Tubulin cofactors and Arl2 are cage-like chaperones that regulate the soluble αβ-tubulin pool for microtubule dynamics

Cryo-EM structures of the tubulin cofactors reveal the molecular basis for the biogenesis of alpha/beta-tubulin

Microtubule polarity and dynamic polymerization originate from the self-association properties of the a-tubulin heterodimer. For decades, it has remained poorly understood how the tubulin cofactors, TBCD, TBCE, TBCC, and the Arl2 GTPase mediate a-tubulin biogenesis from α- and β-tubulins. Here, we use cryogenic electron microscopy to determine structures of tubulin cofactors bound to αβ-tubulin. These structures show that TBCD, TBCE, and Arl2 form a heterotrimeric cage-like TBC-DEG assembly around the a-tubulin heterodimer. TBCD wraps around Arl2 and almost entirely encircles -tubulin, while TBCE forms a lever arm that anchors along the other end of TBCD and rotates α-tubulin. Structures of the TBC-DEG-αβ-tubulin assemblies bound to TBCC reveal the clockwise rotation of the TBCE lever that twists a-tubulin by pulling its C-terminal tail while TBCD holds -tubulin in place. Altogether, these structures uncover transition states in αβ-tubulin biogenesis, suggesting a vise-like mechanism for the GTP-hydrolysis dependent a-tubulin biogenesis mediated by TBC-DEG and TBCC. These structures provide the first evidence of the critical functions of the tubulin cofactors as enzymes that regulate the invariant organization of αβ-tubulin, by catalyzing α- and β-tubulin assembly, disassembly, and subunit exchange which are crucial for regulating the polymerization capacities of αβ-tubulins into microtubules.

A Zpr1 co-chaperone mediates folding of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A via a GTPase cycle

General protein folding is mediated by chaperones that utilize ATP hydrolysis to regulate client binding and release. Zinc-finger protein 1 (Zpr1) is an essential ATP-independent chaperone dedicated to the biogenesis of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A (eEF1A), a highly abundant GTP-binding protein. How Zpr1-mediated folding is regulated to ensure rapid Zpr1 recycling remains an unanswered question. Here, we use yeast genetics and microscopy analysis, biochemical reconstitution, and structural modeling to reveal that folding of eEF1A by Zpr1 requires GTP hydrolysis. Furthermore, we identify the highly conserved altered inheritance of mitochondria 29 (Aim29) protein as a Zpr1 co-chaperone that recognizes eEF1A in the GTP-bound, pre-hydrolysis conformation. This interaction dampens Zpr1⋅eEF1A GTPase activity and facilitates client exit from the folding cycle. Our work reveals that a bespoke ATP-independent chaperone system has mechanistic similarity to ATPase chaperones but unexpectedly relies on client GTP hydrolysis to regulate the chaperone-client interaction.

High Expression of Microtubule-associated Protein TBCB Predicts Adverse Outcome and Immunosuppression in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a devastating blood cancer with high heterogeneity and ill-fated outcome. Despite numerous advances in AML treatment, the prognosis remains poor for a significant proportion of patients. Consequently, it is necessary to accurately and comprehensively identify biomarkers as soon as possible to enhance the efficacy of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of AML. In this study, we aimed to identify prognostic markers of AML by analyzing the cohorts from TCGA-LAML database and GEO microarray datasets. Interestingly, the transcriptional level of microtubule-associated protein TBCB in AML patients was noticeably increased when compared with normal individuals, and this was verified in two independent cohorts (GSE9476 and GSE13159) and with our AML patients. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate regression analysis revealed that high TBCB expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for AML. GO and GSEA enrichment analysis hinted that immune-related signaling pathways were enriched in up-regulated DEGs between two populations separated by the median expression level of TBCB. By constructing a protein-protein interaction network, we obtained six hub genes, all of which are immune-related molecules, and their expression levels were positively linked to that of TBCB. In addition, the high expression of three hub genes was significantly associated with a poor prognosis in AML. Moreover, we found that the tumor microenvironment in AML with high TBCB expression tended to be infiltrated by NK cells, especially CD56^bright NK cells. The transcriptional levels of NK cell inhibitory receptors and their ligands were positively related to that of TBCB, and their high expression levels also predicted poor prognosis in AML. Notably, we found that the down-regulation of TBCB suppressed cell proliferation in AML cell lines by enhancing the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Finally, drug sensitivity prediction illustrated that cells with high TBCB expression were more responsive to ATRA and midostaurin but resistant to cytarabine, dasatinib, and imatinib. In conclusion, our findings shed light on the feasibility of TBCB as a potential predictor of poor outcome and to be an alternative target of treatment in AML.

Targeting small GTPases: emerging grasps on previously untamable targets, pioneered by KRAS

Small GTPases including Ras, Rho, Rab, Arf, and Ran are omnipresent molecular switches in regulating key cellular functions. Their dysregulation is a therapeutic target for tumors, neurodegeneration, cardiomyopathies, and infection. However, small GTPases have been historically recognized as "undruggable". Targeting KRAS, one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes, has only come into reality in the last decade due to the development of breakthrough strategies such as fragment-based screening, covalent ligands, macromolecule inhibitors, and PROTACs. Two KRAS^G12C covalent inhibitors have obtained accelerated approval for treating KRAS^G12C mutant lung cancer, and allele-specific hotspot mutations on G12D/S/R have been demonstrated as viable targets. New methods of targeting KRAS are quickly evolving, including transcription, immunogenic neoepitopes, and combinatory targeting with immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the vast majority of small GTPases and hotspot mutations remain elusive, and clinical resistance to G12C inhibitors poses new challenges. In this article, we summarize diversified biological functions, shared structural properties, and complex regulatory mechanisms of small GTPases and their relationships with human diseases. Furthermore, we review the status of drug discovery for targeting small GTPases and the most recent strategic progress focused on targeting KRAS. The discovery of new regulatory mechanisms and development of targeting approaches will together promote drug discovery for small GTPases.

The baseless mutant links protein phosphatase 2A with basal cell identity in the brown alga Ectocarpus

The first mitotic division of the initial cell is a key event in all multicellular organisms and is associated with the establishment of major developmental axes and cell fates. The brown alga Ectocarpus has a haploid-diploid life cycle that involves the development of two multicellular generations: the sporophyte and the gametophyte. Each generation deploys a distinct developmental programme autonomously from an initial cell, the first cell division of which sets up the future body pattern. Here, we show that mutations in the BASELESS (BAS) gene result in multiple cellular defects during the first cell division and subsequent failure to produce basal structures during both generations. BAS encodes a type B″ regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), and transcriptomic analysis identified potential effector genes that may be involved in determining basal cell fate. The bas mutant phenotype is very similar to that observed in distag (dis) mutants, which lack a functional Tubulin-binding co-factor Cd1 (TBCCd1) protein, indicating that TBCCd1 and PP2A are two essential components of the cellular machinery that regulates the first cell division and mediates basal cell fate determination.

