels impaired Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag PM localization. Gag mutants deficient in nuclear trafficking were less sensitive to reduction of intracellular PI(4,5)P(2) and PI(3,4,5)P(3), suggesting a possible connection between Gag nuclear trafficking and phosphoinositide-dependent PM targeting.

PtdIns(4,5)P2-mediated cell signaling: emerging principles and PTEN as a paradigm for regulatory mechanism

PtdIns(4,5)P2 (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate) is a relatively common anionic lipid that regulates cellular functions by multiple mechanisms. Hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 by phospholipase C yields inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. Phosphorylation by phosphoinositide 3-kinase yields PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, which is a potent signal for survival and proliferation. Also, PtdIns(4,5)P2 can bind directly to integral and peripheral membrane proteins. As an example of regulation by PtdIns(4,5)P2, we discuss phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in detail. PTEN is an important tumor suppressor and hydrolyzes PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. PtdIns(4,5)P2 enhances PTEN association with the plasma membrane and activates its phosphatase activity. This is a critical regulatory mechanism, but a detailed description of this process from a structural point of view is lacking. The disordered lipid bilayer environment hinders structural determinations of membrane-bound PTEN. A new method to analyze membrane-bound protein measures neutron reflectivity for proteins bound to tethered phospholipid membranes. These methods allow determination of the orientation and shape of membrane-bound proteins. In combination with molecular dynamics simulations, these studies will provide crucial structural information that can serve as a foundation for our understanding of PTEN regulation in normal and pathological processes.

Phosphoinositides and PDZ domain scaffolds

The discovery that PSD-95/Discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domains can function as lipid-binding modules, in particular interacting with phosphoinositides (PIs), was made more than 10 years ago (Mol Cell 9(6): 1215-1225, 2002). Confirmatory studies and a series of functional follow-ups established PDZ domains as dual specificity modules displaying both peptide and lipid binding, and prompted a rethinking of the mode of action of PDZ domains in the control of cell signaling. In this chapter, after introducing PDZ domains, PIs and methods for studying protein-lipid interactions, we focus on (i) the prevalence and the specificity of PDZ-PIs interactions, (ii) the molecular determinants of PDZ-PIs interactions, (iii) the integration of lipid and peptide binding by PDZ domains, (iv) the common features of PIs interacting PDZ domains and (v) the regulation and functional significance of PDZ-PIs interactions.

The novel poly(A) polymerase Star-PAP is a signal-regulated switch at the 3'-end of mRNAs

The mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) modulates message stability, transport, intracellular location and translation. We have discovered a novel nuclear poly(A) polymerase termed Star-PAP (nuclear speckle targeted PIPKIα regulated-poly(A) polymerase) that couples with the transcriptional machinery and is regulated by the phosphoinositide lipid messenger phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P(2)), the central lipid in phosphoinositide signaling. PI4,5P(2) is generated primarily by type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKI). Phosphoinositides are present in the nucleus including at nuclear speckles compartments separate from known membrane structures. PIPKs regulate cellular functions by interacting with PI4,5P(2) effectors where PIPKs generate PI4,5P(2) that then modulates the activity of the associated effectors. Nuclear PIPKIα interacts with and regulates Star-PAP, and PI4,5P(2) specifically activates Star-PAP in a gene- and signaling-dependent manner. Importantly, other select signaling molecules integrated into the Star-PAP complex seem to regulate Star-PAP activities and processivities toward RNA substrates, and unique sequence elements around the Star-PAP binding sites within the 3'-UTR of target genes contribute to Star-PAP specificity for processing. Therefore, Star-PAP and its regulatory molecules form a signaling nexus at the 3'-end of target mRNAs to control the expression of select group of genes including the ones involved in stress responses.

Repression of transcription by WT1-BASP1 requires the myristoylation of BASP1 and the PIP2-dependent recruitment of histone deacetylase

The Wilms' tumor 1 protein WT1 is a transcriptional regulator that is involved in cell growth and differentiation. The transcriptional corepressor BASP1 interacts with WT1 and converts WT1 from a transcriptional activator to a repressor. Here, we demonstrate that the N-terminal myristoylation of BASP1 is required in order to elicit transcriptional repression at WT1 target genes. We show that myristoylated BASP1 binds to nuclear PIP2, which leads to the recruitment of PIP2 to the promoter regions of WT1-dependent target genes. BASP1's myristoylation and association with PIP2 are required for the interaction of BASP1 with HDAC1, which mediates the recruitment of HDAC1 to the promoter and elicits transcriptional repression. Our findings uncover a role for myristoylation in transcription, as well as a critical function for PIP2 in gene-specific transcriptional repression through the recruitment of histone deacetylase.

