The phosphomimetic mutation of syndecan-4 binds and inhibits Tiam1 modulating Rac1 activity in PDZ interaction-dependent manner

Trastuzumab Decreases the Expression of G1/S Regulators and Syndecan-4 Proteoglycan in Human Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, arises from skeletal muscle cells that fail to differentiate terminally. Two subgroups of RMS, fusion-positive and fusion-negative RMS (FPRMS and FNRMS, respectively), are characterized by the presence or absence of the PAX3/7-FOXO1 fusion gene. RMSs frequently exhibit increased expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting HER2, and its potential role in RMS treatment remains to be elucidated. Syndecan-4 (SDC4) is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) affecting myogenesis via Rac1-mediated actin remodeling. Previously, we demonstrated that the SDC4 gene is amplified in 28% of human FNRMS samples, associated with high mRNA expression, suggesting a tumor driver role. In this study, after analyzing the copy numbers and mRNA expressions of other HSPGs in human RMS samples, we found that in addition to SDC4, syndecan-1, syndecan-2, and glypican-1 were also amplified and highly expressed in FNRMS. In RD (human FNRMS) cells, elevated SDC4 expression was accompanied by low levels of phospho-Ser179 of SDC4, leading to high Rac1-GTP activity. Notably, this high SDC4 expression in RD cells decreased following trastuzumab treatment. Trastuzumab decreased the levels of G1/S checkpoint regulators cyclin E and cyclin D1 and reduced the cell number; however, it also downregulated the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. The level of MyoD, a transcription factor essential for RMS cell survival, also decreased following trastuzumab administration. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the role of SDC4 in FNRMS. Since HER2 is expressed in about half of RMSs, the trastuzumab-mediated changes observed here may have therapeutic implications.

RhoGDI1 regulates cell-cell junctions in polarized epithelial cells

Cell-cell contact formation of polarized epithelial cells is a multi-step process that involves the co-ordinated activities of Rho family small GTPases. Consistent with the central role of Rho GTPases, a number of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and Rho GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) have been identified at cell-cell junctions at various stages of junction maturation. As opposed to RhoGEFs and RhoGAPs, the role of Rho GDP dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) during cell-cell contact formation is poorly understood. Here, we have analyzed the role of RhoGDI1/ARHGDIA, a member of the RhoGDI family, during cell-cell contact formation of polarized epithelial cells. Depletion of RhoGDI1 delays the development of linear cell-cell junctions and the formation of barrier-forming tight junctions. In addition, RhoGDI1 depletion impairs the ability of cells to stop migration in response to cell collision and increases the migration velocity of collectively migrating cells. We also find that the cell adhesion receptor JAM-A promotes the recruitment of RhoGDI1 to cell-cell contacts. Our findings implicate RhoGDI1 in various processes involving the dynamic reorganization of cell-cell junctions.

FtsZ phosphorylation pleiotropically affects Z-ladder formation, antibiotic production, and morphogenesis in Streptomyces coelicolor

The GTPase FtsZ forms the cell division scaffold in bacteria, which mediates the recruitment of the other components of the divisome. Streptomycetes undergo two different forms of cell division. Septa without detectable peptidoglycan divide the highly compartmentalised young hyphae during early vegetative growth, and cross-walls are formed that dissect the hyphae into long multinucleoid compartments in the substrate mycelium, while ladders of septa are formed in the aerial hyphae that lead to chains of uninucleoid spores. In a previous study, we analysed the phosphoproteome of Streptomyces coelicolor and showed that FtsZ is phosphorylated at Ser 317 and Ser389. Substituting Ser-Ser for either Glu-Glu (mimicking phosphorylation) or Ala-Ala (mimicking non-phosphorylation) hinted at changes in antibiotic production. Here we analyse development, colony morphology, spore resistance, and antibiotic production in FtsZ knockout mutants expressing FtsZ alleles mimicking Ser319 and Ser387 phosphorylation and non-phosphorylation: AA (no phosphorylation), AE, EA (mixed), and EE (double phosphorylation). The FtsZ-eGFP AE, EA and EE alleles were not able to form observable FtsZ-eGFP ladders when they were expressed in the S. coelicolor wild-type strain, whereas the AA allele could form apparently normal eGFP Z-ladders. The FtsZ mutant expressing the FtsZ EE or EA or AE alleles is able to sporulate indicating that the mutant alleles are able to form functional Z-rings leading to sporulation when the wild-type FtsZ gene is absent. The four mutants were pleiotropically affected in colony morphogenesis, antibiotic production, substrate mycelium differentiation and sporulation (sporulation timing and spore resistance) which may be an indirect result of the effect in sporulation Z-ladder formation. Each mutant showed a distinctive phenotype in antibiotic production, single colony morphology, and sporulation (sporulation timing and spore resistance) indicating that the different FtsZ phosphomimetic alleles led to different phenotypes. Taken together, our data provide evidence for a pleiotropic effect of FtsZ phosphorylation in colony morphology, antibiotic production, and sporulation.