Maintaining essential microtubule bundles in meter-long axons: a role for local tubulin biogenesis?

Axons are the narrow, up-to-meter long cellular processes of neurons that form the biological cables wiring our nervous system. Most axons must survive for an organism's lifetime, i.e. up to a century in humans. Axonal maintenance depends on loose bundles of microtubules that run without interruption all along axons. The continued turn-over and the extension of microtubule bundles during developmental, regenerative or plastic growth requires the availability of α/β-tubulin heterodimers up to a meter away from the cell body. The underlying regulation in axons is poorly understood and hardly features in past and contemporary research. Here we discuss potential mechanisms, particularly focussing on the possibility of local tubulin biogenesis in axons. Current knowledge might suggest that local translation of tubulin takes place in axons, but far less is known about the post-translational machinery of tubulin biogenesis involving three chaperone complexes: prefoldin, CCT and TBC. We discuss functional understanding of these chaperones from a range of model organisms including yeast, plants, flies and mice, and explain what is known from human diseases. Microtubules across species depend on these chaperones, and they are clearly required in the nervous system. However, most chaperones display a high degree of functional pleiotropy, partly through independent functions of individual subunits outside their complexes, thus posing a challenge to experimental studies. Notably, we found hardly any studies that investigate their presence and function particularly in axons, thus highlighting an important gap in our understanding of axon biology and pathology.

Arf-like Protein 2 (ARL2) Controls Microtubule Neogenesis during Early Postnatal Photoreceptor Development

Arf-like protein 2 (ARL2) is a ubiquitously expressed small GTPase with multiple functions. In a cell culture, ARL2 participates with tubulin cofactor D (TBCD) in the neogenesis of tubulin αβ-heterodimers, the building blocks of microtubules. To evaluate this function in the retina, we conditionally deleted ARL2 in mouse retina at two distinct stages, either during the embryonic development (retArl2-/-) or after ciliogenesis specifically in rods (rodArl2-/-). retArl2-/- retina sections displayed distorted nuclear layers and a disrupted microtubule cytoskeleton (MTC) as early as postnatal day 6 (P6). Rod and cone outer segments (OS) did not form. By contrast, the rod ARL2 knockouts were stable at postnatal day 35 and revealed normal ERG responses. Cytoplasmic dynein is reduced in retArl2-/- inner segments (IS), suggesting that dynein may be unstable in the absence of a normal MTC. We investigated the microtubular stability in the absence of either ARL2 (retARL2-/-) or DYNC1H1 (retDync1h1-/-), the dynein heavy chain, and found that both the retArl2-/- and retDync1h1-/- retinas exhibited reduced microtubules and nuclear layer distortion. The results suggest that ARL2 and dynein depend on each other to generate a functional MTC during the early photoreceptor development.

Structural visualization of the tubulin folding pathway directed by human chaperonin TRiC/CCT

The ATP-dependent ring-shaped chaperonin TRiC/CCT is essential for cellular proteostasis. To uncover why some eukaryotic proteins can only fold with TRiC assistance, we reconstituted the folding of β-tubulin using human prefoldin and TRiC. We find unstructured β-tubulin is delivered by prefoldin to the open TRiC chamber followed by ATP-dependent chamber closure. Cryo-EM resolves four near-atomic-resolution structures containing progressively folded β-tubulin intermediates within the closed TRiC chamber, culminating in native tubulin. This substrate folding pathway appears closely guided by site-specific interactions with conserved regions in the TRiC chamber. Initial electrostatic interactions between the TRiC interior wall and both the folded tubulin N domain and its C-terminal E-hook tail establish the native substrate topology, thus enabling C-domain folding. Intrinsically disordered CCT C termini within the chamber promote subsequent folding of tubulin's core and middle domains and GTP-binding. Thus, TRiC's chamber provides chemical and topological directives that shape the folding landscape of its obligate substrates.

ERK1/2 Signalling Pathway Regulates Tubulin-Binding Cofactor B Expression and Affects Astrocyte Process Formation after Acute Foetal Alcohol Exposure

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a spectrum of neurological disorders whose neurological symptoms, besides the neuronal damage caused by alcohol, may also be associated with neuroglial damage. Tubulin-binding cofactor B (TBCB) may be involved in the pathogenesis of FASD. To understand the mechanism and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of FASD, acute foetal alcohol exposure model on astrocytes was established and the interference experiments were carried out. First, after alcohol exposure, the nascent astrocyte processes were reduced or lost, accompanied by the absence of TBCB expression and the disruption of microtubules (MTs) in processes. Subsequently, TBCB was silenced with siRNA. It was severely reduced or lost in nascent astrocyte processes, with a dramatic reduction in astrocyte processes, indicating that TBCB plays a vital role in astrocyte process formation. Finally, the regulating mechanism was studied and it was found that the extracellular signal-regulated protease 1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling pathway was one of the main pathways regulating TBCB expression in astrocytes after alcohol injury. In summary, after acute foetal alcohol exposure, the decreased TBCB in nascent astrocyte processes, regulated by the ERK1/2 signalling pathway, was the main factor leading to the disorder of astrocyte process formation, which could contribute to the neurological symptoms of FASD.

Target-Sequencing of Female Infertility Pathogenic Gene Panel and a Novel TUBB8 Loss-of-Function Mutation

Genetic screening is an important approach for etiology determination and helps to optimize administration protocols in reproductive centers. After the first pathogenic gene of female infertility was reported in 2016, more and more new pathogenic genes were discovered, and we sought to develop an efficient and cost-effective method for genetic screening in patients. In this study, we designed a target-sequencing panel with 22 female infertility-related genes, namely, TUBB8, PATL2, WEE2, and PANX1 and sequenced 68 primary infertility (PI) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients. We sequenced 68 samples reaching an average depth of 1559× and detected 3,134 variants. Among them, 62.2% were synonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 36.3% were non-synonymous SNVs. The remaining 1.5% are indels (insertions and deletions) and stop-gains. DNAH11 and TUBB8 are the two genes that mutated most frequently. We also found a novel TUBB8 variant (c.898_900del; p.300_300del), proved its loss-of-function mechanism, and profiled the interactome of the wild-type (WT) and mutant TUBB8 proteins. Overall, this target-sequencing method provides an efficient and cost-effective approach for screening in IVF clinics and will support researchers for the discovery of new pathogenic variants.

