CURRENT FRONTIERS

AND PERSPECTIVES
IN CELL BIOLOGY
Edited by Stevo Najman

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Edited by Stevo Najman

Published by InTech
Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Copyright 2012 InTech
All chapters are Open Access distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles even for
commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which
ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. After this work
has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in
any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the
work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify
the original source.
As for readers, this license allows users to download, copy and build upon published
chapters even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly
credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications.
Notice
Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors
and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the
accuracy of information contained in the published chapters. The publisher assumes no
responsibility for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any
materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained in the book.
Publishing Process Manager Vedran Greblo
Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic
Cover Designer InTech Design Team
First published April, 2012
Printed in Croatia
A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com
Additional hard copies can be obtained from [email protected]

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology, Edited by Stevo Najman

p. cm.
ISBN 978-953-51-0544-2

Contents

Section 1

Cell Structures and Functions

Chapter 1

Tight Junctions 3
Lorenza Gonzlez-Mariscal, Miguel Quirs,
Mnica Daz-Cornguez and Pablo Bautista

Chapter 2

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays,

Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:
Tripartite Membrane Architecture with
the Participation of Nucleoporins 31
Siegfried Reipert and Elena Kiseleva

Chapter 3

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein? 57
Olga I. Povarova, Anna I. Sulatskaya,
Irina M. Kuznetsova and Konstantin K. Turoverov

Chapter 4

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle

of Higher Plant Cells 81
Elena Smirnova

Section 2

Genetic Material:
Structure and Expression 103

Chapter 5

Centromere Evolution:
Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction
Giuliana Giannuzzi,
Claudia Rita Catacchio and Mario Ventura

Chapter 6

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and

Its Export to the Cytoplasm 131
Naoko Fujiwara, Takuya Shiki and Seiji Masuda

105

VI

Contents

Chapter 7

Membrane Initiated Effects of

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Prostate Cancer Cells:
Effects on AP1 and CREB Mediated Transcription 153
Dennis Larsson, Adele Jonas,
Niklas Bergsten, Fredrik Sthl and Sandra Karlsson

Chapter 8

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of

Protein-Protein Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes
from Dendrobium moniliforme 163
Supatida Abdullakasim and Takashi Handa

Section 3

Molecular and Cellular Regulatory Mechanisms

Chapter 9

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and
Genome Organization 181
Yong Zhong Xu, Cynthia Kanagaratham and Danuta Radzioch

179

Chapter 10

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine

Kinases in the Nucleus 211
Sally-Anne Stephenson,
Inga Mertens-Walker and Adrian Herington

Chapter 11

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of

Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and
Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1) 235
Maria N. Garnovskaya

Chapter 12

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on

the Regulation and Correction Mechanisms
of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments
Rita M. Reis and Hassan Bousbaa

259

Chapter 13

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery

of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa 279
Andrey I. Shukalyuk and Valeria V. Isaeva

Chapter 14

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo

Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity 315
Andrea Leibfried and Yohanns Bellache

Chapter 15

Development and Cell Polarity of

the C. elegans Intestine 335
Olaf Bossinger and Michael Hoffmann

Chapter 16

Intercellular Communication 361

Nuri Faruk Aykan

Contents

Section 4

Cellular Basis of Disease and Therapy 377

Chapter 17

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease 379

Elena Lazzeri, Anna Peired, Lara Ballerini and Laura Lasagni

Chapter 18

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State 423

V. Morales-Tlalpan, C. Saldaa, P. Garca-Sols,
H. L. Hernndez-Montiel and H. Barajas-Medina

Chapter 19

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies 423

David Alejandro Silva, Elizabeth Richey and Hongmin Qin

Chapter 20

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins

in Healthy Cells and in Disease 453
Jasmina Ilievska, Naomi E. Bishop,
Sarah J. Annesley and Paul R. Fisher

Chapter 21

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Between Dream and Reality 481
Frdric Torossian, Aurelie Bisson,
Laurent Drouot, Olivier Boyer and Marek Lamacz

Section 5

New Methods in Cell Biology

501

Chapter 22

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by
Intravital Microscopy 503
Monika Sramkova, Natalie Porat-Shliom,
Andrius Masedunkas, Timothy Wigand,
Panomwat Amornphimoltham and Roberto Weigert

Chapter 23

Evaluation of Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics

Using Fluorescence Correlation Analysis 525
Yasutomo Nomura

Chapter 24

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological

Macromolecules Purification 535
Marcello Tagliavia and Aldo Nicosia

VII

Preface
A numerous internationally renowned authors in the pages of this book present the
views of the fields of cell biology and their own research results or review of current
knowledge. As a multidisciplinary field, cell biology is difficult to describe by limiting
it to some discipline or field. As a rule, the fields are overlapping, and the content of
this book is split into sections only according to the estimation of the editor what is the
primary focus of the chapter. Sections are dedicated to cell structures and functions,
genetic material, regulatory mechanisms, cellular biomedicine and new methods in
cell biology. Multidisciplinary and often quite versatile approach by many authors
have imposed restrictions of this classification, so it is certain that many chapters could
belong to the other sections of this book. Most of the chapters deal with fundamental
as well as applicative aspects of discussed topics. The current frontiers, on the manner
in which they described in the book, can be a good inspiration to many readers for
further improving, and perspectives which are highlighted can be seen in many areas
of fundamental biology, biomedicine, biotechnology and other applications of
knowledge of cell biology. The book will be very useful for beginners to gain insight
into their new area, as well as experts to find new facts and expanding horizons.
The book begins with the chapter "Tight Junctions" by Lorenza Gonzlez-Mariscal,
Miguel Quirs, Mnica Daz-Cornguez and Pablo Bautista. It can be found the
symbolism of it, because it talks about the key structures in the epithelial tissue, which
boundaries the external and internal spaces. This chapter is an excellent review of
biological functions of this type of cell-cell adhesion mechanisms, as well as their
complex molecular organization. With abundance of illustrations which are clear,
beautifully colored and well fit within the text, chapter is a very good source of
information on the topic entitled. Pathobiological aspect will also be very attractive for
clinically oriented experts.
From the chapter 2nd the reader goes down under the surface of the cell and there can
be firstly encounter with the intracellular structures that are newly described and
therefore probably still not enough known to the general scientific community.
Chapter 2nd "Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:
Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins" by authors
Siegfried and Elena Kiseleva Reipert gives an overview of structure and function of
intracellular structures with nucleoporins: nuclear pore complex (NPC), annulate

Preface

lamellae pore complex (ALPC) and tubulohelical membrane array (TUHMA). Most of
the chapter is devoted to TUHMA which is a novel organelle-like membrane
specialization that was observed for the first time in the kidney epithelial cell line PtK2
by Reipert et al. (2009). This review and original results also raises many fundamental
questions related to the interactions of proteins and membranes, self assembly of
complex structures, the spatial organization of membranes and proteins, and cell
architecture in general. Perfectly prepared, technically very clear and apparent original
images from EM and fluorescence make this chapter even more remarkable.
In the third chapter, in the interior of the cell we have encountered with the most
abundant protein of the eukaryotic cell, actin. Although its first described function is
in muscle contraction, it is certain that its ubiquitous nature and abundance is
associated with its participation in many extremely important cellular processes such
as cell motility, cytokinesis, movement of organelles and vesicles, establishment of cell
shape and cell junctions. Authors of chapter 3rd Olga I. Povarova, Anna I. Sulatskaya,
Irina M. Kuznetsova and Konstantin K. Turov focused their chapter called "Actin
Folding, Structure and Function: Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically disordered
protein?" primarily "on the processes of actin folding and unfolding and on the
validation of the hypothesis that G-actin belongs to the so-called "intrinsically
disordered" (ID) proteins."
The other component of the cytoskeleton, microtubules, have been reviewed in
chapter 4th. Although microtubules are widespread structures in eukaryotic type of
the cell, in animals, plants and fungi, there are specificities in chemical structure of
protein tubulin and ways of organizing microtubules in plants. In the chapter called
Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells author Elena Smirnova
gived an overview of basic and mainly structural aspects of plant microtubule
cytoskeleton and draw attention to unsolved problems. This chapter is a very
broad story about the molecular interactions, dynamics, microtubule nucleation,
microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) and plant motors. Complex organization of
microtubule cytoskeleton in plant cell has been described during interphase and cell
division. Thus, the particular parts of the text devoted to the radial and cortical
microtubule system in interphase and preprophase band of microtubules (PPB),
mitotic spindle and phragmoplast in the cell division. Among the intriguing
questions that remain are: the relationship between cortical microtubules and cellulose
microfibrils orientation, the role of the radial microtubules and PPB in morphogenesis
of the mitotic spindle, the molecular mechanisms of MTOC-independent plant spindle
assembly as compared to other organisms, and even more, if one is enough curios and
inquisitive to look inside the plant cell.
In the section "Genetic Material: Structure and Expression" four chapters are classified.
Section begins with "digging" by the hereditary material. In the chapter 5th Centromere
Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction by Giuliana Giannuzzi,
Claudia Rita Catacchio and Mario Ventura a detailed overview of centromere evolution
in mammals is presented. Characteristics of centromeric function, centromeric DNA

Preface XI

organization and specialized chromatin structure have been studied trough mammal
taxon. Comparison of different mammal groups, primates and non-primates, points to
the laws of the evolutionary process. An abundance of data in this analysis of
chromosomal similarities and differences among species gives the opportunity to
understand the general mechanisms of genome evolution.
Expression of genetic information begins with DNA molecule transcription and
mRNA biogenesis. The following chapter 6th deals with this topic. Chapter mRNA
Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm by authors Giuliana
Giannuzzi, Claudia Rita Catacchio and Mario Ventura presents review mRNA
biogenesis in eukaryotic cells with an emphasis on the importance of this coupling
mechanism for high-fidelity gene expression. Authors described the stages of mRNA
transcription by RNA polymerase II and coupling transcription to mRNA processing
steps. Special attention in the chapter is paid to mRNA export with explanations how
are coupling transcription and processing to nuclear export, and then the role of Dbp5Gle1 and IP6 involved in the release of mRNA into the cytoplasm. Quality control of
mRNA is analyzed through the aspects of nuclear retention of aberrant mRNA and
mRNA quality control in the cytoplasm.
Chapter 7th called "Membrane Initiated effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in
prostate cancer cells: effects on AP1 and CREB mediated transcription" by authors
Dennis Larsson, Adele Jonas, Niklas Bergsten, Fredrik Sthl and Sandra Karlsson is the
original article, which deals with research of a new approaches in the treatment of
cancer with vitamin D3, very important clinical issue. According to it's motives and
conclusions, this paper could be classified in Section 4., but methodology and
fundamental research approach which are presented in a very clear and accessible way
decided that editor classify this chapter in the section "Genetic Material: Structure and
Expression". Assuming that 1,25 (OH)2D3 may be anti-cancer drug, the authors have
done the following research: 1) "response on JNK/SAPK complex dependent activation
of AP1 to 1,25(OH)2D3 and TNF- in LNCaP prostate cancer cells", 2) 1,25(OH)2D3
regulation of TNF- production and release by LNCaP cells, 3) evaluation,"the PKAdependent activation of cyclic response element binding protein (CREB) in LNCaP
cells treated with 1,25(OH)2D3". The article presents results of authors experiments
by themselves, with very well-reasoned theoretical setting of these experiments, so this
presented subject can be easily monitored and when the reader is not an expert in this
field. Obviously, a great research experience is woven into the article, which is
specially indicated by the message in the form of Future Directives.
Authors Supatida Abdullakasim and Takashi Handa in chapter 8th "Genetic
Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes
from Dendrobium moniliforme have presented a very complex topic of how genes control
the process of organogenesis in flowering plants. The exceptional variability of flowering
plants in the world is particularly pronounced in the family Orchidaceae. Orchid flower is
a delight for the eyes and for researchers such as authors of this chapter because it is a
good model to study how genome has changed through evolution, and how genes are

XII

Preface

expressed in time and organ space in the body. The authors have studied the patterns of
class B MADS-box genes in Dendrobium moniliforme, native orchid of Japan, the species
which is a reservoir of mutations of genes controlling flower develop. The authors have
performed conclusions from the published research results obtained using several
methods and models, such as RT-PCR and Quantitative real-time PCR, yeast two-hybrid
system for analysis of protein-protein interactions and "Agrobacterium-mediated
transformation of class B MADS -box genes from D. moniliforme to Arabidopsis". The
researchers and other readers interested in the molecular mechanism underlying orchid
flower formation, but also molecular network in the patterns of organogenesis in
general, in this chapter will have a very helpful text.
In section 3rd Molecular and Cellular Regulatory Mechanisms eight chapters are
presented, dealing with mechanisms of regulation of various processes in the cell, as
well as organism level with specific participation of the cells.
Chapter 9th Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in the Regulation of
Gene Transcription and Genome Organization by authors Yong Zhong Xu, Cynthia
Kanagaratham and Danuta Radzioch, could be found in the previous section because
it is engaged in transcription, but its place in this section deserved by dealing with
molecular and supramolecular regulatory mechanisms involved in the expression of
genetic information. Chapter 3rd deals with the characteristics of actin molecules, and
chapter 9th examines the role of actin in the nucleus. Its localization in specialized
subnuclear compartments (nucleoli, splicing speckles and Cajal bodies) strategically
gave him a position to be involved in processes related to chromatin remodeling,
ribonucleoprotein (RNP) assembly, regulation of transcription factor activity, mRNA
maturation and nuclear export or to the expression of genetic information in general.
The chapter gives an excellent and versatile view of today's knowledge of nuclear
actin network with the subsections: Nuclear architecture and distribution of actin,
Regulation of nuclear actin, Involvement of actin in chromatin remodeling,
Involvement of actin in transcription machinery, Roles of actin in genome organization.
In chapter 10th nuclear regulatory mechanisms are also discussed. Authors Sally-Anne
Stephenson, Inga Mertens-Walker and Adrian Herington in their chapter called
Signaling Receptor Tyrosine kinases in the Nucleus give a review which was largely
oriented on recent data on nuclear localization of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)
proteins. From the total of 58 human receptor tyrosine kinases within the nuclei have
been found 18, and they are all described in this chapter. There are multiple roles of
RTK among which are especially important those that are involved in determining the
destiny of directing of cells to: proliferate, differentiate, die or to chew the cud, so
disorders of their function lead to the pathological alterations such as cancer. The
authors for each described RTK give the data on relationship to the pathological
conditions. According to this aspect the chapter could be classified in the section
"Cellular Basis of Disease and Therapy," but in the content of this chapter dominates
consideration of cellular, biochemical and signaling mechanisms involving RTK. The
abundance of such data is systematized through as many as 17 subsections with

Preface XIII

special emphasis on the importance of RTK nuclear translocation. Clearly

systematized data on families and types of RTK provide an excellent overview of this
topic to interested readers from different areas such as those dealing with fundamental
biomedicine, pharmacy, and clinical medicine. Clear figures and an extensive
literature on this are particularly useful.
Chapter 11th also deals with the receptors and regulatory proteins of signaling type.
G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated
Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1) by Maria N.
Garnovskaya mainly highlights the relationship between NHE1 and ERK when both
pathways are activated by GPCRs and cell growth as a final outcome. The author
introduces the reader in a very complex story in which the author clearly systematize
the data on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and mitogen-activated protein
kinases (MAPKs), and signaling pathways in which they are involved as well as their
involvement in the activation of processes on the DNA molecule. Clarification of the
relationship between NHE1 and ERK cascade has been a very active research area in a
recent few years. This article widely analyzes the role of NHE1 in the regulation of
ERK activity through different mechanisms, especially the mechanisms of NHE1mediated Na+/H+ exchange. The author confronts the data on whether and how ERK
regulates NHE1 activity or maybe NHE1 and MAPK do not regulate with each other.
Many physiological and pathophysiological processes, which are associated with cell
proliferation and Na+/H+ exchange, can be easily explained by knowledge of the
molecular mechanisms of ERK and NHE, and so it can lead to the better therapeutic
alternatives, author concludes.
In chapter 12th "The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation and Correction
Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-microtubule Attachments" the authors Rita M. Reis
and Hassan Bousbaa deal with the description of mitosis through the role of
kinetochores. The accuracy of division of genetic material during mitosis is the
consequence of precise duplication of genetic material in replication process, and the
precise division during mitosis. In this second process of ensuring the accuracy, the
crucial role plays kinetochore, multiprotein structure of chromosome centromeres. The
authors gave a comprehensive overview of the structure and function kinetochores. It
has been discussed the functioning of kinetochores in microtubule attachments in the
division spindle, which is essential for the chromosome alignment in equatorial plane
in metaphase, and then for a particularly important event - the transition from
metaphase to anaphase. Regulatory role of kinetochores in this central process of cell
division, which provides the final division of DNA in exactly two equal parts was the
main focus of the second part of the chapter. Thus, the attention is focused on the
latest information about the spindle assembly checkpoint and its relationship with
microtubule attachment and attachment error correction. The authors at the end
highlight the importance of knowledge about kinetochores for better understanding of
etiology and treatment of cancer because kinetochore scheduling of functions may
lead to chromosome instability, which is located amongst many cancers, so this
knowledge is important for the applicative-medical point of view.

XIV Preface

In chapter 13th called "Molecular and sub-cellular machinery of gametogenic stem and
germline cells across Metazoa" authors Andrey I. Shukalyuk and Valeria V. Isaeva
gave an extensive story about the way how the multicellular living world could arise
and how it can survive. The multicellular organization demands the molecular
signatures and gene networks for toti-, pluri-, or multipotency of germ and stem cells.
Chapter becomes engrossed in the fundamentals on which they lie as well as
subcellular mechanisms that determine cell fate, including her death and malignant
transformation.
Andrea Leibfried and Yohanns Bellaiche in the chapter 14th Drosophila: A Model
System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity offer
us an exciting story about the application of modern technologies in easier
understanding of long ago described body components of multicellular organisms,
such as the epithelium. In the first part of the chapter, authors clarified the ubiquitous
molecular mechanisms in establishment of epithelial cell polarization in metazoans,
and then they threw a light on the specificity of invertebrate and vertebrate. This text
provides an abundant evidence why is Drosophila remarkable model for studying the
function, establishment and maintenance of epithelium. The central part of the chapter
systematizes the molecular structure and mechanisms of regulation of cell polarity.
The structure, roles and interactions of junctional complexes, polarizing membranes,
citoskeleton and signaling pathways are particularly clarified. Limitations in studies in
vitro, which can give information on some aspects of morphology and functions of
tissues, can be compensated only with adequate in vivo systems in order to
comprehend the complex dynamics in time and specific live environment. The authors
have presented to the interested researchers on the example of the dorsal thorax of
Drosophila melanogaster the opportunities of live imaging as an attractive and easy way
to research the epithelium in the complex milieu of the organism.
The 15th chapter called Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine by
Olaf Bossinger and Michael Hoffmann discusses the topic similar as the previous
chapter. The authors explain the cellular mechanisms in the development process of
today probably the most important organism model for studying development of
metazoa. Chapter begins with explanations of why the Caenorhabditis elegans is so
remarkable model for the study of development of animal multicellular organisms.
The history of 55 years of the presence of this particular species in science is presented
and how it was helpful to some Nobel Prize laureates. In the chapter are further
described epithelial tissues and intestinal development in C. elegans. The second part
contains a discussion of "Apicobasal polarity complexes in the C. elegans intestine." In
its content is presented the dynamism of junctional complexes in epithelial tissue
during embrionyc intestinal development, and review of the molecular basis of
maintenance of epithelial cell polarity and cell-cell adhesion.
Chapter 16th "Intercellular Communication" by author Nuri Aykan Faruk deals with
examination of the types of chemical communication and types of chemical signals
between cells, as well as analogies with communication between human beings. The

Preface XV

author in most part of the chapter gave a brief overview of the models of intercellular
communication, and the final part is introduced in brief review of these models by
analogy with interpersonal communication, and intriguing comparison of languages
cellese and humanese. Even though it is certain that there are ubiquitous patterns of
communication in the living world at various levels of its organization, as well as the
universal patterns that can apply to live and artificial systems, it is difficult at the level
of details to show the analogies, but the author has made efforts to connect that.
Section 4th "Cellular Basis of Disease and Therapy," contains five chapters dealing
with mechanisms of pathogenesis and treatment of disease.
Chapter 17th "Adult stem cells in tissue homeostasis and disease" writen by Elena
Lazzeri, Anna Peired, Lara Ballerini and Laura Lasagni is a paradigm how the
complex scientific problems can be presented in a clear manner. Stem cells in general
and in their niches were discussed, and a special focus was directed on signaling
pathways regulating SC, such as Notch and Wnt signaling pathways. Special parts of
the chapter were devoted to hematopoietic, intestinal and renal SCs. For each of the
types of SC authors gave the characteristics of signaling pathways, and also discussed
the relationship with malignancies of these SCs. Chapter is a very well example of an
enviable balance between text and figures, as well as a significant number of well
selected references. The authors have provided a great introduction to the biology of
regeneration, with clear explanations of terms, so it can serve not only to experts but
also to young researchers who need to start their career.
In chapter 18th called "Claudins and lung cancer," authors Morales-Tlalpan V, Saldaa
C, Garca-Sols P and H Barajas-Medina gave a broad introduction to the topic. The
chapter begins with description of the structure and function of epithelium with special
parts where they described the lung epithelial cells and lung cancer, as well as epithelial
neoplasms. Characteristics of lung cancer, the causes, histological classification,
incidence, mortality and carcinogenesis are discussed in this review. General
considerations of tight junctions, and description of the structure and function were the
direct introduction into the central part of the chapter, the story of claudins. In this story
they presented quoted assumptions about the evolution of genes for claudins as well as
description of their structure. In tabular view the authors presented systematized data
on molecular characteristics of certain types of claudins, their transport functions, tissue
and species distribution and diseases associated with them. The final part of the chapter,
as the title announces, deals with the relationship between claudins and lung cancer.
Chapter 19th Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies written by David Alejandro Silva,
Elizabeth Richey and Hongmin Qin is a unique text that provides complete, systematic
and analytical story about cilia. In this complete overview cilia are highlighted from all
sides, their molecular machinery and mechanics have been described as well as its
function, when they are in a normal condition, and when they are abnormal which may
be the result of mutations of related genes. Chapter is divided into two subchapters. The
first deals with basic biology of cilia, ciliogenesis and maintenance of cilia and flagella. In

XVI Preface

particular, a large part of this subchapter is devoted to the intraflagellar transport (IFT)
and its mechanisms, which are presented very detailed. Molecular mechanisms of IFT
motors are based on complex proteins and protein complexes and therefore mutations in
genes that control them are the substrate for a variety of diseases. The second subchapter
gives an overview of major ciliopathies such as primary ciliary dyskinesia,
hydrocephalus, polycystic kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and cancer. A
number of important references cover all mentioned fields in the details. This review of
contemporary and current knowledge will be an important source of information for a
wide range of researchers and experts in the field of biological and biotechnical sciences,
medicine and pharmacy, as well as their related fields.
Chapter 20th "The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease" by
Jasmina Ilievska, Naomi E. Bishop, Sarah J. Annesley and Paul R. Fisher represents an
overview which widely covered the role of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) in normal
and pathological processes, with special emphasis on the importance of their nuclear
translocation. Clearly systematized data on families and types of RTK enable
outstanding matters in this area for interested readers from different areas than those
that deal with fundamental biomedicine and clinicians. Clear diagrams and an
extensive literature on this are particularly useful.
Frederic Torossian, Aurelie Bisson, Laurent Drouot, Olivier Boyer and Marek Lamacz in
chapter 21st "Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells - Between Dream and
Reality" discussed the number of topics. In part of the chapter "Heterogeneity of the
MSC" authors have approached to the problem of heterogeneity of MSC by considering
the literature data and own experiments. Based on the results of their research the
authors propose patterns of hierarchy and differentiation of SC with MAPC and VSEL
cells as degrees in these patterns, which would shed the light on the repair capacity of
the organs. By using calcium blockers and different media for cells, the authors have
provided evidence to support the hypothesis that the level of calcium is the key factor for
directing MSC towards the proliferation or differentiation. In the final part of the chapter
authors have presented a general discussion and suggested perspectives of MSC
applications. A key conclusion of the authors is that MSC should not be regarded as
pluripotent cells, and that the pluripotent population that has a regenerative potential
should be considered as VSEL cells. At the end, authors propose the basic research that
will facilitate the dreamed achievement of regenerative grafts application.
In the section 5th "New Methods in Cell Biology" are three chapters which represent
very valuable and useful methodological approaches used in various fields of cell
biology.
In the chapter 22nd Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to Study Cell
Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy authors Monika Sramkova, Natalie
Porat-Shliom, Andrius Masedunkas, Timothy Wigand, Panomwat Amornphimoltham
and Roberto Weigert give a very illustrated, clear and descriptive explanations of how
the SGs are remarkable model for the study of many processes and mechanisms of

Preface XVII

membrane trafficking. SGS as exocrine glands, are certainly a good model for studying
exocytosis, but the authors have shown strong proof that they are also very good
model for the study of various types of endocytosis, when applying IVM techniques.
In the chapter are explained reasons and ways how SGS can be used as a target organs
for the viral-mediated gene delivery and expression both in animals and in humans, as
well as rodent studies during which it was performed. This chapter announces that it
should be expected to extend application of IVM to the study of other processes in the
subcellular level, such as mitochondrial dynamics, signal transduction, cell cycle
processes and metabolic processes.
The chapter 23rd Evaluation of mitochondrial DNA dynamics using fluorescence
correlation analysis by Yasutomo Nomura contains a description of the mechanisms
of mtDNA structural changes and their dynamic and functional consequences. In that
sense, the author consider the applicability of the methods of time-lapse fluorescence
microscopy (TLFM) and image correlation spectroscopy (ICS) as analogues of
fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to assess the dynamics of mtDNA. Their
principles and limitations in implementation are described to explain the advantage of
ICS. Manuscript contains lots of useful information for interested researchers who
have chosen to estimate mtDNA dynamics by fluorescence techniques.
Chapter 24th "Regeneration and recycling of supports for biological macromolecules
purification" by Marcello Tagliavia and Aldo Nicosia deals with the latest
improvements in purification of biological molecules that has been achieved in the last
20 years, giving advantages in both product quality and yield, and speed of
purification methods. The authors provide an overview of decontamination methods
which allows columns and matrices to be reused in purification procedures. With this
decontamination methods, biomacromolecular studies would become significantly
cheaper, which will certainly lead to the acceleration of research and faster
breakthrough in this field of science, as well as areas that are associated with
macromolecular research. Authors especially discussed accomplishments in solving
problems of high-quality regeneration and recycling of supports using short and
simple procedure. A great benefit for researchers practitioners who need to work with
the purification of biological macromolecules are protocols for DNA and RNA silica
column regeneration. Particularly important part of the chapter is devoted to protein
purification resins in affinity chromatography. For people who deal with the practical
aspects of this field, described methods and protocols will certainly be of a great
benefit. The health and environmental problems are also considered.

