M-caveolin, a muscle-specific caveolin-related protein

Lipid compartments and lipid metabolism as therapeutic targets against coronavirus

Lipids perform a series of cellular functions, establishing cell and organelles' boundaries, organizing signaling platforms, and creating compartments where specific reactions occur. Moreover, lipids store energy and act as secondary messengers whose distribution is tightly regulated. Disruption of lipid metabolism is associated with many diseases, including those caused by viruses. In this scenario, lipids can favor virus replication and are not solely used as pathogens' energy source. In contrast, cells can counteract viruses using lipids as weapons. In this review, we discuss the available data on how coronaviruses profit from cellular lipid compartments and why targeting lipid metabolism may be a powerful strategy to fight these cellular parasites. We also provide a formidable collection of data on the pharmacological approaches targeting lipid metabolism to impair and treat coronavirus infection.

The building blocks of caveolae revealed: caveolins finally take center stage

The ability of cells to divide, migrate, relay signals, sense mechanical stimuli, and respond to stress all rely on nanoscale invaginations of the plasma membrane known as caveolae. The caveolins, a family of monotopic membrane proteins, form the inner layer of the caveolar coat. Caveolins have long been implicated in the generation of membrane curvature, in addition to serving as scaffolds for signaling proteins. Until recently, however, the molecular architecture of caveolins was unknown, making it impossible to understand how they operate at a mechanistic level. Over the past year, two independent lines of evidence - experimental and computational - have now converged to provide the first-ever glimpse into the structure of the oligomeric caveolin complexes that function as the building blocks of caveolae. Here, we summarize how these discoveries are transforming our understanding of this long-enigmatic protein family and their role in caveolae assembly and function. We present new models inspired by the structure for how caveolins oligomerize, remodel membranes, interact with their binding partners, and reorganize when mutated. Finally, we discuss emerging insights into structural differences among caveolin family members that enable them to support the proper functions of diverse tissues and organisms.

Expression of caveolin family proteins in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES

Caveolin family proteins, including caveolin-1 (Cav-1), caveolin-2 (Cav-2), and caveolin-3 (Cav-3), are identified as the principal protein components of caveolae in mammalian cells. Circulating form of caveolin family proteins can be used as a good potential biomarker for predicting disease.

METHODS

To investigate the clinical significance of the serological levels of caveolin family proteins in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we evaluated the soluble serum levels of caveolin family proteins in patients with SLE by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and assessed their associations with various known clinical variables.

RESULTS

The major findings of our study are as follows: Cav-2 was not detected in serum of SLE patients and normal controls (NCs). Serum Cav-1 and Cav-3 levels were higher in SLE patients compared with NCs. There were no significant correlations between serum Cav-1 and Cav-3 levels and SLE disease activity. Further analysis showed that serum Cav-3 may be more valuable as a marker than serum Cav-1 in SLE patients.

CONCLUSION

Serum levels of Cav-1 and Cav-3 might have a diagnostic role in patients with SLE. However, their predictive and prognostic value was not determined. Further studies are necessary to determine the potential clinical significance of these assays in SLE.

Structural Interplays in the Flexible N-Terminus and Scaffolding Domain of Human Membrane Protein Caveolin 3

Caveolins are critical for the formation of caveolae, which are small invaginations of the plasma membrane involved in a variety of biological processes. Caveolin 3 (Cav3), one of three caveolin isoforms, is an integral membrane protein mainly expressed in muscle tissues. Although various human diseases associated with Cav3 have been reported, structural characterization of Cav3 in the membrane has not been investigated in enough depth to understand the structure–function relationship. Here, using solution NMR, we characterized membrane association, structural communications, and molecular dynamics of the monomeric Cav3 in detergent micelle environment, particularly focused on the whole N-terminal part that is composed of the flexible N-terminus and the scaffolding domain. The results revealed a complicated structural interplay of the individual segments composing the whole N-terminal part, including the pH-dependent helical region, signature motif-like region, signature motif, and scaffolding domain. Collectively, the present study provides novel structural insights into the whole N-terminal part of Cav3 that plays important biological roles in cellular processes and diseases. In particular, given that several disease-related mutations are located at the whole N-terminal part of Cav3, the sophisticated communications in the whole N-terminal segments are likely to have relevance to the molecular basis of Cav3-related disease.

Caveolin 1 is required for axonal outgrowth of motor neurons and affects Xenopus neuromuscular development

Caveolins are essential structural proteins driving the formation of caveolae, specialized invaginations of the plasma membrane. Loss of Caveolin-1 (Cav1) function in mice causes distinct neurological phenotypes leading to impaired motor control, however, the underlying developmental mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study we find that loss-of-function of Xenopus Cav1 results in a striking swimming defect characterized by paralysis of the morphants. High-resolution imaging of muscle cells revealed aberrant sarcomeric structures with disorganized actin fibers. As cav1 is expressed in motor neurons, but not in muscle cells, the muscular abnormalities are likely a consequence of neuronal defects. Indeed, targeting cav1 Morpholino oligonucleotides to neural tissue, but not muscle tissue, disrupts axonal outgrowth of motor neurons and causes swimming defects. Furthermore, inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels mimicked the Cav1 loss-of-function phenotype. In addition, analyzing axonal morphology we detect that Cav1 loss-of-function causes excessive filopodia and lamellipodia formation. Using rescue experiments, we show that the Cav1 Y14 phosphorylation site is essential and identify a role of RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 signaling in this process. Taken together, these results suggest a previously unrecognized function of Cav1 in muscle development by supporting axonal outgrowth of motor neurons.

Lessons from cavin-1 deficiency

Caveolae have been implicated in a wide range of critical physiological functions. In the past decade, the dominant role of cavin-1 in caveolae formation has been established, and it has been recognized as another master regulator for caveolae biology. Human patients with cavin-1 mutations develop lipodystrophy and muscular dystrophy and have some major pathological dysfunctions in fat tissue, skeleton muscle, heart, lung and other organs. Cavin-1 deficiency animal models consistently show similar phenotypes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Recent studies have suggested many possible pathways, including mechanosensing, stress response, signal transduction, exosome secretion, and potential functions in the nucleus. Many excellent and comprehensive review articles already exist on the topics of caveolae structure formation, caveolins, and their pathophysiological functions. We will focus on recent studies using cavin-1 deficiency models, to summarize the pathophysiological changes in adipose, muscle, and other organs, followed by a summary of mechanistic studies about the roles of cavin-1, which includes caveolae formation, ribosomal RNA transcription, mechanical sensing, stress response, and exosome secretion. Further studies may help to elucidate the exact underlying molecular mechanism to explain the pathological changes observed in cavin-1 deficient human patients and animal models, so potential new therapeutic strategies can be developed.