STRIPAK regulation of katanin microtubule severing in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo

Microtubule severing plays important role in cell structure and cell division. The microtubule severing protein katanin, composed of the MEI-1/MEI-2 subunits in Caenorhabditis elegans, is required for oocyte meiotic spindle formation; however, it must be inactivated for mitosis to proceed as continued katanin expression is lethal. Katanin activity is regulated by 2 ubiquitin-based protein degradation pathways. Another ubiquitin ligase, HECD-1, the homolog of human HECTD1/HECT domain E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1, regulates katanin activity without affecting katanin levels. In other organisms, HECD-1 is a component of the striatin-interacting kinase phosphatase complex, which affects cell proliferation and a variety of signaling pathways. Here we conducted a systematic screen of how mutations in striatin-interacting kinase phosphatase components affect katanin function in C. elegans. Striatin-interacting kinase phosphatase core components (FARL-11, CASH-1, LET-92, and GCK-1) were katanin inhibitors in mitosis and activators in meiosis, much like HECD-1. By contrast, variable components (SLMP-1, OTUB-2) functioned as activators of katanin activity in mitosis, indicating they may function to alter striatin-interacting kinase phosphatase core function. The core component CCM-3 acted as an inhibitor at both divisions, while other components (MOB-4, C49H3.6) showed weak interactions with katanin mutants. Additional experiments indicate that katanin may be involved with the centralspindlin complex and a tubulin chaperone. HECD-1 shows ubiquitous expression in the cytoplasm throughout meiosis and early development. The differing functions of the different subunits could contribute to the diverse functions of the striatin-interacting kinase phosphatase complex in C. elegans and other organisms.

Acetylated α-tubulin K394 regulates microtubule stability to shape the growth of axon terminals

Microtubules are essential to neuron shape and function. Acetylation of tubulin has the potential to directly tune the behavior and function of microtubules in cells. Although proteomic studies have identified several acetylation sites in α-tubulin, the effects of acetylation at these sites remains largely unknown. This includes the highly conserved residue lysine 394 (K394), which is located at the αβ-tubulin dimer interface. Using a fly model, we show that α-tubulin K394 is acetylated in the nervous system and is an essential residue. We found that an acetylation-blocking mutation in endogenous α-tubulin, K394R, perturbs the synaptic morphogenesis of motoneurons and reduces microtubule stability. Intriguingly, the K394R mutation has opposite effects on the growth of two functionally and morphologically distinct motoneurons, revealing neuron-type-specific responses when microtubule stability is altered. Eliminating the deacetylase HDAC6 increases K394 acetylation, and the over-expression of HDAC6 reduces microtubule stability similar to the K394R mutant. Thus, our findings implicate α-tubulin K394 and its acetylation in the regulation of microtubule stability and suggest that HDAC6 regulates K394 acetylation during synaptic morphogenesis.

Molecular mechanisms underlying microtubule growth dynamics

Microtubules are dynamic cytoskeletal filaments composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. Historically, the dynamics of single tubulin interactions at the growing microtubule tip have been inferred from steady-state growth kinetics. However, recent advances in the production of recombinant tubulin and in high-resolution optical and cryo-electron microscopies have opened new windows into understanding the impacts of specific intermolecular interactions during growth. The microtubule lattice is held together by lateral and longitudinal tubulin-tubulin interactions, and these interactions are in turn regulated by the GTP hydrolysis state of the tubulin heterodimer. Furthermore, tubulin can exist in either an extended or a compacted state in the lattice. Growing evidence has led to the suggestion that binding of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) or motors can induce changes in tubulin conformation and that this information can be communicated through the microtubule lattice. Progress in understanding how dynamic tubulin-tubulin interactions control dynamic instability has benefitted from visualizing structures of growing microtubule plus ends and through stochastic biochemical models constrained by experimental data. Here, we review recent insights into the molecular basis of microtubule growth and discuss how MAPs and regulatory proteins alter tubulin-tubulin interactions to exert their effects on microtubule growth and stability.

Drosophila Tubulin-Specific Chaperone E Recruits Tubulin around Chromatin to Promote Mitotic Spindle Assembly

Proper assembly of mitotic spindles requires microtubule nucleation not only at the centrosomes but also around chromatin. In this study, we found that the Drosophila tubulin-specific chaperone dTBCE is required for the enrichment of tubulin in the nuclear space after nuclear envelope breakdown and for subsequent promotion of spindle microtubule nucleation. These events depend on the CAP-Gly motif found in dTBCE and are regulated by Ran and lamin proteins. Our data suggest that during early mitosis, dTBCE and nuclear pore proteins become enriched in the nucleus, where they interact with the Ran GTPase to promote dynamic tubulin enrichment. We propose that this novel mechanism enhances microtubule nucleation around chromatin, thereby facilitating mitotic spindle assembly.

Mislocalization of TORC1 to Lysosomes Caused by KIF11 Inhibition Leads to Aberrant TORC1 Activity

While the growth factors like insulin initiate a signaling cascade to induce conformational changes in the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), amino acids cause the complex to localize to the site of activation, the lysosome. The precise mechanism of how mTORC1 moves in and out of the lysosome is yet to be elucidated in detail. Here we report that microtubules and the motor protein KIF11 are required for the proper dissociation of mTORC1 from the lysosome upon amino acid scarcity. When microtubules are disrupted or KIF11 is knocked down, we observe that mTORC1 localizes to the lysosome even in the amino acid-starved situation where it should be dispersed in the cytosol, causing an elevated mTORC1 activity. Moreover, in the mechanistic perspective, we discover that mTORC1 interacts with KIF11 on the motor domain of KIF11, enabling the complex to move out of the lysosome along microtubules. Our results suggest not only a novel way of the regulation regarding amino acid availability for mTORC1, but also a new role of KIF11 and microtubules in mTOR signaling.

The ARF GAP ELMOD2 acts with different GTPases to regulate centrosomal microtubule nucleation and cytokinesis

ELMOD2 is a ∼32 kDa protein first purified by its GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity toward ARL2 and later shown to have uniquely broad specificity toward ARF family GTPases in in vitro assays. To begin the task of defining its functions in cells, we deleted ELMOD2 in immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts and discovered a number of cellular defects, which are reversed upon expression of ELMOD2-myc. We show that these defects, resulting from the loss of ELMOD2, are linked to two different pathways and two different GTPases: with ARL2 and TBCD to support microtubule nucleation from centrosomes and with ARF6 in cytokinesis. These data highlight key aspects of signaling by ARF family GAPs that contribute to previously underappreciated sources of complexity, including GAPs acting from multiple sites in cells, working with multiple GTPases, and contributing to the spatial and temporal control of regulatory GTPases by serving as both GAPs and effectors.