Increasing phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate biosynthesis affects plant nuclear lipids and nuclear functions

In order to characterize the effects of increasing phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)) on nuclear function, we expressed the human phosphatidylinositol (4)-phosphate 5-kinase (HsPIP5K) 1α in Nicotiana tabacum (NT) cells. The HsPIP5K-expressing (HK) cells had altered nuclear lipids and nuclear functions. HK cell nuclei had 2-fold increased PIP5K activity and increased steady state PtdIns(4,5)P(2). HK nuclear lipid classes showed significant changes compared to NT (wild type) nuclear lipid classes including increased phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) and decreased lysolipids. Lipids isolated from protoplast plasma membranes (PM) were also analyzed and compared with nuclear lipids. The lipid profiles revealed similarities and differences in the plasma membrane and nuclei from the NT and transgenic HK cell lines. A notable characteristic of nuclear lipids from both cell types is that PtdIns accounts for a higher mol% of total lipids compared to that of the protoplast PM lipids. The lipid molecular species composition of each lipid class was also analyzed for nuclei and protoplast PM samples. To determine whether expression of HsPIP5K1α affected plant nuclear functions, we compared DNA replication, histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) in NT and HK cells. The HK cells had a measurable decrease in DNA replication, histone H3K9 acetylation and pRB phosphorylation.

Direct modification and activation of a nuclear receptor-PIP₂ complex by the inositol lipid kinase IPMK

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) is best known as a plasma membrane-bound regulatory lipid. Although PIP₂ and phosphoinositide-modifying enzymes coexist in the nucleus, their nuclear roles remain unclear. We showed that inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK), which functions both as an inositol kinase and as a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), interacts with the nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) and phosphorylates its bound ligand, PIP₂. In vitro studies showed that PIP₂ was not phosphorylated by IPMK if PIP₂ was displaced or blocked from binding to the large hydrophobic pocket of SF-1 and that the ability to phosphorylate PIP₂ bound to SF-1 was specific to IPMK and did not occur with type 1 p110 PI3Ks. IPMK-generated SF-1-PIP₃ (phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate) was dephosphorylated by the lipid phosphatase PTEN. Consistent with the in vitro activities of IPMK and PTEN on SF-1-PIP(n), SF-1 transcriptional activity was reduced by silencing IPMK or overexpressing PTEN. This ability of lipid kinases and phosphatases to directly remodel and alter the activity of a non-membrane protein-lipid complex establishes a previously unappreciated pathway for promoting lipid-mediated signaling in the nucleus.

Reversible Ser/Thr SHIP phosphorylation: a new paradigm in phosphoinositide signalling?: Targeting of SHIP1/2 phosphatases may be controlled by phosphorylation on Ser and Thr residues

Phosphoinositide (PI) phosphatases such as the SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatases 1/2 (SHIP1 and 2) are important signalling enzymes in human physiopathology. SHIP1/2 interact with a large number of immune and growth factor receptors. Tyrosine phosphorylation of SHIP1/2 has been considered to be the determining regulatory modification. However, here we present a hypothesis, based on recent key publications, highlighting the determining role of Ser/Thr phosphorylation in regulating several key properties of SHIP1/2. Since a subunit of the Ser/Thr phosphatase PP2A has been shown to interact with SHIP2, a putative mechanism for reversing SHIP2 Ser/Thr phosphorylation can be anticipated. PI phosphatases are potential target molecules in human diseases, particularly, but not exclusively, in cancer and diabetes. Therefore, this novel regulatory mechanism deserves further attention in the hunt for discovering novel or complementary therapeutic strategies. This mechanism may be more broadly involved in regulating PI signalling in the case of synaptojanin1 or the phosphatase, tensin homolog, deleted on chromosome TEN.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases: hostages harnessed to build panviral replication platforms

Several RNA viruses have recently been shown to hijack members of the host phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4-kinase (PI4K) family of enzymes. They use PI4K to generate membranes enriched in phosphatidylinositide 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P or PI4P) lipids, which can be used as replication platforms. Viral replication machinery is assembled on these platforms as a supramolecular complex and PtdIns4P lipids regulate viral RNA synthesis. This article highlights these recent studies on the regulation of viral RNA synthesis by PtdIns4P lipids. It explores the potential mechanisms by which PtdIns4P lipids can contribute to viral replication and discusses the therapeutic potential of developing antiviral molecules that target host PI4Ks as a form of panviral therapy.