Prof. dr Stevo Najman

Medical Faculty, Ni
Srbija

Section 1
Cell Structures and Functions

1
Tight Junctions
Lorenza Gonzlez-Mariscal, Miguel Quirs,
Mnica Daz-Cornguez and Pablo Bautista

Center of Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav),

Mxico
1. Introduction

Epithelial cells cover the body (e.g. skin), cavities (e.g. stomach, uterus, bladder) and ducts
(e.g. renal tubules, intestine) of multicellular organisms, and thus constitute the frontier
between the individual and the external milieu. In areas that withstand strong mechanical or
chemical stress (e.g. skin, esophagus, cornea, vagina) epithelia are stratified, whereas in the
rest of the body, the epithelia independently of their morphology (e.g. columnar of the
intestine, tubular of renal tubules, squamous of the lung), are organized in monolayers (Fig
1A). Epithelia protect the tissues that lie beneath, from microorganisms, toxins, trauma and
water evaporation, and regulate the exchange of substances between the content of body
cavities and ducts and the underlying tissues. Transport across epithelia occurs through the
transcellular and paracellular pathways and requires the presence in epithelial cells of two
basic features: a polarized plasma membrane and tight junctions (Fig. 1B).

Fig. 1. Schematic representation of epithelia and transport pathways across a monolayer.

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2. What are tight junctions?

Tight junctions are cell-cell adhesion structures present in epithelial cells at the limit
between the apical plasma membrane that faces the exterior environment or the lumen of
cavities and ducts, and the basolateral plasma membrane in contact with the internal milieu.
Tight junctions were first observed by transmission electron microscopy in thin sections of
epithelial cells, as points of cell contact where the exterior membrane leaflets of the
neighboring cells appeared to fuse, occluding in consequence the paracellular space (Fig
2A). When the interior of the membrane is observed by physically breaking apart a frozen
biological sample with the freeze fracture technique, the tight junction is observed as a
network of linear fibrils or chains of particles, termed TJ strands located bellow the apical
microvilli (Fig 2B). By immunofluorescence, tight junction proteins display a cell border
distribution that forms a chicken fence pattern when the sample is observed from above
(Fig. 2C), while dots concentrated at the uppermost portion of the lateral membrane are seen
when the tissue is viewed from the side (Fig. 2D)

Fig. 2. Tight junction can be viewed by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. A) By

transmission electron microscopy, the tight junction appears in thin sections as points of
cell-cell contact where the membranes of the adjacent cells appeared to fuse (arrow).
Observe how the electrodense marker ruthenium red, added to the apical surface, does not
stain the paracellular pathway bellow the tight junction. B) By freeze fracture, the tight
junction appears as a network of strands bellow the apical microvilli (arrows). By
immunofluorescence tight junction proteins give a chicken fence pattern when seen from
above (C) while dots at the limit of the apical and the basolateral membrane are detected on
a lateral view (D).

Tight Junctions

3. What are the canonical functions of tight junctions?

Tight junctions have two canonical functions that resemble those of a gate and a fence. The
gate function refers to the capacity of tight junctions to regulate the passage of ions,
molecules and water through the paracellular pathway. The gate function can be detected
measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) of the tissue. The electric circuit in
figure 3 shows how TER is the result of two resistances in parallel: the transcellular and the
paracellular. The transcellular resistance is due to the resistance in series of the apical and
the basolateral membranes. However since the electrical resistance across the plasma
membrane is very high (2 G) the current flows through the paracellular pathway regulated
by the resistance offered by the tight junction. Therefore, the value of TER reflects the
resistance of the tight junction. The gate function can also be evaluated by detecting the
paracellular transit of molecules that are unable to cross through the transcellular pathway.
Hence, these molecules must not be lipophilic, a target of carriers, pumps or co-transporters
and subjected to a minimal degree of fluid phase endocytosis. When the observation is done
by transmission electron microscopy, electrodense molecules like ruthenium red and
lanthanum are chosen, whereas when the transit is evaluated across monolayers plated on
transwell filters, molecules with fluorescent (e.g. FITC-dextran) or radioactive labels (3Hmannitol) are used (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3. Electrical circuit diagram and transepithelial electrical resistance equation of an

epithelial monolayer. TER, transepithelial electrical resistance; Rt, transcellular resistance;
Ram, apical membrane resistance; Rbm, basolateral membrane resistance; Rp, paracellular
resistance; Rj, tight junction resistance; Ri, intercellular space resistance.
The fence function refers to the ability of tight junctions to restrict the movement of lipids
and proteins within the membrane from the apical to the basolateral domains and vice
versa. This function maintains the polarity of the plasma membrane and thus allows the
vectorial transit of molecules across epithelia. The fence function of tight junctions is
evaluated in monolayers cultured in transwell filters, by inserting a fluorescent lipid (e.g.
fluorescent sphingomyelin) into the apical membrane and detecting if the fluorescent label
reaches the basolateral membrane, or by chemically biotinylating the external domains of
membrane proteins present at one of the cell surfaces (Fig. 4). In the latter, after generating a
cell lysate, the polarized distribution of a particular membrane protein is detected by an
immunoprecipitation with a specific antibody for the target protein, followed by a western
blot with labeled (e.g. horse radish peroxidase or fluorescein) streptavidin, a molecule with
an extraordinarily high affinity for biotin.

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 4. The tight junction functions as a paracellular gate and a membrane fence. The gate
function of the tight junction can be evaluated by measuring the passage of paracellular
tracers from the apical to the basolateral compartment, whereas the fence function is
determined by evaluating the free diffusion in the membrane plane of incomporated lipids
and chemical probes.

4. Tight junctions are key players in the blood-brain, blood-retinal and bloodtestis barriers and in the packing of myelin sheets
4.1 The blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barrier
The blood brain barrier separates circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid and
hence provides an optimal medium for neuronal function and protects the brain from
fluctuations in ionic composition that occur after a meal or exercise that could perturb
synaptic signaling. The blood brain barrier relies on the tight junctions present in brain
capillaries. The latter differ from those in other organs for having a low rate of fluid-phase
endocytosis, the absence of fenestrations and the presence of tight tight junctions. These
characteristics restrict ion and fluid movement between the blood and the brain, and rely
transendothelial traffic on specific ion transporters and channels. The signals that induce
brain endothelial cells to express non-leaky tight junctions result from the specific
interactions between capillary endothelial cells and the surrounding perivascular astrocytes
and pericytes (Fig. 5A). The blood-spinal cord barrier is similar to the blood brain barrier
and prevents the free passage of cells and blood substances to the spinal cord.
4.2 The blood-retinal barrier
The blood-retinal barrier confers protection or immune privilege to the ocular
microenvironment. It is integrated by two separate anatomical sites: 1) the inner blood
retinal barrier formed by the tight junctions present in the capillaries of the retina, and 2) the
outer barrier integrated by tight junctions present between the retinal pigment epithelial
cells (Fig 5C) that separate the neural retina from the choroidal vasculature.

Tight Junctions

Fig. 5. Schematic representation of the blood-brain, blood-testis and blood-retinal barriers,

and of the tight junctions present in myelinated axons. CMEC, cerebral microvascular
endothelial cells; TJ, tight junction; oBRB, outer blood retinal barrier; iBRB, inner blood
retinal barrier. A) Blood brain barrier B) Blood testis barrier C) Blood retinal barrier D) Glial
cells tight junctions around myelin layers.

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

4.3 The blood-testis barrier

The tight junctions present between the epithelial cells of the testis known as Sertoli cells,
form the blood testis barrier that divides the seminiferous epithelium into basal and
adluminal compartments (Fig 5B). Germ cells at different stages of development move along
the paracellular space of Sertoli cells in a basal to apical direction. Thus in the basal
compartment the diploid spermatogonium and preleptotene spermatocytes are found
whereas above the blood testis barrier, at the adluminal compartment, pachytene
spermatocytes and round spermatids are present. Tight junctions of the blood testis barrier
hence prevent the contact of systemic circulation with postmeiotic germ cells. This is
important since spermatozoa and their surface antigens arise in puberty, long after selftolerance is established in the fetus, and thus a compromise in the blood testis barrier could
result in the generation of antibodies against the organism own sperm.
4.4 Tight junctions in myelinated axons
Myelinated axons are wrapped by continuous membrane layers derived from individual
glial cells, the Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and the oligodendrocytes in
the central nervous system (Fig 5D). Tight junctions mediate the adhesion among the
successive layers of the myelin wrap. The compaction of these layers electrically insulates
the axons and permits the saltatory conduction of action potentials that occurs by jumping
from node to node, where axon insulation is interrupted.

5. Tight junctions have a complex molecular organization

Integral and peripheral proteins form tight junctions. The former are responsible for
establishing cell-cell contact in the intercellular space, while the latter serve as a bridge
between the integral proteins and the actin cytoskeleton. Peripheral proteins usually have
multiple protein-protein binding domains that allow them to function as scaffolds for the
attachment of a variety of signaling proteins (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Tight junctions are formed by a complex array of proteins. The integral proteins of the
tight junction are single span like LSR and the family of JAMs, and tetraspan like the family
of claudins and the TAMP proteins. Integral proteins establish cell-cell contact in the
intercellular space. The peripheral proteins, act as a bridge between the integral proteins
and the actin cytoskeleton

Tight Junctions

Fig. 7. Six different types of integral proteins constitute bicellular and tricellular tight
junctions. A) Claudins and the TAMP proteins occludin, MarvelD3 and tricelullin are the
tetraspan proteins of the tight junction. The latter three contain a marvel domain (boxed
with discontinuous lines). Occludin and tricellulin share a highly homologous region in
their carboxyl tail (boxed with continuous lines). LSR and JAM are single span proteins of
the immunoglobulin family (Ig domains in boxes with discontinuous lines). B) Schematic
drawing of the organization of bicellular and tricellular tight junctions. Tricellulin and LSR
concentrate at the central sealing element of tricellular tight junctions, present at the corner
where three cells meet, while the rest of the integral tight junction proteins are present in
bicellular borders.
5.1 Integral tight junction proteins
The integral proteins of the tight junction establish cell-to-cell points of contacts or kisses,
where the outer leaflets of the membrane of apposing cells appear to fuse. There are two
main classes of transmembrane proteins at the tight junction: the four and the single span
proteins. The former include claudins, occludin, tricellulin and MarvelD3 and the latter are
namely JAMs and LSR (Fig 7A). Occludin tricellulin and MarvelD3 are collectively called
TAMPs (Tight junction associated MARVEL proteins) as they contain a conserved four
transmembrane Marvel domain present in proteins concentrated in cholesterol rich
microdomains and involved in membrane apposition and fusion events. Occludin and
tricellulin carboxyl cytoplasmic tales are long and share a similar domain called ELL,
whereas MarvelD3 has a short carboxyl segment and a long amino cytoplasmic domain
similar to that in tricellulin. TAMPs have distinct but overlapping functions at the tight
junction. JAMs and LSR belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily because they contain Ig
domains which are regions of 55 to 75 amino acids separated by two cysteine residues that
function as modules for protein-protein interaction. JAMs and LSR do not constitute tight
junction strands and instead act as landmarks. Thus while LSR defines cell corners for

10

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

tricellular tight junction formation, JAMs are the first integral proteins to appear at the sites
where bicellular tight junction will be assembled.
5.1.1 Claudins are integral proteins of the tight junction that regulate paracellular
ionic selectivity
The word claudin derives from the Latin word claudere that means to close. Around 24
members comprise the claudin family in most vertebrates, although for example the puffer
fish has 56 claudins. Since some claudin genes are closely linked, gene duplication is
thought to have participated in the expansion of this family. In invertebrates like the fly and
the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, claudin homologues have also been identified.

Fig. 8. Schematic representation of the interaction among claudins between neighboring

cells. A) Between two cells, claudins establish homotypic and heterotypic interactions and
dimerize in homomeric and heteromeric fashion. B) Drawing of the reported heterotypic
interactions among claudins and of those proven not to occur.
Claudins like occludin are tetraspan proteins, yet they do not show any sequence similarity.
Claudins size ranges from 20 to 34 kDa. The first extracellular loop of claudins is longer than
the second one (around 52 Vs 16-33 amino acids) and contains a pair of cysteines that
enhance stability by a disulfide bond, and charged amino acids that determine the ionic
selectivity of the paracellular pathway. The second extracellular loop interacts with claudin
molecules in the apposing cell membrane (trans-interaction) and participates in the side-to-

11

Tight Junctions

side oligomerization of claudins within the same membrane (cis-interaction). The

cytoplasmic tails of claudins vary considerably among family members, constitute the site of
posttranslational modifications that modulate junction tightness and stability, and end with
two amino acids that form a PDZ binding motif that associates with adaptor proteins of the
tight junction like ZOs and MUPP1.

Anion Barrier

Cation barrier and anion channel

Cation Barrier

Cation channel and anion channel

Cation channel

Cation channel and water channel

Not Determined

Fig. 9. Expression of different set of claudins in every tissue of the organism. BBB, bloodbrain barrier; BC, Bowman capsule; PT, proximal tubule; tDLH, thin descending limb of
Henle; tALH, thin ascending limb of Henle; TALH, thick ascending limb of Henle; DT, distal
tubule; CT, collecting tubule.
Claudins are the building blocks of tight junction strands and upon transfection of claudins
cDNAs into cells that lack tight junctions like L-fibroblasts, well developed networks of
filaments are formed, similar to in situ tight junctions. Claudins interact through homotypic
and heterotypic associations and dimerize in homomeric and heteromeric manner (Fig. 8).
Although all epithelial cells express claudins, each tissue exhibits a particular set of claudins,
and some claudins are more ubiquitous than others (Fig. 9). For example claudins 1, 3 and 4
are present in a wide array of tissues, while claudin-5 is the dominant claudin in endothelia,
and claudin-11 in ear stria vascularis basal cells, Sertoli cells and oligodendrocytes. The

12

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

expression of claudins is a dynamic process that responds to physiological and pathological

conditions. For example, in the esophagus of subjects with reflux disease (Barretts), a
specialized columnar epithelium that expresses claudin-18 as the dominant claudin
develops as replacement of the damaged squamous epithelia. Claudin-18 increases TER and
reduces the paracellular permeability to H+, making the columnar epithelium in comparison
to the squamous epithelium, more resistant to acid. A somewhat similar case is found in the
alveolar epithelium that after acute lung injury expresses claudin-4, a cation barrier forming
claudin, as a mechanism to limit pulmonary edema. Another interesting example of a
specific change in tight junction protein expression is observed in pouchitis, a
remanifestation of the inflammatory bowel disease in the ileoanal pouch of patients that
have undergone surgical treatment for severe therapy refractory ulcerative colitis. In these
patients the expression in the pouch of claudin-1 decreases while claudin-2 increases. This
change has a pathophysiological relevance as an elevated expression of the cation pore
forming claudin-2 is observed in the colon of patients suffering from ulcerative colitis,
Crohns and celiac disease (Table 1).
Claudins might become major targets of drug development for electrolyte disorders since
they regulate the ionic selectivity of the paracellular route due to their function as cation
barriers (claudins 1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 19), cation channels (claudins 2, 10b, 15 and 16),
anion barriers (claudins 6 and 9) and anion pores (claudins 4 and 10a) (Figure 9). It is
noteworthy that claudin-18 forms paracellular water channels that mediate paracellular
water transport in leaky epithelia and that the presence of certain claudins regulates the
absorption of particular ions. In this respect it should be mentioned that claudin-16 was
the first claudin identified as a paracellular channel, however recent data indicate that
claudin-16 instead of being a channel for Mg2+/Ca2+ as initially reported, forms a nonselective paracellular cation channel, whose absence results in a collapse of the
transepithelial voltage, which is the driving force for Mg2+ and Ca2+ absorption in the
thick ascending loop of Henle.
The intestinal tract and the nephron display specific expression of claudins in each of their
respective segments. Thus in the proximal portion of these organs, namely duodenum and
jejunum and the proximal tubule and thin descending limb of Henles, a strong expression
of paracellular channels like claudin-2 is observed, whereas in the more distal parts like the
colon, distal tubule and collecting duct, more tightening claudins like 3, 4 and 8 are present
(Figure 9).
The development of claudin knock out, knock down, transgenic, and mutated mice, with a
particular phenotype, together with the identification of human and bovine hereditary
diseases affecting the expression of claudins, has unveiled unique and non redundant role of
certain claudins (Table 2). Hence it is observed that claudins 1 and 6 regulate the skin barrier
in mice, whereas in humans, claudin-1 controls the permeability of liver biliary ducts.
Claudin-5 is essential for the blood brain barrier, claudins 9 and 14 for the sensory
epithelium of the cochlea, claudin-11 for the blood testis barrier and oligodendrocyte
wrapping and claudins 2, 7, 16 and 19 for the renal reabsorption of ions. Claudin-15
promotes the proliferation of crypt cells of the small intestine and claudin-19 in mice is
fundamental for Schwann cell wrapping, while in humans it is critical for the organization
and development of the retina.

Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

Cerebral aneurysm
Chronic inflammatory pain
Edema
Epilepsy
Massive intracraneal hemorrhage and congenital cataracts.
Multiple sclerosis model (autoinmune encephalomyelitis)
Multiple sclerosis
Rehumatoid ar thritis (RA)
Age related nonsyndromic deafness (DFNA51)
Nonsyndromic deafness (DFNB49)
Barrett's esophagus
Reflux esophagitis
Diabetic retinopathy
Dry eye
Gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy
Retina pigmentosa
Celiac disease
Collagenous colitis
Crohn's disease
Non alcoholic fatty liver disease
Obstructive jaundice
Pouchitis
Type I diabetes
Ulcerative colitis
Intrahepatic cholestasis
Necrotizing enterocolitis
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Acute lung inflammation
Acute lung injury
Asthma
Chronic alcoholic ingestion
Sepsis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
ALS-mutant mice
Atherosclerosis

Brain

** In retinal pigment epithelium (oBRB).

Table 1. Pathologies related to tight junction dysfunction.

* In peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), predominantly in B and T lymphocytes and monocytes.

Vessels

Spinal cord

Lung

Liver

Intestine

Eye

Esophagus

Ear

Disease

Tissue

Cl-5

Cl-4

Cl-4
Cl-2
Cl-2
Cl-2

Cl-2

ZO-1
Cl-2, -3 and -4

Cl-18
Occ, Cl-1, JAM-A and ZO-1
Cl-1 **

Tricellulin mut

ND
Occ and ZO-1
Occ
Occ, Cl-5 and ZO-1
Cl-8 and ZO-1
JAM-C mut
JAM-A and ZO-1
Occ, Cl-5 and ZO-1
Occ

Downregulation

Occ, Cl-1 and ZO-1

Cl-1 and -7
Occ, Cl-4 and -18
Occ and ZO-1
Occ, Cl-5 and ZO-1
ZO-1

Occ and ZO-1

Occ and Cl-4
Occ, Cl-1, -5 and -8, JAM and ZO-1
ZO-1
Occ, Cl-1 and -7
Cl-1
Cl-1
Occ, Cl-1, JAM and ZO-1
7HG
Cl-3
7HG
7HG
ZO-1, Cl-2, -4 and -5

Cl-3
Occ, Cl-5 and ZO-1 and -2
Occ
Occ, Cl-1 and ZO-1

TJ disruption

ZO-2 genomic duplicarion

Cl-1 and -5 *

Cl-3 and -5

Occ, Cl-2, -5 and -11

Upregulation

Tight Junctions

13

KO, KD, TG and MT mice phenotype

KO: lethal, loss of skin barrier

KO: Defective reabsorption of NA+,Cl- and H2O at

proximal tubule
NA
NA
KO: lethal, permeable BBB
TG: permeable skin barrier
KO: lethal, renal salt wasting and dehydratation
NA
MT: Deafness
NA
NA
KO: Male sterility, hind limb weakness and deafness.
NA
KO: deafness

KO: Megaintestine
KD: FHHNC, no accumulation of Cl-19 at TAL

NA
NA
KO: disorganized Schwann cells TJs, abnormal
animal behavior and peripheral neuropathy
KD: FHHNC, no accumulation of Cl-16 in TAL

Claudin
1

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10a
10b
11
12
14

15
16

17
18
19

ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
H: Single nucleotide deletion loss of half of predicted
protein DFNB29
H: T254A/V85D disrupts secondary structure in 2nd TMD
DFNB29
ND
H: FHHNC
B: chronic interstitial nephritis ( blood urea nitrogen and
creatinin, urinary proteins)
ND
ND
H: FHHNC and severe visual impairment.
H: Mut G20D disturbance of signal peptide sequence
perinuclear protein
H: Mut Q57E (within W-GLW-C-C signature) dimerization
disruption
H: Mut L90P disrupts -helix in 2nd TMD

Hereditary human/bovine diseases

H: 2 bp deletion absence of Cl-1 neonatal sclerosing
cholangitis
ND

14
Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Table 2. Genetic alterations of claudins that impact mice development and human or bovine
health. B, bovine; BBB, blood-brain barrier; DFNB29, non syndromic deafness; FHHNC,
familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalcuria and nephrocalcinosis; H, human; KD, knockdown; KO, knock-out; MT, mutation; NA, not available; ND, not determined; TAL, thick
ascending limb of Henle; TG, transgenic; TMD, transmembrane domain.