The role of membrane-shaping BAR domain proteins in caveolar invagination: from mechanistic insights to pathophysiological consequences

The formation of caveolae, bulb-shaped plasma membrane invaginations, requires the coordinated action of distinct lipid-interacting and -shaping proteins. The interdependence of caveolar structure and function has evoked substantial scientific interest given the association of human diseases with caveolar dysfunction. Model systems deficient of core components of caveolae, caveolins or cavins, did not allow for an explicit attribution of observed functional defects to the requirement of caveolar invagination as they lack both invaginated caveolae and caveolin proteins. Knockdown studies in cultured cells and recent knockout studies in mice identified an additional family of membrane-shaping proteins crucial for caveolar formation, syndapins (PACSINs) — BAR domain superfamily proteins characterized by crescent-shaped membrane binding interfaces recognizing and inducing distinct curved membrane topologies. Importantly, syndapin loss-of-function resulted exclusively in impairment of caveolar invagination without a reduction in caveolin or cavin at the plasma membrane, thereby allowing the specific role of the caveolar invagination to be unveiled. Muscle cells of syndapin III KO mice showed severe reductions of caveolae reminiscent of human caveolinopathies and were more vulnerable to membrane damage upon changes in membrane tensions. Consistent with the lack of syndapin III-dependent invaginated caveolae providing mechanoprotection by releasing membrane reservoirs through caveolar flattening, physical exercise of syndapin III KO mice resulted in pathological defects reminiscent of the clinical symptoms of human myopathies associated with caveolin 3 mutation suggesting that the ability of muscular caveolae to respond to mechanical forces is a key physiological process.

Spoiled for Choice: Diverse Endocytic Pathways Function at the Cell Surface

Endocytosis has long been identified as a key cellular process involved in bringing in nutrients, in clearing cellular debris in tissue, in the regulation of signaling, and in maintaining cell membrane compositional homeostasis. While clathrin-mediated endocytosis has been most extensively studied, a number of clathrin-independent endocytic pathways are continuing to be delineated. Here we provide a current survey of the different types of endocytic pathways available at the cell surface and discuss a new classification and plausible molecular mechanisms for some of the less characterized pathways. Along with an evolutionary perspective of the origins of some of these pathways, we provide an appreciation of the distinct roles that these pathways play in various aspects of cellular physiology, including the control of signaling and membrane tension.

MENS-associated increase of muscular protein content via modulation of caveolin-3 and TRIM72

Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) is known as an extracellular stimulus for the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle in sports medicine. However, the effects of MENS-associated increase in muscle protein content are not fully clarified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of MENS on the muscular protein content, intracellular signals, and the expression level of caveolin-3 (Cav-3), tripartite motif-containing 72 (TRIM72) and MM isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MM) in skeletal muscle using cell culture system. C2C12 myotubes on the 7th day of differentiation phase were treated with MENS (intensity: 10-20 microA, frequency: 0.3 Hz, pulse width: 250 ms, stimulation time: 15-120 min). MENS-associated increase in the protein content of myotubes was observed, compared to the untreated control level. MENS upregulated the expression of Cav-3, TRIM72, and CK-MM in myotubes. A transient increase in phosphorylation level of Akt was also observed. However, MENS had no effect on the phosphorylation level of p42/44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 and 5'AMP-activated protein kinase. MENS may increase muscle protein content accompanied with a transient activation of Akt and the upregulation of Cav-3 and TRIM72.

A pH-Mediated Topological Switch within the N-Terminal Domain of Human Caveolin-3

Caveolins mediate the formation of caveolae, which are small omega-shaped membrane invaginations involved in a variety of cellular processes. There are three caveolin isoforms, the third of which (Cav3) is expressed in smooth and skeletal muscles. Mutations in Cav3 cause a variety of human muscular diseases. In this work, we characterize the secondary structure, dynamics, and topology of the monomeric form of the full-length lipidated protein. Cav3 consists of a series of membrane-embedded or surface-associated helical elements connected by extramembrane connecting loops or disordered domains. Our results also reveal that the N-terminal domain undergoes a large scale pH-mediated topological rearrangement between soluble and membrane-anchored forms. Considering that roughly one-third of pathogenic mutations in Cav3 influence charged residues located in this domain, we hypothesize that this transition is likely to be relevant to the molecular basis of Cav3-linked diseases. These results provide insight into the structure of Cav3 and set the stage for mechanistic investigations of the effects of pathogenic mutations.

Caveolins and caveolae in ocular physiology and pathophysiology

Caveolae are specialized, invaginated plasma membrane domains that are defined morphologically and by the expression of signature proteins called, caveolins. Caveolae and caveolins are abundant in a variety of cell types including vascular endothelium, glia, and fibroblasts where they play critical roles in transcellular transport, endocytosis, mechanotransduction, cell proliferation, membrane lipid homeostasis, and signal transduction. Given these critical cellular functions, it is surprising that ablation of the caveolae organelle does not result in lethality suggesting instead that caveolae and caveolins play modulatory roles in cellular homeostasis. Caveolar components are also expressed in ocular cell types including retinal vascular cells, Müller glia, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), conventional aqueous humor outflow cells, the corneal epithelium and endothelium, and the lens epithelium. In the eye, studies of caveolae and other membrane microdomains (i.e., "lipid rafts") have lagged behind what is a substantial body of literature outside vision science. However, interest in caveolae and their molecular components has increased with accumulating evidence of important roles in vision-related functions such as blood-retinal barrier homeostasis, ocular inflammatory signaling, pathogen entry at the ocular surface, and aqueous humor drainage. The recent association of CAV1/2 gene loci with primary open angle glaucoma and intraocular pressure has further enhanced the need to better understand caveolar functions in the context of ocular physiology and disease. Herein, we provide the first comprehensive review of literature on caveolae, caveolins, and other membrane domains in the context of visual system function. This review highlights the importance of caveolae domains and their components in ocular physiology and pathophysiology and emphasizes the need to better understand these important modulators of cellular function.

Caveolae: One Function or Many?

Caveolae are small, bulb-shaped plasma membrane invaginations. Mutations that ablate caveolae lead to diverse phenotypes in mice and humans, making it challenging to uncover their molecular mechanisms. Caveolae have been described to function in endocytosis and transcytosis (a specialized form of endocytosis) and in maintaining membrane lipid composition, as well as acting as signaling platforms. New data also support a model in which the central function of caveolae could be related to the protection of cells from mechanical stress within the plasma membrane. We present evidence for these diverse roles and consider in vitro and in vivo experiments confirming a mechanoprotective role. We conclude by highlighting current gaps in our knowledge of how mechanical signals may be transduced by caveolae.