Underappreciated roles for Rho GDP dissociation inhibitors (RhoGDIs) in cell function: Lessons learned from the pancreatic islet β-cell

Rho subfamily of G proteins (e.g., Rac1) have been implicated in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from the pancreatic β-cell. Interestingly, metabolic stress (e.g., chronic exposure to high glucose) results in sustained activation of Rac1 leading to increased oxidative stress, impaired insulin secretion and β-cell dysfunction. Activation-deactivation of Rho G proteins is mediated by three classes of regulatory proteins, namely the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which facilitate the conversion of inactive G proteins to their active conformations; the GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), which convert the active G proteins to their inactive forms); and the GDP-dissociation inhibitors (GDIs), which prevent the dissociation of GDP from G proteins. Contrary to a large number of GEFs (82 members) and GAPs (69 members), only three members of RhoGDIs (RhoGDIα, RhoGDIβ and RhoGDIγ) are expressed in mammalian cells.Even though relatively smaller in number, the GDIs appear to play essential roles in G protein function (e.g., subcellular targeting) for effector activation and cell regulation. Emerging evidence also suggests that the GDIs are functionally regulated via post-translational modification (e.g., phosphorylation) and by lipid second messengers, lipid kinases and lipid phosphatases. We highlight the underappreciated regulatory roles of RhoGDI-Rho G protein signalome in islet β-cell function in health and metabolic stress. Potential knowledge gaps in the field, and directions for future research for the identification of novel therapeutic targets to loss of functional β-cell mass under the duress of metabolic stress are highlighted.

Syndecan-4 affects myogenesis via Rac1-mediated actin remodeling and exhibits copy-number amplification and increased expression in human rhabdomyosarcoma tumors

Skeletal muscle demonstrates a high degree of regenerative capacity repeating the embryonic myogenic program under strict control. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common sarcoma in childhood and is characterized by impaired muscle differentiation. In this study, we observed that silencing the expression of syndecan-4, the ubiquitously expressed transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, significantly enhanced myoblast differentiation, and fusion. During muscle differentiation, the gradually decreasing expression of syndecan-4 allows the activation of Rac1, thereby mediating myoblast fusion. Single-molecule localized superresolution direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) imaging revealed nanoscale changes in actin cytoskeletal architecture, and atomic force microscopy showed reduced elasticity of syndecan-4-knockdown cells during fusion. Syndecan-4 copy-number amplification was observed in 28% of human fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma tumors and was accompanied by increased syndecan-4 expression based on RNA sequencing data. Our study suggests that syndecan-4 can serve as a tumor driver gene in promoting rabdomyosarcoma tumor development. Our results contribute to the understanding of the role of syndecan-4 in skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and tumorigenesis.

Syndecan-4 in Tumor Cell Motility

Simple Summary

Cell migration is crucial fReaor metastasis formation and a hallmark of malignancy. The primary cause of high mortality among oncology patients is the ability of cancer cells to metastasize. To form metastasis, primary tumor cells must be intrinsically able to move. The transmembrane, heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan-4 (SDC4) exhibits multiple functions in signal transduction by regulating Rac1 GTPase activity and consequently actin remodeling, as well as regulating focal adhesion kinase, protein kinase C-alpha and the level of intracellular calcium. By affecting several signaling pathways and biological processes, SDC4 is involved in cell migration under physiological and pathological conditions as well. In this review, we discuss the SDC4-mediated cell migration focusing on the role of SDC4 in tumor cell movement.