Microtubule dynamics at low temperature: evidence that tubulin recycling limits assembly

How temperature specifically affects microtubule dynamics and how these lead to changes in microtubule networks in cells have not been established. We investigated these questions in budding yeast, an organism found in diverse environments and therefore predicted to exhibit dynamic microtubules across a broad temperature range. We measured the dynamics of GFP-labeled microtubules in living cells and found that lowering temperature from 37°C to 10°C decreased the rates of both polymerization and depolymerization, decreased the amount of polymer assembled before catastrophes, and decreased the frequency of microtubule emergence from nucleation sites. Lowering to 4°C caused rapid loss of almost all microtubule polymer. We provide evidence that these effects on microtubule dynamics may be explained in part by changes in the cofactor-dependent conformational dynamics of tubulin proteins. Ablation of tubulin-binding cofactors (TBCs) further sensitizes cells and their microtubules to low temperatures, and we highlight a specific role for TBCB/Alf1 in microtubule maintenance at low temperatures. Finally, we show that inhibiting the maturation cycle of tubulin by using a point mutant in β-tubulin confers hyperstable microtubules at low temperatures and rescues the requirement for TBCB/Alf1 in maintaining microtubule polymer at low temperatures. Together, these results reveal an unappreciated step in the tubulin cycle.

Reduced SKP1 Expression Induces Chromosome Instability through Aberrant Cyclin E1 Protein Turnover

Chromosome instability (CIN), or progressive changes in chromosome numbers, is an enabling feature of many cancers; however, the mechanisms giving rise to CIN remain poorly understood. To expand our mechanistic understanding of the molecular determinants of CIN in humans, we employed a cross-species approach to identify 164 human candidates to screen. Using quantitative imaging microscopy (QuantIM), we show that silencing 148 genes resulted in significant changes in CIN-associated phenotypes in two distinct cellular contexts. Ten genes were prioritized for validation based on cancer patient datasets revealing frequent gene copy number losses and associations with worse patient outcomes. QuantIM determined silencing of each gene-induced CIN, identifying novel roles for each as chromosome stability genes. SKP1 was selected for in-depth analyses as it forms part of SCF (SKP1, CUL1, FBox) complex, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets proteins for proteolytic degradation. Remarkably, SKP1 silencing induced increases in replication stress, DNA double strand breaks and chromothriptic events that were ascribed to aberrant increases in Cyclin E1 levels arising from reduced SKP1 expression. Collectively, these data reveal a high degree of evolutionary conservation between human and budding yeast CIN genes and further identify aberrant mechanisms associated with increases in chromothriptic events.

Purification of Mammalian Tubulins and Tubulin-Associated Proteins Using a P2A-Based Expression System

The microtubule cytoskeleton plays a crucial role in a myriad of cellular events, including mitosis, cell differentiation, migration, and the maintenance of cell shape. Microtubules are assembled from α- and β-tubulin heterodimers, whose biosynthesis is a complex process requiring the balanced production of α- and β-tubulin subunits. This chapter focuses on a method for the combined expression of tagged α- and β-tubulin dimers, their purification, and the isolation of co-purifying tubulin-associated proteins (TAPs) in mammalian cells. This approach is currently used in our laboratory to study tubulin function and to identify and characterize TAPs.

MicroRNA-1251-5p Promotes Carcinogenesis and Autophagy via Targeting the Tumor Suppressor TBCC in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Accounting for more than 70% of ovarian cancer cases, epithelial ovarian malignancy has a low 5-year survival rate. MicroRNAs may be targeted in the clinical treatment of the disease. In this study, we first found that miR-1251-5p was significantly upregulated in human ovarian cancer cell lines and tissues with the cancer progression and stages. Overexpression or inhibition of miR-1251-5p promoted or impeded cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Subsequently, TBCC, one of the tubulin-binding cofactors (TBCs), was identified as a target of miR-1251-5p to be negatively associated with cell cycle and autophagy. Exogenous overexpression of TBCC inhibited the expressions of CDK4 and LC3BII, but it promoted the expressions of α/β-tubulin and p62 to suppress cell growth and autophagy, particularly under the starving condition; whereas the introduction of miR-1251-5p in TBCC-overexpressing cells rescued the suppressive effects of TBCC on cell cycle and autophagy through the inverse regulation of the above proteins. Finally, miR-1251-5p was proven to enhance xenograft tumor growth through the downregulation of TBCC but upregulation of Ki67 and LC3B in xenograft tumor tissues. Collectively, these results suggest that miR-1251-5p functions as an oncogene to suppress TBCC and α/β-tubulin expression. Thus, the miR-1251-5p/TBCC/α/β-tubulin axis may be targeted for ovarian cancer treatment.

All tubulins are not alike: Heterodimer dissociation differs among different biological sources

Tubulin, the subunit of microtubules, is a noncovalent heterodimer composed of one α- and one β-tubulin monomer. Both tubulins are encoded by multiple genes or composed of different isotypes, which are differentially expressed in different tissues and in development. Tubulin αβ dimers are found throughout the eukaryotes and, although very similar, are known to differ among organisms. We seek to investigate tubulins from different tissues and different organisms for a basic physical characteristic: heterodimer stability and monomer exchange between heterodimers. We previously showed that mammalian brain tubulin heterodimers reversibly dissociate, following the mass action law. Dissociation yields native monomers that can exchange with added tubulin to form new heterodimers. Here, we compared the dissociation of tubulins from multiple sources, including mammalian (rat) brain, cultured human cells (HeLa cells), chicken brain, chicken erythrocytes, and the protozoan Leishmania We used fluorescence-detected analytical ultracentrifugation to measure tubulin dissociation over a >1000-fold range in concentration and found that tubulin heterodimers from different biological sources differ in K_d by as much as 150-fold under the same conditions. Furthermore, when fluorescent tracer tubulins from various sources were titrated with unlabeled tubulin from a single source (rat brain tubulin), heterologous dimerization occurred, exhibiting similar affinities, in some cases binding even more strongly than with autologous tubulin. These results provide additional insight into the regulation of heterodimer formation of tubulin from different biological sources, revealing that monomer exchange appears to contribute to the sorting of α- and β-tubulin monomers that associate following tubulin folding.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor-Like 2 (ARL2) regulates cilia stability and development of outer segments in rod photoreceptor neurons