Tight Junctions

15

5.1.2 Occludin and MarvelD3

From a group of monoclonal antibodies generated against a junctional fraction from chicken
liver, three were selected for specifically recognizing an integral tight junction protein
thereafter named occludin for the Latin word occludere that means to close up. Occludin
has four membrane spanning domains and two loops with a high content of tyrosine and
glycine residues exposed towards the extracellular space and flanked by a short amino and
a large carboxyl terminal tail oriented towards the cytoplasm. The distal C-terminus of
occludin forms a coiled-coil region essential for ZO-1 binding, while the amino tail
associates to the E3 ubiquitin protein ligase Itch that regulates occludin degradation at the
proteosome.
Transfection of occludin cDNA into L-fibroblasts induces the formation of only a small
number of short strands, and is not only after the fibroblasts are co-transfected with claudin
that well developed strands are formed, hence indicating that occludin is an accessory
protein and not the main builder of tight junction strands.
The function of occludin has remained uncertain. On one hand the evidence indicates that
occludin mediates adhesion at the tight junction since lowering the expression level of
occludin, deleting the carboxyl tail of the protein, treating epithelia with peptides
homologous to occludin extracellular loops and occludin endocytosis, disrupt the barrier
function of tight junctions. In the other hand, the results with occludin knockout mice,
reveal that the animals are viable with healthy epidermal, respiratory, renal and intestinal
function but with small size, testicular atrophy, male infertility, gastritis, salivary gland
dysfunction, thinning of compact bone and brain calcifications. These contrasting results
indicate that although occludin is important for the establishment of cell-cell adhesion at the
tight junction, other proteins can somehow replace its function. Thus it seems that the
tretraspan proteins MarvelD3 and tricellulin, that respectively concentrate at bicellular
(where two cells meet) and tricellular (where three cells meet) tight junctions, can partially
compensate for occludin loss. In this respect for example it is observed that tricellulin is
displaced to bicellular tight junctions upon occludin knockdown.
Recent evidence suggests a role for occludin in growth regulation. Thus occludin regulates
the directional migration of epithelial cells by promoting the leading edge localization of the
polarity proteins aPKC, Par3 and PATJ, and controls cell cycle progression by regulating
centrosome separation and mitotic entry. This capacity is due to occludin localization at
centrosomes during interphase and occludin phosphorylation at serine 490.
By SDS-PAGE occludin appears as a set of bands between 62 and 82 kDa. The lower bands
are detergent soluble and correspond to the protein that distributes along the basolateral
membrane, while the higher bands are insoluble, highly phosphorylated in serine
residues and belong to the form of occludin that concentrates at tight junctions. The
carboxyl terminal tail of occludin is a phosphorylation target of novel PKC and casein
kinases 2 and I, and of protein phosphatases 2A and 1 that respectively dephosphorylate
occludin in threonine and serine residues. Through this action both phosphatases
negatively regulate the assembly of tight junctions. In contrast, in retinal pigment
epithelial cells, endothelia and in the blood brain barrier, tyrosine phosphorylation of

16

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

occludin, induced by hepatocyte growth factor, ischemia and shear or oxidative stress,
impairs the barrier integrity of tight junctions, and this process is accompanied by a
concomitant increase in the activity of c-Src and FAK tyrosine kinases. Interestingly, the in
vitro phosphorylation of occludin carboxyl terminal tail by c-Src, diminishes the capacity
of occludin to interact with ZO proteins.
5.1.3 Tricellulin and LSR are proteins present in tricellular tight junctions
Freeze-fracture images show how at tricellular tight junctions, the most apical elements of
the strands in bicellular tight junctions from both sides turn to and extend in the basal
direction. Hence three pair of central sealing elements form a narrow tube in the
extracellular space at the center of each tricellular contact. Short strands connect the
bicellular tight junctions to the central sealing elements giving this structure an image that
somehow resembles that of a fish skeleton placed upside down (Fig 7B).
Tricellulin and LSR concentrate in the central sealing elements of tricellular tight
junctions. Tricellulin is a 65 kDa protein, structurally similar to occludin. Loss of the
conserved carboxyl cytosolic domain of tricellulin is a cause of nonsyndromic deafness.
Suppression of tricellulin expression compromises the barrier function of epithelial cells
and overexpression of tricellulin increases the barrier towards ions and larger solutes.
Tricellulin is excluded from bicellular tight junctions by occludin and is recruited to
tricellular tight junctions by LSR, the receptor for triacylglyceride-rich proteins. The latter
is a single span 585 amino acid protein with an extracellular Ig domain. LSR defines
tricellular contacts in epithelial sheets, therefore LSR knockdown prevents the
accumulation of tricellulin, while LSR accumulates at tricellular contacts even when
tricellulin is knocked down.
5.1.4 JAMs are single span proteins important for tight junction assembly, cell
migration, leukocyte transmigration, platelet activation and angiogenesis
JAM proteins constitute a family whose members exhibit two extracellular Ig domains, a
single transmembrane region and a cytoplasmic tail with a canonical PDZ binding motif (Fig
7A). The family has two groups. One integrated by JAM-A, JAM-B and JAM-C with a short
cytoplasmic tail of 45-50 residues and a type II PDZ binding motif, and another that includes
CAR, ESAM, JAM4, CRTAM and BT-IgSF with cytoplasmic domains of 80-165 amino acids
and type I PDZ domains. JAM-A is present in hematopoietic cells including monocytes,
lymphocytes and red blood cells. Epithelial and endothelial cells exhibit JAM-A and CAR,
whereas JAM-B, JAM-C and ESAM are expressed only in endothelial cells, and JAM4 and
CRTAM only in epithelia. With the exception of JAM-B and CRTAM that localize along the
lateral membrane and BT-IgSF that is present in neuron and glial cells, the rest of the
proteins of the JAM family concentrate at the tight junction.
JAM proteins establish homophilic (e.g. endothelial JAM-A with platelet or endothelial
JAM-A) and heterophilic interactions (Fig 10). The latter, with other members of the JAM
family (e.g. endothelial JAM-B with endothelial or leukocyte JAM-C) and with other types of
cell adhesion molecules such as integrins (e.g. endothelial JAM-A with integrin LFA-1 in
leukocytes and integrin 3 in endothelial cells; endothelial JAM-B with integrin VLA4 in

Tight Junctions

17

leukocytes; and endothelial JAM-C with integrin MAC1 in leukocytes, and platelet JAM-C
with integrins x2 and MAC1 in leukocytes).
Crystal structural analysis of the extracellular regions of JAM-A reveals that the membrane
distal V type Ig domain of two JAM proteins interconnect forming a U shaped cis
homodimer, through a dimerization motif [R(V,I,L)E] also conserved in JAM-A JAM-B,
JAM-C. These cis dimers are proposed to then interact between cells in trans, forming a
zipper type seal (Fig. 10).

Fig. 10. Schematic representation of the homophilic and heterophilic interactions between
JAM proteins. The scheme shows the homophilic interaction between JAM-A proteins and
the heterophilic association between JAM-B and JAM-C. The cis interaction between the
distal Ig domains of JAMs in the same cell forms a U shaped homodimer and the trans
interaction between JAMs in neighboring cells forms a seal that resembles a zipper.
The function of JAMs is complex as they are important for tight junction assembly, cell
migration, leukocyte transmigration, platelet activation, angiogenesis and virus binding.
Leukocytes bind JAMs present on the endothelial surface, adhere to the endothelia and then
transmigrate interacting with JAMs proteins that form an adhesive tunnel at the
paracellular pathway between endothelial cells.

18

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

JAMs are the first integral proteins to appear at tight junctions, where they tether other
proteins to this location. Thus JAM-A transfected into fibroblasts promotes the localization
of ZO-1, AF6, CASK and occludin to points of cell-cell contact, and in epithelial cells JAM
association with Par3, tethers the complex Par3/Par6/aPKC to tight junctions. The correct
location of this complex is crucial for the establishment of the apical-basal polarity of
epithelial cells.
Decreasing or ablating the expression of JAMs has been another strategy recently employed
to evaluate the roles of these proteins. Thus, for JAM-C, it was observed that most null mice
die during postnatal development due to infections and that the surviving males are
infertile and fail to produce mature sperm cells. This agrees with previous observations
showing that in order for germ cells to move along Sertoli cells they need to establish
various types of trans homo and heterodimers including that formed between JAM-C
present on the spermatids and JAM-B present in Sertoli cells.
JAM-A knock out mice have a distinct phenotype characterized for an increased
gastrointestinal permeability, colon neutrophil infiltration, increased colonic cell
proliferation and a higher sensitivity for the development of experimental colitis when
compared to wild type animals. JAM-A silencing in epithelial cell lines results in an
impaired tight junction barrier function, an increased expression of the leaky claudins 10
and 15 and a concomitant decrease in claudin-1. Interestingly, the expression of JAM-A
dominant negative mutants that are dimerization defective or lack the PDZ binding domain,
reduces the rate of cell migration, which is important in endothelial cells for the promotion
of angiogenesis and in epithelial sheets for the wound healing process. Apparently this is
due to the fact that the down regulation of JAM-A reduces the level of active GTP-bound
Rap1, which in turn reduces the stability of 1 integrin, which is necessary for cell
migration. Similarly, it was observed that ESAM knock out mice have a retarded tumor
growth that is associated to a diminished vascular density. This agrees with observations in
ESAM null endothelial cells showing less migratory and angiogenic activity. These results
hence indicate that ESAM is critical for blood vessel assembly.
5.2 Peripheral tight junction proteins
At the submembranous region of the tight junction more than 40 proteins have been
identified. Some are signaling proteins that under certain circumstances concentrate at the
tight junction. Such is the case of kinases, phosphatases, phospholipases, G proteins and
transcription factors. In this section however we will only describe peripheral proteins
essential for tight junction assembly and function. The latter can be classified based on the
presence in their sequence of a domain known as PDZ. This domain establishes homotypic
interactions with other PDZ domains and heterotypic associations with precise motifs (e.g.
S/TXV or X, where corresponds to a hydrophobic amino acid and X to any amino acid)
present at the carboxyl terminal region of certain proteins. Some tight junction proteins like
PAR6 contain a single PDZ domain, while others like PATJ and MUPP1 contain ten or more
PDZ domains (Fig 11).
In addition to the PDZ domain, various peripheral proteins of the tight junction contain SH3
and guanylate kinase (GK) domains that serve as protein-protein binding domains with no

Tight Junctions

19

inherent catalytic activity. The presence of PDZ, SH3 and GK domains is the characteristic
feature of proteins that belong to the MAGUK family. Among these proteins, ZO-1, ZO-2
and ZO-3, as well as Pals1, are present at the tight junction while other members of the
MAGUK family localize at the adherens (e.g. Disc large) and synaptic (e.g. PSD95, SAP97
and Chapsyn-110) junctions. At the cytoplasmic region of the tight junction proteins named
inverted MAGUKs or MAGIs are also present. These proteins contain six PDZ domains, a
GK module and a WW domain instead of the SH3 region (Fig 11). Both the SH3 and WW
domains establish molecular interactions with motifs with a precise proline consensus.

Fig. 11. Schematic representation of peripheral tight junction proteins with PDZ domains.
Proteins that belong to the MAGUK protein family contain SH3 and GK domains in
addition to PDZ modules. ZO proteins have 3 PDZ domains whereas Pals1 has a single one.
MAGI proteins have an inverted organization since the GK domain is present before the
majority of PDZ domains. MAGIs have WW domains instead of SH3. Multiple PDZ
containing proteins include MUPP1 and PATJ that respectively have 13 and 10 PDZ
domains.
In the peripheral tight junction proteins, the presence of multiple protein-protein binding
domains like PDZ, SH3, WW and GK explains their function as molecular scaffolds for the
formation of multiprotein complexes and for the linkage of the transmembrane proteins of
the tight junction to the actin cytoskeleton.
5.2.1 ZOs are scaffolding proteins essential for claudin polymerization
The word ZO is an acronym of Zonula Occludens, the Latin name for tight junctions and
number one in ZO-1 reveals that it was the first tight junction protein ever identified.

20

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Although the genes of the MAGUK proteins MAGI and DLG are already present in
unicellular protists, those of the ZO proteins are absent in unicellular organism. In the
sponges, multicellular animals with no distinct embryonic cell layers and no true organs, the
ancestral gene for ZO proteins named CARMA like is present and contains in addition to
the PDZ, SH3 and GK domains a CARD region. The ZO gene first appears in the Placozoa,
a flat multicellular animal that lacks tight junctions and instead exhibits adherens junctions.
In Hydra, a Cnidaria with two embryonic cell layers, the endoderm and the ectoderm, and in
the Bilateria Drosophila and Caenorhabditis that have the additional embryonic cell layer of
the mesoderm, a ZO protein is present at the zonula adherens and no tight junction
structure is distinguishable. In the Craniata an expansion of the gene gave rise to three ZO
paralogues: ZO-1, ZO-2 and ZO-3 present at tight junctions. The ZO gene present in
Placozoa, Cnidaria and Bilateria contains a ZU5 domain, similar to that present in Craniata
ZO-1, hence suggesting that ZO-2 and ZO-3 arose as an expansion of ZO-1 that lost the ZU5
domain.
ZO proteins act as a bridge between the integral proteins of the tight junction and the actin
cytoskeleton (Fig. 12). Thus through their first and third PDZ domains they respectively
associate with claudins and JAMs, and by the SH3-GK region with occludin. ZOs interact
with actin and actin binding proteins like 4.1, through a proline rich region that in ZO-1 and
ZO-2 is located at the carboxyl segment, whereas in ZO-3 is present between PDZ-2 and
PDZ-3. ZO-1 and ZO-2 also associate to myosin IIa.
ZO proteins have the capacity to form through their second PDZ domains homo and
heterodimers. With respect to the latter, ZO-1/ZO-2 and ZO-1/ZO-3 but not ZO-2/ZO-3
interactions have been detected. ZO proteins also bind to other tight junction peripheral
proteins like cingulin, and in the case of ZO-1 this association occurs through the GK
domain.
In vertebrates, ZO proteins are not exclusively present in tight junctions. Thus in fibroblasts,
and in epithelial cells, at the initial stages of assembly of the apical junctional complex, ZOs
are detected at adherens junctions, where ZO-1 binds to afadin and and catenins, ZO-2
to -catenin and ZO-3 to afadin and p120 catenin. ZO proteins also interact with a wide
variety of gap junction conexins.
ZO-1 and ZO-2 play a crucial role in the polymerization of claudins, as no tight junction
strands are formed in ZO-1 knock out/ZO-2 knock down cells. They however appear to
have a redundant role since the reintroduction of one protein or the other, provokes the
reappearance of tight junction strands. Although claudins associate to the first PDZ domain
of ZO-1 and ZO-2, a construct containing only the PDZ domains of ZO-1 (N-ZO-1) is
incapable of inducing claudin polymerization, even when it is forcibly recruited to the
plasma membrane by the introduction of a myristoylation sequence. Only after the addition
of a homodimerizer, the N-ZO-1 segment is capable of producing the appearance of TJ
strands throughout the lateral membrane. Instead, when a longer construct that includes
the SH3-GK domain is used, claudins polymerize at the correct site, the limit between the
apical and the lateral membrane. Taken together these results indicate that the dimerization
of ZO-1 or ZO-2, mediated by PDZ-2, at the TJ region, determined by the SH3-GK domain,
induces the polymerization of claudins.

Tight Junctions

21

Fig. 12. ZOs form scaffolds that regulate claudin polymerization, integral proteins
anchorage to the cytoskeleton and gene transcription. ZO-1 and ZO-2 dimerization and
localization at the tight junction is required for claudin polymerization into strands. ZOs act
as a bridge between the integral proteins of the tight junction and the actin cytoskeleton. At
the nucleus ZO-2 associates to factors that regulate gene transcription.
During development ZO-1 and ZO-2 are essential as KO mice embryos are not viable. ZO1 KO dies around embryonic stage 10.5 due to massive apoptosis at the neural tube,
notochord and allantois and defective angiogenesis in the yolk sac. ZO-2 KO mice die
shortly after implantation around E7.5 due to an arrest in early gastrulation. ZO-2 mice
chimeras, obtained after injecting ZO-2 KO embryonic stem cells into wild type blastocyst,
are viable, yet the males are infertile due to a defective blood testis barrier. Thus,
indicating that ZO-2 is essential for the development of the extraembryonic tissue, and for
the proper barrier function of tight junctions between Sertoli cells. In contrast, ZO-3 KO
mice lack an obvious phenotype. This is interesting since in zebra fish ZO-3 KO embryos
develop edema, loss of blood circulation, tail fin malformations and loss of the epidermal
barrier.
In cultured epithelial monolayers, silencing of ZO-1 or ZO-2 retards tight junction formation
and disorganizes the cortical ring of actin.
ZOs contain several putative nuclear localization (NLS) and exportation signals (NES).
The four NES of ZO-2 are functional and the activity of NES-1 is regulated by PKC
phosphorylation. The presence of ZO-1 and ZO-2 at the nucleus is determined by the state
of confluence of the culture. Thus, in sparse monolayers ZO-1 and ZO-2 concentrate at the
tight junction and the nucleus, whereas in confluent cultures almost no nuclear staining of
these proteins is detected. ZO-2 enters the nucleus at late G1 and departs at mitosis, thus
explaining why in confluent quiescent cells the protein is absent from the nucleus. At the
nucleus ZO-2 associates with nuclear lamina 1 and is distributed in speckles, rich in the
essential splicing factor SC-35. ZO-1 and ZO-2 have the capacity to interact with
transcription factors and to regulate gene transcription (Fig. 12). Thus ZO-2 associates
with C/EBP, Jun and Fos transcription factors and inhibits the transcription of artificial
promoters regulated by AP-1 sites, and through its association with c-myc negatively

22

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

regulates the transcription of cyclin D1. In accordance ZO-2 overexpression blocks cell
cycle progression from G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle and inhibits cells proliferation.
ZO-1 instead, through its SH3 domain, sequesters away from the nucleus, the Y box
transcription factor ZONAB. Nuclear ZONAB stimulates cell proliferation by interacting
with the cyclin D1 binding kinase CDK4, by promoting its nuclear accumulation and by
inducing the transcription of CD1 and PCNA, a DNA replication and repair factor.
5.2.2 Cingulin and JACOP/paracingulin are tight junction proteins that regulate the
activity of Rho GTPases
Cingulin is a 140 kDa protein exclusive of vertebrate tight junctions. Cingulin was identified
with a monoclonal antibody raised against a preparation of chicken brush border myosin.
As the immunofluorescence showed that the antigen localized as a belt below the apical
surface it was named cingulin from the Latin word cingere meaning to encircle. Cingulin
forms parallel homodimers, where each subunit consists of a large globular amino terminal
head, a small globular carboxyl terminal tail and a coiled-coil rod domain homologous to
the one present in conventional nonmuscle myosins (Fig 13). Cingulin is not an actin
dependent motor protein but at least in vitro displays actin bundling activity. Through the
head cingulin interacts with actin, myosin, ZO-1, ZO-2, ZO-3, afadin and the carboxyl
terminal regions of JAM-A and occludin and through both rod and tail domains with nonmuscle myosin II and ZO-3.
Disruption of cingulin gene does not prevent tight junction formation but alters the
expression of other junctional proteins. Thus, in mouse embryoid bodies an increased
expression of ZO-2, occludin and claudin-6 is observed concomitant with a decreased
expression of ZO-1, whereas in MDCK cells, cingulin silencing increases protein levels of
ZO-3 and claudin-2. The latter effect is mediated by an increment in RhoA activity. In this
respect it is important to highlight that binding of cingulin at the tight junction to the
guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates RhoA named GEF-H1, results in
downregulation of RhoA signaling and inhibition of cell proliferation.
Employing a monoclonal antibody against a chicken cytoplasmic antigen that localizes at
the apical junctional complex, a protein similar to cingulin was identified and named
JACOP for junction associated coiled-coil protein. Later, by searching EST sequences for
their homologies to cingulin, a cDNA was identified and named paracingulin. JACOP and
paracingulin are the same protein. JACOP/paracingulin is a 160 kDa protein with a domain
organization similar to cingulin and 40% sequence identity. JACOP/paracingulin besides
acting as a down regulator of RhoA through the recruitment of GEF-H1, promotes the
activation of Rac1 by recruiting to junctions the GEF activator for Rac1 named Tiam1. In
epithelial cells this is important since the acquisition of confluence is paralleled by a
reduction of active Rho A levels and the activation of Rac1 and Cdc42, other members of the
Rho family of small GTPases.
Unlike cingulin which is a tight junction specific protein, paracingulin localizes at both tight
and adherens junctions. At the tight junction JACOP/paracingulin is recruited through ZO1, whereas at the adherens junction it interacts with PLEKHA7, a protein that associates to
the E-cadherin binding protein catenin p120.

Tight Junctions

23

Fig. 13. Cingulin forms parallel homodimers. Each subunit of cingulin has a large globular
amino terminal head, a small globular carboxyl terminal tail and a coiled-coil rod domain
homologous to nonmuscle myosins.

6. Pathologies related to tight junction dysfunction

As table 1 shows, a wide array of pathologies affecting different organs are related to tight
junction dysfunction. For example, the development of a leaky blood brain barrier is
associated to various pathologies including stroke, cerebral aneurysms, cerebral edema,
multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Alzheimer disease. Frequently, the decreased expression of
tight junction proteins precedes the onset of the clinical disease. Thus, brain edema surges
as a consequence of impaired capillary endothelial cells; tight junction destruction is
proposed to facilitate aneurism formation, and abnormal blood flow is thought to down
regulate tight junction proteins, which leads to leakage of blood components into the central
nervous system tissue and to the development of autoimmune diseases like multiple
sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Interestingly, the chronic ingestion of saturated
fatty acids appears to generate blood brain barrier dysfunction enhancing the brain delivery
of amyloid- and exacerbating the amyloidogenic cascade that facilitates the development of
Alzheimer disease. In other pathologies instead, a compromised blood brain barrier is a
direct consequence of the disease. Such is the case of epilepsy, where seizures trigger the
down regulation of tight junction proteins.
Disruption of the blood retinal barrier occurs in several blinding ocular diseases. For
example in diabetic retinopathy breakdown of the inner blood retinal barrier is one of the
initial alterations. Therefore strategies to revert the damage, have focused on the
employment of drugs like the pseudo sugar derivative of cholesterol Sac-0601, the statin
lovastatin, calcium dobesilate and rottlerin, that target VEGF, TNF, MAPK and NF-B, and
PKC respectively, which are factors that promote tight junction protein breakdown in
retinal endothelial cells.
In the intestine, the development of an impaired barrier function has two main
consequences, leak flux diarrhea and the uptake of antigens that under normal conditions
are prevented from entering the body, and that can aggravate or initiate inflammation as

24

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

well as autoimmune diseases. In pathological conditions of autoimmune origin like type I

diabetes, ulcerative colitis, Crohns and celiac disease, the transepithelial electrical resistance
of the intestine is markedly reduced and an increase in the pore forming claudin-2 is
generally observed.
Sometimes the failure of one organ leads to a major damage in another. For example, during
acute liver failure, the generation of tumor necrosis factor produces the disruption of the
blood brain barrier and the consequent cerebral edema that leads to cerebral herniation and
death, and non alcoholic liver failure and obstructive jaundice produce an increased
intestinal permeability coupled to the loss of tight junction proteins.

Table 3. Regulation of tight junction proteins in cancer

Tight junctions are lost during cellular transformation. Therefore it came as a surprise that
while the expression of TAMPs decreases in all types of cancers studied, that of other tight
junction proteins like JAMs and ZOs is up or down regulated, depending on the type of
cancer, and the stage of development of the disease. In the case of certain claudins like 2, 3, 4
and 7 the result is more surprising as they are generally overexpressed in cancerous tissue
(Table 3). Downregulation of tight junction proteins in cancer is easy to understand, as the
loss of cell adhesion promotes the transformation of polarized polygonal cells into mobile
elongated cells with invasive potential. Instead the upregulation of tight junction proteins in
cancer is more difficult to comprehend. Several explanations can be given. For example, the

Tight Junctions

25

aberrant expression might reflect cytosolic and nuclear accumulation of tight junction
proteins, in a scenario where these molecules could serve as oncogenic factors. In this
respect, it should be mentioned that claudin expression increases migration and motility,
and promotes activation of metalloproteinases.

7. Pathogenic organism that affect the tight junction

Epithelia block the entry of microorganisms into the body, hence it is not surprising to find
that a variety of pathogenic microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to control tight
junctions in order to obtain a gateway of access to the underlying tissue. Some pathogens
use tight junction proteins as their receptors for attachment and subsequent internalization.
Such is the case of hepatitis C virus with occludin, claudins 1, 6 and 9; reovirus and feline
calicivirus with JAM-A, and Coxsackie and adenovirus with CAR.
Viruses promote their spreading through the disruption of endothelial or epithelial
barriers. Some viruses disrupt epithelial tight junctions by sequestering PDZ containing
proteins. Such is the case for example of cancer causing human papillomaviruses types 16
and 18, whose E protein that contains a PDZ binding motif, targets MAGI-1 for
degradation producing mislocalization of ZO-1 and loss of tight junction integrity. In a
similar fashion the small envelope protein E of SARS coronavirus, the causative agent of
severe respiratory infections, has a PDZ binding motif that targets PALS1, a tight junction
associated protein member of the Crumbs-PALS1-PATJ complex, to the endoplasmic
reticulum-Golgi region, disrupting in consequence tight junctions and the respiratory
tract epithelial integrity.
HIV virus proteins Tat and gp120 open the blood brain barrier, the blood retinal barrier and
the tight junctions of the intestine and female genital tract, allowing the microbial
translocation to the brain, eye and body interstitium.
Some viral proteins like the spike forming VP8 protein of rotavirus, modulates the gate and
fence function of tight junctions in epithelial cells.
Other pathogens destroy tight junctions and as a result open the paracellular pathway (Fig
14). For example, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli injects into the cytoplasm of host cells, the
bacterial receptor Tir that binds to the bacterial adhesin intimin, and the pathogenic protein
EspF. The latter that contains PDZ binding motifs and proline rich domains which act as
actin nucleation centers, produces dissociation of occludin/claudin-1/ZO-1 complexes from
the cell borders and recruits these proteins to actin rich pedestals formed beneath the
bacteria, due to the phosphorylation of Tir and the consequent activation of the N-WASPArp2/3 pathway. Other bacteria like Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella flexneri, the
respective causative agents of listeriosis and shigellosis, also recruit ZO-1 to the distal
portion of actin filaments that like comet tails associate through, N-WASP or its Listeria
homologue ActA, to the internalized bacteria.
Several bacterial toxins disassemble tight junction proteins. For example,
lipopolysaccharide, the main component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, is an
endotoxin that opens the blood brain barrier and induces neurological dysfunction. Other
toxins disassemble tight junction proteins by altering the cortical ring of actin-myosin and
its key regulators Rho and myosin light chain proteins.

26

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 14. Pathogens interaction with tight junction proteins A) EPEC produces dissociation of
tight junction proteins from the cell borders and recruits these proteins to actin rich
pedestals B) Listeria monocytogenes and C) Shigella flexneri, sequester ZO-1 to their actin
comet tails, D) Helicobacter pylori, translocates CagA protein, disrupting claudins 4 and 5
expression. E) Clostridium difficile, secretes toxins TcdA and B leading to tight junction
proteins dissociation. F) Salmonella typhimurium, inserts effector proteins that stimulate Rho,
disrupting tight junction protein expression. H) Vibrio cholera, injects ZOT leading to ZO-1
and occludin disassembly from tight junction. H) Pseudomonas aeruginosa translocates toxin
ExoS redistributing ZO-1 and occludin. I) Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin binds to the
second extracellular loop of claudins 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 14, producing cell lysis. EPEC,
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli; MLCK, myosin light chain kinase; pMLC, phosphorylated
myosin light chain; Rock, rho kinase; CPE, C. perfringens enterotoxin.