Subcellular specialization of multifaceted 3'end modifying nucleotidyltransferases

While canonical 3'end modifications of mRNAs or tRNAs are well established, recent technological advances in RNA analysis have given us a glimpse of how widespread other types of distinctive 3'end modifications appear to be. Next to alternative nuclear or cytoplasmic polyadenylation mechanisms, evidence accumulated for a variety of 3'end mono-nucleotide and oligo-nucleotide additions of primarily adenosines or uracils on a variety of RNA species. Enzymes responsible for such non-templated additions are non-canonical RNA nucleotidyltransferases, which possess surprising flexibility in RNA substrate selection and enzymatic activity. We will highlight recent findings supporting the view that RNA nucleotidyltransferase activity, RNA target selection and sub-compartimentalization are spatially, temporally and physiologically regulated by dedicated co-factors. Along with the diversification of non-coding RNA classes, the evolutionary conservation of these multifaceted RNA modifiers underscores the prevalence and importance of diverse 3'end formation mechanisms.

Star-PAP control of BIK expression and apoptosis is regulated by nuclear PIPKIα and PKCδ signaling

BIK protein is an initiator of mitochondrial apoptosis, and BIK expression is induced by proapoptotic signals, including DNA damage. Here, we demonstrate that 3' end processing and expression of BIK mRNA are controlled by the nuclear PI4,5P(2)-regulated poly(A) polymerase Star-PAP downstream of DNA damage. Nuclear PKCδ is a key mediator of apoptosis, and DNA damage stimulates PKCδ association with the Star-PAP complex where PKCδ is required for Star-PAP-dependent BIK expression. PKCδ binds the PI4,5P(2)-generating enzyme PIPKIα, which is essential for PKCδ interaction with the Star-PAP complex, and PKCδ activity is directly stimulated by PI4,5P(2). Features in the BIK 3' UTR uniquely define Star-PAP specificity and may block canonical PAP activity toward BIK mRNA. This reveals a nuclear phosphoinositide signaling nexus where PIPKIα, PI4,5P(2), and PKCδ regulate Star-PAP control of BIK expression and induction of apoptosis. This pathway is distinct from the Star-PAP-mediated oxidative stress pathway indicating signal-specific regulation of mRNA 3' end processing.

Heat shock response in photosynthetic organisms: membrane and lipid connections

The ability of photosynthetic organisms to adapt to increases in environmental temperatures is becoming more important with climate change. Heat stress is known to induce heat-shock proteins (HSPs) many of which act as chaperones. Traditionally, it has been thought that protein denaturation acts as a trigger for HSP induction. However, increasing evidence has shown that many stress events cause HSP induction without commensurate protein denaturation. This has led to the membrane sensor hypothesis where the membrane's physical and structural properties play an initiating role in the heat shock response. In this review, we discuss heat-induced modulation of the membrane's physical state and changes to these properties which can be brought about by interaction with HSPs. Heat stress also leads to changes in lipid-based signaling cascades and alterations in calcium transport and availability. Such observations emphasize the importance of membranes and their lipids in the heat shock response and provide a new perspective for guiding further studies into the mechanisms that mediate cellular and organismal responses to heat stress.

A role for phosphoinositides in regulating plant nuclear functions

Nuclear localized inositol phospholipids and inositol phosphates are important for regulating many essential processes in animal and yeast cells such as DNA replication, recombination, RNA processing, mRNA export and cell cycle progression. An overview of the current literature indicates the presence of a plant nuclear phosphoinositide (PI) pathway. Inositol phospholipids, inositol phosphates, and enzymes of the PI pathway have been identified in plant nuclei and are implicated in DNA replication, chromatin remodeling, stress responses and hormone signaling. In this review, the potential functions of the nuclear PI pathway in plants are discussed within the context of the animal and yeast literature. It is anticipated that future research will help shed light on the functional significance of the nuclear PI pathway in plants.

PIP kinases from the cell membrane to the nucleus

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) is a membrane bound lipid molecule with capabilities to affect a wide array of signaling pathways to regulate very different cellular processes. PIP(2) is used as a precursor to generate the second messengers PIP(3), DAG and IP(3), indispensable molecules for signaling events generated by membrane receptors. However, PIP(2) can also directly regulate a vast array of proteins and is emerging as a crucial messenger with the potential to distinctly modulate biological processes critical for both normal and pathogenic cell physiology. PIP(2) directly associates with effector proteins via unique phosphoinositide binding domains, altering their localization and/or enzymatic activity. The spatial and temporal generation of PIP(2) synthesized by the phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) tightly regulates the activation of receptor signaling pathways, endocytosis and vesicle trafficking, cell polarity, focal adhesion dynamics, actin assembly and 3' mRNA processing. Here we discuss our current understanding of PIPKs in the regulation of cellular processes from the plasma membrane to the nucleus.