Photoreceptor cells are specialized neurons with a sensory cilium carrying an elaborate membrane structure, the outer segment (OS). Inherited mutations in genes involved in ciliogenesis frequently result in OS malformation and blindness. ADP-ribosylation factor-like 2 (ARL2) has recently been implicated in OS formation through its association with Binder of ARL2 (BART or ARL2BP), a protein linked to inherited blinding disease. To test the role of ARL2 in vision we created a transgenic mouse model expressing a tagged-dominant active form of human ARL2 (ARL2-Q70L) under a rod-specific promoter. Transgenic ARL2-Q70L animals exhibit reduced photoreceptor cell function as early as post-natal day 16 and progressive rod degeneration. We attribute loss of photoreceptor function to the defective OS morphogenesis in the ARL2-Q70L transgenic model. ARL2-Q70L expression results in shortened inner and outer segments, shortened and mislocalized axonemes and cytoplasmic accumulation of rhodopsin. In conclusion, we show that ARL2-Q70L is crucial for photoreceptor neuron sensory cilium development. Future research will expand upon our hypothesis that ARL2-Q70L mutant interferes with microtubule maintenance and tubulin regulation resulting in impaired growth of the axoneme and elaboration of the photoreceptor outer segment.

Imbalanced Expression of Tau and Tubulin Induces Neuronal Dysfunction in C. elegans Models of Tauopathy

Tauopathy is a type of dementia defined by the accumulation of filamentous tau inclusions in neural cells. Most types of dementia in the elderly, including Alzheimer's disease, are tauopathies. Although it is believed that tau protein abnormalities and/or the loss of its functions results in neurodegeneration and dementia, the mechanism of tauopathy remains obscure. Loss of microtubules and/or tubulin is a known consequence of tau accumulating in neurons in Alzheimer's disease. In other words, there is an excess level of tau relative to tubulin in tauopathy neurons. To test whether this imbalance of tau and tubulin expression results in the neurotoxicity of tau, we developed several transgenic C. elegans lines that express human tau at various levels in pan-neurons. These worms showed behavioral abnormalities in a tau expression-dependent manner. The knockdown of a tubulin-specific chaperon, or a subset of tubulin, led to enhanced tau toxicity even in low-expressing tau-transgenic worms that showed no abnormal behaviors. In addition, the suppression of tau expression in tubulin knockdown worms rescued neuronal dysfunction. Thus, not only the overexpression of tau but also a reduction in tubulin can trigger the neurotoxicity of tau. Tau expressed in worms was also highly phosphorylated and largely bound to tubulin dimers rather than microtubules. Relative amount of tubulin-unbound tau was increased in high-expressing tau-transgenic worms showing tau toxicity. We further demonstrated that tau aggregation was inhibited by co-incubation of purified tubulin in vitro, meaning sufficient amounts of tubulin can protect against the formation of tau inclusions. These results suggest that the expression ratio of tau to tubulin may be a determinant of the tauopathy cascade.

ARL2 overexpression inhibits glioma proliferation and tumorigenicity via down-regulating AXL

BACKGROUND

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults with a poor prognosis. As a member of ARF subfamily GTPase, ARL2 plays a key role in regulating the dynamics of microtubules and mitochondrial functions. Recently, ARL2 has been identified as a prognostic and therapeutic target in a variety range of malignant tumors. However, the biological functional role of ARL2 in glioma still remains unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the expression and functional role of ARL2 in glioma.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated the expression of ARL2 in glioma samples by using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot. The correlation between ARL2 expression and the outcomes of glioma patients was evaluated with survival data from TCGA, CGGA and Rembrandt dataset. Lentiviral technique was used for ARL2 overexpression in U87 and U251 cells. CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing test, transwell invasion assay and in vivo subcutaneous xenograft model were performed to investigated the biological functions of ARL2.

RESULTS

ARL2 expression was down-regulated in glioma, and was inversely associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. Furthermore, exogenous ARL2 overexpression attenuated the growth and colony-formation abilities of glioma cells, as well as their migration and invasive capabilities. Moreover, elevated expression of ARL2 inhibited in vivo tumorigenicity of glioma cells. Mechanistically, ARL2 regulated AXL expression, which was known as an important functional regulator of proliferation and tumorigenicity in glioma cells.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that ARL2 inhibits the proliferation, migration and tumorigenicity of glioma cells by regulating the expression of AXL and may conduct as a new prognostic and therapeutic target for glioma.

ARL2BP, a protein linked to retinitis pigmentosa, is needed for normal photoreceptor cilia doublets and outer segment structure

The outer segment (OS) of photoreceptor cells is an elaboration of a primary cilium with organized stacks of membranous disks that contain the proteins needed for phototransduction and vision. Though ciliary formation and function has been well characterized, little is known about the role of cilia in the development of photoreceptor OS. Nevertheless, progress has been made by studying mutations in ciliary proteins, which often result in malformed OSs and lead to blinding diseases. To investigate how ciliary proteins contribute to OS formation, we generated a knockout (KO) mouse model for ARL2BP, a ciliary protein linked to retinitis pigmentosa. The KO mice display an early and progressive reduction in visual response. Before photoreceptor degeneration, we observed disorganization of the photoreceptor OS, with vertically aligned disks and shortened axonemes. Interestingly, ciliary doublet microtubule (MT) structure was also impaired, displaying open B-tubule doublets, paired with loss of singlet MTs. On the basis of results from this study, we conclude that ARL2BP is necessary for photoreceptor ciliary doublet formation and axoneme elongation, which is required for OS morphogenesis and vision.

Structural Basis of the Human Endoglin-BMP9 Interaction: Insights into BMP Signaling and HHT1

Endoglin (ENG)/CD105 is an essential endothelial cell co-receptor of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, mutated in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1) and involved in tumor angiogenesis and preeclampsia. Here, we present crystal structures of the ectodomain of human ENG and its complex with the ligand bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9). BMP9 interacts with a hydrophobic surface of the N-terminal orphan domain of ENG, which adopts a new duplicated fold generated by circular permutation. The interface involves residues mutated in HHT1 and overlaps with the epitope of tumor-suppressing anti-ENG monoclonal TRC105. The structure of the C-terminal zona pellucida module suggests how two copies of ENG embrace homodimeric BMP9, whose binding is compatible with ligand recognition by type I but not type II receptors. These findings shed light on the molecular basis of the BMP signaling cascade, with implications for future therapeutic interventions in this fundamental pathway.