Caveolae - mechanosensitive membrane invaginations linked to actin filaments

An essential property of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells is its plasticity, which is required for sensing and transmitting of signals, and for accommodating the tensional changes imposed by its environment or its own biomechanics. Caveolae are unique invaginated membrane nanodomains that play a major role in organizing signaling, lipid homeostasis and adaptation to membrane tension. Caveolae are frequently associated with stress fibers, a major regulator of membrane tension and cell shape. In this Commentary, we discuss recent studies that have provided new insights into the function of caveolae and have shown that trafficking and organization of caveolae are tightly regulated by stress-fiber regulators, providing a functional link between caveolae and stress fibers. Furthermore, the tension in the plasma membrane determines the curvature of caveolae because they flatten at high tension and invaginate at low tension, thus providing a tension-buffering system. Caveolae also regulate multiple cellular pathways, including RhoA-driven actomyosin contractility and other mechanosensitive pathways, suggesting that caveolae could couple mechanotransduction pathways to actin-controlled changes in tension through their association with stress fibers. Therefore, we argue here that the association of caveolae with stress fibers could provide an important strategy for cells to deal with mechanical stress.

Targeting caveolin-3 for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetes is a global health problem with more than 550 million people predicted to be diabetic by 2030. A major complication of diabetes is cardiovascular disease, which accounts for over two-thirds of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. This increased risk has led to the definition of a diabetic cardiomyopathy phenotype characterised by early left ventricular dysfunction with normal ejection fraction. Here we review the aetiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy and explore the involvement of the protein caveolin-3 (Cav3). Cav3 forms part of a complex mechanism regulating insulin signalling and glucose uptake, processes that are impaired in diabetes. Further, Cav3 is key for stabilisation and trafficking of cardiac ion channels to the plasma membrane and so contributes to the cardiac action potential shape and duration. In addition, Cav3 has direct and indirect interactions with proteins involved in excitation-contraction coupling and so has the potential to influence cardiac contractility. Significantly, both impaired contractility and rhythm disturbances are hallmarks of diabetic cardiomyopathy. We review here how changes to Cav3 expression levels and altered relationships with interacting partners may be contributory factors to several of the pathological features identified in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Finally, the review concludes by considering ways in which levels of Cav3 may be manipulated in order to develop novel therapeutic approaches for treating diabetic cardiomyopathy.

MURC/cavin-4 Is Co-Expressed with Caveolin-3 in Rhabdomyosarcoma Tumors and Its Silencing Prevents Myogenic Differentiation in the Human Embryonal RD Cell Line

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether MURC/cavin-4, a plasma membrane and Z-line associated protein exhibiting an overlapping distribution with Caveolin-3 (Cav-3) in heart and muscle tissues, may be expressed and play a role in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), an aggressive myogenic tumor affecting childhood. We found MURC/cavin-4 to be expressed, often concurrently with Cav-3, in mouse and human RMS, as demonstrated through in silico analysis of gene datasets and immunohistochemical analysis of tumor samples. In vitro expression studies carried out using human cell lines and primary mouse tumor cultures showed that expression levels of both MURC/cavin-4 and Cav-3, while being low or undetectable during cell proliferation, became robustly increased during myogenic differentiation, as detected via semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting analysis. Furthermore, confocal microscopy analysis performed on human RD and RH30 cell lines confirmed that MURC/cavin-4 mostly marks differentiated cell elements, colocalizing at the cell surface with Cav-3 and labeling myosin heavy chain (MHC) expressing cells. Finally, MURC/cavin-4 silencing prevented the differentiation in the RD cell line, leading to morphological cell impairment characterized by depletion of myogenin, Cav-3 and MHC protein levels. Overall, our data suggest that MURC/cavin-4, especially in combination with Cav-3, may play a consistent role in the differentiation process of RMS.

Loading-associated expression of TRIM72 and caveolin-3 in antigravitational soleus muscle in mice

Effects of mechanical loading on the expression level of tripartite motif-containing 72 (TRIM72) and caveolin-3 (Cav-3) in mouse soleus muscle were investigated. Mice were subjected to (1) continuous hindlimb suspension (HS) for 2 weeks followed by 1-week ambulation recovery or (2) functional overloading (FO) on the soleus by cutting the distal tendons of the plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles. Soleus muscle atrophy was induced by 2-week hindlimb suspension (HS). Reloading-associated regrowth of atrophied soleus muscle was observed by 1-week reloading following HS. HS also depressed the expression level of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) mRNA, TRIM72, Cav-3, and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt)/total Akt (t-Akt), but increased the phosphorylated level of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) in soleus muscle. Thereafter, the expression level of MyoD mRNA, TRIM72 (mRNA, and protein), and Cav-3 was significantly increased and recovered to the basal level during 1-week reloading after HS. Although IRS-1 expression was also upregulated by reloading, the expression level was significantly lower than that before HS. Significant increase in p-Akt and phosphorylated p70 S6 kinase (p-p70S6K) was observed by 1-day reloading. On the other hand, 1-week functional overloading (FO) induced soleus muscle hypertrophy. In FO-associated hypertrophied soleus muscle, the expression level of IRS-1 mRNA, MyoD mRNA, TRIM72 mRNA, p-Akt, and p-p70S6K was increased, but the expression of Cav-3 and p-p38MAPK was decreased. FO had no effect on the protein expression level of TRIM72. These observations suggest that the loading-associated upregulation of TRIM72 protein in skeletal muscle may depress the regrowth of atrophied muscle via a partial suppression of IRS-1. In addition, downregulation of Cav-3 in skeletal muscle may depress overloading-induced muscle hypertrophy.

Potential of caveolae in the therapy of cardiovascular and neurological diseases

Caveolae are membrane micro-domains enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipids and caveolins, which are transmembrane proteins with a hairpin-like structure. Caveolae participate in receptor-mediated trafficking of cell surface receptors and receptor-mediated signaling. Furthermore, caveolae participate in clathrin-independent endocytosis of membrane receptors. On the one hand, caveolins are involved in vascular and cardiac dysfunction. Also, neurological abnormalities in caveolin-1 knockout mice and a link between caveolin-1 gene haplotypes and neurodegenerative diseases have been reported. The aim of this article is to present the rationale for considering caveolae as potential targets in cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

News from the caves: update on the structure and function of caveolae

Recent data from the study of the cell biology of caveolae have provided insights both into how these flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane are formed and how they may function in different contexts. This review discusses experiments that analyse the composition and ultrastructural distribution of protein complexes responsible for generating caveolae, that suggest functions for caveolae in response to mechanical stress or damage to the plasma membrane, that show that caveolae may have an important role during the signalling events for regulation of metabolism, and that imply that caveolae can act as endocytic vesicles at the plasma membrane. We also highlight unexpected roles for caveolar proteins in regulating circadian rhythms and new insights into the way in which caveolae may be involved in fatty acid uptake in the intestine. Current outstanding questions in the field are emphasised.