Tight Junctions

27

For example: 1) Helicobacter pylori, a causative agent of gastritis, gastric ulcers and cancer,
translocates CagA protein to the host cell cytoplasm where it activates myosin light chain
kinase producing the phosphorylation of myosin light chain and disrupting claudin 4 and 5
expression. In a manner independent of CagA and dependent of interleukin-1 receptor
phosphorylation, H. pylori is able induce Rho kinase activation that disrupts claudin-4
expression. CagA also ectopically assembles ZO-1 and JAM-A at sites of bacterial
attachment 2) In Clostridium difficile, the etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis, toxins
TcdA and B inactivate Rho and hence disorganize the apical ring of actin and dissociate
tight junction proteins from the lateral membrane. 3) Salmonella typhimurium, a major cause
of gastroenteritis, secretes into the host cell the effector proteins SopB, E, E2 and SipA that
stimulate Rho proteins and disrupt tight junction protein expression. 4) Vibrio cholera, the
etiologic agent of cholera injects a protein named ZOT that induces PKC activation and
subsequent phosphorylation of myosin and ZO-1 that provokes the disengagement of ZO-1
from occludin and claudin at the tight junction. 5) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria
frequently present in cystic fibrosis and pneumonia patients, translocates toxin ExoS whose
ADP-ribosylating domain disrupts the cytoskeleton and produces redistribution of ZO-1
and occludin.
Other bacterial toxins employ tight junction proteins as their receptors at the plasma
membrane. Thus Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin binds to the second extracellular loop of
claudins 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 14, and forms an insoluble complex that alters plasma membrane
permeability, producing cell lysis. Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin might serve as
strategy against cancer as it elicits cytolisis of breast, prostate, ovarian and pancreatic cancer
cells that overexpress claudins 3 and 4.
Recommended reading
Claudins
(Furuse et al., 1998), (Furuse et al., 2002), (Nitta et al., 2003), (Turksen and Troy, 2002),
(Tatum et al., 2010), (Nakano et al., 2009), (Gow et al., 1999), (Gow et al., 2004), (Ben-Yosef et
al., 2003), (Tamura et al., 2008), (Simon et al., 1999), (Miyamoto et al., 2005), (Hou et al., 2009),
(Angelow et al., 2008)
Occludin
(Furuse et al., 1993), (Traweger et al., 2002), (Sakakibara et al., 1997), (Saitou et al., 2000),
(Furuse et al., 1998), (Du et al., 2010), (Runkle et al., 2011)
MarvelD3
(Raleigh et al., 2010), (Steed et al., 2009)
Tricellulin
(Ikenouchi et al., 2005), (Ikenouchi et al., 2008)
LSR
(Masuda et al., 2011)
JAMs
(Hirabayashi and Hata, 2006), (Weber et al., 2007), (Kostrewa et al., 2001), (Laukoetter et al.,
2007), (Pellegrini et al., 2011), (Ishida et al., 2003)

28

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

ZO proteins
(de Mendoza et al., 2010), (Gonzalez-Mariscal et al., 2011), (Lopez-Bayghen et al., 2006),
(Tapia et al., 2009), (Umeda et al., 2006), (Katsuno et al., 2008), (Xu et al., 2008) (Xu et al.,
2009), (McCrea et al., 2009)
Cingulin and Paracingulin
(Guillemont and Citi, 2006), (Guillemot and Citi, 2006), (Guillemot et al., 2008), (Aijaz et al.,
2005)
Tight junctions and disease
(Guttman and Finlay, 2009), (Singh et al., 2010), (Gonzalez-Mariscal et al., 2007)

8. References
Aijaz, S., D'Atri, F., Citi, S., Balda, M.S., and Matter, K. (2005). Binding of GEF-H1 to the tight
junction-associated adaptor cingulin results in inhibition of Rho signaling and
G1/S phase transition. Dev. Cell 8, 777-786.
Angelow, S., Ahlstrom, R., and Yu, A.S. (2008). Biology of claudins. Am. J. Physiol Renal
Physiol 295, F867-F876.
Ben-Yosef, T. et al. (2003). Claudin 14 knockout mice, a model for autosomal recessive
deafness DFNB29, are deaf due to cochlear hair cell degeneration. Hum. Mol. Genet.
12, 2049-2061.
de Mendoza, A., Suga, H., and Ruiz-Trillo, I. (2010). Evolution of the MAGUK protein gene
family in premetazoan lineages. BMC. Evol. Biol. 10, 93.
Du, D. et al. (2010). The tight junction protein, occludin, regulates the directional migration
of epithelial cells. Dev. Cell 18, 52-63.
Furuse, M., Hata, M., Furuse, K., Yoshida, Y., Haratake, A., Sugitani, Y., Noda, T., Kubo, A.,
and Tsukita, S. (2002). Claudin-based tight junctions are crucial for the mammalian
epidermal barrier: a lesson from claudin-1-deficient mice. J. Cell Biol. 156, 1099-1111.
Furuse, M., Hirase, T., Itoh, M., Nagafuchi, A., Yonemura, S., Tsukita, S., and Tsukita, S.
(1993). Occludin: a novel integral membrane protein localizing at tight junctions. J.
Cell Biol. 123, 1777-1788.
Furuse, M., Sasaki, H., Fujimoto, K., and Tsukita, S. (1998). A single gene product, claudin-1
or -2, reconstitutes tight junction strands and recruits occludin in fibroblasts. J. Cell
Biol. 143, 391-401.
Gonzalez-Mariscal, L., Lechuga, S., and Garay, E. (2007). Role of tight junctions in cell
proliferation and cancer. Prog. Histochem. Cytochem. 42, 1-57.
Gonzalez-Mariscal, L., Quiros, M., and Diaz-Coranguez, M. (2011). ZO Proteins and RedoxDependent Processes. Antioxid. Redox. Signal.
Gow, A., Davies, C., Southwood, C.M., Frolenkov, G., Chrustowski, M., Ng, L., Yamauchi,
D., Marcus, D.C., and Kachar, B. (2004). Deafness in Claudin 11-null mice reveals
the critical contribution of basal cell tight junctions to stria vascularis function. J.
Neurosci. 24, 7051-7062.
Gow, A., Southwood, C.M., Li, J.S., Pariali, M., Riordan, G.P., Brodie, S.E., Danias, J.,
Bronstein, J.M., Kachar, B., and Lazzarini, R.A. (1999). CNS myelin and sertoli cell
tight junction strands are absent in Osp/claudin-11 null mice. Cell 99, 649-659.

Tight Junctions

29

Guillemont, L. and Citi, S. (2006). Cingulin, a Cytoskeleton Associated Protein of the Tight
Junction. In: Tight Junctions, ed. L.Gonzalez-MariscalGeorgetown and New York:
Landes Bioscience and Springer, 54-63.
Guillemot, L. and Citi, S. (2006). Cingulin regulates claudin-2 expression and cell
proliferation through the small GTPase RhoA. Mol. Biol. Cell 17, 3569-3577.
Guillemot, L., Paschoud, S., Jond, L., Foglia, A., and Citi, S. (2008). Paracingulin regulates
the activity of Rac1 and RhoA GTPases by recruiting Tiam1 and GEF-H1 to
epithelial junctions. Mol. Biol. Cell 19, 4442-4453.
Guttman, J.A. and Finlay, B.B. (2009). Tight junctions as targets of infectious agents. Biochim.
Biophys. Acta 1788, 832-841.
Hirabayashi, S. and Hata, Y. (2006). JAM Family Proteins: Tight Junction Proteins That
Belong to the Immunoglobulin Superfamily. In: Tight Junctions, ed. L.GonzalezMariscalGeorgetown and New York: Springer and Landes Bioscience, 43-53.
Hou, J., Renigunta, A., Gomes, A.S., Hou, M., Paul, D.L., Waldegger, S., and Goodenough,
D.A. (2009). Claudin-16 and claudin-19 interaction is required for their assembly
into tight junctions and for renal reabsorption of magnesium. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
U. S. A 106, 15350-15355.
Ikenouchi, J., Furuse, M., Furuse, K., Sasaki, H., Tsukita, S., and Tsukita, S. (2005). Tricellulin
constitutes a novel barrier at tricellular contacts of epithelial cells. J. Cell Biol. 171,
939-945.
Ikenouchi, J., Sasaki, H., Tsukita, S., Furuse, M., and Tsukita, S. (2008). Loss of occludin
affects tricellular localization of tricellulin. Mol. Biol. Cell 19, 4687-4693.
Ishida, T., Kundu, R.K., Yang, E., Hirata, K., Ho, Y.D., and Quertermous, T. (2003). Targeted
disruption of endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule inhibits angiogenic
processes in vitro and in vivo. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 34598-34604.
Katsuno, T. et al. (2008). Deficiency of zonula occludens-1 causes embryonic lethal
phenotype associated with defected yolk sac angiogenesis and apoptosis of
embryonic cells. Mol. Biol. Cell 19, 2465-2475.
Kostrewa, D. et al. (2001). X-ray structure of junctional adhesion molecule: structural basis
for homophilic adhesion via a novel dimerization motif. EMBO J. 20, 4391-4398.
Laukoetter, M.G. et al. (2007). JAM-A regulates permeability and inflammation in the
intestine in vivo. J. Exp. Med. 204, 3067-3076.
Lopez-Bayghen, E., Jaramillo, B., Huerta, M., Betanzos, A., and Gonzlez-Mariscal, L. (2006). TJ
Proteins That Make Round Trips to the Nucleus. In: Tight Junctions, ed. L.GonzalezMariscalNew York and Georgetown: Springer Science and Landes Bioscience, 76-100.
Masuda, S., Oda, Y., Sasaki, H., Ikenouchi, J., Higashi, T., Akashi, M., Nishi, E., and Furuse,
M. (2011). LSR defines cell corners for tricellular tight junction formation in
epithelial cells. J. Cell Sci. 124, 548-555.
McCrea, P.D., Gu, D., and Balda, M.S. (2009). Junctional music that the nucleus hears: cellcell contact signaling and the modulation of gene activity. Cold Spring Harb.
Perspect. Biol. 1, a002923.
Miyamoto, T. et al. (2005). Tight junctions in Schwann cells of peripheral myelinated axons: a
lesson from claudin-19-deficient mice. J. Cell Biol. 169, 527-538.
Nakano, Y., Kim, S.H., Kim, H.M., Sanneman, J.D., Zhang, Y., Smith, R.J., Marcus, D.C.,
Wangemann, P., Nessler, R.A., and Banfi, B. (2009). A claudin-9-based ion
permeability barrier is essential for hearing. PLoS. Genet. 5, e1000610.
Nitta, T., Hata, M., Gotoh, S., Seo, Y., Sasaki, H., Hashimoto, N., Furuse, M., and Tsukita, S.
(2003). Size-selective loosening of the blood-brain barrier in claudin-5-deficient
mice. J. Cell Biol. 161, 653-660.

30

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Pellegrini, M. et al. (2011). Targeted JAM-C deletion in germ cells by Spo11-controlled Cre
recombinase. J. Cell Sci. 124, 91-99.
Raleigh, D.R., Marchiando, A.M., Zhang, Y., Shen, L., Sasaki, H., Wang, Y., Long, M., and
Turner, J.R. (2010). Tight junction-associated MARVEL proteins marveld3, tricellulin,
and occludin have distinct but overlapping functions. Mol. Biol. Cell 21, 1200-1213.
Runkle, E.A., Sundstrom, J.M., Runkle, K.B., Liu, X., and Antonetti, D.A. (2011). Occludin
localizes to centrosomes and modifies mitotic entry. J. Biol. Chem.
Saitou, M., Furuse, M., Sasaki, H., Schulzke, J.D., Fromm, M., Takano, H., Noda, T., and
Tsukita, S. (2000). Complex phenotype of mice lacking occludin, a component of
tight junction strands. Mol. Biol. Cell 11, 4131-4142.
Sakakibara, A., Furuse, M., Saitou, M., Ando-Akatsuka, Y., and Tsukita, S. (1997). Possible
involvement of phosphorylation of occludin in tight junction formation. J. Cell Biol.
137, 1393-1401.
Simon, D.B. et al. (1999). Paracellin-1, a renal tight junction protein required for paracellular
Mg2+ resorption. Science 285, 103-106.
Singh, A.B., Sharma, A., and Dhawan, P. (2010). Claudin family of proteins and cancer: an
overview. J. Oncol. 2010, 541957.
Steed, E., Rodrigues, N.T., Balda, M.S., and Matter, K. (2009). Identification of MarvelD3 as a
tight junction-associated transmembrane protein of the occludin family. BMC. Cell
Biol. 10, 95.
Tamura, A. et al. (2008). Megaintestine in claudin-15-deficient mice. Gastroenterology 134,
523-534.
Tapia, R., Huerta, M., Islas, S., Avila-Flores, A., Lopez-Bayghen, E., Weiske, J., Huber, O.,
and Gonzalez-Mariscal, L. (2009). Zona occludens-2 inhibits cyclin D1 expression
and cell proliferation and exhibits changes in localization along the cell cycle. Mol.
Biol. Cell 20, 1102-1117.
Tatum, R., Zhang, Y., Salleng, K., Lu, Z., Lin, J.J., Lu, Q., Jeansonne, B.G., Ding, L., and Chen,
Y.H. (2010). Renal salt wasting and chronic dehydration in claudin-7-deficient mice.
Am. J. Physiol Renal Physiol 298, F24-F34.
Traweger, A., Fang, D., Liu, Y.C., Stelzhammer, W., Krizbai, I.A., Fresser, F., Bauer, H.C.,
and Bauer, H. (2002). The tight junction-specific protein occludin is a functional
target of the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase itch. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 10201-10208.
Turksen, K. and Troy, T.C. (2002). Permeability barrier dysfunction in transgenic mice
overexpressing claudin 6. Development 129, 1775-1784.
Umeda, K., Ikenouchi, J., Katahira-Tayama, S., Furuse, K., Sasaki, H., Nakayama, M.,
Matsui, T., Tsukita, S., Furuse, M., and Tsukita, S. (2006). ZO-1 and ZO-2
independently determine where claudins are polymerized in tight-junction strand
formation. Cell 126, 741-754.
Weber, C., Fraemohs, L., and Dejana, E. (2007). The role of junctional adhesion molecules in
vascular inflammation. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 7, 467-477.
Xu, J., Anuar, F., Ali, S.M., Ng, M.Y., Phua, D.C., and Hunziker, W. (2009). Zona occludens-2 is
critical for blood-testis barrier integrity and male fertility. Mol. Biol. Cell 20, 4268-4277.
Xu, J., Kausalya, P.J., Phua, D.C., Ali, S.M., Hossain, Z., and Hunziker, W. (2008). Early
embryonic lethality of mice lacking ZO-2, but Not ZO-3, reveals critical and
nonredundant roles for individual zonula occludens proteins in mammalian
development. Mol. Cell Biol. 28, 1669-1678.

2
Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays,
Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:
Tripartite Membrane Architecture
with the Participation of Nucleoporins
2Institute

1Max

Siegfried Reipert1 and Elena Kiseleva2

F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna,

of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk,
1Austria
2Russia

1. Introduction
The interest in nucleoporins originates from their identification as constituents of nuclear
pores. The latter are visible as prominent annuli in the electron microscope (Callan et al.,
1949). Comprehensive studies carried out in the 1950s led to these general conclusions: i) all
nuclear envelope (NE) have pores, and ii) irrespective of species or cell type, the pore
complexes show similarities in shape and size. This very much supported the hypotheses
suggesting that these pores might act as transport channels between the nucleus and the
cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. A breakthrough for these ideas was achieved by the
combination of microinjection techniques with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In
1962, Feldherr injected contrasting permeants into the cytoplasm of amebas and observed
their path through pores using TEM. Together with the observation of giant polycystronic
messengers in transit through nuclear pores (Stevens and Swift, 1966), these experiments
determined the direction of further study in the context of nucleocytoplasmic transport.
The purpose-made transport machinery of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), located at an
interface as distinct as the NE, might be expected to be structurally unique. Surprisingly,
however, the search for NPCs soon revealed quite similar annuli incorporated into reticulate
cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic membranes. For these alternative annuli-containing
membranes Swift (1956) coined the term annulate lamellae (AL). In contrast to NPCs, there
was no independent, strong incentive to elucidate the function of AL pore complexes
(ALPCs); to date, all popular hypotheses on AL function are based on reconciling their role
with the existence of nuclear pores. A critical review of the facts, however, makes clear that
experimental proof for such suggestions is missing. Despite this problem and in the absence
of a really comprehensive structural and biochemical comparison, equivalence of NPCs and
ALPCs was nevertheless suggested (Kessel, 1981; Miller & Forbes, 2000).
Previously, the lack of knowledge on AL could be regarded as encouraging the search for
their possible functions (Merisko, 1989). Richard Kessel, one of the authorities in AL

32

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

research, praised AL as the last frontier in organelle research (Kessel, 1992). These
expectations were not met, however, and the research on AL is currently in decline.
Ironically, Kessels publication in 1992 became the last comprehensive review on AL in an
English journal, followed by the last review at all in the Russian Journal Tsitologiia by
Morozova et al. (2005). Currently, the scarcity of publications on AL seems to have reached a
point that leaves knowledge of their existence limited to a small community of experts.
Our review focuses on a third nucleoporin-containing membrane configuration, which, in
conjunction with AL, has been overlooked in recent decades. Study of this enigmatic
structure referred to as tubulohelical membrane array (TUHMA) (Reipert et al., 2009, 2010)
might open new avenues in understanding AL in a functional context. In the following,
NPCs and ALPCs are briefly summarized as annular nucleoporin configurations (Section 2).
The TUHMAs are extensively introduced as novel, tubular nucleoporin configurations that
differ significantly from the latter (Section 3). The formal separation into annular and
tubular structures was chosen to differentiate TUHMAs as a novel player. Understanding
them, however, will depend on studies of their dynamic interaction with AL, the NE and
other organelles.

2. Annular assemblies of nucleoporins

NPCs and ALPCs manifest themselves in the TEM as ring-shaped pores incorporated into
lipid bilayers, previously named as annuli (Feldherr et al., 1962). Their common overall
morphology does not necessarily mean that they are equivalent. Studies of the fine structure
by advanced EM methods, such as cryo EM and 3D-tomography, are still limited to NPCs.
As a consequence, a comprehensive comparison of both structures at a fine structural level
has not taken place. Also, the biochemical comparison of the nucleoporin composition of
both structures has not been completed.
Here we give a short overview of both annular nucleoporin assemblies. At the same time we
would like to refer to excellent overall reviews on NPCs by D'Angelo and Hetzer (2008), Lim
et al. (2008), and Hoelz et al. (2011). In more detail, Wente and Rout (2010) addressed the
current understanding of the transport mechanisms of the NPCs. The review by Liang and
Hetzer (2011) highlights the relationship of NPCs and nucleoporins to gene regulation.
Insights into the biogenesis of nuclear pores are provided by Antonin et al. (2008), and
Fernandez-Martinez and Rout (2009).
2.1 The nuclear pore complex: A structure known for its major functions
NPCs are giant macromolecular ensembles which form transport channels through the
nuclear membrane. They are incorporated into an annular, continuous, and strongly curved
connection between the inner and outer nuclear membrane. The NPCs provide a permeable
barrier between the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm, across which only very small molecules
(<30-40 KDa) can pass freely. For large soluble proteins, RNA and ribonucleo-particles the
NPCs facilitate selective bi-directional transport. The macromolecules assigned for passage
bear nuclear localization signals (NLSs) or nuclear export sequences. They are ushered
through the nuclear pore channel with the help of transport factors, most of them
summarized as karyopherins serving import (importins) and export (exportins). The driving

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

33

force for the transport is the hydrolysis of GTP by the GTPase Ran, which is maintained via
a nucleocytoplasmic gradient between the two conformations, Ran-GTP and Ran-GDP (for
details see: Wente & Rout, 2010). Since it turned out that nucleoporins also play critical roles
in chromatin organization and gene regulation, NPCs are also under scrutiny for novel,
related functions besides nucleocytoplasmic transport (Liang & Hetzer, 2011).
Despite morphological similarity and common functional aspects, there are differences in
the NPCs of various species. Structural comparisons indicate that the vertebrate NPC is
larger than its yeast counterpart and they also differ in molecular weight. The frequently
quoted 125 MDa of a vertebrate NPC refers to estimates based on STEM analysis of NPCs of
the frog Xenopus laevis (Reichelt et al., 1990). The weight of yeast NPCs was determined as
roughly half of this weight. More recent calculations showed less dramatic differences of 60
MDa for vertebrate NPCs and 44 MDa for yeast NPCs (for review: Cronshaw et al., 2002).
Whether differences in molecular weight and size reflect modifications of the
multifunctionality of pore complexes is not known. Variations in the NPC/NE organization
as part of different concepts of eukaryotic cell division indicate such a possibility. Metazoa,
for instance, undergo open mitosis characterized by the breakdown of the NE. The
filamentous network of the nuclear lamina, otherwise tightly linked to NPCs, disassembles
during this process. Yeast cells, in contrast, duplicate without NE breakdown. Interestingly,
this major characteristic coincides with differences in the organization of the interface
between the NPCs and the nucleoplasm of these cells. Yeast cells do not possess nuclear
lamina at all (Adam, 2001). Moreover, different requirements for pore anchorage to the NE
are indicated by identification of transmembrane nucleoporins in vertebrate and yeast pore
complexes, which show no homology (Cronshaw et al., 2002). Here, we briefly introduce
vertebrate NPCs, since they are closest in the context of finding TUHMAs in a mammalian
cell line.
2.1.1 Structure
Cross-sectioned cell nuclei regularly display pore profiles in the TEM, which indicate the
diameter of pore channels to be about 80 nm. If visualized en face, these pores appear
enlarged in diameter by ring-like structures on their cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic sides.
Both the ring structures and aspects of the inner pore show a characteristic eight-fold
symmetry that becomes prominent by TEM mapping based on Fourier analysis (Unwin &
Milligan, 1982), and by analysis of frozen-hydrated pore complexes in the cryo-electron
microscope. The zooming in on nuclear pores of amphibian oocytes by Unwin and
Milligan highlighted details of a barrel-like pore architecture that were further elucidated in
the following years by using advanced electron microscopic methods, such as highresolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TEM analysis of frozen hydrated samples
and electron tomography. Besides individual results of fine structural investigation,
consensus has been reached over the major NPC architecture. Accordingly, the pore
complex is built around a ring-like central framework that is inserted into the lipid double
bilayer of the NE and anchored by trans-membrane proteins. The central framework itself is
sandwiched between cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic ring structures. Anchored to the
cytoplasmic ring are filaments heading towards the cytoplasm, thereby giving the
impression of individual motility. Filaments emanating from the nucleoplasmic ring,

34

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

however, are linked with a distal ring (Antonin et al., 2008). The resulting basket-like
structures at the nucleoplasmic side were most clearly visible in association with a lamina
network when studying amphibian pore complexes in the high-resolution SEM (Goldberg &
Allen, 1992).
2.1.2 Biochemical composition
Historically, attempts to get information on the biochemical composition of NPCs were
linked to efforts to isolate NPCs from mammalian NE. Based on NE isolation techniques
Aaronson and Blobel (1975) prepared very distinct pore complex-lamina fractions (PCLFs)
from rat liver NE, which were devoid of membranous components. The PCLF delivered
detailed information on the composition of the nuclear lamina (Gerace & Blobel, 1980) and
variations of lamins. Unfortunately, the tight association of the nuclear lamina with NPCs
made proper separation of pores without protein losses impossible. A breakthrough in the
biochemical characterization of the nuclear pore proteins was made by developing
antibodies and subsequent screening of their labeling properties (Gerace et al., 1982; Davis &
Blobel, 1986; Snow et al., 1987). While a number of nucleoporins could be identified this
way, others remained inaccessible. Therefore, and in anticipation of equivalence between
NPCs and ALPCs, AL generated in vitro were used as an alternative vertebrate nucleoporin
source, which was known to be devoid of lamina (Miller & Forbes, 2000).
Currently, the number of proteins identified as constituents of the vertebrate NPCs includes
about 30 nucleoporins (NUPs). For many of them immuno-EM, sometimes combined with
differential extraction of membrane components and overlay assays, provided clues as to
where they are located with respect to the pore architecture. If this is taken together with
information on binding by overlays and immunoblotting it leads to a rather comprehensive
view on how these nucleoporins are arranged with respect to each other (for review: Wente
& Rout, 2010; Hoelz et al., 2011). Accordingly, the vertebrate NPCs are anchored to the NE
by a transmembrane ring that connects to the core scaffold of the pore. This ring is built up
of glycoprotein Gp210, pore membrane protein Pom121, and Ndc1. The connection between
the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm is achieved by a central tube which is anchored by
linker proteins, Nup88 and Nup93. This central tube is lined and filled by a subset of NUPs
containing phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeat motives which are crucial for the translocation
of cargo. The FG NUPs comprise centrally-located constituents (Nup98, Nup62, Nup54,
Nup45, Nup48), as well as cytoplasmic (Nup358, Nup214, Nlp1) and nucleoplasmic
constituents (Nup153, Tpr). The tube made from FG NUPs is confined by nucleoplasmic and
cytoplasmic NUP-containing rings that form a core scaffold. The asymmetry in the
composition of nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic ring structures finds its continuity in
filaments that extend towards the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm. Filaments at the
nucleoplasmic side are bound together by a distal ring composed of Nup153 (Pant et al.,
1994), while cytoplasmic filaments provide the impression of being flexible.
Notably, whole complexes of NUPs are increasingly understood in a specific functional
context. Interaction of FG NUPs of the central tube (Nup358, Nup214, Nup153, and Nup98)
with mRNA export cargo, for instance, point to an essential role of these nucleoporins in
mRNA export. It is thought that the Nup107-160 complex is involved in this process, too,
since overexpression of specific fragments of individual components of the complex causes

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

35

marked defects in mRNA export. During mitosis, the Nup107-160 complex locates at
kinetochores and spindle poles. The demonstration of its requirement for correct spindle
assembly provides an interesting example for multifunctionality of complex nucleoporin
ensembles.
2.1.3 Nuclear pore assembly
Metazoan cells undergo open mitosis, characterized by NE breakdown during prophase /
metaphase and the reassembly of the NE during telophase. The NE breakdown is
accompanied by disassembly of the NPCs. Consequently, NPCs have to reassemble as part
of the formation of the nucleocytoplasmic interfaces of the daughter cells. Besides this
mitosis-related process, NPCs also form while cells progress through interphase. As shown
previously by Maul et al. (1972), this leads to a significant increase in NPC numbers in the
interphase nuclei (doubling of pore number from 2000 to 4000 during S-phase in chemically
synchronized HeLa cells).
Conditions of pore formation were previously mimicked by mixing precursor vesicle
containing Xenopus egg extract with demembranated sperm chromatin (Lohka & Masui,
1983; Newport, 1987). As a result of an ATP- and GTP-driven process, vesicle fusion to a NE
was observed which contained NPCs. Membrane fusion of the inner and outer membranes
of the NE were seen as a possible starting point for pore formation. Currently, alternative
scenarios are emerging (for review: Antonin et al., 2008; Webster et al., 2009), based on
findings that transmembrane proteins of the NE get incorporated into ER instead of being
sequestered in vesicles during mitosis (Daigle et al., 2001). Evidence was found that the
contact between outgrowing ER tubules and chromatin initiates the assembly of the NE
(Anderson & Hetzer, 2007). In consequence, processes related to the membrane curvature as
the basis for membrane tubulation promoted interest in studies of pore biogenesis (Antonin
et al., 2008). Moreover, chromatin was also identified as the site where prepores are formed
after initial binding of several nucleoporins. How exactly sequestered tubular membranes
and prepores find each other and are subsequently transformed into a flattened nuclear
membrane is not yet clear.
For the assembly of NPCs into an intact NE, as happens during interphase of the cell
cycle, several concepts have been suggested (for review: Fernandez-Martinez & Rout,
2009). The options are i) the de novo formation of pores in regions devoid of NPCs, ii)
existing NPCs could duplicate, and iii) NPCs could assemble from cytoplasmic
membranes or vesicular intermediates. Studies of pore assembly in cell free extracts and
results of stable transfected HeLa cells expressing the transmembrane nucleoporin
Pom121 support the idea of de novo biogenesis of NPCs (Dngelo et al., 2006). In the light
of these data, it seems unlikely that cytoplasmic membranes in the form of AL play a role
in NPC biogenesis. Therefore, one might wonder what functions other than serving the
NPCs could be related to ALPCs.
2.2 The annulate lamellae pore complex: A structure on the search for a function
Up to the 1990s a tremendous amount of EM data was accumulated, either as short case
reports or in the form of systematic studies, which all provided evidence for the existence of
AL in a wide variety of eukaryotic cell types and species (Kessel, 1989). Despite their

36

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

indicated omnipresence, AL were rarely encountered in TEM thin sections. This made
systematic studies of the potentially new organelle difficult.
Later on, studies of AL profited from the development of antibodies against nucleoporins.
Initial data indicating that ALPCs and NPCs share the central pore protein Nup62
(Dabauvalle et al., 1991; Cordes et al., 1995) were followed by more extensive
immunohistochemical comparison of nuclear and cytoplasmic pores (Ewald et al., 1996).
More recently, such comparative studies were complemented by observation of green
fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged nucleoporins expressed after transfection (Imreh &
Hallberg, 2000; Daigle et al., 2001). Both immunohistochemistry and transfection techniques
provided major technical improvements for systematic studies of AL in tissue culture cells.
For the first time, the overall distribution of cytoplasmic (and also nucleoplasmic)
nucleoporins became visible in the form of fluorescent spots. As demonstrated in Fig. 1, for
PtK2 epithelial cells stimulated to generate cytoplasmic AL by vinblastine sulfate treatment,
these spots could become large in size and strong in intensity.