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Crystal structures of human ENG and its complex with BMP9 were determined

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The orphan domain of ENG adopts a fold that explains the effect of HHT1 mutations

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ZP module-mediated dimerization of ENG creates a clamp that secures homodimeric BMP9

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ENG-bound BMP9 can interact with the ALK1 receptor but not the ActRIIB receptor

DISTAG/TBCCd1 Is Required for Basal Cell Fate Determination in Ectocarpus

Brown algae are one of the most developmentally complex groups within the eukaryotes. As in many land plants and animals, their main body axis is established early in development, when the initial cell gives rise to two daughter cells that have apical and basal identities, equivalent to shoot and root identities in land plants, respectively. We show here that mutations in the Ectocarpus DISTAG (DIS) gene lead to loss of basal structures during both the gametophyte and the sporophyte generations. Several abnormalities were observed in the germinating initial cell in dis mutants, including increased cell size, disorganization of the Golgi apparatus, disruption of the microtubule network, and aberrant positioning of the nucleus. DIS encodes a TBCCd1 protein, which has a role in internal cell organization in animals, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and trypanosomes. Our study highlights the key role of subcellular events within the germinating initial cell in the determination of apical/basal cell identities in a brown alga and emphasizes the remarkable functional conservation of TBCCd1 in regulating internal cell organization across extremely distant eukaryotic groups.

A GDI/GDF-like system for sorting and shuttling ciliary proteins

Post/co-translational modifications by the addition of lipids take place in a vast number of proteins. Rab and Rho are small G proteins which are prenylated and targeted to membranes in complex with solubilizing factors called guanosine dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). The release of Rab and Rho at the correct destination from their cognate GDI has been proposed to be mediated through GDI displacement factors. However this mechanism is yet to be established and it has been shown that loading of Rab proteins with GTP at the destination can be sufficient for their correct targeting. PDE6D shares structural homology with Rho GDI and solubilises several prenylated proteins and mediate their targeting to different destinations including cilia. In a paper published by Fansa et al, the authors propose that sorting of cargo is dependent on the differential release by bona fide GDFs, Arl2 and Arl3, and the localization of the active Arl3GTP in cilia.

Nucleotide Binding to ARL2 in the TBCD∙ARL2∙β-Tubulin Complex Drives Conformational Changes in β-Tubulin

Microtubules are highly dynamic tubulin polymers that are required for a variety of cellular functions. Despite the importance of a cellular population of tubulin dimers, we have incomplete information about the mechanisms involved in the biogenesis of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. In addition to prefoldin and the TCP-1 Ring Complex, five tubulin-specific chaperones, termed cofactors A-E (TBCA-E), and GTP are required for the folding of α- and β-tubulin subunits and assembly into heterodimers. We recently described the purification of a novel trimer, TBCD•ARL2•β-tubulin. Here, we employed hydrogen/deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry to explore the dynamics of each of the proteins in the trimer. Addition of guanine nucleotides resulted in changes in the solvent accessibility of regions of each protein that led to predictions about each's role in tubulin folding. Initial testing of that model confirmed that it is ARL2, and not β-tubulin, that exchanges GTP in the trimer. Comparisons of the dynamics of ARL2 monomer to ARL2 in the trimer suggested that its protein interactions were comparable to those of a canonical GTPase with an effector. This was supported by the use of nucleotide-binding assays that revealed an increase in the affinity for GTP by ARL2 in the trimer. We conclude that the TBCD•ARL2•β-tubulin complex represents a functional intermediate in the β-tubulin folding pathway whose activity is regulated by the cycling of nucleotides on ARL2. The co-purification of guanine nucleotide on the β-tubulin in the trimer is also shown, with implications to modeling the pathway.

Revisiting the tubulin cofactors and Arl2 in the regulation of soluble αβ-tubulin pools and their effect on microtubule dynamics

Soluble αβ-tubulin heterodimers are maintained at high concentration inside eukaryotic cells, forming pools that fundamentally drive microtubule dynamics. Five conserved tubulin cofactors and ADP ribosylation factor-like 2 regulate the biogenesis and degradation of αβ-tubulins to maintain concentrated soluble pools. Here I describe a revised model for the function of three tubulin cofactors and Arl2 as a multisubunit GTP-hydrolyzing catalytic chaperone that cycles to promote αβ-tubulin biogenesis and degradation. This model helps explain old and new data indicating these activities enhance microtubule dynamics in vivo via repair or removal of αβ-tubulins from the soluble pools.

Substrate specificity in the context of molecular chaperones

Molecular chaperones are one of the key players in protein biology and as such their structure and mechanism of action have been extensively studied. However the substrate specificity of molecular chaperones has not been well investigated. This review aims to summarize what is known about the substrate specificity and substrate recognition motifs of chaperones so as to better understand what substrate specificity means in the context of molecular chaperones. Available literature shows that the majority of chaperones have broad substrate range and recognize non-native conformations of proteins depending on recognition of hydrophobic and/or charged patches. Based on these recognition motifs chaperones can select for early, mid or late folding intermediates. Another major contributor to chaperone specificity are the co-chaperones they interact with as well as the sub-cellular location they are expressed in and the inducability of their expression. Some chaperones which have only one or a few known substrates are reported. In their case the mode of recognition seems to be specific structural complementarity between chaperone and substrate. It can be concluded that the vast majority of chaperones do not show a high degree of specificity but recognize elements that signal non-native protein conformation and their substrate range is modulated by the context they function in. However a few chaperones are known that display exquisite specificity of their substrate e.g. mammalian heat shock protein 47 collagen interaction. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(9):647-659, 2017.

Expression and localization of tubulin cofactors TBCD and TBCE in human gametes

The tubulin cofactors TBCD and TBCE play an essential role in regulation of the microtubule dynamics in a wide variety of somatic cells, but little information is known about the expression of these cofactors in human sperm and oocytes. In this study, we focused on the investigation of the presence of, and the differential distribution of, the tubulin cofactors TBCD and TBCE in human sperm and during human oocyte maturation. We performed expression assays for TBCD and TBCE by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot and immunofluorescence and verified the presence of both cofactors in human gametes. TBCD and TBCE were located mainly in the middle region and in the tail of the sperm while in the oocyte the localization was cytosolic. The mRNA of both tubulin cofactors were present in the human oocytes but not in sperm cells. This finding gives a first insight into where TBCD and TBCE could carry out their function in the continuous changes that the cytoskeleton experiences during gametogenesis and also prior to fertilization.