Abstract

Syndecan-4 (SDC4) is a ubiquitously expressed, transmembrane proteoglycan bearing heparan sulfate chains. SDC4 is involved in numerous inside-out and outside-in signaling processes, such as binding and sequestration of growth factors and extracellular matrix components, regulation of the activity of the small GTPase Rac1, protein kinase C-alpha, the level of intracellular calcium, or the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. The ability of this proteoglycan to link the extracellular matrix and actin cytoskeleton enables SDC4 to contribute to biological functions like cell adhesion and migration, cell proliferation, cytokinesis, cellular polarity, or mechanotransduction. The multiple roles of SDC4 in tumor pathogenesis and progression has already been demonstrated; therefore, the expression and signaling of SDC4 was investigated in several tumor types. SDC4 influences tumor progression by regulating cell proliferation as well as cell migration by affecting cell-matrix adhesion and several signaling pathways. Here, we summarize the general role of SDC4 in cell migration and tumor cell motility.

Fibrinogen Activates PAK1/Cofilin Signaling Pathway to Protect Endothelial Barrier Integrity

INTRODUCTION

We recently demonstrated that fibrinogen stabilizes syndecan-1 on the endothelial cell (EC) surface and contributes to EC barrier protection, though the intracellular signaling pathway remains unclear. P21 (Rac1) activated kinase 1 (PAK1) is a protein kinase involved in intracellular signaling leading to actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and plays an important role in maintaining endothelial barrier integrity. We therefore hypothesized that fibrinogen binding to syndecan-1 activated the PAK1 pathway.

METHODS

Primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells were incubated in 10% lactated Ringers (LR) solution or 10% fibrinogen saline solution (5 mg/mL). Protein phosphorylation was determined by Western blot analysis and endothelial permeability measured by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. Cells were silenced by siRNA transfection. Protein concentration was measured in the lung lavages of mice.

RESULTS

Fibrinogen treatment resulted in increased syndecan-1, PAK1 activation (phosphorylation), cofilin activation (dephosphorylation), as well as decreased stress fibers and permeability when compared with LR treatment. Cofilin is an actin-binding protein that depolymerizes F-actin to decrease stress fiber formation. Notably, fibrinogen did not influence myosin light chain activation (phosphorylation), a mediator of EC tension. Silencing of PAK1 prevented fibrinogen-induced dephosphorylation of cofilin and barrier integrity. Moreover, to confirm the in vitro findings, mice underwent hemorrhagic shock and were resuscitated with either LR or fibrinogen. Hemorrhage shock decreased lung p-PAK1 levels and caused significant lung vascular leakage. However, fibrinogen administration increased p-PAK1 expression to near sham levels and remarkably prevented the lung leakage.

CONCLUSION

We have identified a novel pathway by which fibrinogen activates PAK1 signaling to stimulate/dephosphorylate cofilin, leading to disassembly of stress fibers and reduction of endothelial permeability.

Proteoglycans as Mediators of Cancer Tissue Mechanics

Proteoglycans are a diverse group of molecules which are characterized by a central protein backbone that is decorated with a variety of linear sulfated glycosaminoglycan side chains. Proteoglycans contribute significantly to the biochemical and mechanical properties of the interstitial extracellular matrix where they modulate cellular behavior by engaging transmembrane receptors. Proteoglycans also comprise a major component of the cellular glycocalyx to influence transmembrane receptor structure/function and mechanosignaling. Through their ability to initiate biochemical and mechanosignaling in cells, proteoglycans elicit profound effects on proliferation, adhesion and migration. Pathologies including cancer and cardiovascular disease are characterized by perturbed expression of proteoglycans where they compromise cell and tissue behavior by stiffening the extracellular matrix and increasing the bulkiness of the glycocalyx. Increasing evidence indicates that a bulky glycocalyx and proteoglycan-enriched extracellular matrix promote malignant transformation, increase cancer aggression and alter anti-tumor therapy response. In this review, we focus on the contribution of proteoglycans to mechanobiology in the context of normal and transformed tissues. We discuss the significance of proteoglycans for therapy response, and the current experimental strategies that target proteoglycans to sensitize cancer cells to treatment.