Fig. 1. Visualization of AL induced in PtK2 cells. A) Confocal section of an untreated cell

displaying NPCs labeled with mAb 414. B) Treatment with vinblastine sulphate results in
bright fluorescent spots in the cytoplasm reminiscent of AL. Bars, 10 m.
Unfortunately, further technical advances were cut short by the conclusion that these spotlike labeling patterns represent AL. Whether such a correlation can be generalized or not is
not yet clear, since correlative light and electron microscopy has so far spared AL as a field
of research. Nevertheless, one can be confident that the fluorescently-labeled structures
mostly represent AL, since it could be shown that antibodies applied at light microscopic
level also labeled AL if used for immunogold labeling (Ewald et al., 1996). Accordingly,
immunofluorescence microscopy was used for identification of cell lines which contain
significant amounts of endogenous AL (Cordes et al., 1996). Despite this preparatory work,
somatic cells were not much used in the past as models for research on AL.
Notably, isolation of AL for biochemical analysis and other studies poses a technical
challenge. Generation of AL from amphibian oocytes has proven a useful strategy to
overcome difficulties in isolation. In 1991, a method of generating AL cell-free from Xenopus
egg extracts was published by Dabauvalle et al.. Further progress towards an assay was
made by separation of membranous and other components that are not required for AL
assembly in vitro by using ultracentrifugation (Meier et al., 1995). The resulting AL was
separated for analysis of nucleoporins based on Western blotting. The cell-free AL formation
assays were subsequently used in a couple of sophisticated experiments, which led to
extension of the list of nucleoporins known to be located at both NPCs and ALPCs (Miller et
al., 2000; Miller & Forbes, 2000).

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

37

A review of the publications on AL from previous years indicates that the incentive for
elucidation of these structures seems to have changed. Initially, a systematic comparison
of ALPCs and NPCs was seen as a way of possibly revealing any differences (Ewald et al.,
1996; Cordes et al., 1996). As a result, a set of data was generated that concentrated on the
similarities of both structures. To be precise, however, it should be stated that the
biochemical comparison of ALPCs and NPCs is still incomplete, and that a systematic
comparison of their fine structure is still at an early stage. Despite this, equivalence of
NPCs and ALPCs was used as an argument in more recent publications (Miller & Forbes,
2000), and AL were referred to as NPC-containing membrane structures (Walther, et al.,
2003).
2.2.1 AL structure and arrangement
AL are conspicuous in TEM thin sections, since they contain prominent annuli incorporated
in reticular lipid membrane sheets (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. AL in the cytoplasm of Xenopus oocytes visualized by TEM. A) Longitudinal epoxy

resin section displaying an AL membrane stack endowed with numerous pore profiles. B)
Transverse section displaying annuli in the en face view. Bars, 500 nm.
In cross sections, these annuli display a profile of about the same size as pore channels of
nuclear pores. The en face view of the resin embedded or negatively stained annuli reveals
ring structures around an inner pore channel, which are of eight-fold symmetry, quite
similar to nuclear pores (Maul, 1970a; Franke et al., 1981). Taken together, conventional TEM
allows the identification of AL by morphological criteria.
ALPCs are frequently densely packed thereby covering most of the membrane surface. This
is particularly true for AL stacks of amphibian oocytes, as demonstrated in Fig. 3
representing a surface view on AL by scanning electron microscopy. Kessel (1989) described
such an optimal use of membrane space by ALPCs as a tight hexagonal package. Notably,
NPCs may sometimes reach similarly high densities by clustering of pores at the NE, as
observed for nuclei of the Xenopus oocytes at developmental stage 2-3 (Kiseleva,
unpublished results), in growing blastoderm nuclei in drosophila embryo (Gubanova &
Kiseleva, 2008), and in hematopoietic cells under pathological conditions leading to cell
death (Reipert et al., 1996).

38

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 3. Tightly distributed cytoplasmic pores of AL attached to the NE in Xenopus oocyte

visualized by field emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy. Bar, 200 nm.
2.2.2 Occurrence and affecting factors
A review by Kessel (1989) meticulously summarized reports on the occurrences of AL in a
variety of species and cell types, including observations related to pathological stages.
Accordingly, AL were found in eukaryotes as different as mollusks, crustaceans, insects,
amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds, plants and mammals. While many of the publications
listed in this review referred to observations made in male and female germ cells, it also
made very clear that the occurrence of AL is by no means restricted to them. AL was
reported for somatic cells, including a variety of embryonic cells, epithelial cells, secretory
cells, hormone secreting cells, muscle, and nerve cells. Kessel (1989) concluded that AL
are present in all basic tissue cell types with the possible exception of some connective
tissue cells.
Despite their wide-spread distribution, the likelihood of finding AL in random EM
sections is rather low. This seems to be particularly true for somatic cells where the
occurrence of AL might be vastly underestimated (Cordes et al., 1996). Only under
conditions of metabolic activity, differentiation and rapid proliferation, does AL seem to
be expressed more abundantly (Kessel 1989, 1992; Merisko, 1989). Some of these
conditions are linked to diseases, including cancer, while others are part of normal cell
physiological processes. Especially in germ cells and embryos, AL can be found in large
amounts, organized in multiple, large stacks. Mature Xenopus oocytes for instance
organize about 80% of all pore complexes in cytoplasmic stacks (Cordes et al., 1995). In
consequence, systematic research on AL relies to a great extent on the use of oocytes and
embryos.
Notably, the cellular distribution of AL can be affected by a diversity of external conditions
imposed on cells and tissues. A comprehensive list of AL- affecting circumstances including
drugs, culture conditions, and pathogens can be found in the review by Kessel (1992).
Among the AL-affecting factors, tubulin-depolymerizing agents such as vinblastine sulfate
have been proven to be effective inducers of AL in tissue culture cells (De Brabander &
Borgers, 1975; Kessel & Katow, 1984; Ewald et al., 1996; Reipert et al., 2009). Given the

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

39

striking effectiveness of these agents, it was speculated that there is a possible relationship
between formation of the AL network and the disassembly of microtubules (MTs) (De
Brabander & Borgers, 1975; Merisko, 1989). A direct regulatory effect of tubulins on AL
formation, however, has not yet been shown experimentally.
More recently, a direct metabolic link between importin and AL formation in Xenopus egg
extracts was reported (Walther et al., 2003) that, in the future, might be exploited for
studying of AL in somatic tissue culture models. Based on a comprehensive set of
experimental data, they suggested that RanGTP allows the incorporation of nucleoporins
into membranes by releasing the inhibitory effect of importin .
2.2.3 Biochemical composition
In contrast to NE, AL do not provide organelle compartmentalization. Instead, their
membranes are surrounded by an exclusively cytoplasmic environment. The interface
between cytoplasm and their laminar membrane sheets does not contain lamina built up
from lamins, like the vertebrate nucleus (Chen & Merisko, 1988; Daigle et al., 2001). In
agreement with this notion it was found that lamins are not required for assembly of AL in
egg extracts. While antibodies against lamins can block formation of NPCs they do not
hinder the assembly of AL stacks (Dabauvalle et al., 1991). Moreover, evidence was found
that emerin, a transmembrane protein of the inner nuclear membrane, is not present in AL
(Dabauvalle et al., 1999).
With the identification of nucleoporins as constituents of NPCs the question emerged
whether they are also constituents of ALPCs. Labeling with the lectin wheat germ agglutinin
(WGA) turned out to be positive for the O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) containing
moieties of glycoproteins in pore structures of both NPCs and ALPCs (Allen, 1990). More
specifically, by using immunohistochemistry, immuno EM, and biochemical analysis of AL
in Xenopus oocytes and egg extracts, the glycoprotein Nup62, a central constituent of nuclear
pores, was identified as part of ALPCs (Dabauvalle et al., 1991; Cordes et al., 1995; Ewald et
al., 1996; Daigle et al., 2001).
In 1996 Ewald et al. added further evidence of biochemical similarities; application of
antibodies against nucleoporins located at both sides of the NPCs, namely cytoplasmic
Nup180 and nucleoplasmic Nup153, demonstrated that these nucleoporins are also part of
ALPCs. The nucleoporins Gp210 and Pom121, however, could not be detected as
constituents of AL by this method. A molecular biological approach, based on expression of
YFP-tagged Pom121 and Nup153 in tissue culture cells, however, also identified Pom121 as
constituent of AL. Besides this, it confirmed previous data concerning the presence of
Nup153 in AL (Imreh & Hallberg, 2000; Daigle et al., 2001). Furthermore, fluorescence
recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) indicated that the turnover of Pom121 located in AL
was rapid, while it was very slow in NPCs. Nup153, in contrast, seemed to be replaced
continuously in both structures (Daigle et al., 2001).
Moreover, progress in biochemical analysis was achieved by studying AL formed under
cell-free conditions from Xenopus egg extracts (Miller et al., 2000; Miller & Forbes, 2000).
Aimed at identification of novel NPCs constituents by circumvention of the difficulties in

40

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

isolation of vertebrate NPCs, isolation of AL from egg extracts also led to the identification
of a number of nucleoporins of Xenopus ALPCs. For this Miller et al. (2000) collected
glycoproteins of the egg extract by using a WGA-Sepharose column, and biotin-tagged them
prior to addition to the AL formation assay. As a result, Nup62, Nup98, and Nup214 were
identified as constituents of the in vitro assembled AL. Furthermore, it was reasoned that
Nup93, Nup205, and a newly identified Nup188 are present in Xenopus AL. Taken together
this added to the evidence for similarities in the biochemical composition of ALPCs and
NPCs. On the other hand, the nucleoporins identified so far represent just a fraction of those
known to build up the vertebrate NPC.
2.2.4 Biogenesis
Concerning the biogenesis it is not yet clear how ALPCs are formed and from where they
originate. For the latter, any suggestions are based on microscopic observations putting
their cellular positioning in relation to other organelles. Accordingly, either a nuclear
origin, or their formation in conjunction with rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) were
hypothesized (for review: Wischnitzer, 1970; Merisko, 1989; Kessel, 1989, 1992).
Numerous reports proposed ideas in favour of one of these popular suggestions, because
of their own observations of AL located proximal to the cell nucleus, or attached to rER.
Also, an alternative suggestion was made based on much less frequent findings of AL
linked to the Golgi complex, proposing a role of the Golgi complex in AL biogenesis
(Maul, 1970b). That proposal was criticized for not being backed by EM data depicting the
dynamic process related to AL formation (Kessel, 1989). In hindsight, however, all
previous EM studies could only provide ideas on how biogenesis might occur. Since the
observations in the EM sections occur almost randomly, there is the possibility that short
but important steps in the dynamics of AL assembly were outnumbered by those
observations that attracted regular attention. This seems to have happened with respect to
the Golgi complex and AL. In consequence, studies of the putative relationship of both
structures became sidelined.
Decades later, immunohistochemistry opened up the opportunity for a critical review of the
linkage between AL and the Golgi complex. Initial double immunofluorescence labeling of
AL and the Golgi complex of bovine epithelium cells, however, could not confirm any
spatial relationship between both structures (Cordes et al., 1996). Based on a rather limited
set of immunofluorescence data, Cordes et al. argued more generally against an intimate
relationship between AL and the Golgi complexes.
An interesting aspect of AL biogenesis is its supposed coupling to the cell cycle indicated by
the disassembly of AL during mitosis and their subsequent reappearance (Maul, 1970a;
Erlandson & de Harven, 1971). Formation of AL as early as the telophase was confirmed
later on by immunofluorescence microscopy (Cordes et al., 1996). In their morphometric
studies of AL of synchronized HeLa cells Erlandson and de Harven (1971) discriminated
between AL in direct continuity with rER and those showing no association with reticular
membranes. From their data one could come to the conclusion that linkage with rER
happens after AL is already formed, in preparation of cell division, at the S-phase of the cell
cycle. Verifying the relationship of AL with respect to rER, the nucleus and other organelles
during the cell cycle, therefore, could shed light on the sequence and nature of events in

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

41

which AL is involved. Such dynamics could possibly be coupled to microtubules (MTs). The
latter seem to have been overlooked in systematic studies in the past despite reports of a
possible association of MTs with AL (Kessel ,1992; Sutovsky et al., 1998). Perhaps, this
neglect resulted from experience with MT-depolymerizing drugs, indicating that MTs are
not required for AL formation itself.

3. Tubular assemblies of nucleoporins: The tubulohelical membrane array

The tubulohelical membrane array (TUHMA) was observed for the first time in the rat
kangaroo kidney epithelial cell line PtK2 (Reipert et al., 2009). The initial observation was
made by validating large numbers of cells for their structural preservation during rapid
microwave-accelerated fixation with low concentration glutaraldehyde (Reipert et al., 2008).
TUHMAs could also be observed in cryofixed and low-temperature processed samples
(Reipert et al., 2009). Soon, however, it became clear that for identification of TUHMAs
advanced EM preparation techniques are not required.
Initial studies indicated that TUHMAs are not very abundant within the asynchronously
grown cell population of PtK2 cells. However, their single-organelle-like appearance only
became obvious by immunofluorescence microscopy, using the monoclonal antibody (mAb)
414, as the most commonly used nucleoporin marker (Davis & Blobel, 1986). For successful
labeling of the nucleoporins located at the tubular cores of TUHMAs, sufficient extraction of
lipid material from the surrounding membranes was critical. The resulting tubular
fluorescence patterns could be observed without interference from the positive cytoplasmic
background, because PtK2 cells contain almost no endogenous AL (Fig. 1A), otherwise
resulting in numerous fluorescent spots of various sizes. Because of both, the undisturbed
view and the single-organelle-like appearance, the initial light microscopic studies could be
effectively used to get hints of the extraordinary dynamics of TUHMAs.
Why did TUHMAs remain hidden to the discerning eye of electron microscopists for about
half a century? We see an amalgamation of reasons: i) their transient nature, ii) their rare
occurrence in thin sections, and iii) their structural hallmarks were overlooked in the twodimensional view of TEM thin sections. In the following we provide an introduction to
TUHMAs that should enable their identification in a diversity of cell types and species.
3.1 Structure
TUHMAs (Fig. 4) are lipid membrane arrays organized around tubular, proteinaceous
electron-dense cores of 80 nm in diameter, confined by helix-like threads. Notably, this
diameter is of about the same size as the inner pore channel of NPCs and ALPCs. The
helical threads manifest themselves as zigzag-patterns resulting from their confinement
within resin sections under conditions of almost parallel orientation with respect to the
cutting plane. The zigzag-patterns are very clearly visible if the sections are of about the
same thickness as the diameter of the core tubules of the TUHMAs. Such thin sections in
the range of 80 to 100 nm are routinely produced with an ultramicrotome. It is important
to note that the contrast patterns of TUHMAs cannot be explained by transverse
alignment of annular pore complexes within AL membrane stacks (Hertig, 1968; Kessel,
1986).

42

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 4. TUHMA visualized by TEM. A) Aldehyde fixation followed by osmification. Tubules

of uniform diameter of 80 nm, numbered 14, are incorporated in a regular stack of
membranes and confined by helical threads resulting in black zigzag-patterns.
Mitochondrion, m. B) Aldehyde fixation followed by extraction with Triton X-100 and
osmification. The lipid membranes are dissolved, while the proteinaceous core tubules
remain intact exposing their helix-like aspects. The core tubule on the right seems to
detangle into separate threads (black arrows) (Reipert et al., 2010). Bars in A and B, 500 nm.
In agreement with our interpretation, we could follow the continuity of the helix-like
threads of TUHMAs through stacks of tomographic sections (supplement in Reipert et al.,
2009). Furthermore, we found that the helix-like threads lining core tubules withstand
treatment of MW-fixed PtK2 cells with Triton-X100 (Reipert et al., 2010). Their helical nature
was particularly apparent where disentanglement occurred (Fig. 4B). The latter indicates the
possibility that the core tubule-confining threads might be double-helical in nature.
However, a comprehensive analysis of the helix type is outstanding. Therefore, we use the
more general terms here of helix-like or helical structures.
The core tubules provide the basis for an intermingled membrane scaffold of strongly
curved lipid membranes. The overall lengths of the resulting array vary between 3-5 m.
The lipid membranes themselves are of particularly narrow curvature, and do not contain
pore complexes. The nonlamellar character of these membranes was confirmed by electron
tomography (see supplement in Reipert et al., 2009). Therefore, we conclude that the two
major criteria characterizing AL structurally, i) ring-shaped annuli, and ii) lamellar
membrane stacks (Merisko, 1989), are not applicable to TUHMAs.
3.2 Occurrence
Based on the structural definition given above, we reviewed previous publications on AL.
As a result, we found a few structures resembling TUHMAs at different levels of visibility
(Goldstein, 1971; Bhawan et al., 1978; Matsubara & Mair, 1979; Sun & White, 1979; GraciaNavarro et al., 1980; Hill et al., 1984; Allen, 1988; Cheville, 1994; Alvaraz-Buylla et al., 1998).

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

43

With one exception, all authors interpreted their observations to be AL. Sun and White
(1979), however, reported on a peculiar configuration of agranular reticulum of braided
channels reminiscent of the nonlamellar membrane architecture of TUHMAs. Despite AL
being the prime target of their studies, they provided an interpretation that avoided any
confusion of both structures. From our point of view, their interpretation was furthered by
fixation under hypotonic conditions, and very intense contrasting of lipid membranes. In
consequence, the zigzag-patterns, hallmarks of TUHMAs, are less visible.
There are methods and circumstances whereby the visibility of the helix-like aspect can be
enhanced. Intentional omission of membrane staining (Reipert et al., 2009), or pure
contrasting of lipid membranes, both result in the almost exclusive display of helical
patterns. In line with this argument, Denys Wheatley (1993, 1999) discovered helical
structures in the murine fibroblast cell line 3T3, which closely resemble the proteinaceous
aspects of TUHMAs. Wheatley clearly differentiated between findings described as helical
inclusions- or extrusions, and AL observed in close proximity to these structures. While
this is very much in agreement with Reipert et al. (2009), it seems that the incorporation of
these helical structures in complex lipid membrane arrays was overlooked by Wheatley. In
consequence, he interpreted his findings as helical pores, and postulated their extrusion
from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. His attempt to substantiate this claim by
immunolabeling of nucleoporins could possibly have failed because of insufficient
permeabilization of the surrounding lipid membranes.
Notably, the references cited above refer to in vivo and in vitro studies in diverse somatic
cells types and species. Accordingly, we would expect TUHMAs in species as different as
amphibians (Gracia-Novarro et al., 1980); birds (Alvaraz-Buylla et al., 1998), and mammals
(Bhawan et al., 1978; Matsubara & Mair, 1979; Sun & White, 1979; Cheville, 1994). With
respect to the cell types, TUHMA-resembling structures were found in neuroblastoma cells
(Goldstein, 1971), melanoma cells (Sun & White, 1979), striated muscle tissue (Matsubara &
Mair, 1979), fibroblasts (Wheatley, 1993, 1999), Burkitts lymphoma cells (Allen, 1988), tissue
of venereal sarcoma (Hill et al., 1984), hormone cells of the pituitary gland of amphibians
(Gracia-Navarro et al., 1980), and neuronal precursor cells of the ventricular zone of the
central nervous system of birds (Alvaraz-Buylla et al., 1998). While the majority of these
examples refers to cancerous cells, the data by Gracia-Navarro et al. (1980) and AlvarazBuylla et al. (1997) were generated from tissues which were supposedly healthy and
metabolically active by stimulated hormone secretion and neuronal differentiation,
respectively.
3.3 Biochemistry
Studies of the biochemical composition of TUHMA are currently at an early stage. Isolation
of TUHMAs from tissue culture has not yet been accomplished but efforts will be greatly
facilitated by the availability of antibodies against nucleoporins that could serve as markers
for TUHMAs in Western blotting. Notably, the mAb 414 recognizes not just one individual
nucleoporin, but a whole set including the central pore protein Nup62, the nucleoplasmic
Nup153, and the peripheral cytoplasmic proteins Nup214 and Nup358 (Davis & Blobel 1986;
Cronshaw et al., 2002). After successful application of mAb 414 in immunohistochemistry,
therefore, the question arises which of the nucleoporins stated above are indeed constituents
of TUHMAs? By application of a human autoimmune serum well-characterized for

44

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

recognizing Nup62 (Wesierska-Gadek et al., 2008), we found evidence that this central
constituent of porous annuli of both NPCs and ALPCs also occurs in TUHMAs.
Identification of further constituents based on immunohistochemistry is currently limited by
the availability of antibodies showing cross-reactivity with the marsupial species of our cell
model, PtK2 cells.
Progress in studying TUHMAs can be expected by their isolation for proteomic and
lipidomic analysis. Preliminary data (not shown) indicate that the cytoplasm of PtK2 cells
indeed contains a nucleoporin-rich membrane fraction, clearly recognizable by Western
blotting. If tested with antibodies against lamins this membrane fraction showed no
indication for contamination with nuclear membranes. Therefore, and because of the
almost complete absence of AL in PtK2 cells (Cordes et al., 1996; Reipert et al., 2009), the
resulting signal should originate almost exclusively from TUHMAs. Following this
argument, we hypothesize that all four nucleoporins recognized by mAb 414 are present
in TUHMAs.
3.4 Association of TUHMAs with membrane-bound organelles
Besides information concerning the architecture of TUHMAs themselves, TEM provided
insights into the association of this membrane array with other organelles. The initial data
already contain surprisingly concise information on the interface between TUHMAs and
adjacent organelles. Identification of nucleoporins as markers of TUHMAs greatly extended
the possibilities for studying these entities in relation to other organelles, since it enables
overall viewing, which incorporates a larger number of cells.
3.4.1 Association with the cell nucleus
Most remarkably, TUHMAs are able to take a polarized position with respect to the cell
nucleus. Frequently, they can be found oriented either perpendicular or parallel to the
nuclear membrane. Fig. 5 demonstrates these two preferential orientations of TUHMAs at
light microscopic level with tubular fluorescence patterns directly attached to prophase
nuclei. Correspondingly, TEM data showing TUHMAs in polarized positions with respect
to the nucleus were published (Reipert et al., 2009). Besides this, polarized positioning of
structures resembling TUHMAs has also been verified in previous publications (Goldstein,
1971; Matsubara & Mair, 1979; Hill et al., 1984; Wheatley, 1999).

Fig. 5. Polarized positioning of TUHMAs with respect to the cell nucleus. Confocal section
displaying tubular fluorescence patterns (red) labeled with mAb 414, in A) oriented parallel
and in close proximity to an early prophase nucleus, and in B) perpendicular to a nucleus at
a late stage of prophase. DNA counterstaining with Hoechst 33258. Bars, 5m.