Distribution of caveolin in the muscle spindles of human skeletal muscle

The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the location of the different members of the caveolin (cav) family in human muscle spindles. Twenty spindles of three human muscles (vastus medialis, ischiocavernosus, bulbospongiosus) from 12 cadavers were immunohistochemically stained for cav-1, cav-2, and cav-3, and the equatorial and polar regions evaluated. All layers of the outer and inner spindle capsule and all blood vessels within the spindle stained for cav-1 and cav-2. In the muscle spindle, intrafusal muscle fibres stained selectively for cav-3, but with a patchy appearance. Caveolinopathies may therefore also include changes in muscle spindle function.

Deletion of cavin genes reveals tissue-specific mechanisms for morphogenesis of endothelial caveolae

Caveolae are abundant in endothelial cells and are thought to have important roles in endothelial cell biology. The cavin proteins are key components of caveolae, and are expressed at varied amounts in different tissues. Here we use knockout mice to determine the roles of cavins 2 and 3 in caveolar morphogenesis in vivo. Deletion of cavin 2 causes loss of endothelial caveolae in lung and adipose tissue, but has no effect on the abundance of endothelial caveolae in heart and other tissues. Changes in the morphology of endothelium in cavin 2 null mice correlate with changes in caveolar abundance. Cavin 3 is not required for making caveolae in the tissues examined. Cavin 2 determines the size of cavin complexes, and acts to shape caveolae. Cavin 1, however, is essential for normal oligomerization of caveolin 1. Our data reveal that endothelial caveolae are heterogeneous, and identify cavin 2 as a determinant of this heterogeneity.

Cavin proteins are key components of mammalian caveolae and are expressed from four genes in a tissue-specific manner. Gram Hansen et al. demonstrate that caveolae in the endothelia of different tissues are remarkably heterogeneous, and reveal a role for cavin 2 in determining the apparent size of cavin complexes.

Characterization of the molecular architecture of human caveolin-3 and interaction with the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor

Caveolin-3 (cav-3), an integral membrane protein, is a building block of caveolae as well as a regulator of a number of physiological processes by facilitating the formation of multiprotein signaling complexes. We report that the expression of cav-3 in insect (Sf9) cells induces caveola formation, comparable in size with those observed in native tissue. We have also purified the recombinant cav-3 determining that it forms an oligomer of ∼220 kDa. We present the first three-dimensional structure for cav-3 (using transmission electron microscopy and single particle analysis methods) and show that nine cav-3 monomers assemble to form a complex that is toroidal in shape, ∼16.5 nm in diameter and ∼ 5.5 nm in height. Labeling experiments and reconstitution of the purified cav-3 into liposomes have allowed a proposal for the orientation of the protein with respect to the membrane. We have identified multiple caveolin-binding motifs within the ryanodine receptor (RyR1) sequence employing a bioinformatic analysis. We have then shown experimentally that there is a direct interaction between recombinant cav-3 nonamers and purified RyR1 homotetramers that would imply that at least one of the predicted cav-3-binding sites is exposed within the fully assembled RyR1 structure. The cav-3 three-dimensional model provides new insights as to how a cav-3 oligomer can bind multiple partners in close proximity to form signaling complexes. Furthermore, a direct interaction with RyR1 suggests a possible role for cav-3 as a modifier of muscle excitation-contraction coupling and/or for localization of the receptor to regions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Caveolins in rhabdomyosarcoma

Caveolins are scaffolding proteins that play a pivotal role in numerous processes, including caveolae biogenesis, vesicular transport, cholesterol homeostasis and regulation of signal transduction. There are three different isoforms (Cav-1, -2 and -3) that form homo- and hetero-aggregates at the plasma membrane and modulate the activity of a number of intracellular binding proteins. Cav-1 and Cav-3, in particular, are respectively expressed in the reserve elements (e.g. satellite cells) and in mature myofibres of skeletal muscle and their expression interplay characterizes the switch from muscle precursors to differentiated elements. Recent findings have shown that caveolins are also expressed in rhabdomyosarcoma, a group of heterogeneous childhood soft-tissue sarcomas in which the cancer cells seem to derive from progenitors that resemble myogenic cells. In this review, we will focus on the role of caveolins in rhabdomyosarcomas and on their potential use as markers of the degree of differentiation in these paediatric tumours. Given that the function of Cav-1 as tumour conditional gene in cancer has been well-established, we will also discuss the relationship between Cav-1 and the progression of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Loss of caveolin-1 impairs retinal function due to disturbance of subretinal microenvironment

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), an integral component of caveolar membrane domains, is expressed in several retinal cell types, including photoreceptors, retinal vascular endothelial cells, Müller glia, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Recent evidence links Cav-1 to ocular diseases, including autoimmune uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and primary open angle glaucoma, but its role in normal vision is largely undetermined. In this report, we show that ablation of Cav-1 results in reduced inner and outer retinal function as measured, in vivo, by electroretinography and manganese-enhanced MRI. Somewhat surprisingly, dark current and light sensitivity were normal in individual rods (recorded with suction electrode methods) from Cav-1 knock-out (KO) mice. Although photoreceptor function was largely normal, in vitro, the apparent K(+) affinity of the RPE-expressed α1-Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase was decreased in Cav-1 KO mice. Cav-1 KO retinas also displayed unusually tight adhesion with the RPE, which could be resolved by brief treatment with hyperosmotic medium, suggesting alterations in outer retinal fluid homeostasis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that reduced retinal function resulting from Cav-1 ablation is not photoreceptor-intrinsic but rather involves impaired subretinal and/or RPE ion/fluid homeostasis.

Role of Caveolin Proteins in Sepsis

Despite the progress in medical treatment sepsis remains one of the major causes of death in pediatric and elderly patients. Understanding signaling pathways associated with sepsis may be of key significance for designing more efficient therapeutic approaches which could alleviate sepsis outcome. Earlier studies suggested that cholesteroland sphingolipid-rich lipid rafts and their morphologically distinct subset, caveolaecan be utilized by certain bacterial pathogens to enter and invade host cells. Moreover, there is also evidence that the expression levels of the major caveolar coat proteincaveolin-1 can be regulated by the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria,lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in various cell types involved in sepsis. In particular recent studies using caveolin-1 knockout mice and cells have revealed that caveolin-1 is directly involved in regulating numerous signalingpathways and functions in various cell types of the immune system and other cell types involved in sepsis. Moreover, the most recent report implies that in addition to extensively studied caveolin-1, caveolin-2 is also important in regulating LPS-induced sepsis and might possibly play an opposite role to caveolin-1 in regulating certain pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. The purpose of this review is to discuss these new exciting discoveries relatedto the specific role of caveolin-1 and the less studiedcaveolin-2in regulating signaling and outcome associated with sepsis induced by LPS and pathogenic bacteria at molecular, cellular and systemic levels.