Syndecan-4 Modulates Cell Polarity and Migration by Influencing Centrosome Positioning and Intracellular Calcium Distribution

Efficient cell migration requires cellular polarization, which is characterized by the formation of leading and trailing edges, appropriate positioning of the nucleus and reorientation of the Golgi apparatus and centrosomes toward the leading edge. Migration also requires the development of an asymmetrical front-to-rear calcium (Ca²⁺) gradient to regulate focal adhesion assembly and actomyosin contractility. Here we demonstrate that silencing of syndecan-4, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, interferes with the correct polarization of migrating mammalian myoblasts (i.e., activated satellite stem cells). In particular, syndecan-4 knockdown completely abolished the intracellular Ca²⁺ gradient, abrogated centrosome reorientation and thus decreased cell motility, demonstrating the role of syndecan-4 in cell polarity. Additionally, syndecan-4 exhibited a polarized distribution during migration. Syndecan-4 knockdown cells exhibited decreases in the total movement distance during directional migration, maximum and vectorial distances from the starting point, as well as average and maximum cell speeds. Super-resolution direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy images of syndecan-4 knockdown cells revealed nanoscale changes in the actin cytoskeletal architecture, such as decreases in the numbers of branches and individual branch lengths in the lamellipodia of the migrating cells. Given the crucial importance of myoblast migration during embryonic development and postnatal muscle regeneration, we conclude that our results could facilitate an understanding of these processes and the general role of syndecan-4 during cell migration.

Myoblast Migration and Directional Persistence Affected by Syndecan-4-Mediated Tiam-1 Expression and Distribution

Skeletal muscle is constantly renewed in response to injury, exercise, or muscle diseases. Muscle stem cells, also known as satellite cells, are stimulated by local damage to proliferate extensively and form myoblasts that then migrate, differentiate, and fuse to form muscle fibers. The transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan-4 plays multiple roles in signal transduction processes, such as regulating the activity of the small GTPase Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) by binding and inhibiting the activity of Tiam1 (T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis-1), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac1. The Rac1-mediated actin remodeling is required for cell migration. Syndecan-4 knockout mice cannot regenerate injured muscle; however, the detailed underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that shRNA-mediated knockdown of syndecan-4 decreases the random migration of mouse myoblasts during live-cell microscopy. Treatment with the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 did not restore the migration capacity of syndecan-4 silenced cells; in fact, it was further reduced. Syndecan-4 knockdown decreased the directional persistence of migration, abrogated the polarized, asymmetric distribution of Tiam1, and reduced the total Tiam1 level of the cells. Syndecan-4 affects myoblast migration via its role in expression and localization of Tiam1; this finding may facilitate greater understanding of the essential role of syndecan-4 in the development and regeneration of skeletal muscle.

Gene expression profiling identifies potential molecular markers of papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy worldwide, with the predominant form papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) representing approximately 80% of cases.

OBJECTIVE

This study was addressed to identify potential genes and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of PTC and potential novel biomarkers for this disease.

METHODS

Gene expression profiling was carried out by DNA microarray technology. Validation of microarray data by qRT-PCR, western blot, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was also performed in a selected set of genes and gene products, with the potential to be used as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, such as those associated with cell adhesion, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and immune/inflammatory response.

RESULTS

In this study we found that upregulation of extracellular activities, such as proteoglycans, ECM-receptor interaction, and cell adhesion molecules, were the most prominent feature of PTC. Significantly over-expressed genes included SDC1 (syndecan 1), SDC4 (syndecan 4), KLK7 (kallikrein-related peptidase 7), KLK10 (kallikrein-related peptidase 10), SLPI (secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor), GDF15 (growth/differentiation factor-15), ALOX5 (arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase), SFRP2 (secreted Frizzled-related protein 2), among others. Further, elevated KLK10 levels were detected in patients with PTC. Many of these genes belong to KEGG pathway "Proteoglycans in cancer".

