Membranes, trafficking, and signaling during animal development

Membrane Trafficking and Subcellular Drug Targeting Pathways

The movement of micro and macro molecules into and within a cell significantly governs several of their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, thus regulating the cellular response to exogenous and endogenous stimuli. Trafficking of various pharmacological agents and other bioactive molecules throughout and within the cell is necessary for the fidelity of the cells but has been poorly investigated. Novel strategies against cancer and microbial infections need a deeper understanding of membrane as well as subcellular trafficking pathways and essentially regulate several aspects of the initiation and spread of anti-microbial and anti-cancer drug resistance. Furthermore, in order to avail the maximum possible bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy and to restrict the unwanted toxicity of pharmacological bioactives, these sometimes need to be functionalized with targeting ligands to regulate the subcellular trafficking and to enhance the localization. In the recent past the scenario drug targeting has primarily focused on targeting tissue components and cell vicinities, however, it is the membranous and subcellular trafficking system that directs the molecules to plausible locations. The effectiveness of the delivery platforms largely depends on their physicochemical nature, intracellular barriers, and biodistribution of the drugs, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic paradigms. Most subcellular organelles possess some peculiar characteristics by which membranous and subcellular targeting can be manipulated, such as negative transmembrane potential in mitochondria, intraluminal delta pH in a lysosome, and many others. Many specialized methods, which positively promote the subcellular targeting and restrict the off-targeting of the bioactive molecules, exist. Recent advancements in designing the carrier molecules enable the handling of membrane trafficking to facilitate the delivery of active compounds to subcellular localizations. This review aims to cover membrane trafficking pathways which promote the delivery of the active molecule in to the subcellular locations, the associated pathways of the subcellular drug delivery system, and the role of the carrier system in drug delivery techniques.

Heparin-like heparan sulfate from rabbit cartilage

Glycosaminoglycans were extracted from both young rabbit growth plate (GRP) and articular (ART) cartilage tissues and enzymatically treated to selectively eliminate chondroitin sulfates and hyaluronic acid. The procedure avoided any fractionation step that could enrich the extract with over- or under-sulfated species. Isolated heparan sulfate (HS) was characterized by mono- and bidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to quantify their specific structural features and/or by mass spectrometry to establish the disaccharide composition. Both GRP and ART HSs, despite differing in their yield (GRP at least 100 times greater than ART), exhibited a surprisingly high degree of sulfation. Quantitative two-dimensional heteronuclear single-quantum coherence-NMR analysis of GRP HS revealed unusually high N-sulfated glucosamine and 2-O-sulfated iduronic acid contents, similar to heparin. The unique pentasaccharide sequence of the binding site for antithrombin was also detected in a significant amount. High-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of the enzymatic digests with a cocktail of heparin lyases of both cartilaginous HSs confirmed the NMR results. As well as the discovery of an unusual HS structure in the two different types of rabbit cartilage, the feasibility of the analytical method adopted here has been demonstrated within this study. Such a method can be used to isolate and analyze HS from both normal and pathologic tissues. Characterization of healthy and pathological HS structures will contribute to improve the understanding of diseases related to malfunctions of HS biosynthesis and/or metabolism.

Clathrin in Trypanosoma cruzi: In Silico Gene Identification, Isolation, and Localization of Protein Expression Sites

Clathrin is a scaffold protein found in different types of coated vesicles in most eukaryotic cells. Major forces that drive clathrin coat formation are the adaptor protein complexes. Trypanosoma cruzi is a flagellate protozoan that ingests macromolecules through receptor-mediated endocytosis, but the molecules involved in this process are still poorly known. Bioinformatics was used to identify proteins in the T. cruzi genome database, permitting discrimination of the genes involved in clathrin coat assembly. Clathrin expression was demonstrated in T. cruzi epimastigotes by using several experimental approaches. Western blot analysis showed a single 180-kDa protein band, which corresponds to the molecular mass of mammalian clathrin heavy chain. A flow cytometry assay demonstrated that the clathrin heavy chain was expressed in 97.74% of the cell population analyzed, with a high-fluorescence signal. Immunofluorescence observation showed labeling clustered at the flagellar pocket and Golgi complex region. Coated vesicles budding off from the flagellar pocket and the trans Golgi network membranes were identified by transmission electron microscopy. Our data demonstrate the expression of clathrin in T. cruzi epimastigotes and show the association of this polypeptide with the parasite endocytic and exocytic pathways.

A Drosophila model of early onset torsion dystonia suggests impairment in TGF-beta signaling

To investigate the cellular and molecular etiology of early onset torsion dystonia, we have established a Drosophila model of this disorder. Expression of mutant human torsinA deleted for a single glutamic acid residue (DeltaE HtorA), but not normal HtorA, elicits locomotor defects in Drosophila. As in mammalian systems, DeltaE HtorA in flies forms protein accumulations that localize to synaptic membranes, nuclei and endosomes. Various morphological defects at the neuromuscular junction in larvae expressing DeltaE HtorA were observed at the EM level, some of which resemble those recently reported for mutants with defects in TGF-beta signaling. These results together with the distribution patterns and localizations of DeltaE HtorA accumulations suggested that DeltaE HtorA could interfere with some aspect of TGF-beta signaling from synapses to endosomes or nuclei. Consistent with this possibility, neuronal overexpression of Drosophila or human Smad2, a downstream effector of the TGF-beta pathway, suppressed the behavioral and ultrastructural defects of DeltaE HtorA flies. These results raise the possibility that a defect in TGF-beta signaling might also underlie early onset torsion dystonia in humans.

Glypican-1 is a vehicle for polyamine uptake in mammalian cells: a pivital role for nitrosothiol-derived nitric oxide

Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are essential for growth and survival of all cells. When polyamine biosynthesis is inhibited, there is up-regulation of import. The mammalian polyamine transport system is unknown. We have previously shown that the heparan sulfate (HS) side chains of recycling glypican-1 (Gpc-1) can sequester spermine, that intracellular polyamine depletion increases the number of NO-sensitive N-unsubstituted glucosamines in HS, and that NO-dependent cleavage of HS at these sites is required for spermine uptake. The NO is derived from S-nitroso groups in the Gpc-1 protein. Using RNA interference technology as well as biochemical and microscopic techniques applied to both normal and uptake-deficient cells, we demonstrate that inhibition of Gpc-1 expression abrogates spermine uptake and intracellular delivery. In unperturbed cells, spermine and recycling Gpc-1 carrying HS chains rich in N-unsubstituted glucosamines were co-localized. By exposing cells to ascorbate, we induced release of NO from the S-nitroso groups, resulting in HS degradation and unloading of the sequestered polyamines as well as nuclear targeting of the deglycanated Gpc-1 protein. Polyamine uptake-deficient cells appear to have a defect in the NO release mechanism. We have managed to restore spermine uptake partially in these cells by providing spermine NONOate and ascorbate. The former bound to the HS chains of recycling Gpc-1 and S-nitrosylated the core protein. Ascorbate released NO, which degraded HS and liberated the bound spermine. Recycling HS proteoglycans of the glypican-type may be plasma membrane carriers for cargo taken up by caveolar endocytosis.