Caveolin-1 in sarcomas: friend or foe?

Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with a complex and difficult reproducible classification. Their pathogenesis is poorly understood and there are few effective treatment options for advanced disease. Caveolin-1 is a multifunctional scaffolding protein with multiple binding partners that regulates multiple cancer-associated processes including cellular transformation, tumor growth, cell death and survival, multidrug resistance, angiogenesis, cell migration and metastasis. However, ambiguous roles have been ascribed to caveolin-1 in signal transduction and cancer, including sarcomas. In particular, evidence indicating that caveolin-1 function is cell context dependent has been repeatedly reported. Caveolin-1 appears to act as a tumor suppressor protein at early stages of cancer progression. In contrast, a growing body of evidence indicates that caveolin-1 is up-regulated in several multidrug-resistant and metastatic cancer cell lines and human tumor specimens. This review is focused on the role of caveolin-1 in several soft tissue and bone sarcomas and discusses the use of this protein as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker and as a therapeutic target.

Involvement of caveolin-1 in the Jak-Stat signaling pathway and infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus infection in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi)

Caveolae, the major source of caveolin-1 protein, are specialized invaginated microdomains of the plasma membrane that act as organizing centers for signaling molecules in the immune system. In the present study, we report the cloning and characterization of caveolin-1 (mCav-1) from mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) and study on the roles of mCav-1 in the fish Jak–Stat signaling pathway and in virus infection. The cDNA sequence of mCav-1 was 707 bp in size, encoding a protein of 181 amino acids, which was different from the mammalian protein (178 amino acids). The deduced amino acid sequence of mCav-1 shared similar architecture with vertebrate caveolin-1 proteins, but mCav-1 lacked a phosphorylation site (y14). The major subcellular location of mCav-1 was in the caveolae, where the protein appeared to have major functions. Real-time PCR revealed that the expression of the mandarin fish Mx, IRF-1, SOCS1, and SOCS3 genes involved in the poly(I:C)-induced Jak–Stat signaling pathway was impaired by the mCav-1 scaffolding domain peptide (mSDP). In mandarin fish fry (MFF-1) cells, the protein levels of mCav-1 were markedly up-regulated at 12 and 24 h post-infection with ISKNV (infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus). In addition, ISKNV entry into MFF-1 cells was significantly inhibited by mSDP, and the inhibition was dose-dependent. Thus, ISKNV infection was apparently associated with mCav-1 protein and may utilize the caveolae-related endocytosis pathway. The findings reported here further our understanding of the function of caveolin-1 in the complex signal transduction network in fish immune systems and in the cellular entry mechanism of iridoviruses.

Caveolin-3 is a direct molecular partner of the Cav1.1 subunit of the skeletal muscle L-type calcium channel

Caveolin-3 is the striated muscle specific isoform of the scaffolding protein family of caveolins and has been shown to interact with a variety of proteins, including ion channels. Mutations in the human CAV3 gene have been associated with several muscle disorders called caveolinopathies and among these, the P104L mutation (Cav-3(P104L)) leads to limb girdle muscular dystrophy of type 1C characterized by the loss of sarcolemmal caveolin. There is still no clear-cut explanation as to specifically how caveolin-3 mutations lead to skeletal muscle wasting. Previous results argued in favor of a role for caveolin-3 in dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) functional regulation and/or T-tubular membrane localization. It appeared worth closely examining such a functional link and investigating if it could result from the direct physical interaction of the two proteins. Transient expression of Cav-3(P104L) or caveolin-3 specific siRNAs in C2C12 myotubes both led to a significant decrease of the L-type Ca(2+) channel maximal conductance. Immunolabeling analysis of adult skeletal muscle fibers revealed the colocalization of a pool of caveolin-3 with the DHPR within the T-tubular membrane. Caveolin-3 was also shown to be present in DHPR-containing triadic membrane preparations from which both proteins co-immunoprecipitated. Using GST-fusion proteins, the I-II loop of Ca(v)1.1 was identified as the domain interacting with caveolin-3, with an apparent affinity of 60nM. The present study thus revealed a direct molecular interaction between caveolin-3 and the DHPR which is likely to underlie their functional link and whose loss might therefore be involved in pathophysiological mechanisms associated to muscle caveolinopathies.

Differential effects of myopathy-associated caveolin-3 mutants on growth factor signaling

Caveolin-3 is an important scaffold protein of cholesterol-rich caveolae. Mutations of caveolin-3 cause hereditary myopathies that comprise remarkably different pathologies. Growth factor signaling plays an important role in muscle physiology; it is influenced by caveolins and cholesterol-rich rafts and might thus be affected by caveolin-3 dysfunction. Prompted by the observation of a marked chronic peripheral neuropathy in a patient suffering from rippling muscle disease due to the R26Q caveolin-3 mutation and because TrkA is expressed by neuronal cells and skeletal muscle fibers, we performed a detailed comparative study on the effect of pathogenic caveolin-3 mutants on the signaling and trafficking of the TrkA nerve growth factor receptor and, for comparison, of the epidermal growth factor receptor. We found that the R26Q mutant slightly and the P28L strongly reduced nerve growth factor signaling in TrkA-transfected cells. Surface biotinylation experiments revealed that the R26Q caveolin-3 mutation markedly reduced the internalization of TrkA, whereas the P28L did not. Moreover, P28L expression led to increased, whereas R26Q expression decreased, epidermal growth factor signaling. Taken together, we found differential effects of the R26Q and P28L caveolin-3 mutants on growth factor signaling. Our findings are of clinical interest because they might help explain the remarkable differences in the degree of muscle lesions caused by caveolin-3 mutations and also the co-occurrence of peripheral neuropathy in the R26Q caveolinopathy case presented.

Exploring the caves: cavins, caveolins and caveolae

Caveolae are ampullate (flask-shaped) invaginations that are abundant in the plasma membrane of many mammalian cell types. Although caveolae are implicated in a wide range of processes including endothelial transcytosis, lipid homeostasis and cellular signalling, a detailed molecular picture of many aspects of their function has been elusive. Until recently, the only extensively characterised protein components of caveolae were the caveolins. Recently, data from several laboratories have demonstrated that a family of four related proteins, termed cavins 1-4, plays key roles in caveolar biogenesis and function. Salient properties of the cavin family include their propensity to form complexes with each other and their different but overlapping tissue distribution. This review summarises recent data on the cavins, and sets them in the context of open questions on the construction and function of caveolae. The discovery of cavins implies that caveolae might have unexpectedly diverse structural properties, in accord with the wide range of functions attributed to these 'little caves'.

Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependence of caveolae-mediated endocytosis

Caveolae are flask-shaped plasma membrane invaginations that mediate endocytosis and transcytosis of plasma macromolecules, such as albumin, insulin and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), as well as certain viruses, bacteria and bacterial toxins. Caveolae-mediated transcytosis of macromolecules is critical for maintaining vascular homeostasis by regulating the oncotic pressure gradient and tissue delivery of drugs, vitamins, lipids and ions. Entrapment of cargo within caveolae induces activation of signalling cascades leading to caveolae fission and internalization. Activation of Src tyrosine kinase is an early and essential step that triggers detachment of loaded caveolae from the plasma membrane. In this review, we examine how Src-mediated phosphorylation regulates caveolae-mediated transport by orchestrating the localization and activity of essential proteins of the endocytic machinery to regulate caveolae formation and fission.

Evolutionary analysis and molecular dissection of caveola biogenesis

Caveolae are an abundant feature of mammalian cells. Integral membrane proteins called caveolins drive the formation of caveolae but the precise mechanisms underlying caveola formation, and the origin of caveolae and caveolins during evolution, are unknown. Systematic evolutionary analysis shows conservation of genes encoding caveolins in metazoans. We provide evidence for extensive and ancient, local and genomic gene duplication, and classify distinct caveolin gene families. Vertebrate caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 isoforms, as well as an invertebrate (Apis mellifera, honeybee) caveolin, all form morphologically identical caveolae in caveolin-1-null mouse cells, demonstrating that caveola formation is a conserved feature of evolutionarily distant caveolins. However, coexpression of flotillin-1 and flotillin-2 did not cause caveola biogenesis in this system. In contrast to the other tested caveolins, C. elegans caveolin is efficiently transported to the plasma membrane but does not generate caveolae, providing evidence of diversity of function in the caveolin gene family. Using C. elegans caveolin as a template to generate hybrid caveolin constructs we now define domains of caveolin required for caveolae biogenesis. These studies lead to a model for caveola formation and novel insights into the evolution of caveolin function.

Na(+)-K (+) pump location and translocation during muscle contraction in rat skeletal muscle

Muscle contraction may up-regulate the number of Na(+)-K(+) pumps in the plasma membrane by translocation of subunits. Since there is still controversy about where this translocation takes place from and if it takes place at all, the present study used different techniques to characterize the translocation. Electrical stimulation and biotin labeling of rat muscle revealed a 40% and 18% increase in the amounts of the Na(+)-K(+) pump alpha(2) subunit and caveolin-3 (Cav-3), respectively, in the sarcolemma. Exercise induced a 36% and 19% increase in the relative amounts of the alpha(2) subunit and Cav-3, respectively, in an outer-membrane-enriched fraction and a 41% and 17% increase, respectively, in sarcolemma giant vesicles. The Na(+)-K(+) pump activity measured with the 3-O-MFPase assay was increased by 37% in giant vesicles from exercised rats. Immunoprecipitation with Cav-3 antibody showed that 17%, 11% and 14% of the alpha(1) subunits were associated with Cav-3 in soleus, extensor digitorum longus, and mixed muscles, respectively. For the alpha(2), the corresponding values were 17%, 5% and 16%. In conclusion; muscle contraction induces translocation of the alpha subunits, which is suggested to be caused partly by structural changes in caveolae and partly by translocation from an intracellular pool.

T-tubule formation in cardiacmyocytes: two possible mechanisms?

We have followed the differentiation of transverse (T) tubules and of the associations between sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and either the plasmalemma (peripheral couplings) or the T tubules (dyads) in postnatal rat ventricular myocytes using electron microscopy. Dyads and peripheral couplings are collectively called Ca(2+) Release Units (CRUs) because they are the sites at which Ca(2+) is released from the SR. Profiles of T tubules, caveolae and dyads are mostly at the cell edge in early postnatal days and are found with increased frequency in the cell interior during the first two postnatal weeks. Using ferritin to trace continuity of T tubules lumen with the extracellular space, we find that some of T tubules (between approximately 6 and 25%), either singly or within dyads, lack ferritin in their lumen. The percentage of tubules that do not contain ferritin decreases slightly during postnatal differentiation and is not very different at the cells' edges and interior. We propose that T tubules form as invaginations of the plasmalemma that penetrate inward driven by accrual of membrane lipids and specific proteins. This occurs by a dual mechanism: either by the independent flow of SR and T tubule proteins into the two separate membranes or by the fusion of preformed vesicle tandems into the dyads. Most of the CRUs (approximately 86%) are constituted by peripheral couplings and ferritin containing dyads, thus constituting CRUs in which Ca(2+ )release from the SR is initiated by a membrane depolarization. In the remaining CRUs, activation of Ca(2+) release must be dependent on some other mechanisms.

Dysferlin is expressed in human placenta but does not associate with caveolin

A proteomics screen of human placental microvillous syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs) revealed the expression of dysferlin (DYSF), a plasma membrane repair protein associated with certain muscular dystrophies. This was unexpected given that previous studies of DYSF have been restricted to skeletal muscle. Within the placenta, DYSF localized to the STB and, with the exception of variable labeling in the fetal placental endothelium, none of the other cell types expressed detectable levels of DYSF. Such restricted expression was recapitulated using primary trophoblast cell cultures, because the syncytia expressed DYSF, but not the prefusion mononuclear cells. The apical plasma membrane of the STB contained approximately 4-fold more DYSF than the basal membrane, suggesting polarized trafficking. Unlike skeletal muscle, DYSF in the STB is localized to the plasma membrane in the absence of caveolin. DYSF expression in the STB was developmentally regulated, because first-trimester placentas expressed approximately 3-fold more DYSF than term placentas. As the current literature indicates that few cell types express DYSF, it is of interest that the two major syncytial structures in the human body, skeletal muscle and the STB, express this protein.

Molecular mechanisms of muscular dystrophies: old and new players

The study of the muscle cell in the muscular dystrophies (MDs) has shown that mutant proteins result in perturbations of many cellular components. MDs have been associated with mutations in structural proteins, signalling molecules and enzymes as well as mutations that result in aberrant processing of mRNA or alterations in post-translational modifications of proteins. These findings have not only revealed important insights for cell biologists, but have also provided unexpected and exciting new approaches for therapy.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of the porcine caveolin-3 gene

Caveolin-3 is the muscle-specific form of the caveolin protein family and plays an important role in modulating both the morphological appearance and function of caveolae. In this study, we cloned and characterized caveolin-3 from porcine muscle. The promoter of porcine caveolin-3 contained three consensus E box elements and one RORalpha2 monomeric binding motif. The deduced amino acid sequence of porcine caveolin-3 contains a WW domain. This gene was mapped to SSC13 q23-q24 by the SCHP and the IMpRH panel. RT-PCR analyses showed that caveolin-3 was expressed specifically in skeletal muscle and heart. And we provide the first evidence that caveolin-3 has a certain regulated expression pattern during the prenatal period of the porcine skeletal muscle development. This result suggests that the caveolin-3 gene might be a candidate gene of meat production trait and provides some information for establishing of an animal model using pig to study human caveolinopathies.