CONCLUSIONS

Using DNA microarray analysis allowed the identification of genes and pathways with known important roles in malignant transformation, and also the discovery of novel genes that may be potential biomarkers for PTC.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) can take part in cell division: inside and outside

Prior to the cytokinesis, the cell-matrix interactions should be disrupted, and the mitotic cells round up. Prerequisite of mitosis, the centrosomes duplicate, spindle fibers are generated and move away from each other to opposite sides of the cells marking the cell poles. Later, an invagination in the plasma membrane is formed a few minutes after anaphase. This furrow ingression is driven by a contractile actomyosin ring, whose assembly is regulated by RhoA GTPase. At the completion of cytokinesis, the two daughter cells are still connected by a thin intercellular bridge, which is subjected to abscission, as the terminal step of cytokinesis. Here, it is overviewed, how syndecan-4, a transmembrane, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, can contribute to these processes in a phosphorylation-dependent manner.

Syndecan-4 influences mammalian myoblast proliferation by modulating myostatin signalling and G1/S transition

Myostatin, a TGF‐β superfamily member, is a negative regulator of muscle growth. Here we describe how myostatin activity is regulated by syndecan‐4, a ubiquitous transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan. During muscle regeneration the levels of both syndecan‐4 and promyostatin decline gradually after a sharp increase, concurrently with the release of mature myostatin. Promyostatin and syndecan‐4 co‐immunoprecipitate, and the interaction is heparinase‐sensitive. ShRNA‐mediated silencing of syndecan‐4 reduces C2C12 myoblast proliferation via blocking the progression from G1‐ to S‐phase of the cell cycle, which is accompanied by elevated levels of myostatin and p21(Waf1/Cip1), and decreases in cyclin E and cyclin D1 expression. Our results suggest that syndecan‐4 functions as a reservoir for promyostatin regulating the local bioavailability of mature myostatin.

Quantitative Proteome and Phosphoproteome Analyses of Streptomyces coelicolor Reveal Proteins and Phosphoproteins Modulating Differentiation and Secondary Metabolism

Streptomycetes are multicellular bacteria with complex developmental cycles. They are of biotechnological importance as they produce most bioactive compounds used in biomedicine, e.g. antibiotic, antitumoral and immunosupressor compounds. Streptomyces genomes encode many Ser/Thr/Tyr kinases, making this genus an outstanding model for the study of bacterial protein phosphorylation events. We used mass spectrometry based quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics to characterize bacterial differentiation and activation of secondary metabolism of Streptomyces coelicolor We identified and quantified 3461 proteins corresponding to 44.3% of the S. coelicolor proteome across three developmental stages: vegetative hypha (first mycelium); secondary metabolite producing hyphae (second mycelium); and sporulating hyphae. A total of 1350 proteins exhibited more than 2-fold expression changes during the bacterial differentiation process. These proteins include 136 regulators (transcriptional regulators, transducers, Ser/Thr/Tyr kinases, signaling proteins), as well as 542 putative proteins with no clear homology to known proteins which are likely to play a role in differentiation and secondary metabolism. Phosphoproteomics revealed 85 unique protein phosphorylation sites, 58 of them differentially phosphorylated during differentiation. Computational analysis suggested that these regulated protein phosphorylation events are implicated in important cellular processes, including cell division, differentiation, regulation of secondary metabolism, transcription, protein synthesis, protein folding and stress responses. We discovered a novel regulated phosphorylation site in the key bacterial cell division protein FtsZ (pSer319) that modulates sporulation and regulates actinorhodin antibiotic production. We conclude that manipulation of distinct protein phosphorylation events may improve secondary metabolite production in industrial streptomycetes, including the activation of cryptic pathways during the screening for new secondary metabolites from streptomycetes.