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

45

The positioning of TUHMAs close to cell nuclei in the light microscope indicates the
possibility of a physical linkage. Such a linkage was confirmed by TEM serial sectioning,
demonstrating that TUHMAs close enough to the nucleus are anchored via membranes to
the nuclear membrane (Reipert et al., 2009). Importantly, such membrane bridges mediate
the association with the nucleus regardless of the orientation of TUHMAs. Notably, these
observations concerning TUHMAs differ significantly from the situation in chimpanzee
oocytes. The latter displays arrays of AL with perfectly aligned ALPCs, which are linked
exclusively perpendicular to the oocyte nucleus (Barton & Hertig, 1972). Both the variability
in length of the nucleus-associated arrays, and the precise positioning of their ALPC
columns in conjunction with NPCs, suggest the extrusion of AL from the oocyte nucleus. In
contrast, TUHMAs of the somatic cell line PtK2 fused perpendicular to the nucleus show
neither variation in their lengths, nor continuity of their core tubules with individual NPCs.
Any TUHMAs proximal or fused to the nucleus in either direction seem to be matured
with respect to their length, since no short fluorescent tubules could be found in this region.
Therefore, we conclude that a scenario of extrusion of nucleoporins from the nucleus as part
of TUHMA biogenesis does not appear to happen. Instead, we suggest that the assembly of
TUHMAs occurs at some distance from the nucleus.
3.4.2 Association with ER and AL
EM revealed that TUHMAs, similar to AL, are in continuity with rER. Besides this apparent
connection, TUHMAs are linked to a more extended membranous continuum. Small patches
of AL were observed in association with TUHMAs; their ALPCs showed the characteristic
eight-fold symmetry in the en face view (Reipert et al., 2009). Surprisingly, however, no
immunofluorescent spots, reminiscent of AL, could be found next to TUHMAs that
corresponded with the EM data. Since, otherwise, vinblastine-induced AL were clearly
visible under the given preparation protocol, one may wonder what could have prevented
identification of AL in its specific location next to TUHMAs. Independent of how this
question may be answered in the future, the linkage of AL with TUHMAs is crucial for the
understanding of both structures. In agreement with this notion, Bahwan et al. (1978),
Matsubara & Mair (1979), Sun & White (1979), Gracia-Navarro et al. (1980), Hill et al. (1984),
and Cheville (1994) all visualized AL in continuity with structures resembling TUHMAs.
However, only Wheatley (1993) understood the necessity to differentiate between them. He
made the point that there seems to be an enigmatic relation between helix-structures
reminiscent of the core tubules of TUHMAs, and AL.
3.4.3 Association with the Golgi complex
Double labeling with mAb414 and antibodies against the Golgi matrix protein GM130
revealed that there is no fixed lateral constellation between TUHMAs and the Golgi complex
within the asynchronously grown population of PtK2 cells. While most TUHMAs were
located at a distance from the Golgi complex, a small fraction was linked to it. According to
Reipert et al. (2010) the linkage between TUHMAs and the Golgi complex is mediated by
intermediate membrane structures, named tubuloreticular structures (TRS) and AL
proximal to the Golgi complex. Fig. 6 captured the rare event of getting all four structures
visualized in a single TEM micrograph. If TUHMAs assemble as a result of membrane

46

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 6. The TUHMA/ TRS/ AL/ Golgi connection. A small patch of AL containing ALPCs
(arrows) is located next to the Golgi complex (G). The connection between AL and a
TUHMA is mediated by TRS. The TUHMA is also linked to rER. Note MTs (arrowheads)
running in parallel to the axis of the TUHMA. Bars, 200 nm.

Fig. 7. TEM evidence for a possible transition of AL into TUHMAs. A) Patch of AL

displaying structural intact ALPCs on its left side, and opened annuli in a transitional zone
(in brackets), indicating membrane tubulation. The transition zone is continuous with TRS.
Note also MTs (arrowheads). B) TUHMA linked to TRS containing darkly contrasted loops
that resemble building elements of cubic membranes. Bars, 500 nm.
transformations proximal to the Golgi complex, as hypothesized previously, this should
include transformation of annular nucleoporins into helical structures (Reipert et al., 2010).
Fig. 7A demonstrates that AL indeed undergo a transformation. As indicated, they open up
their nucleoporin-containing annuli, while at the same time the membrane sheet transforms
into tubules continuously linked to TRS. The TRS themselves seem to undergo alterations

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

47

resulting in structures of a higher order. Consequently, they resemble in part a crystalline

lipid membrane formation, or so-called 3D-periodic, nonlamellar cubic membranes
(Almsherqi et al., 2009). In conclusion, TRS, as a transitional structure linked to the Golgi
complex and AL, should contain nucleoporins in an intermediate conformation before
helical arrangement into TUHMAs.
3.5 Association with microtubules
On many occasions EM revealed the association of TUHMAs with MTs (Reipert et al., 2009).
Therefore it seems reasonable to suggest a microtubular motor-driven dynamic being
responsible for both the translocation and polarized alignment of TUHMAs with respect to
the nucleus. As indicated by double labeling of TUHMAs and -tubulin, variability in
positioning of TUHMAs with respect to microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs), including
those serving as basal bodies for primary cilia, is part of such a dynamic. To highlight the
relationship between MTs and TUHMAs more specifically, a subset of tubulins was labeled
with antibodies against detyrosinated tubulin (detyrTub), known to mark the axoneme of
primary cilia and centrioles (Poole et al., 1997; Ou et al., 2003). As demonstrated in Fig. 8, it
turned out that some TUHMAs showed partial co-localization with tubules built up from
the longer-living form of tubulin (Infante et al., 2000). Others showed co-localization in
combination with orthogonally-oriented tubules that were exclusively labeled by mAb
against detyrTub. Even more striking, some axonemes of primary cilia, located in the upper
section planes of the PtK2 cells, showed labeling for nucleoporin, besides labeling with Abs
against detyrTub as their marker. The idea of a translocation of nucleoporins under
participation of MTs was further supported by observation of single fluorescent dots of
nucleoporin label in association with a small subset of primary cilia of serum starved PtK2
cells (Reipert et al., 2010). While, at first glance, the localization of nucleoporins at primary
cilia and their axonemes may appear far-fetched, this could be an important aspect adding
to the most recent research aiming to identify a ciliary pore similar to the NPC (Huang &
Tsao, 2010). The current interest in such similarities was most recently inspired by evidence
of the control of access of molecules to primary cilia via importin-2 and the small GTPase
Ran, and by identification of ciliary localization sequences (CLS), that, similar to nuclear
localization sequences, mark the cargo for translocation (Dishinger et al., 2010).
3.6 Indications for a coupling of TUHMAs to the cell cycle
TUHMAs are apparently linked to the cycling cells, since they are almost absent in resting
cell populations of so-called quiescent cells obtained by serum-starvation (Reipert et al.,
2009). Accordingly, they show synchrony within individual colonies that could be followed
for up to two cell divisions (results not shown). Moreover, immunofluorescence microscopy
indicates that TUHMAs disappear during the course of mitosis, in a very similar way to AL
(Cordes et al., 1996; Reipert et al., 2009). The latest signs for their existence can be observed
in an advanced stage of prophase (Fig. 5). At this stage, TUHMAs are expected to be
physically linked to the NE by membrane fusion. Their subsequent fade, therefore, very
likely coincides with the disassembly of the NE and its pore complexes. In consequence,
both AL and TUHMAs need to be re-assembled in the newly divided cells. While AL are
already formed at late mitosis, TUHMAs would be expected to be seen much later. This can
be concluded from the low number of cells containing TUHMAs that were observed in the

48

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

asynchronously grown cell population. Their presence in just ca. 5-10% of the cells would
not fit with an early occurrence at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This notion is very much in
agreement with the hypothesis that TUHMA formation requires AL. If seen from the
perspective of the ciliary cycle (Plotnikova et al., 2009), therefore, TUHMAs are not expected
to play a role in the formation and outgrowth of primary cilia. However, they might be
linked to processes of centriole duplication and ciliary resorbtion.

Fig. 8. Putative relation between TUHMAs and primary cilia. A) A TUHMA labeled with
mAb 414 (red) and B) tubule-forming detyrTub (green) located in a confocal section close to
the substratum of cell growth. C) overlay of A and B. D) TUHMA labeled with mAb414
(red) and E) detyrTub (green) forming two tubules positioned orthogonally to each other
located in a confocal section close to the substratum of cell growth. F) Overlay of D and E
indicating that just one of the detyrTub containing tubules co-localizes with the TUHMA in
D. G) Co-localization of tubular fluorescence patterns labeled with mAb 414 and detyrTub
in an upper confocal section perhaps harbouring the basal body. F) Two short cilia (arrows),
numbered 1and 2, labeled with Ab against -tubulin (green) are associated with red dots
resulting from labeling with mAb 414. The insert displays cilium 2 in more detail. In
contrast to cilia 1 and 2, two longer cilia in neighbouring cells (arrowheads) are free of
labeling with mAb 414. (Reipert et al., 2010). Bars, 5 m.

4. Conclusion
Taken together the initial data on TUHMAs indicate that nucleoporins are more versatile
building elements than previously thought. Under as yet unknown conditions they are able

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

49

to organize in a non-annular, much more complex cytoplasmic arrangement. In the light of

this finding we carried out a critical review of those structures already known to contain
nucleoporins, namely NPCs and ALPCs. In the process it became apparent that the research
on ALPCs lags far behind studies of the NPCs. Although this shortcoming makes a
comprehensive comparison impossible, the current opinion tends to favor the equivalence
of both structures. In consequence, AL are considered at best as subordinate structures
serving the requirements of the NE.
Although a homeostasis involving NPCs and ALPCs was suggested, it has not so far been
proven. On the contrary, recent morphometric analysis showed that the number of AL pores
did not decrease to compensate for the growing number of nuclear pores during syncytial
development of Drosophila embryos (Onischenko et al., 2004). Moreover it was found that
during development of the Drosophila syncytium NPCs and ALPCs undergo a parallel
regulation of their assembly/disassembly driven by the mitotic trigger Cdk1 and protein
phosphatases (Onischenko et al., 2005). These studies are in line with previous observations
of AL formation happening in parallel with the insertion of NPCs in the NE of pronuclei
during fertilization of mammalian oocytes (Sotovsky et al., 1998). Taken together, these
results neither indicate quantitative balancing between NPCs and ALPCs, nor accumulation
of AL as a result of excessive nucleoporin synthesis. Proximity and sometimes even fusion
of AL with the NE, however, point to the necessity of verifying their relationship to each
other in future studies. A role of their connection in regulatory functions is indicated by
observations that reported the accumulation of M-phase-promoting factor (Cdc2/Cyclin B2)
in colocalization with AL in Xenopus oocytes (Beckhelling et al., 2003).
Alternative suggestions, which propose functions specific to ALPCs, have just recently
emerged. Boulware and Marchant (2008) sought ALPC function in the context of differential
regulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ signaling. Their concept is based on the assumption that the
numbers of ALPCs incorporated into reticulated cytoplasmic membranes affect the Ca2+
stores. As indicated by EM, however, function might also be related to the qualitative
transition of AL into new structures in the form of TUHMAs. The supposed transformation
of AL into TUHMAs manifests itself in the form of intermediates, so-called TRS. This
finding might have some important implications:
1.

2.

3.

Cytoplasmic annuli could possibly just be intermediates, which serve in the formation
of structures of a higher order. Anticipating the energy needs for creation of highly
ordered structures, a functional purpose appears to be reasonable. Peculiarities such as
the combination of proteinaceous and lipid nanostructures, polarized orientation,
single-organelle-like appearance, and a seemingly final destination of TUHMAs linked
to the nuclear membrane, all indicate a yet unknown purpose.
The unique structure of TUHMAs is attracting the attention of biophysicists since the
anisotropic, nanoperiodic design might serve in yet unknown concepts of cell
communication and signaling (Reipert et al., 2010).
Since TUHMAs have not been visualized in germ cells so far, it appears reasonable to
suggest that they exert functions exclusively in somatic cells. The indicated
correspondence of TUHMAs with primary cilia found in PtK2 cells does not necessarily
mean their occurrence is restricted, since primary cilia are omnipresent in a diversity of
somatic cell types. Whether TUHMAs could serve particular functions in a subset of
ciliated cells, as suggested for cells undergoing oriented cell division (Reipert et al.,

50

4.

5.

6.

7.

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2010), awaits verification. Notably, observations of TUHMAs in a kidney epithelial cell

line, namely PtK2, their occurrence in stratified muscle (Matsubara & Mair, 1979), as
well as the finding of TUHMA aberrations in melanoma cells (Reipert et al.,
unpublished), all point to cells derived from tissues with well-defined cell division axes.
Finding out how such division axes are maintained during morphogenesis still poses a
challenge for current research. Since there is increasing evidence for the implication of
defects in oriented cell division in polycystic kidney diseases and tumor genesis, this
should be an incentive for investigation of possible nanophysical properties of
TUHMAs that might be able to sense direction (Reipert et al., 2010).
Since both AL and TUHMA show a linkage to the cell cycle, studies of AL in this
context have to be resumed and combined with the elucidation of TUHMA biogenesis.
Particular attention has to be paid to a possible role of the Golgi complex that has been
sidelined in research on AL in the past. Saraste et al. (2009) raised the interesting
question whether an intermediate compartment (IC) expresses its own functional
identity between the ER and the Golgi complex by carrying out or participating in some
cellular functions. From our point of view, TUHMA biogenesis could be perceived as
the dynamics of an IC between the Golgi complex and the rER that might result in a
functional organelle.
Initial studies of TUHMAs indicate the importance of MTs for their existence and
dynamics. TUHMAs disintegrate under the very same MT-destabilizing conditions
under which AL are generated (Reipert et al., 2009). Both polarization and translocation
of TUHMAs are processes that are most likely linked to MTs. Moreover, MTs could
play an active role in the transformation of AL into TUHMAs by organizing the IC in
conjunction with the Golgi complex. Temporal co-localization of TUHMAs with
detyrosinated tubulin, as well as indications for the translocation of nucleoporins with
respect to primary cilia (Reipert et al., 2010) could indicate the direction of future
functional studies.
Initial evidence indicates that TUHMAs are formed away from the side of their final
destination at the nuclear membrane. Consequently, they would have to undergo a
three-step process: i) assembly next to the Golgi complex, ii) translocation towards the
nucleus and oriented alignment with respect to the nuclear membrane, and iii) fusion of
their membranes with the NE. Importantly, the latter does not include the fusion of core
tubules with individual NPCs, which otherwise could easily be interpreted in the
context of the nucleocytoplasmic transport. Instead, the fusion results in an
extraordinary extension of the nuclear membrane lumen by the lumen of the membrane
array. If the purpose of this extension is related to nucleocytoplasmic transport, a boost
in the transport rate could possibly be achieved via a yet unknown luminal pathway
that regulates NPC function.
Fluorescence microscopic observations interpreted as AL have to be handled with more
care than previously, since intermediate structures, such as TRS, are likely to contribute
to the fluorescent spots seen in the light microscope. Moreover, the
immunofluorescence data have to be interpreted with caution because they depend on
membrane permeabilization, and perhaps on the status of the nucleoporin organization
itself. Notably, patches of AL, regularly seen next to TUHMAs in the electron
microscope, were not detected by immunofluorescence microscopy, while AL induced
by vinblastine sulfate treatment could be visualized using the very same protocol

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

51

(Reipert et al., 2009). Since nucleoporin markers do not seem to comprehensively mirror
processes in the cytoplasm, correlative microscopy, comparing fluorescence patterns
with EM fine structures is required in future studies.
The initial data on TUHMAs already indicate that these enigmatic structures do not have a
life cycle independent of the other two nucleoporin-containing membrane configurations.
Understanding of their possible function in the future, therefore, will require the elucidation
of the tripartite nature of nucleoporin organization. Whether progress can be made in these
studies will strongly depend on overcoming dogmas built up by previous research on AL,
in particular concerning their relation to the Golgi complex and MTs.
Besides revealing their functions, the elucidation of TUHMAs will help to answer questions
concerning the relationship between self-assembly of complex structures and gene
expression. What governs the transformation of the proteinaceous pore assembles into
helical structures? Is the tubulation of lamellar lipid membrane sheets driven by proteins
known for their capability to curve membranes, such as reticulons and Yop1/DP1 (Voeltz &
Prinz, 2007; Kiseleva et al., 2007), or do the nucleoporins themselves play a decisive role in
membrane curvature? How might the cellular lipid composition affect the formation of
nonlamellar membrane arrays and the nucleoporin architecture? Answers to these questions
will expose nanotechnologies of the cell, which have previously gone undiscovered.

5. Acknowledgment
SR was supported by grant P19381-B03 from the Austrian Science Research Fund, and EK
by the Russian Federation for Basic Research and the Presidium of RAS Program MCB.

6. References
Aaronson R.P. & Blobel, G. (1975). Isolation of nuclear pore complexes in association with a
lamina. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 72(3):1007-11.
Adam, S.A. (2001). The nuclear pore complex. Genome Biol, 2(9):REVIEWS0007.
Allen E.D. (1988). Induction of annulate lamellae by alpha-difluoromethylornithine in P3J, a
Burkitt's lymphoma cell line. J Ultrastruct Mol Struct Res, 98(1):19-31.
Allen, E. D. (1990). Pores of annulate lamellae and nuclei bind wheat germ agglutinin and
monoclonal antibody similarly. J. Struct. Biol. 103, 140-151.
Almsherqi, Z.A., Landh, T., Kohlwein, S.D. & Deng, Y. (2009). Chapter 6: Cubic membranes
the missing dimension of cell membrane organization. Int Rev Cell Mol Biol,
274:275-342.
Alvarez-Buylla, A., Garca-Verdugo, J.M., Mateo, A.S. & Merchant-Larios, H. (1998).
Primary neural precursors and intermitotic nuclear migration in the ventricular
zone of adult canaries. J Neurosci, 18:1020-37.
Anderson, D.J. & Hetzer, M.W. (2007). Nuclear envelope formation by chromatin-mediated
reorganization of the endoplasmic reticulum. Nat Cell Biol, 9(10):1160-6.
Antonin W., Ellenberg J. & Dultz E. (2008). Nuclear pore complex assembly through the cell
cycle: regulation and membrane organization. FEBS Lett, 582(14):2004-16.
Barton, B.R. & Hertig, A.T. (1972). Ultrastructure of annulate lamellae in primary oocytes of
chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Biol Reprod, 6:98-108.

52

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Beckhelling, C., Chang, P., Chevalier, S., Ford, C. & Houliston E. (2003). Pre-M phasepromoting factor associates with annulate lamellae in Xenopus oocytes and egg
extracts. Mol Biol Cell, 14(3):1125-37.
Bhawan, J., Ceccacci, L. & Cranford, J. (1978). Annulate lamellae in a malignant
mesenchymal tumor. Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol, 26:261-5.
Boulware M.J. & Marchant, J.S. (2008). Nuclear pore disassembly from endoplasmic
reticulum membranes promotes Ca2+ signalling competency. J Physiol, 15;586(Pt
12):2873-88.
Callan, H.G., Randall, J.T. & Tomlin, S.G. (1949). An electron microscope study of the
nuclear membrane. Nature, 163(4138):280.
Chen, T.Y. & Merisko, E.M. (1988). Annulate lamellae: comparison of antigenic epitopes of
annulate lamellae membranes with the nuclear envelope. J Cell Biol, 107(4):1299306.
Cheville, N.F. (1994). Ultrastructural pathology: An introduction to interpretation. Iowa
State University Press (Ames), p. 18
Cordes, V.C., Reidenbach, S. & Franke, W.W. (1995). High content of a nuclear pore complex
protein in cytoplasmic annulate lamellae of Xenopus oocytes. Eur J Cell Biol, 68:
240255.
Cordes, V.C., Reidenbach, S. & Franke, W.W. (1996). Cytoplasmic annulate lamellae in
cultured cells: composition, distribution, and mitotic behavior. Cell Tissue Res,
284:177-91.
Cronshaw, J.M., Krutchinsky, A.N., Zhang, W., Chait, B.T. & Matunis, M.J. (2002). Proteomic
analysis of the mammalian nuclear pore complex. J Cell Biol, 158(5):915-27.
Dabauvalle, M.C., Loos, K., Merkert, H. & Scheer, U. (1991). Spontaneous assembly of pore
complex-containing membranes ("annulate lamellae") in Xenopus egg extract in the
absence of chromatin. J Cell Biol. 112:1073-82.
Dabauvalle, M.C., Mller. E., Ewald, A., Kress, W., Krohne, G. & Mller, CR. (1999).
Distribution of emerin during the cell cycle. Eur J Cell Biol, 78(10):749-56.
D'Angelo, M.A., Anderson, D.J., Richard, E. & Hetzer M.W. (2006). Nuclear pores form de
novo from both sides of the nuclear envelope. Science 312(5772):440-3.
D'Angelo M.A. & Hetzer, M.W. (2008). Structure, dynamics and function of nuclear pore
complexes. Trends Cell Biol, 18(10):456-66.
Davis, L.I. & Blobel, G. (1986). Identification and characterization of a nuclear pore complex
protein. Cell, 45(5):699-709.
Daigle, N., Beaudouin, J., Hartnell, L., Imreh, G. & Hallberg, E., Lippincott-Schwartz, J. &,
Ellenberg J. (2001). Nuclear pore complexes form immobile networks and have a
very low turnover in live mammalian cells. J Cell Biol, 154(1):71-84.
De Brabander, M. & Borgers, M. (1975). The formation of annulated lamellae induced by the
disintegration of microtubules. J Cell Sci, 19:331-40.
Dishinger, J.F., Kee, H.L., Jenkins, P.M., Fan, S., Hurd, T.W., Hammond, J.W., Truong, Y.N.,
Margolis, B., Martens, J.R. & Verhey, K.J. (2010). Ciliary entry of the kinesin-2
motor KIF17 is regulated by importin-beta2 and RanGTP. Nat Cell Biol, 12(7):703-10.
Erlandson, R.A. & de Harven, E. (1971). The ultrastructure of synchronized HeLa cells. J Cell
Sci, 8:353-97.

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

53

Ewald, A., Kossner, U., Scheer, U. & Dabauvalle, M.C. (1996). A biochemical and
immunological comparison of nuclear and cytoplasmic pore complexes. J Cell Sci,
109:1813-24.
Feldherr, C.M. (1962). The nuclear annuli as pathways for nucleocytoplasmic exchanges. J
Cell Biol, 14:65-72.
Fernandez-Martinez, J. & Rout, M.P. (2009). Nuclear pore complex biogenesis. Curr Opin Cell
Biol, 21(4):603-12.
Franke, W.W., Scheer, U., Krohne, G. & Jarasch E.D. (1981). The nuclear envelope and the
architecture of the nuclear periphery. J Cell Biol, 91(3 Pt 2):39s-50s.
Gerace, L. & Blobel G. (1980). The nuclear envelope lamina is reversibly depolymerized
during mitosis. Cell, 19(1):277-87.
Gerace, L., Ottaviano, Y. & Kondor-Koch, C. (1982). Identification of a major polypeptide of
the nuclear pore complex. J Cell Biol, 95(3):826-37.
Goldberg, M.W. & Allen T.D. (1992). High resolution scanning electron microscopy of the
nuclear envelope: demonstration of a new, regular, fibrous lattice attached to the
baskets of the nucleoplasmic face of the nuclear pores. J Cell Biol,119(6):1429-40.
Goldstein, M.N. (1971). Annulate lamellae in cultured human neuroblastoma cells. Cancer
Res, 31:209-13.
Gracia-Navarro, F., Ruiz-Navarro, A. & Garca-Herdugo, G. (1980). Annulate lamellae in
frog adenohypophysis under normal and experimental conditions. Cell Biol Int Rep,
4:1045-50.
Gubanova, N.V. & Kiseleva E.V. (2008). Dynamics of annulate lamellae in drosophila
syncytial embryos. Cell and Tissue Biology, 2(4): 400410.
Hertig, A.T. (1968). The primary human oocyte: some observations on the fine structure of
Balbiani's vitelline body and the origin of the annulate lamellae. Am J Anat, 122:10737.
Hill, D.L., Yang, T.J. & Wachtel, A. (1984). Canine transmissible venereal sarcoma: tumor cell
and infiltrating leukocyte ultrastructure at different growth stages. Vet Pathol,
21:39-45.
Hoelz, A., Debler, E.W. & Blobel G.(2011). The structure of the nuclear pore complex. Annu
Rev Biochem, 80:613-43.
Huang, K. & Tsao, C.C. (2010). Importin-2: a key to two gates? Protein Cell, 1(9):791-2.
Imreh, G. & Hallberg E. (2000). An integral membrane protein from the nuclear pore
complex is also present in the annulate lamellae: implications for annulate lamella
formation. Exp Cell Res, 259(1):180-90.
Infante, A.S., Stein, M.S., Zhai, Y., Borisy, G.G. & Gundersen, G.G. (2000). Detyrosinated
(Glu) microtubules are stabilized by an ATP-sensitive plus-end cap. J Cell Sci,.113
(Pt 22):3907-19.
Kessel, R.G. (1981). Origin, differentiation, distribution and possible functional role of
annulate lamellae during spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. J Ultrastruct
Res, 75: 7296.
Kessel, R.G. & Katow, H. (1984). Effects of prolonged antitubulin culture on annulate
lamellae in mouse alpha L929 fibroblasts. J Morphol, 179(3):291-304.
Kessel, R.G. (1989). The annulate lamellae--from obscurity to spotlight. Electron Microsc Rev,
2:257-348.

