Dynamic localization of the actin-bundling protein cortexillin I during cell migration

Complementary Cytoskeletal Feedback Loops Control Signal Transduction Excitability and Cell Polarity

To move through complex environments, cells must constantly integrate chemical and mechanical cues. Signaling networks, such as those comprising Ras and PI3K, transmit chemical cues to the cytoskeleton, but the cytoskeleton must also relay mechanical information back to those signaling systems. Using novel synthetic tools to acutely control specific elements of the cytoskeleton in Dictyostelium and neutrophils, we delineate feedback mechanisms that alter the signaling network and promote front- or back-states of the cell membrane and cortex. First, increasing branched actin assembly increases Ras/PI3K activation while reducing polymeric actin levels overall decreases activation. Second, reducing myosin II assembly immediately increases Ras/PI3K activation and sensitivity to chemotactic stimuli. Third, inhibiting branched actin alone increases cortical actin assembly and strongly blocks Ras/PI3K activation. This effect is mitigated by reducing filamentous actin levels and in cells lacking myosin II. Finally, increasing actin crosslinking with a controllable activator of cytoskeletal regulator RacE leads to a large decrease in Ras activation both globally and locally. Curiously, RacE activation can trigger cell spreading and protrusion with no detectable activation of branched actin nucleators. Taken together with legacy data that Ras/PI3K promotes branched actin assembly and myosin II disassembly, our results define front- and back-promoting positive feedback loops. We propose that these loops play a crucial role in establishing cell polarity and mediating signal integration by controlling the excitable state of the signal transduction networks in respective regions of the membrane and cortex. This interplay enables cells to navigate intricate topologies like tissues containing other cells, the extracellular matrix, and fluids.

Using Live-Cell Imaging and Synthetic Biology to Probe Directed Migration in Dictyostelium

For decades, the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum has been an invaluable tool for dissecting the biology of eukaryotic cells. Its short growth cycle and genetic tractability make it ideal for a variety of biochemical, cell biological, and biophysical assays. Dictyostelium have been widely used as a model of eukaryotic cell motility because the signaling and mechanical networks which they use to steer and produce forward motion are highly conserved. Because these migration networks consist of hundreds of interconnected proteins, perturbing individual molecules can have subtle effects or alter cell morphology and signaling in major unpredictable ways. Therefore, to fully understand this network, we must be able to quantitatively assess the consequences of abrupt modifications. This ability will allow us better control cell migration, which is critical for development and disease, in vivo. Here, we review recent advances in imaging, synthetic biology, and computational analysis which enable researchers to tune the activity of individual molecules in single living cells and precisely measure the effects on cellular motility and signaling. We also provide practical advice and resources to assist in applying these approaches in Dictyostelium.

Minimal amino acids in the I/LWEQ domain required for anterior/posterior localization in Dictyostelium

Establishment of cell polarity is mediated by a series of signaling molecules that are asymmetrically activated or localized in the cell upon extracellular stimulation. To understand the mechanism that mediates anterior/posterior asymmetric localization of RapGAP3 during migration, we determined the minimally required amino acids in the I/LWEQ domain that cause posterior localization and found that the minimal region of the F-actin binding domain for posterior localization could, with some additional deletion at the C-terminal, localize to the anterior. Analysis of the localization and translocation kinetics to the cell cortex of the truncated proteins suggests that the required regions for anterior/posterior localization might have a preferential binding affinity to preexisting F-actins at the rear and lateral sides of the cell or newly formed F-actins at the front of the cell, leading to distinct differential sites of the cell.

Cytoskeletal Regulation of Inflammation and Its Impact on Skin Blistering Disease Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita

Actin remodelling proteins regulate cytoskeletal cell responses and are important in both innate and adaptive immunity. These responses play a major role in providing a fine balance in a cascade of biological events that results in either protective acute inflammation or chronic inflammation that leads to a host of diseases including autoimmune inflammation mediated epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). This review describes the role of the actin cytoskeleton and in particular the actin remodelling protein called Flightless I (Flii) in regulating cellular inflammatory responses and its subsequent effect on the autoimmune skin blistering disease EBA. It also outlines the potential of an antibody based therapy for decreasing Flii expression in vivo to ameliorate the symptoms associated with EBA.

Three-dimensional balance of cortical tension and axial contractility enables fast amoeboid migration

Fast amoeboid migration requires cells to apply mechanical forces on their surroundings via transient adhesions. However, the role these forces play in controlling cell migration speed remains largely unknown. We used three-dimensional force microscopy to measure the three-dimensional forces exerted by chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells, and examined wild-type cells as well as mutants with defects in contractility, internal F-actin crosslinking, and cortical integrity. We showed that cells pull on their substrate adhesions using two distinct, yet interconnected mechanisms: axial actomyosin contractility and cortical tension. We found that the migration speed increases when axial contractility overcomes cortical tension to produce the cell shape changes needed for locomotion. We demonstrated that the three-dimensional pulling forces generated by both mechanisms are internally balanced by an increase in cytoplasmic pressure that allows cells to push on their substrate without adhering to it, and which may be relevant for amoeboid migration in complex three-dimensional environments.

The I/LWEQ domain in RapGAP3 required for posterior localization in migrating cells

Cell migration requires a defined cell polarity which is formed by diverse cytoskeletal components differentially localized to the poles of cells to extracellular signals. Rap- GAP3 transiently and rapidly translocates to the cell cortex in response to chemoattractant stimulation and localizes to the leading edge of migrating cells. Here, we examined localization of truncated RapGAP3 proteins and found that the I/LWEQ domain in the central region of RapGAP3 was sufficient for posterior localization in migrating cells, as opposed to leading-edge localization of full-length Rap- GAP3. All truncated proteins accumulated at the leading edge of migrating cells exhibited clear translocation to the cell cortex in response to stimulation, whereas proteins localized to the posterior in migrating cells displayed no translocation to the cortex. The I/LWEQ domain appears to passively accumulate at the posterior region in migrating cells due to exclusion from the extended front region in response to chemoattractant stimulation rather than actively being localized to the back of cells. Our results suggest that posterior localization of the I/LWEQ domain of RapGAP3 is likely related to F-actin, which has probably different properties compared to newly formed F-actin at the leading edge of migrating cells, at the lateral and posterior regions of the cell.

Actin cross-linking proteins cortexillin I and II are required for cAMP signaling during Dictyostelium chemotaxis and development

Double deletion of actin-binding proteins cortexillin I and II alters the actin cytoskeleton (bundled actin filaments accumulate in the cell cortex) of Dictyostelium, substantially inhibits all molecular responses to extracellular cAMP, and completely blocks cell streaming and development of cells into mature fruiting bodies.

Starvation induces Dictyostelium amoebae to secrete cAMP, toward which other amoebae stream, forming multicellular mounds that differentiate and develop into fruiting bodies containing spores. We find that the double deletion of cortexillin (ctx) I and II alters the actin cytoskeleton and substantially inhibits all molecular responses to extracellular cAMP. Synthesis of cAMP receptor and adenylyl cyclase A (ACA) is inhibited, and activation of ACA, RasC, and RasG, phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 2, activation of TORC2, and stimulation of actin polymerization and myosin assembly are greatly reduced. As a consequence, cell streaming and development are completely blocked. Expression of ACA–yellow fluorescent protein in the ctxI/ctxII–null cells significantly rescues the wild-type phenotype, indicating that the primary chemotaxis and development defect is the inhibition of ACA synthesis and cAMP production. These results demonstrate the critical importance of a properly organized actin cytoskeleton for cAMP-signaling pathways, chemotaxis, and development in Dictyostelium.