A Trimer Consisting of the Tubulin-specific Chaperone D (TBCD), Regulatory GTPase ARL2, and β-Tubulin Is Required for Maintaining the Microtubule Network

Microtubule dynamics involves the polymerization and depolymerization of tubulin dimers and is an essential and highly regulated process required for cell viability, architecture, and division. The regulation of the microtubule network also depends on the maintenance of a pool of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. These dimers are the end result of complex folding and assembly events, requiring the TCP1 Ring Complex (TriC or CCT) chaperonin and five tubulin-specific chaperones, tubulin binding cofactors A-E (TBCA-TBCE). However, models of the actions of these chaperones are incomplete or inconsistent. We previously purified TBCD from bovine tissues and showed that it tightly binds the small GTPase ARL2 but appears to be inactive. Here, in an effort to identify the functional form of TBCD and using non-denaturing gels and immunoblotting, we analyzed lysates from a number of mouse tissues and cell lines to identify the quaternary state(s) of TBCD and ARL2. We found that both proteins co-migrated in native gels in a complex of ∼200 kDa that also contained β-tubulin. Using human embryonic kidney cells enabled the purification of the TBCD·ARL2·β-tubulin trimer found in cell and tissue lysates as well as two other novel TBCD complexes. Characterization of ARL2 point mutants that disrupt binding to TBCD suggested that the ARL2-TBCD interaction is critical for proper maintenance of microtubule densities in cells. We conclude that the TBCD·ARL2·β-tubulin trimer represents a functional complex whose activity is fundamental to microtubule dynamics.

Sorting of lipidated cargo by the Arl2/Arl3 system

Arl2 and Arl3 are Arf-like small GTP-binding proteins of the Arf subfamily of the Ras superfamily. Despite their structural similarity and sharing of many interacting partners, Arl2 and Arl3 have different biochemical properties and biological functions. Growing evidence suggest that Arl2 and Arl3 play a fundamental role as regulators of trafficking of lipid modified proteins between different compartments. Here we highlight the similarities and differences between these 2 homologous proteins and discuss the sorting mechanism of lipidated cargo into the ciliary compartment through the carriers PDE6δ and Unc119 and the release factors Arl2 and Arl3.

Sensory neuropathy in progressive motor neuronopathy (pmn) mice is associated with defects in microtubule polymerization and axonal transport

Motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are now recognized as multi-system disorders also involving various non-motor neuronal cell types. The precise extent and mechanistic basis of non-motor neuron damage in human ALS and ALS animal models remain however unclear. To address this, we here studied progressive motor neuronopathy (pmn) mice carrying a missense loss-of-function mutation in tubulin binding cofactor E (TBCE). These mice manifest a particularly aggressive form of motor axon dying back and display a microtubule loss, similar to that induced by human ALS-linked TUBA4A mutations. Using whole nerve confocal imaging of pmn × thy1.2-YFP16 fluorescent reporter mice and electron microscopy, we demonstrate axonal discontinuities, bead-like spheroids and ovoids in pmn suralis nerves indicating prominent sensory neuropathy. The axonal alterations qualitatively resemble those in phrenic motor nerves but do not culminate in the loss of myelinated fibers. We further show that the pmn mutation decreases the level of TBCE, impedes microtubule polymerization in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and causes progressive loss of microtubules in large and small caliber suralis axons. Live imaging of axonal transport using GFP-tagged tetanus toxin C-fragment (GFP-TTC) demonstrates defects in microtubule-based transport in pmn DRG neurons, providing a potential explanation for the axonal alterations in sensory nerves. This study unravels sensory neuropathy as a pathological feature of mouse pmn, and discusses the potential contribution of cytoskeletal defects to sensory neuropathy in human motor neuron disease.

Shuttling and sorting lipid-modified cargo into the cilia

Primary cilia are hair-like microtubule-based organelles that can be found on almost all human cell types. Although the cilium is not separated from the cell by membranes, their content is different from that of the cell body and their membrane composition is distinct from that of the plasma membrane. Here, we will introduce a molecular machinery that shuttles and sorts lipid-modified proteins to the cilium, thus contributing in maintaining its distinct composition. The mechanism involves the binding of the GDI-like solubilising factors, uncoordinated (UNC)119a, UNC119b and PDE6D, to the lipid-modified ciliary cargo and the specific release of the cargo in the cilia by the ciliary small G-protein Arl3 in a GTP-dependent manner.

Biallelic Mutations in TBCD, Encoding the Tubulin Folding Cofactor D, Perturb Microtubule Dynamics and Cause Early-Onset Encephalopathy

Microtubules are dynamic cytoskeletal elements coordinating and supporting a variety of neuronal processes, including cell division, migration, polarity, intracellular trafficking, and signal transduction. Mutations in genes encoding tubulins and microtubule-associated proteins are known to cause neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Growing evidence suggests that altered microtubule dynamics may also underlie or contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration. We report that biallelic mutations in TBCD, encoding one of the five co-chaperones required for assembly and disassembly of the αβ-tubulin heterodimer, the structural unit of microtubules, cause a disease with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative features characterized by early-onset cortical atrophy, secondary hypomyelination, microcephaly, thin corpus callosum, developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, optic atrophy, and spastic quadriplegia. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted long-range and/or local structural perturbations associated with the disease-causing mutations. Biochemical analyses documented variably reduced levels of TBCD, indicating relative instability of mutant proteins, and defective β-tubulin binding in a subset of the tested mutants. Reduced or defective TBCD function resulted in decreased soluble α/β-tubulin levels and accelerated microtubule polymerization in fibroblasts from affected subjects, demonstrating an overall shift toward a more rapidly growing and stable microtubule population. These cells displayed an aberrant mitotic spindle with disorganized, tangle-shaped microtubules and reduced aster formation, which however did not alter appreciably the rate of cell proliferation. Our findings establish that defective TBCD function underlies a recognizable encephalopathy and drives accelerated microtubule polymerization and enhanced microtubule stability, underscoring an additional cause of altered microtubule dynamics with impact on neuronal function and survival in the developing brain.

Biallelic TBCD Mutations Cause Early-Onset Neurodegenerative Encephalopathy

We describe four families with affected siblings showing unique clinical features: early-onset (before 1 year of age) progressive diffuse brain atrophy with regression, postnatal microcephaly, postnatal growth retardation, muscle weakness/atrophy, and respiratory failure. By whole-exome sequencing, we identified biallelic TBCD mutations in eight affected individuals from the four families. TBCD encodes TBCD (tubulin folding co-factor D), which is one of five tubulin-specific chaperones playing a pivotal role in microtubule assembly in all cells. A total of seven mutations were found: five missense mutations, one nonsense, and one splice site mutation resulting in a frameshift. In vitro cell experiments revealed the impaired binding between most mutant TBCD proteins and ARL2, TBCE, and β-tubulin. The in vivo experiments using olfactory projection neurons in Drosophila melanogaster indicated that the TBCD mutations caused loss of function. The wide range of clinical severity seen in this neurodegenerative encephalopathy may result from the residual function of mutant TBCD proteins. Furthermore, the autopsied brain from one deceased individual showed characteristic neurodegenerative findings: cactus and somatic sprout formations in the residual Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, which are also seen in some diseases associated with mitochondrial impairment. Defects of microtubule formation caused by TBCD mutations may underlie the pathomechanism of this neurodegenerative encephalopathy.