Progestin-induced caveolin-1 expression mediates breast cancer cell proliferation

Progestin regulation of gene expression was assessed in the progestin-dependent murine tumor line C4HD which requires MPA, a synthetic progestin, for in vivo growth and expresses high levels of progesterone receptor (PR). By using suppressive subtractive hybridization, caveolin-1 was identified as a gene whose expression was increased with in vivo MPA treatment. By Northern and Western blot analysis, we further confirmed that caveolin-1 mRNA and protein expression increased in MPA-treated tumors as compared with untreated tumors. When primary cultures of C4HD cells were treated in vitro with MPA, caveolin-1 levels also increased, effect that was abolished by pre-treatment with progestin antagonist RU486. In addition, MPA promoted strong caveolin-1 promoter transcriptional activation both in mouse and human breast cancer cells. We also showed that MPA regulation of caveolin-1 expression involved in activation of two signaling pathways: MAPK and PI-3K. Short-term MPA treatment of C4HD cells led to tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1 protein, where Src was the kinase involved. Additionally, we showed that MPA-induced association of caveolin-1 and PR, which was detected by coimmunoprecipitation and by confocal microscopy. Finally, we proved that MPA-induced proliferation of C4HD cells was inhibited by suppression of caveolin-1 expression with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to caveolin-1 mRNA. Furthermore, we observed that inhibition of caveolin-1 expression abrogated PR capacity to induced luciferase activity from a progesterone response element-driven reporter plasmid. Comprehensively, our results demonstrated for the first time that caveolin-1 expression is upregulated by progestin in breast cancer. We also demonstrated that caveolin-1 is a downstream effector of MPA that is partially responsible for the stimulation of growth of breast cancer cells.

Differential expression of caveolin-3 in mouse smooth muscle cells in vivo

Expression of caveolin-1 and -3 in mouse smooth muscle cells in vivo was examined by immunohistochemistry. Caveolin-1 was detected in almost all smooth muscles examined, except for the pupillary dilator muscle, whereas caveolin-3 was present only in smooth muscles of some specific tissues. In the eye, the pupillary sphincter muscle was intensely positive for caveolin-3, whereas the ciliary muscle and pupillary dilator muscle were negative. In the gastrointestinal tract, caveolin-3 was detected in the inner circular layer, but not in the outer longitudinal layer. Vascular smooth muscle cells of the resistance-sized artery in the uterus and corpus cavernosum were intensely positive for caveolin-3, whereas those of the aorta were only weakly positive and those of the vena cava were negative. Caveolin-3 was also detected in smooth muscle cells of the urinary bladder, ureter, prostatic vas deferens, and seminal vesicle. The different levels of caveolin-3 expression among various smooth muscle tissues were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Even within the same muscle, the relative expression levels of caveolin-1 and -3 were variable among neighboring cells, suggesting distinct fine regulation of expression of these two caveolins. Moreover, even in the same cell, caveolin-1 and -3 showed different distributions. These results indicate that the two caveolins form distinct caveolae in smooth muscles, and that caveolin-1 and -3 serve different functions. Their differential expression may therefore be related to the functional diversity of smooth muscles.

Structure of caveolae

The introduction of the electron microscope to the study of the biological materials in the second half of the last century has dramatically expanded our view and understanding of the inner workings of cells by enabling the discovery and study of subcellular organelles. A population of flask-shaped or spherical invaginations of the plasma membrane were described and named plasmalemmal vesicles or caveolae. Until the discovery of caveolin-1 as their first molecular marker in early 1990s, the study of caveolae was the exclusive domain of electron microscopists that demonstrated caveolae at different surface densities in most mammalian cells with few exceptions. Electron microscopy techniques in combination with other approaches have also revealed the structural features of caveolae as well as some of their protein and lipid residents. This review summarizes the data on the structure and components of caveolae and their stomatal diaphragms.

Heptaspanning membrane receptors and cytoskeletal/scaffolding proteins: focus on adenosine, dopamine, and metabotropic glutamate receptor function

Most cellular functions are mediated by multiprotein complexes. In neurons, these complexes are directly involved in the proper neuronal transmission, which is responsible for phenomena like learning, memory, and development. In recent years studies based on two-hybrid screens and proteomic, biochemical, and cell biology approaches have shown that intracellular domains of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) or heptaspanning membrane receptors (HSMRs) interact with intracellular proteins. These interactions are the basis of a protein network associated with these receptors, which includes scaffolding proteins containing one or several PDZ (postsynaptic-density-95/discs-large/zona occludens-1) domains, signaling proteins, and proteins of the cytoskeleton. The present article is focused on the emerging evidence for interactions of adenosine, dopamine, and metabotropic glutamate receptors, with scaffolding and cytoskeletal proteins that play a role in the targeting and anchoring of these receptors to the plasma membrane, thus contributing to neuronal development and plasticity. Finally, given the complexity of neurological disorders such as ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and epilepsy, exploitation of these HSMR-associated interactions might prove to be efficient in the treatment of such disorders.

Reduction of caveolin-3 expression does not inhibit stretch-induced phosphorylation of ERK2 in skeletal muscle myotubes

Mechanotransduction is critical to the maintenance and growth of skeletal muscle, but the mechanism by which cellular deformations are converted to biochemical signals remains unclear. Among the earliest and most ubiquitous responses to mechanical stimulation is the phosphorylation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, in particular ERK2. Caveolin-3 (CAV-3) binds ERK2 and its upstream activators in inactive states on the caveolae of resting muscle. Caveolae are deformed by stretch, and it was hypothesized that this deformation might disrupt the CAV-3-dependent inhibition of ERK2 to affect stretch-induced activation. Stretch-induced phosphorylation of ERK2 in myotubes was both amplitude and velocity dependent, consistent with a viscoelastic mechanism, such as deformation of caveolae. Chemical disruption of caveolae by cholesterol depletion increased ERK2 activation by up to 176%. Small interfering RNA oligomers were then used to knock down expression of CAV-3 in cultured myotubes before mechanical stimulation, with the expectation that reducing CAV-3 expression would eliminate the stretch-induced activation of ERK2. Knockdown reduced CAV-3 protein content by 55% but did not significantly alter the stretch-induced increase in ERK2 phosphorylation, suggesting that CAV-3 is not an essential element of the mechanotransduction pathway, although the limited extent of knockdown limits the strength of this conclusion.