54

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Kessel, R.G. (1992). Annulate lamellae: a last frontier in cellular organelles. Int Rev Cytol,
133:43-120.
Kiseleva, E., Morozova, K.N., Voeltz, G.K., Allen, T.D. & Goldberg, M.W. (2007). Reticulon
4a/NogoA locates to regions of high membrane curvature and may have a role in
nuclear envelope growth. J Struct Biol, 160(2):224-35.
Liang, Y. & Hetzer, M.W. (2011). Functional interactions between nucleoporins and
chromatin. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 23(1):65-70.
Lim R.Y., Aebi, U. & Fahrenkrog, B. (2008). Towards reconciling structure and function in
the nuclear pore complex. Histochem Cell Biol, 129(2):105-16.
Lohka, M.J. & Masui Y. (1983). Formation in vitro of sperm pronuclei and mitotic
chromosomes induced by amphibian ooplasmic components. Science,
220(4598):719-21.
Matsubara, S. & Mair, W.G. (1979). Ultrastructural changes in polymyositis. Brain, 102:70125.
Maul, G.G. (1970a). Ultrastructure of pore complexes of annulate lamellae. J Cell Biol,
46(3):604-10.
Maul, G.G. (1970b). On the relationship between the Golgi apparatus and annulate lamellae.
J Ultrastruct Res, 30:368-84.
Maul, G.G., Maul, H.M., Scogna, J.E., Lieberman, M.W., Stein, G.S., Hsu, B.Y. & Borun, T.W.
(1972). Time sequence of nuclear pore formation in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated
lymphocytes and in HeLa cells during the cell cycle. J Cell Biol, 55(2):433-47.
Meier, E., Miller. B.R. & Forbes, D.J. (1995). Nuclear pore complex assembly studied with a
biochemical assay for annulate lamellae formation. J Cell Biol, 129:1459-72.
Merisko, E.M. (1989). Annulate lamellae: an organelle in search of a function. Tissue Cell,
21:343-54.
Miller, B.R. & Forbes, D.J. (2000). Purification of the vertebrate nuclear pore complex by
biochemical criteria. Traffic, 1:941-51.
Miller, B.R., Powers, M., Park, M., Fischer, W. & Forbes, D.J. (2000). Identification of a new
vertebrate nucleoporin, Nup188, with the use of a novel organelle trap assay. Mol
Biol Cell, 11:3381-96.
Morozova, K.N., Gubanova, N.V. & Kiseleva, E.V. (2005). Structural organization and
possible functional role of annulate lamellae containing cytoplasmic pores.
Tsitologiia, 47:667-78.
Newport J. (1987). Nuclear reconstitution in vitro: stages of assembly around protein-free
DNA. Cell, 48(2):205-17.
Onischenko, E.A., Gubanova, N.V., Kieselbach, T., Kiseleva, E.V. & Hallberg, E. (2004).
Annulate lamellae play only a minor role in the storage of excess nucleoporins in
Drosophila embryos. Traffic, 5:152-64.
Onischenko, E.A., Gubanova, N.V., Kiseleva, E.V. & Hallberg, E. (2005). Cdk1 and okadaic
acid-sensitive phosphatases control assembly of nuclear pore complexes in
Drosophila embryos. Mol Biol Cell, 16(11):5152-62.
Ou, Y.Y., Zhang, M., Chi, S., Matyas, J.R. & Rattner, J.B. (2003). Higher order structure of the
PCM adjacent to the centriole. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, 55(2):125-33.
Pant, N., Bastos, R., McMorrow, I., Burke, B. & Aebi, U. (1994). Interactions and threedimensional localization of a group of nuclear pore complex proteins. Cell Biol,
126(3):603-17.

Tubulohelical Membrane Arrays, Annulate Lamellae and Nuclear Pores:

Tripartite Membrane Architecture with the Participation of Nucleoporins

55

Plotnikova, O.V., Pugacheva, E.N. & Golemis, E.A. (2009). Primary cilia and the cell cycle.
Methods Cell Biol. 94:137-60.
Poole, C.A., Jensen, C.G., Snyder, J.A., Gray, C.G., Hermanutz, V.L. & Wheatley, D.N. (1997).
Confocal analysis of primary cilia structure and colocalization with the Golgi
apparatus in chondrocytes and aortic smooth muscle cells. Cell Biol Int, 21(8):483-94.
Reichelt, R., Holzenburg, A., Buhle, E.L., Jarnik, M., Engel, A. & Aebi, U. (1990).
Correlationbetween structure and mass distribution of the nuclear pore complex
and of distinct pore complex components. J Cell Biol, 110:883-894.
Reipert, S., Reipert, B.M., Hickman, J.A. & Allen, T.D. (1996). Nuclear pore clustering is a
consistent feature of apoptosis in vitro. Cell Death Differ, 3(1):131-9.
Reipert, S., Kotisch, H., Wysoudil, B. & Wiche, G. (2008). Rapid microwave fixation of cell
monolayers preserves microtubule-associated cell structures. J Histochem Cytochem,
56(7):697-709.
Reipert, S., Kotisch, H., Wysoudil, B. & Neumller, J. (2009). Tubulohelical membrane
arrays: novel association of helical structures with intracellular membranes. Cell
Biol Int, 33:217-23.
Reipert, S., Wesierska-Gadek, J. & Wienerroither, S. (2010). Tubulohelical membrane arrays:
From the initial observation to the elucidation of nanophysical properties and
cellular function. PMC Biophys, 3(1):13.
Saraste, J., Dale, H.A., Bazzocco, S. & Marie, M. (2009). Emerging new roles of the pre-Golgi
intermediate compartment in biosynthetic-secretory trafficking. FEBS Lett,
583(23):3804-10.
Snow, C.M., Senior, A., Gerace, L. (1987). Monoclonal antibodies identify a group of nuclear
pore complex glycoproteins. J Cell Biol, 104(5):1143-56.
Stevens, B.J. & Swift, H. (1966). RNA transport from nucleus to cytoplasm in Chironomus
salivary glands. J Cell Biol, 31:55-77.
Sun, C.N. & White, H.J. (1979). Annulate lamellae in human tumor cells. Tissue Cell, 11:13946.
Sutovsky, P., Simerly, C., Hewitson, L. & Schatten, G. (1998). Assembly of nuclear pore
complexes and annulate lamellae promotes normal pronuclear development in
fertilized mammalian oocytes. J Cell Sci, 111 (19):2841-54.
Swift, H. (1956). The fine structure of annulate lamellae. J Biophys Biochem Cytol, 2(4
Suppl):415-8.
Unwin, P.N. & Milligan, R.A. (1982). A large particle associated with the perimeter of the
nuclear pore complex. J Cell Biol, 93(1):63-75.
Voeltz, G.K. & Prinz, W.A. (2007). Sheets, ribbons and tubules - how organelles get their
shape. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 8(3):258-64.
Walther, T.C., Askjaer, P., Gentzel, M., Habermann, A., Griffiths, G., Wilm, M., Mattaj, I.W.
& Hetzer, M. (2003). RanGTP mediates nuclear pore complex assembly. Nature,
424:689-694.
Webster, M., Witkin, K.L. & Cohen-Fix, O. (2009). Sizing up the nucleus: nuclear shape, size
and nuclear-envelope assembly. J Cell Sci, 122(Pt 10):1477-86.
Wente, S.R. & Rout, M.P. (2010). The nuclear pore complex and nuclear transport. Cold
Spring Harb Perspect Biol, 2(10):a000562.

56

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Wesierska-Gadek, J., Klima, A., Ranftler, C., Komina, O., Hanover, J., Invernizzi, P. &
Penner, E. (2008). Characterization of the antibodies to p62 nucleoporin in primary
biliary cirrhosis using human recombinant antigen. J Cell Biochem, 104(1):27-37.
Wheatley, D.N. (1993). Helical inclusions with nucleopore-like characteristics in the cytoplasm
of Swiss 3T3 cells: a preliminary communication. Cell Biol Int, 17:1033-8.
Wheatley, D.N. (1999). Helical extrusions at the nuclear envelope: possible involvement in
nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. Cell Biol Int, 23:709-14.
Wischnitzer, S. (1970). The annulate lamellae. Int Rev Cytol, 27:65-100.

3
Actin Folding, Structure and Function:
Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically
Disordered Protein?
Olga I. Povarova1, Anna I. Sulatskaya1,
Irina M. Kuznetsova1,2 and Konstantin K. Turoverov1

1Laboratory

of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins,

Institute of Cytology RAS,
2St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, St. Petersburg,
Russian Federation

1. Introduction
Actin is the most abundant protein in eukaryotic cells. This protein is found in every living
cell, but it is most plentiful in muscle cells, from which it was isolated more than 60 years
ago (Straub, 1942). Since that time the continuous flow of investigations was started,
involving more and more scientists. Even today, scientific interest in actin has not died
down but is, rather, continuing to make noteworthy advances, as can be observed from the
Scopus database (Figure 1). Initially, these investigations focused on muscle actin, with an
emphasis on its ability to polymerize and to interact with the other main muscle protein,
myosin, and several other regulatory proteins that control muscle relaxation and
contraction. In addition, researchers examined the role of ATP hydrolysis as a source of
energy and that of the bivalent cation Mg++, an essential component of the polymerizationdepolymerization process, that is replaced by Ca++ in vitro. In the early 1970s, it became
evident that actin is an abundant protein, not only in muscle cells but also in every other
type of eukaryotic cell. The main role of actin in non-muscle cells is the formation of the
cytoskeleton, which functions to enable cell motility and inter-cell interaction. Further
investigations showed that actin participates in many other vitally important cellular
processes. Although the first report of actin in the nucleus appeared at virtually the same
time as the discovery of the protein in the cytoplasm, the former observation was presumed
to be an artifact. It was only recently that actin was proven to be an integral component that
plays a key role in the nucleus, as it does in the cytoplasm. The actin role in nucleus begins
with the nuclear scaffold formation and ends with the transcription process. Furthermore, it
became evident that globular (G-) actin in nuclei participates in transcription and chromatin
remodeling.
A large amount of data regarding actin has accumulated, with specific topics that include
the structure of G-actin; the polymerization of G-actin to form fibrillar (F-) actin and the
depolymerization of F-actin; the participation of the protein in muscle contraction; in the
formation of the cytoskeleton in non-muscle cells; the localization of actin in different cell

58

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

6000

600

4000

200

2000

1970

1980
Year

400

1990

Number of papers

Number of papers

compartments and its role there; and its interactions with numerous partners, of which more
than 60 classes are currently known. These topics are discussed in multiple research works
and a series of modern reviews (see, e.g., (dos Remedios et al., 2003; Winder & Ayscough,
2005; Reisler & Egelman, 2007; Schleicher & Jockusch, 2008; Vartiainen, 2008; Zheng et al.,
2009; Skarp & Vartiainen, 2010; Wang et al., 2010; Dominguez & Holmes, 2011;
Schoenenberger et al., 2011)). Therefore, in the present work, these questions will be
discussed rather briefly, and the primary focus will be on the processes of actin folding and
unfolding and on the validation of the hypothesis that G-actin belongs to the so-called
intrinsically disordered (ID) proteins.

1950

1970

1990

2010

Year

Fig. 1. The increase of researchers' interest in actin. The graph illustrates the increase in the
total number of publications on actin (1, blue), with separate tracks showing the number of
publications on muscle (2, red), cytoplasmic (3, green) and nuclear (4, yellow) actin from
1950 to the present.

2. Actin structure
Actin is a highly conserved protein of approximately 42 kDa, and its polypeptide chain
consists of 375 amino acids (Oosawa, 1971). There are three isoforms of actin that are
produced by different genes (alpha, beta and gamma), all of which are polymorphic
proteins that are capable of polymerization. The actin isoforms differ by only a few amino
acids, with most of the variation occurring toward the N-terminus (Herman, 1993). A
distinctive feature of actin is its ability to polymerize. At low ionic strength in vitro, actin
exists as a monomer (G-actin). In the presence of neutral salts, the protein polymerizes to
form a single-stranded polymer (the so-called fibrous form of actin, or F-actin). F-actin forms
the backbone of the thin filaments of muscle fibers and of the cytoskeleton. The tendency of
actin to polymerize prevents the formation of its crystals, which is a requirement for 3D
structure resolution via X-rays. However, actin loses its ability to polymerize after forming a
complex with DNase I and/or other actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Actin was crystallized
for the first time in complex with DNase I (Kabsch et al., 1990). This accomplishment was an
important breakthrough in the study of actin structure. The actin monomer was revealed to
be a relatively flat molecule of dimensions 55x55x35 . Actin folds into two major /domains (Figure 2), as do other proteins of the structural superfamily to which the sugar
kinases, hexokinases and Hsp70 proteins belong (Domingues end Holmes, 2011). Each large

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

59

domain consists of two subdomains, and traditionally, a four-subdomain nomenclature has

been adopted (Kabsch et al., 1990). Subsequently, actin structures with certain other ABPs
were determined. Nonetheless, it was unclear whether the structure of actin in complex
with ABPs differs from that of free, native actin. This problem was solved when the
structure of actin with a small molecule (ADP-actin with tetramethyl-rhodamine-5maleimide, which prevents actin polymerization) was determined (Graceffa & Dominguez,
2003). To date, over 80 structures of actin in complexes with various ABPs have been
reported (Dominguez & Holmes, 2011).

Fig. 2. The structure of the actin molecule. The figure was created on the basis of the PDB
data (Dutta et al., 2009), the file 1ATN.ent (Kabsch et al., 1990), using the graphical software
VMD (Hsin et al., 2002) and Raster 3D (Merritt & Bacon, 1997). ATP (red), Ca2+ (yellow),
ATP/ADP sensing loops (green), the DNase I loop (blue) and ABPs binding sites are
specially emphasized.
It appeared that irrespectively of modification, bound molecule or nucleotide (ATP or ADP)
the conformation of the actin monomer was practically the same except though small but
important differences. One of the important variable regions is the so called DNase I loop.
This loop includes residues 39-51, which are located at the top of domain 2, and is referred
to as the DNase I-binding loop because it is responsible for the formation of the actin
complex with DNase I (Kabsch et al., 1990). At the same time this loop plays a critical role in
the inter-subunit contacts in the F-actin filament. Any change in this loop, though it may not
influence the structure of domain 2, leads to the loss of actins ability to polymerize.
Interestingly, this loop, which forms a -strand in one crystal structure (Kabsch et al., 1990),
was found to be disordered in several other crystal structures (McLaughlin et al., 1993) and
to form an -helix when ADP, rather than ATP, is bound to actin (Otterbein et al., 2001).
The differences between the ATP- and ADP-bound states are relatively minor and primarily
involve two loops: the Ser14 -hairpin loop, which is located in actin subdomain 1, and the
sensor loop carrying the methylated His73 (Graceffa & Dominguez, 2003). The nucleotidedependent conformational changes in these loops, though minor, are very important and
can explain how interaction of actin-binding proteins (such as profilin and cofilin) with actin
is regulated by the nucleotide bound to actin (Dominguez & Holmes, 2011).
Opposite the large cleft of the actin molecule, there is a smaller cleft. This region participates
in the formation of inter-monomer contacts during actin polymerization, when the loop

60

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

containing residues 41-45 binds to residues 166-169 and 375 (Kabsch et al., 1990). There are
two additional contacts between subdomains 3 and 4: residues 322-325 bind to residues 243245, and the loop containing residues 286-289 binds to residues 202-204 (Holmes & Kabsch,
1991). This smaller cleft between domains 1 and 3 also appears to be the binding site of
several major ABPs. This observation implies that actin bound to an ABP loses its ability to
polymerize and can therefore be crystallized. The actin residues that participate in the
formation of contacts with ABPs include Tyr143, Ala144, Gly146, Thr148, Gly168, Ile341,
Ile345, Leu346, Leu349, Thr351 and Met355 (Figure 2) (Dominguez & Holmes, 2011). This
cleft is sometimes referred to as hydrophobic, although not all of the residues mentioned
above fit that description. It has been suggested that communication between the two clefts
provides the structural basis by which nucleotide-dependent conformation changes
modulate the binding affinities of ABPs (Dominguez & Holmes, 2011).

3. Folding of globular proteins

We have recently summarized the main principles of globular protein folding (Povarova et
al., 2010). One of the fundamental laws of physics states that an isolated polypeptide chain
must attain the conformation that corresponds to the free energy minimum, F:
F = H TS,

(1)

where is the enthalpy, the value of which is determined by all the interactions between
the atoms of a polypeptide chain, as well as interactions with solvent molecules, and S is the
entropy, a measure of the number of conformations, N, which determines the realization of
a given protein state: S = R lnN (in this formula, R is the universal gas constant and is the
absolute temperature). In these terms, protein folding is the process of the attainment by a
polypeptide chain of a thermodynamically stable state that corresponds to the global free
energy minimum. It is important to remember, however, that alongside the single global
minimum, the system can possess a series of local minima. The presence of such local free
energy minima reflects the existence of intermediate states between the native (N) and
unfolded (U) conformations. The state corresponding to a local minimum can also be a final
state of the system if it is separated from other, deeper free energy minima by a high-energy
barrier(s).
What is the nature of the state that corresponds to the free energy minimum for a given
protein molecule? Will this state be native (biologically active)? To answer these questions, it
is necessary to remember another fundamental law of nature the biological law of
evolutionary selection. An amino acid sequence must be composed in such a way that the
protein becomes functionally active (native) after reaching the state corresponding to its free
energy minimum. Thus, "nonsense" amino acid sequences that are nonfunctional in the state
corresponding to the free energy minimum will be rejected by evolutionary selection.
However, this theory implies that, if such so-called "nonsense" amino acid sequences are
detected, then they likely serve some purpose, though this purpose may be unknown.
The unfolded state is entropically favorable because it represents a dynamic ensemble of a
large number of conformations that originate from the rotational isomerization of the main
chain. In contrast, any compact state imposes significant restrictions on the conformational
freedom of the polypeptide chain and is therefore entropically unfavorable. The capacity of

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

61

a given polypeptide chain to attain a compact state is determined by its ability to form
intramolecular contacts that compensate for the free energy increase that is caused by the
decrease in the entropy component. The compactness of a structure formed by a
polypeptide chain is determined by its amino acid composition and sequence. Therefore,
depending on the peculiarities of their compositions and sequences, newly synthesized
amino acid chains would adopt globular or partially or completely disordered structures.
The structures formed by a polypeptide chain in water are significantly different from that
of the Gaussian coil. This difference arises because water is a poor solvent for a polypeptide
chain, not only due to the existence of numerous hydrophobic amino acid residues but also
because water is a poor solvent for the protein backbone. In fact, despite the absence of
hydrophobic residues, polar polypeptides (polyglutamine and glycine-serine block
copolypeptides) prefer ensembles of collapsed structures in aqueous milieus (Crick et al.,
2006; Tran et al., 2008). Furthermore, residual secondary structure is repeatedly found in
unfolded globular proteins, even in concentrated solutions of strong denaturants, such as 8
M urea or 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), which are much better solvents for
polypeptide chains than water (Shortle & Ackerman, 2001; Shortle, 2002). Upon being
unfolded, many globular proteins can refold into the same native structure, which means
that all of the information necessary for a given polypeptide chain to fold into a unique
tertiary structure is encoded in its amino acid sequence (Anfinsen et al., 1961). Furthermore,
amino acid sequences must also bear information about to the pathways of their formation,
because otherwise, the random optimization of a polypeptide chain of hundreds amino
acids will take billion of years, as was shown by Levintal.
Another special feature of the polypeptide chain of each globular protein is that it proves the
existence of a free energy barrier between the native and denatured states (Finkelstein &
Ptitsyn, 2002). This circumstance is vital for the correct functioning of globular proteins
because only the existence of a free energy barrier between the native and denatured states
maintains the conformation of molecules of globular proteins in the native state. This precise
circumstance provides the possibility of crystal formation by globular proteins in their
native states.
In medias res, protein folding can be regarded as a realization of the second part of the
genetic code because the amino acid sequence contains information on the functional 3D
structure of the protein. The first part of the genetic code is predominantly solved, but the
study of the problem of protein folding is far from completion.
The models of protein folding have changed several times with the progress of experimental
studies. According to the current view, protein folding is achieved via various pathways
that are determined by the proteins energy landscape. The energy landscape model not
only elucidates the mechanisms of globular protein folding but also explains the nature of
the so called intrinsically disordered proteins (see Section 5), describes the formation of their
supramolecular complexes, and delineates the formation of potentially pathogenic
oligomers, amorphous aggregates, amyloid, and amyloid-like fibrils.

4. Actin foldingunfolding
The first investigation of actin folding and unfolding was performed by Lehrer and Kerwar
(Lehrer & Kerwar, 1972). In this work, it was shown that the release of calcium ion by EDTA
or EGTA treatment leads to the transformation of G-actin into an inactivated form in which

62

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

the protein molecule loses its capability to polymerize. For many years, it was generally
accepted that actin unfolds via a single intermediate state called inactivated actin (West et
al., 1967; Lehrer & Kerwar, 1972; Contaxis et al., 1977; Tatunashvili & Privalov, 1984;
Bertazzon et al., 1990; Le Bihan & Gicquaud, 1993; Turoverov et al., 1999a). The
investigations of actin unfolding and refolding that we commenced in 1998-1999 led to an
essential revision of the concept of inactivated actin (see section 4.1) and of our
understanding of the transformations of actin induced by different concentrations of various
agents (see section 4.2). In the conclusion of this section, data regarding actin folding in vivo
will be presented (section 4.3).
4.1 Inactivated actin
The release of calcium ions by EDTA or EGTA treatment does not lead to actin unfolding
but renders the protein inactive, i.e., a state in which the molecule loses its ability to
polymerize (Lehrer & Kerwar, 1972; Turoverov et al., 1999a). Actin in this state was named
inactivated actin (I). Inactivated actin may also be obtained by heat denaturation, exposure
to moderate urea or GdnHCl concentrations, dialysis with 8 M urea or 6 M GdnHCl, or
spontaneously during storage (Kuznetsova et al., 1988). On the basis of these data,
inactivated actin (I) was considered to be an on-pathway intermediate between the native
(N) and completely unfolded (U) states.

U,
N
I

(2)

All equilibrium experiments appeared to support this model. The spectrum of the intrinsic
fluorescence of inactivated actin has its maximum at wavelength 340 nm, which is
intermediate between that of the native (max = 325 nm) and completely unfolded protein
(max = 350 nm). The fluorescence red shift can be caused by the polar environment formed
by intrinsic residues of the protein (Turoverov et al., 1999a). It has been shown that the
microenvironment of tryptophan residues is rather rigid (Turoverov et al., 1999b).
The secondary structure of inactivated actin is substantially distorted. Changes in the far UV
CD spectrum caused by protein inactivation are consistent with the partial transformation of
-helices either into a disordered conformation or into the -structure. The appearance of structural elements during denaturation has been described for a number of proteins and has
been correlated with protein association or aggregation (Fink, 1998). It was shown that the far
UV CD spectra of inactivated actin generated by different denaturing agents are practically
identical. Moreover, protein inactivation was accompanied by a considerable increase of the
fluorescence anisotropy value (r = 0.09 0.01, 0.17 0.02 and 0.07 0.01 for native, inactivated
and unfolded actin, respectively), reflecting a considerable decrease in the internal mobility of
the tryptophan residues in the inactivated actin (Kuznetsova et al., 1988).
A Perrin plot (1/r versus T/ dependence, where T and are temperature and viscosity,
respectively) shows that inactivated actin is characterized by the independence of 1/r from
T/. This result is consistent with the assumption that inactivation is accompanied by the
association of partially folded actin molecules in large particles. The rotational relaxation
time of these particles is much greater than the Trp fluorescence lifetime. Interestingly, the
Perrin plot measured for F-actin, which is known to be a long, rigid filament comprised of

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

63

numerous actin molecules, also has no visible dependence of 1/r on T/. However, the
intercepts of the Perrin plot on the Y axis (1/ro' value) for G- and F-actin practically coincide
and exceed that for the inactivated protein (8.30.2 and 6.10.2, respectively). This fact
indicates that the amplitude of high-frequency intramolecular mobility or the rotational
relaxation time of inactivated actin, or both, are much lower than the corresponding values
of native actin (Kuznetsova & Turoverov, 1983). Thus, it was shown that the interior of
denatured (inactivated) actin has considerable mobility limitation.
The fact that the inactivated actin represents a specific aggregate and that its properties do
not depend on the method of its generation was proven by gel-filtration and sedimentation
experiments (Kuznetsova et al., 1999). The apparent molecular masses (Mapp) of native and
inactivated actins were determined using a gel-filtration column that was calibrated by a set
of 20 native globular proteins with known molecular masses ranging from 5.78 to 660 kDa.
The Mapp for native and inactivated actin was determined as 402 and 71020 kDa,
respectively. For the determination of the real molecular mass (Mtrue), the Stokes radii (Rs) of
native and inactivated actins were evaluated. These values for native and inactivated actins
were determined to be 282 and 614 . Using these values and sedimentation coefficients,
the Mtrue values for native and inactivated actin were determined to be 40.5 and 712.6 kDa,
respectively (Kuznetsova et al., 1999). One can see that the value calculated for the native
actin is consistent with the molecular mass estimated from its amino acid sequence (42.05
kDa). It can also be seen that, within the limits of experimental error, the values of the true
molecular mass, calculated for native and inactivated actin from RS, coincide with the
apparent molecular mass values that were measured by gel-filtration.
It should be emphasized that this observation is very important because the use of a sizeexclusion column calibrated with a set of native proteins with known M values allows one, in
principle, to estimate the molecular mass for the protein of interest. This value should be
considered to be an apparent one, as it will be correct only for native globular proteins. In
contrast, the RS value determined chromatographically reflects the real hydrodynamic
dimensions of the given protein under the conditions studied, regardless of its conformational
state (of course in the case if there is no interaction between the protein and column matrix). It
is known that the sedimentation constant is a parameter that can be measured directly. Thus,
two quantities that have been used for the calculation of Mtrue are independent of the model.
The fact that Mapp coincides with Mtrue is consistent with the conclusion that inactivated actin
has hydrodynamic dimensions typical of the native globular protein with a molecular mass of
~700 kDa, which means that the protein in this form has overall native-like packing density.
On the basis of the above experiments, it was concluded that inactivated actin represents an
ordered aggregate: a supramolecular, monodisperse complex of 14-16 monomers of partially
unfolded actin (Kuznetsova et al., 1999).
The interaction of inactivated actin with the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (ANS) is particularly interesting. High affinity to ANS is
a well-known characteristic of many partially folded protein conformations (Fink, 1995;
Ptitsyn, 1995). The formation of a complex between ANS and a protein molecule leads to a
considerable increase in the dye fluorescence intensity. It has been established that ANS
fluorescence is minimal in a solution with native and completely unfolded actin, whereas
the inactivation of the protein is accompanied by a considerable increase in this parameter
(Turoverov et al., 1999a).