Phosphoinositide signaling

"All things flow and change…even in the stillest matter there is unseen flux and movement." Attributed to Heraclitus (530-470 BC), from The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, was thinking on a much larger scale than molecular signaling; however, his visionary comments are an important reminder for those studying signaling today. Even in unstimulated cells, signaling pathways are in constant metabolic flux and provide basal signals that travel throughout the organism. In addition, negatively charged phospholipids, such as the polyphosphorylated inositol phospholipids, provide a circuit board of on/off switches for attracting or repelling proteins that define the membranes of the cell. This template of charged phospholipids is sensitive to discrete changes and metabolic fluxes-e.g., in pH and cations-which contribute to the oscillating signals in the cell. The inherent complexities of a constantly fluctuating system make understanding how plants integrate and process signals challenging. In this review we discuss one aspect of lipid signaling: the inositol family of negatively charged phospholipids and their functions as molecular sensors and regulators of metabolic flux in plants.

G protein-coupled receptor signalling in the cardiac nuclear membrane: evidence and possible roles in physiological and pathophysiological function

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play key physiological roles in numerous tissues, including the heart, and their dysfunction influences a wide range of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the notion of nuclear localization and action of GPCRs has become more widely accepted. Nuclear-localized receptors may regulate distinct signalling pathways, suggesting that the biological responses mediated by GPCRs are not solely initiated at the cell surface but may result from the integration of extracellular and intracellular signalling pathways. Many of the observed nuclear effects are not prevented by classical inhibitors that exclusively target cell surface receptors, presumably because of their structures, lipophilic properties, or affinity for nuclear receptors. In this topical review, we discuss specifically how angiotensin-II, endothelin, β-adrenergic and opioid receptors located on the nuclear envelope activate signalling pathways, which convert intracrine stimuli into acute responses such as generation of second messengers and direct genomic effects, and thereby participate in the development of cardiovascular disorders.

Phosphoinositides and the regulation of tubular-based endosomal sorting

From the pioneering work of Mabel and Lowell Hokin in the 1950s, the biology of this specific isomer of hexahydroxycyclohexane and its phosphorylated derivatives, in the form of inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides, has expanded to fill virtually every corner of cell biology, whole-organism physiology and development. In the present paper, I give a personal view of the role played by phosphoinositides in regulating the function of the endosomal network, and, in so doing, highlight some of the basic properties through which phosphoinositides regulate cell function.

Evidence of SHIP2 Ser132 phosphorylation, its nuclear localization and stability

PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and PtdIns(3,4)P2 are major signalling molecules in mammalian cell biology. PtdIns(3,4)P2 can be produced by PI3Ks [PI (phosphoinositide) 3-kinases], but also by PI 5-phosphatases including SHIP2 [SH2 (Src homology 2)-domain-containing inositol phosphatase 2]. Proteomic studies in human cells revealed that SHIP2 can be phosphorylated at more than 20 sites, but their individual function is unknown. In a model of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10)-null astrocytoma cells, lowering SHIP2 expression leads to increased PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 levels and Akt phosphorylation. MS analysis identified SHIP2 phosphosites on Ser132, Thr1254 and Ser1258; phosphotyrosine-containing sites were undetectable. By immunostaining, total SHIP2 concentrated in the perinuclear area and in the nucleus, whereas SHIP2 phosphorylated on Ser132 was in the cytoplasm, the nucleus and nuclear speckles, depending on the cell cycle stage. SHIP2 phosphorylated on Ser132 demonstrated PtdIns(4,5)P2 phosphatase activity. Endogenous phospho-SHIP2 (Ser132) showed an overlap with PtdIns(4,5)P2 staining in nuclear speckles. SHIP2 S132A was less sensitive to C-terminal degradation and more resistant to calpain as compared with wild-type enzyme. We have identified nuclear lamin A/C as a novel SHIP2 interactor. We suggest that the function of SHIP2 is different at the plasma membrane where it recognizes PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, and in the nucleus where it may interact with PtdIns(4,5)P2, particularly in speckles.