Mutual regulation between metabotropic glutamate type 1alpha receptor and caveolin proteins: from traffick to constitutive activity

In this paper, a molecular and functional interaction between metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1alpha (mGlu1alpha receptor) and caveolin-1 or caveolin-2beta is described. An overlapping pattern of staining for mGlu1alpha receptor with caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 by confocal laser microscopy in transiently transfected HEK-293 cells is observed. The presence of mGlu1alpha receptor in caveolin-enriched membrane fractions was demonstrated by flotation gradient analysis in the absence of detergents and the interaction between mGlu1alpha receptor with caveolin-1 and with caveolin-2beta was demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. In HEK-293 cells, caveolin-2beta accumulates surrounding lipid droplets when single expressed but coexpression with mGlu1alpha receptor changed dramatically the subcellular localization of caveolin-2beta, directing it from lipid droplets to the cell surface. At the membrane level, the interaction between caveolin-1 and mGlu1alpha receptor could abrogate the constitutive activity exhibited by mGlu1alpha receptor. Overall, these results show that mGlu1alpha receptor interacts with caveolins and that this interaction is physiologically relevant for receptor function. Interestingly, we provide evidence that caveolin-1 is not just acting as a scaffolding protein for the mGlu1alpha receptor but that also regulates mGlu1alpha receptor constitutive activity.

Insulin resistance in skeletal muscles of caveolin-3-null mice

Type 2 diabetes is preceded by the development of insulin resistance, in which the action of insulin is impaired, largely in skeletal muscles. Caveolin-3 (Cav3) is a muscle-specific subtype of caveolin, an example of a scaffolding protein found within membranes. Cav is also known as growth signal inhibitor, although it was recently demonstrated that the genetic disruption of Cav3 did not augment growth in mice. We found, however, that the lack of Cav3 led to the development of insulin resistance, as exemplified by decreased glucose uptake in skeletal muscles, impaired glucose tolerance test performance, and increases in serum lipids. Such impairments were markedly augmented in the presence of streptozotocin, a pancreatic beta cell toxin, suggesting that the mice were susceptible to severe diabetes in the presence of an additional risk factor. Insulin-stimulated activation of insulin receptors and downstream molecules, such as IRS-1 and Akt, was attenuated in the skeletal muscles of Cav3 null mice, but not in the liver, without affecting protein expression or subcellular localization. Genetic transfer of Cav3 by needle injection restored insulin signaling in skeletal muscles. Our findings suggest that Cav3 is an enhancer of insulin signaling in skeletal muscles but does not act as a scaffolding molecule for insulin receptors.

Cell Type-specific Occurrence of Caveolin-1α and -1β in the Lung Caused by Expression of Distinct mRNAs

Two isoforms of caveolin-1, alpha and beta, had been thought to be generated by alternative translation initiation of an mRNA (FL mRNA), but we showed previously that a variant mRNA (5'V mRNA) encodes the beta isoform specifically. In the present study, we demonstrated strong correlation between the expression of the caveolin-1 protein isoforms and mRNA variants in culture cells and the developing mouse lung. The alpha isoform protein and FL mRNA were expressed constantly during the lung development, whereas expression of the beta isoform protein and 5'V mRNA was negligible in the fetal lung before 17.5 days post coitum, and markedly increased simultaneously at 18.5 days post coitum, when the alveolar type I cells started to differentiate. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the cell type-specific expression of the two isoforms; the alveolar type I cell expresses the beta isoform predominantly, while the endothelium harbors the alpha isoform chiefly. The mutually exclusive expression of caveolin-1 isoforms was verified by Western blotting of the selective plasma membrane preparation obtained from the endothelial and alveolar epithelial cells. The present result indicates that the two caveolin-1 isoforms are generated from distinct mRNAs in vivo and that their production is regulated independently at the transcriptional level. The result also suggests that the alpha and beta isoforms of caveolin-1 may have unique physiological functions.

A caveolin-3 mutant that causes limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 1C disrupts Src localization and activity and induces apoptosis in skeletal myotubes

Caveolins are membrane proteins that are the major coat proteins of caveolae, specialized lipid rafts in the plasma membrane that serve as scaffolding sites for many signaling complexes. Among the many signaling molecules associated with caveolins are the Src tyrosine kinases, whose activation regulates numerous cellular functions including the balance between cell survival and cell death. Several mutations in the muscle-specific caveolin, caveolin-3, lead to a form of autosomal dominant muscular dystrophy referred to as limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 1C (LGMD-1C). One of these mutations (here termed the `TFT mutation') results in a deletion of a tripeptide (ΔTFT(63-65)) that affects the scaffolding and oligomerization domains of caveolin-3. This mutation causes a 90-95% loss of caveolin-3 protein levels and reduced formation of caveolae in skeletal muscle fibers. However, the effects of this mutation on the specific biochemical processes and cellular functions associated with caveolae have not been elucidated. We demonstrate that the TFT caveolin-3 mutation in post-mitotic skeletal myotubes causes severely reduced localization of caveolin-3 to the plasma membrane and to lipid rafts, and significantly inhibits caveolar function. The TFT mutation reduced the binding of Src to caveolin-3, diminished targeting of Src to lipid rafts, and caused abnormal perinuclear accumulation of Src. Along with these alterations of Src localization and targeting, there was elevated Src activation in myotubes expressing the TFT mutation and an increased incidence of apoptosis in those cells compared with control myotubes. The results of this study demonstrate that caveolin-3 mutations associated with LGMD-1C disrupt normal cellular signal transduction pathways associated with caveolae and cause apoptosis in muscle cells, all of which may reflect pathogenetic pathways that lead to muscle degeneration in these disorders.

Metabotropic glutamate type 1alpha receptor localizes in low-density caveolin-rich plasma membrane fractions

Recent evidence suggest that many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and signalling molecules localize in microdomains of the plasma membrane. In this study, flotation gradient analysis in the absence of detergents demonstrated the presence of the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1alpha (mGlu1alpha) in low-density caveolin-enriched membrane fractions (CEMF) in permanently transfected BHK cells. BHK-1alpha cells exhibit a similar pattern of staining for caveolin-1 and caveolin-2, and these two proteins show a high degree of co-localization with mGlu1alpha receptor as demonstrated by immunogold and confocal laser microscopy. The presence of mGlu1alpha in CEMF was also demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation of mGlu1alpha receptor using antibodies against caveolin proteins. Activation of the mGlu1alpha receptor by agonist increased extracellular signal-regulated kinases phosphorylation in CEMF and not in high-density membrane fractions (HDMF), suggesting that mGlu1alpha receptor-mediated signal transduction could occur in caveolae-like domains. Overall, these results clearly show a molecular and functional association of mGlu1alpha receptor with caveolins.