Higher order signaling: ARL2 as regulator of both mitochondrial fusion and microtubule dynamics allows integration of 2 essential cell functions

ARL2 is among the most highly conserved proteins, predicted to be present in the last eukaryotic common ancestor, and ubiquitously expressed. Genetic screens in multiple model organisms identified ARL2, and its cytosolic binding partner cofactor D (TBCD), as important in tubulin folding and microtubule dynamics. Both ARL2 and TBCD also localize to centrosomes, making it difficult to dissect these effects. A growing body of evidence also has found roles for ARL2 inside mitochondria, as a regulator of mitochondrial fusion. Other studies have revealed roles for ARL2, in concert with its closest paralog ARL3, in the traffic of farnesylated cargos between membranes and specifically to cilia and photoreceptor cells. Details of each of these signaling processes continue to emerge. We summarize those data here and speculate about the potential for cross-talk or coordination of cell regulation, termed higher order signaling, based upon the use of a common GTPase in disparate cell functions.

Arl2- and Msps-dependent microtubule growth governs asymmetric division

Drosophila Arl2 governs neuroblast asymmetric cell division through regulation of microtubule growth and localization of Msps to centrosomes.

Asymmetric division of neural stem cells is a fundamental strategy to balance their self-renewal and differentiation. It is long thought that microtubules are not essential for cell polarity in asymmetrically dividing Drosophila melanogaster neuroblasts (NBs; neural stem cells). Here, we show that Drosophila ADP ribosylation factor like-2 (Arl2) and Msps, a known microtubule-binding protein, control cell polarity and spindle orientation of NBs. Upon arl2 RNA intereference, Arl2-GDP expression, or arl2 deletions, microtubule abnormalities and asymmetric division defects were observed. Conversely, overactivation of Arl2 leads to microtubule overgrowth and depletion of NBs. Arl2 regulates microtubule growth and asymmetric division through localizing Msps to the centrosomes in NBs. Moreover, Arl2 regulates dynein function and in turn centrosomal localization of D-TACC and Msps. Arl2 physically associates with tubulin cofactors C, D, and E. Arl2 functions together with tubulin-binding cofactor D to control microtubule growth, Msps localization, and NB self-renewal. Therefore, Arl2- and Msps-dependent microtubule growth is a new paradigm regulating asymmetric division of neural stem cells.

Tubulin Dimer Reversible Dissociation: AFFINITY, KINETICS, AND DEMONSTRATION OF A STABLE MONOMER

Tubulins are evolutionarily conserved proteins that reversibly polymerize and direct intracellular traffic. Of the tubulin family only αβ-tubulin forms stable dimers. We investigated the monomer-dimer equilibrium of rat brain αβ-tubulin using analytical ultracentrifugation and fluorescence anisotropy, observing tubulin in virtually fully monomeric and dimeric states. Monomeric tubulin was stable for a few hours and exchanged into preformed dimers, demonstrating reversibility of dimer dissociation. Global analysis combining sedimentation velocity and fluorescence anisotropy yielded Kd = 84 (54-123) nm Dimer dissociation kinetics were measured by analyzing the shape of the sedimentation boundary and by the relaxation of fluorescence anisotropy following rapid dilution of labeled tubulin, yielding koff in the range 10(-3)-10(-2) s(-1) Thus, tubulin dimers reversibly dissociate with moderately fast kinetics. Monomer-monomer association is much less sensitive than dimer-dimer association to solution changes (GTP/GDP, urea, and trimethylamine oxide).

Novel α-tubulin mutation disrupts neural development and tubulin proteostasis

Mutations in the microtubule cytoskeleton are linked to cognitive and locomotor defects during development, and neurodegeneration in adults. How these mutations impact microtubules, and how this alters function at the level of neurons is an important area of investigation. Using a forward genetic screen in mice, we identified a missense mutation in Tuba1a α-tubulin that disrupts cortical and motor neuron development. Homozygous mutant mice exhibit cortical dysgenesis reminiscent of human tubulinopathies. Motor neurons fail to innervate target muscles in the limbs and show synapse defects at proximal targets. To directly examine effects on tubulin function, we created analogous mutations in the α-tubulin isotypes in budding yeast. These mutations sensitize yeast cells to microtubule stresses including depolymerizing drugs and low temperatures. Furthermore, we find that mutant α-tubulin is depleted from the cell lysate and from microtubules, thereby altering ratios of α-tubulin isotypes. Tubulin-binding cofactors suppress the effects of the mutation, indicating an important role for these cofactors in regulating the quality of the α-tubulin pool. Together, our results give new insights into the functions of Tuba1a, mechanisms for regulating tubulin proteostasis, and how compromising these may lead to neural defects.

Nucleation and Dynamics of Golgi-derived Microtubules

Integrity of the Golgi apparatus requires the microtubule (MT) network. A subset of MTs originates at the Golgi itself, which in this case functions as a MT-organizing center (MTOC). Golgi-derived MTs serve important roles in post-Golgi trafficking, maintenance of Golgi integrity, cell polarity and motility, as well as cell type-specific functions, including neurite outgrowth/branching. Here, we discuss possible models describing the formation and dynamics of Golgi-derived MTs. How Golgi-derived MTs are formed is not fully understood. A widely discussed model implicates that the critical step of the process is recruitment of molecular factors, which drive MT nucleation (γ-tubulin ring complex, or γ-TuRC), to the Golgi membrane via specific scaffolding interactions. Based on recent findings, we propose to introduce an additional level of regulation, whereby MT-binding proteins and/or local tubulin dimer concentration at the Golgi helps to overcome kinetic barriers at the initial nucleation step. According to our model, emerging MTs are subsequently stabilized by Golgi-associated MT-stabilizing proteins. We discuss molecular factors potentially involved in all three steps of MT formation. To preserve proper cell functioning, a balance must be maintained between MT subsets at the centrosome and the Golgi. Recent work has shown that certain centrosomal factors are important in maintaining this balance, suggesting a close connection between regulation of centrosomal and Golgi-derived MTs. Finally, we will discuss potential functions of Golgi-derived MTs based on their nucleation site location within a Golgi stack.