64

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

In view of the finding that inactivated actin represents an ordered aggregate, the
dependence of ANS interaction with actin on the concentrations of GdnHCl and urea was
studied (Povarova et al., 2010). As can be expected, the intensity of ANS fluorescence
weakly depends on the urea concentration, up to the concentration at which the
supramolecular complexes are destroyed. However, the dependence of ANS fluorescence on
the concentration of GdnHCl was found to follow a curve with maximum in a narrow range
of small concentrations of the denaturant. Furthermore, the maximum of light scattering (or
even precipitation at high protein concentration) was observed in the same range of
GdnHCl concentrations. These findings indicate that inactivated actin forms large
aggregates in this narrow range of GdnHCl concentrations and that the affinity of ANS
molecules for these aggregates is very high. ANS incorporates into the hydrophobic pockets
between the molecules that form the aggregates, resulting in the dramatic increase in its
fluorescence intensity.
The protein aggregation was explained by interactions between the GdnHCl cations (GuH+)
and the side-chain C=O groups of the glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid and asparagine
residues of the actin molecule. The possibility of such interactions has been shown earlier
(Anufrieva et al., 1994; Mason et al., 2004). In actin, the number of negatively charged groups
from glutamic and aspartic acids (OD2 - 22 groups and OE2 - 28 groups) is greater than the
number of positively charged groups from lysine (NZ 18 groups), arginine (NH1 18
groups) and histidine (NE2 9 groups). Therefore, the actin molecule is negatively charged (pI
5.07) at a neutral pH. With an increase in the number of GuH+ ions bound to inactivated actin,
the number of positively charged groups increases, and at a certain concentration of GdnHCl
(0.2 0.3 M), the initially negatively charged molecules become neutral, which leads to their
aggregation. Upon further increases in the GdnHCl concentration, the number of positively
charged groups on the surfaces of the protein molecules will exceed the number of negatively
charged groups. Therefore, the conditions will no longer be favorable for aggregation. This is
the reason for the abrupt decrease in light-scattering intensity. The less-abrupt decrease in the
intensity of ANS fluorescence in comparison with light scattering as the GdnHCl
concentration increases can be explained by the higher affinity of the negatively charged ANS
molecules for inactivated actin when it is positively charged, though aggregates are already
destroyed (Povarova et al., 2010). Due to the complex process of actin denaturation and the
dependence of the transition rates upon the GdnHCl concentration (Kuznetsova et al., 2002;
Turoverov et al., 2002), the maximum of ANS fluorescence intensity shifts to a lower
concentration of GdnHCl as the incubation time increases. Thus, after 24 h of incubation, the
maxima of light scattering and of ANS fluorescence intensity are recorded at practically the
same concentrations of GdnHCl as for initially inactivated actin.
Hydrophobic interactions apparently play a significant role in both the initial formation of
inactivated actin and the formation of inactivated actin aggregates in the presence of low
concentrations of GdnHCl. As mentioned above, due to the existence of hydrophobic
pockets in inactivated actin, the ANS fluorescence intensity is 20 times greater in the
presence of inactivated actin than in the presence of native actin. Inactivated actin already
has hydrophobic clusters on its surface, but molecules of inactivated actin do not stick
together because the negative charges on their surfaces prevent them from doing so. At
low concentrations of GdnHCl, the aggregation of inactivated actin leads to a significant
increase in the number of hydrophobic pockets and, consequently, to an increase in the

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

65

number of bound ANS molecules, that is detected by an increase in ANS fluorescence.

Protein aggregation in the presence of low concentrations of GdnHCl is particularly
pronounced for actin because large supramolecular complexes of inactivated actin
(Kuznetsova et al., 2002; Turoverov et al., 2002) are involved in the aggregation.
Thus, the study of the characteristics of inactivated actin allowed us to make important
conclusions regarding the properties of the molten globule state and of ANS fluorescence. It
was shown that low concentrations of GdnHCl can cause the aggregation of proteins in a
partially folded state and that the fluorescent dye ANS binds with these aggregates rather
than with hydrophobic clusters on the surfaces of proteins in the molten globule state. This
finding explains why an increase in ANS fluorescence intensity is often recorded during the
process of protein denaturation by GdnHCl, but not by urea. Therefore, what was
previously believed to be the molten globule state in the pathway of protein denaturation by
GdnHCl in reality, for certain proteins, represents the aggregation of partially folded
molecules (Povarova et al., 2010).
4.2 Intermediate states in the pathway of actin unfolding
To clarify the process of actin unfolding, the GdnHCl-induced changes in the intensity of
intrinsic fluorescence, the parameter A = I320/I365, fluorescence anisotropy and CD were
studied (Kuznetsova et al., 2002; Turoverov et al., 2002). The minima in the kinetic
dependencies of fluorescence intensity in the range of 1.0 - 2.0 M GdnHCl indicate that the
transition from the native to the inactivated state occurs via some essentially unfolded
intermediate state of actin. Based on these experimental data, a kinetic scheme for actin
unfolding was proposed:
k

k3

1
I,
N
U *

k2

(3)

where ki are the rate constants of the corresponding processes and U* is an essentially
unfolded kinetic intermediate, the fluorescence properties of which are similar to those of
the completely unfolded state but the secondary structure is much more ordered. The
GdnHCl dependencies of the rate constants, k1, k2 and k3, illustrate the conditions in which
the essentially unfolded intermediate state can be recorded. At 1.0 - 2.0 M GdnHCl, the
value of the rate constant for the transition from native to essentially unfolded actin exceeds
that for the following step of inactivated actin formation. This imbalance leads to the
accumulation of essentially unfolded macromolecules early in the unfolding process, which
in turn causes the minima in the time dependencies of tryptophan fluorescence intensity,
parameter A, intrinsic fluorescence spectrum position, and tryptophan fluorescence
anisotropy. To examine the properties of the newly identified kinetic intermediate U*, the
predecessor of inactivated actin, and to elucidate the roles of inactivated actin and its kinetic
predecessor in the processes of actin folding and unfolding, a parametric representation of
the kinetic dependencies of the tryptophan fluorescence intensity changes recorded at two
wavelengths was studied (Figure 4A). The use of a parametric relationship between two
independent extensive characteristics of the system allowed us to determine whether
protein unfolding is a two-state transition or if an intermediate state(s) is formed: if the
parametric relationship between any two extensive characteristics is linear, then protein
unfolding follows the model "all-or-none"; in contrast, a break in the line indicates the
existence of an intermediate state (Kuznetsova et al., 2004).

66

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fluorescence intensity (au)

B
0.0 N

1.0

0.8
1.0
0.6

1.2
1.5

0.4

1.8
0.2

3.0

100

200 300
Time (s)

400

24 0
(h)

2
3
4
GdnHCl (M)

Fig. 3. Actin denaturation monitored by the change of intrinsic fluorescence intensity at 320
nm. A. The kinetics of actin denaturation induced by GdnHCl. The values on the curves
indicate the concentration of GdnHCl (M). B. The fluorescence intensity of actin recorded
after 24 h of incubation in the listed concentrations of GdnHCl. The open and closed
symbols correspond to the unfolding and refolding experiments, respectively. In the
refolding experiment, the appropriate concentrations of GdnHCl were obtained by the
dilution of the actin solution in 5 M GdnHCl. ex = 297 nm, em = 320 nm. N, I and U
indicate the ranges of the predominant content of native, inactivated and unfolded actin,
respectively, after 24 h of incubation of actin in solution with appropriate concentrations of
GdnHCl. The values on the kinetic curves indicate the concentration of GdnHCl (M).
1.4
1.0

N
1.0
1.2

0.6
0.4

1.8

1.5

I320 (V)

I320 (au)

0.8

1.2

0.0

1.0

0.0
0.35

U*
0.40

U
0.45
I365 (au)

A
0.50

0.55

1.5

1.8

N*
2.5

0.8
0.6

0.2

1.2

3.0

0.4
1.4

1.6

1.8 2.0
I360 (V)

2.2

Fig. 4. Actin denaturation induced by GdnHCl. A. Parametric dependencies of fluorescence

intensity at 320 and at 365 nm; the parameter is the time from the beginning of denaturation.
The averaging time of signal is 0.6 s. The values on the curves indicate the concentration of
GdnHCl (M). ex = 297 nm. B. Parametric dependencies of fluorescence intensity at 320 and
at 360 nm; the parameter is the time from the beginning of denaturation. The averaging time
of signal is 0.1 ms. The values on the curves indicate the concentration of GdnHCl (M). ex =
297 nm.

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

67

The fluorescence intensities recorded at the wavelengths 320 and 365 nm were used as
independent extensive characteristics, and the time from the moment of protein solution
mixture with a GdnHCl solution of the appropriate concentration was taken as a parameter.
Figure 4A shows that these curves consist of two branches that are most pronounced for a
concentration of 1.8 M. One branch corresponds to the N U* transition and the other to
the U* I transition. This panel also shows that the fluorescence properties of the kinetic
intermediate U* differ from those of completely unfolded actin (U) in 4-6 M GdnHCl. The
kinetic intermediate has more blue fluorescence spectrum in comparison with the
completely unfolded state of actin (Kuznetsova et al., 2002; Turoverov & Kuznetsova, 2003;
Povarova et al., 2005; Povarova et al., 2007). Actin in this state, in contrast to the completely
unfolded state, was shown to preserve its secondary structure. Furthermore, the parametric
relationships between I320 and I365 were found to originate not from one point that
corresponds to the native state of actin in the absence of GdnHCl but from distinct points
(Figure 4A). This observation indicates that the change of the solution leads to rapid changes
of the fluorescence properties of actin. The existence of one more intermediate states was
proven in our experiments (Povarova et al., 2005) and in the work of Altschuler et al.
(Altschuler et al., 2005) by stopped flow (Figure 4B). The total obtained data allowed us to
propose a new kinetic pathway for actin unfolding and refolding induced by GdnHCl. In
this scheme, the state N* precedes the transformation of native actin into the essentially
unfolded state (U*). However, this state is far from a complete understanding and
characterization. At the same time, the formation of an essentially unfolded state (U*)
preceding the completely unfolded (U) or inactivated actin (I) has been proven. In the
processes of folding and unfolding, the essentially unfolded state (U*) is an on-pathway
intermediate, whereas inactivated actin (I) is an off-pathway associate, the appearance of
which competes with the transition to the native state.
As was mentioned above, protein folding is associated with a decrease in entropy that leads
to an increase of free energy transfer, which must be compensated by the formation of
contacts. In this scenario, two competing processes are possible: formation of intramolecular
contacts and formation of intermolecular contacts. In the first case, native protein appears,
and in the second, amyloid fibrils, amorphous aggregates and associates such as inactivated
actin appear. Investigation of the characteristics of such states and the factors that influence
their appearance is not only of fundamental value but also important for medicine (in
connection with the so called conformational diseases) and for biotechnology (in connection
with the accumulation of insoluble aggregate forms of various proteins in inclusion bodies).
The reversibility of the actin denaturation state in early works (Contaxis et al., 1977;
Tatunashvili & Privalov, 1984; De La Cruz & Pollard, 1995) was not reproduced by us
(Kuznetsova et al., 2002; Turoverov et al., 2002; Turoverov & Kuznetsova, 2003; Povarova et
al., 2005). The Ca++ ion probably plays a crucial role in the irreversibility of actin
denaturation: the native structure became energetically profitable only in the presence of the
Ca++ ion, and otherwise, the structure is stabilized by intramolecular contacts, which leads
to the formation of inactivated actin. Thus, the presence of chaperones is likely to be an
essential requirement for actin folding.
The study of actin unfolding in different concentrations of GdnHCl allowed us to conclude
that actin unfolding by 4 M GdnHCl also proceeds via the intermediate states N* and U*.
N*, N*
U* and U*
U increase with
The rate constants of the processes N
the GdnHCl concentration. The rate constants of these processes are very large in 4 M

68

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

GdnHCl, which is why it appears that actin unfolding by 4 M GdnHCl is a two-state

U. The Ca++ ion plays a stabilizing role in the structure of actin as
transition, N
ligands do for other proteins. Thus, Ca++ ions in actin can be regarded as triggers, the
removal of which launches the cascade of conformational changes, i.e., the appearance of the
kinetic intermediates N* and then U*. The dissociation of Ca++ in low concentrations of
GdnHCl is a slow process (Kuznetsova et al., 2002). Actin molecules that transfer to the U*
state are rapidly associated with the formation of inactivated actin (I) because the rate
I process is large in the absence of a denaturant. Due to this effect,
constant for the U*
the transition of native actin to the inactivated state occurs even spontaneously, in the
absence of denaturant, during actin sample storage (Kuznetsova et al., 1988). However, the
N* is
same process caused by EDTA is very rapid: the rate constant of the process N
very large, and in the absence of GdnHCl, the rate constant of the process U*
I is also
very large. This effect explains why it appear that the EDTA-induced unfolding of actin is a
I; in reality, however, it is a multi-state process in which the
two-state process, N
process N
N*
U*
I occurs. Experiments performed on stopped-flow
device confirm the existence of the kinetic intermediate N*. In a temperature denaturation
I. However, in reality,
experiment, we also appear to record a two-state transition, N
N*
U*
as is the case in actin unfolding by EDTA, a multi-state process occurs: N
I, though in the case of temperature denaturation, the rate constants of the first
transitions (N
N*
U*) are low, while the transition U*
I in the absence of
denaturant is very fast.
Thus, the investigation of actin unfolding and refolding, as well as the data we obtained for
certain other proteins, allowed us to conclude that, in the unfolding pathway, the order and
number of the partially folded denatured states are independent of the denaturing agent.
Overall, the obtained data allowed us to propose a new kinetic pathway for actin unfolding
and refolding induced by GdnHCl:

[GdnHCl] < 1.8M

N*

U*

I1

In
[GdnHCl] > 3.0M

[GdnHCl]=0.2M

Iaggr.

(4)

I=I15 at [GdnHCl]=0M.

In this scheme, the transition state N* precedes the transformation of native actin into the
essentially unfolded state (U*). However, this state is far from representing a complete
understanding and characterization of the underlying process. The formation of an
essentially unfolded state (U*) preceding the completely unfolded (U) or inactivated actin (I)
is proven. In the processes of folding and unfolding, the essentially unfolded state (U*) is an
on-pathway intermediate, whereas inactivated actin (I) is an off-pathway associate, the
appearance of which competes with the transition to the native state.
4.3 Actin folding in vivo
As was mentioned above, the conclusions regarding the reversible unfolding of actin that
had been reported in earlier works (Kasai et al., 1965; Contaxis et al., 1977; Tatunashvili &

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

69

Privalov, 1984; De La Cruz & Pollard, 1995) were not reproduced (Kuznetsova et al., 2002;
Turoverov et al., 2002; Turoverov & Kuznetsova, 2003; Povarova et al., 2005). Thus, the
presence of chaperones is likely to be an essential requirement for actin folding.
Chaperones constitute a broad family of proteins with various molecular masses, structures
and functions. Two classes of ATP-dependent chaperones, Hsp70 and the chaperonins, are
known to play crucial roles in the folding of nascent, non-native polypeptides into their
native, functional states inside eukaryotic cells. The Hsp70 chaperones, with the assistance
of the co-chaperones of the DnaJ/Hsp40 family, interact with the small hydrophobic clusters
of the newly synthesized polypeptide chain (Feldman & Frydman, 2000). These interactions
are not specific because hydrophobic clusters are present in almost every partially folded
polypeptide chain. The major role of Hsp70 is likely in preventing undesirable interactions
that might result in the aggregation of the newly synthesized polypeptide chain with other
molecules. For many proteins, interactions with Hsp70 are sufficient for correct folding.
However, the folding of multidomain proteins requires the participation of other helpers.
For example, the correct folding of actin relies on its interaction with prefoldin (PFD), which
participates in the translocation of the partially folded actin to the CCT chaperonin.
consists of two stacked toroids, each of which contains eight three-domain proteins. The
equatorial domains are responsible for the intertoroid interactions and for the interaction
with ATP, whereas the apical domains mediate the interaction with the substrate and
provide for the passage of the substrate to the central cavity. The folding of actin is a
complex, multi-stage, ATP-dependent process controlled by (Neirynck et al., 2006;
Altschuler & Willison, 2008). The indispensable participation of PFD and CCT in actin
folding is likely the reason that recombinant actin cannot be expressed in E. coli (Frankel et
al., 1990) but can be expressed in yeast (Karlsson, 1988; Verkhusha et al., 2003). The
refolding of EDTA-denatured actin in the presence of CCT in vitro was observed by
Altschuler et al. (2005).
It is important to remember that, despite the crucial roles of chaperones in the folding of
globular proteins in vivo, chaperones do not carry the structural information that is
necessary for a newly synthesized polypeptide chain to fold into a unique, rigid and native
globular structure. It is very likely that interactions with chaperones and other proteins are
even more important for proteins the native states of which are partially or completely
disordered. Such interactions would definitely protect these proteins from aggregation and
proteolysis. Thus, the amino acid sequence of actin is such that it cannot fold into a compact
state without chaperones. This phenomenon would be difficult to explain if, at the turn of
the century, the so-called ID proteins had not been predicted.

5. Intrinsically disordered proteins

For a very long time, a proteins function was believed to depend on its prior folding into a
unique three-dimensional structure. At the same time, over many decades, numerous
proteins have been found to be either wholly disordered or to contain lengthy disordered
segments, yet to carry out function. These proteins were typically considered to be outliers
and were mostly ignored. However, at the turn of the century, it became clear that proteins
without tightly folded 3D structures can also perform vital biological functions (Dunker et
al., 2002; Daughdrill et al., 2005; Dyson & Wright, 2005; Dunker et al., 2008). The major
structural characteristics of intrinsically disordered (ID) proteins include the inability to

70

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

form crystals, low circular dichroism signals in the near- and far-UV regions, a large
hydrodynamic dimension, and high proteolytic sensitivity (Uversky, 2011). It has now been
established that the inability of ID proteins to form rigid globular structures is linked to the
peculiarities of their amino acid sequences. One of the reasons for native disorder to exist is
encoded in the overall hydrophobicity and net charge of a given polypeptide chain. The
smaller the content of hydrophobic residues and the higher the net charge of a polypeptide
chain, the smaller the probability that this chain will fold into a compact globular state. The
distinctiveness of the amino acid sequences of ID proteins formed the basis for the
development of various computational tools for predicting such proteins (Ferron et al., 2006;
Dosztanyi & Tompa, 2008). The application of disorder-predicting algorithms revealed that
ID proteins are widely spread in nature. The length of the amino acid sequences that are
unable to form ordered structures and the degree of disorderedness can vary significantly
between ID proteins (Uversky, 2011). Because of this great variability, there is no strict
boundary between globular and partially disordered proteins.
The atoms in the unstructured parts of a polypeptide chain possess a high degree of
mobility, which is why they cannot be detected by X-ray analysis. The majority of globular
proteins are enzymes and transporters that are naturally designed to have a strictly
determined function. However, even in globular proteins, there is a some structural
mobility. The most mobile atoms are the atoms in the active sites of enzymes, or the atoms
in loops that might also be functional, participating in interactions with partners. Therefore,
globular proteins also require a definite level of mobility for their functioning. Some
polypeptide chains cannot fold into compact globular structures by themselves but can form
compact structures while interacting with their partners if the free energy of the complex is
lower than the free energies of the protein and its partner before their interaction. The
potential for partially or completely disordered proteins to form complexes with their
partners is the molecular basis of their functions in signaling, recognition and the regulation
of different intercellular processes. Although many proteins are involved in such processes,
special attention has been paid to the main regulatory proteins, which play key roles in the
regulation of these complex processes. Many of these proteins, which are known as hubs
and network concentrators and serve as "conductors" of these biological processes, were
shown to be disordered (Dunker et al., 2005; Oldfield et al., 2008). Among such disordered
hub proteins are -synuclein, p53, HMG proteins, estrogen receptor , and many others
(Dunker et al., 2008; Uversky, 2008; Olovnikov et al., 2009). Proteome-wide analyses
revealed that partially or completely ID proteins are more common in eukaryotes than in
prokaryotes or archaea, likely due to the more complex regulation and signaling systems in
higher organisms (Uversky, 2011). A striking example of this trend is p53, the function of
which is inherent only in multicellular organisms. This protein monitors and coordinates
practically all of the intercellular processes (Olovnikov et al., 2009), prioritizing the
organisms needs over the interests of different cells: a damaged cell must either accelerate
the repair processes or lose the possibility of division, and it may even die as a result of
apoptosis (Olovnikov et al., 2009).
The ID proteins in such signalling net play a number of crucial roles in complex regulatory
processes and are known as hub proteins or net concentrators. To avoid the risk of being
digested and to escape the non-specific aggregation that potentially leads to the formation of
oligomers, amorphous aggregates, and amyloid fibrils, disordered proteins should
preferentially remain bound to their partners. The pathogenesis of conformational diseases

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

71

that are characterized by the formation of amyloids and amyloid-like fibrils is likely to be
determined by the failures of the cellular regulatory systems rather than by the formation of
proteinaceous deposits and/or by protofibril toxicity. It is evident that more or less actin
meets the majority of the characteristics of ID proteins. First of all, like the ID proteins, actin
cannot fold into a compact state without chaperones. Second, like many ID proteins, actin
interacts with an enormous number of partners (Domingues end Holmes, 2011).

6. Actin localization and functions

Though it is now evident that actin can be found in any eukaryotic cell, it is most abundant
in muscle cells, which consist almost entirely of actomyosin fibrils. Therefore, it is not
surprising that the first purification of actin was performed in muscle cells. This historic
experiment was conducted in Albert Szent-Gyorgys laboratory by Bruno F. Straub, who
studied muscular contraction (Straub, 1942). Straub showed that the purified protein was
responsible for the activation of muscle contraction, for which reason he called it actin.
This work was a great breakthrough that determined the research guidelines for hundreds
of scientific laboratories for decades. Today, muscle contraction has been studied in detail.
Thousands of papers, reviews and books are devoted to this topic (see, e.g., (Oosawa, 1971)),
and there is no use in repeating copy-book maxim again. We merely wish to emphasize that,
the more muscle contraction was studied, the more it became evident that actin is not only
an activator of muscle contraction but is also the main organizer and director of complex
processes involving dozens of proteins other than actin and myosin, which have been given
the general name of actin-binding proteins. Troponin and tropomyosin are notable among
these proteins. In muscle, actin permanently exists in the form of F-actin. Once polymerized,
it is integrated into the muscle and is not depolymerized unless the muscle is damaged.
Accordingly, G-actin is required only for muscle generation in the course of muscle growth
or repair.
Interestingly, the structure of F-actin was determined by X-ray analysis on the basis of the
previously determined structure of the G-actin monomer (Holmes et al., 1990; Lorenz et al.,
1993). F-actin was shown to form a single helix consisting of 13 molecules repeating in
almost exactly six left-handed turns ((Holmes et al., 1990; Lorenz et al., 1993). Recently, this
helix was directly visualized by electron cryomicroscopy (Fujii et al., 2010). At the same time
electron microscopy of stained actin fibers showed F-actin to be made of two chains that
twist gradually around each other to form a right-handed, two-chained long helix (Hanson
& Lowy, 1963; Egelman, 1985; Dominguez & Holmes, 2011). Surprisingly, the image of Factin as two-chained helix appeared to be so impressive that many researchers even today
consider F-actin to be a two-chained helix. Nonetheless, this misconception is not
inoffensive carelessness, as in this case, the model of the assembly and disassembly of actin
filaments in principle differs from the generally accepted model.
In addition to its role in muscle cells, actin is an essential component of the cytoskeleton of
all eukaryotic cells. This protein plays a crucial role in the generation and maintenance of
cell morphology and polarity, in endocytosis and intracellular trafficking, and in
contractility, motility and cell division. All of these functions are based on the highly
ordered assembly and disassembly of actin filaments and the polymerization and
depolymerization of F-actin. All of these processes are regulated by numerous ABPs that
are, in turn, under the control of specific signaling pathways (dos Remedios et al., 2003;

72

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Maciver, 2004). For these purposes, both F- and G-actin are required. The first crucial aspect
of polymerization is nucleation, which refers to the formation of a nucleus of three
associated monomers and constitutes the rate-limiting phase of polymerization. The main
role in this phase is played by the complex of the Arp2 and Arp3 proteins, which is usually
referred to as the Arp2/3 complex (Winder & Ayscough, 2005). The molecules of these ABPs
have a similar tertiary structure to actin, such that, when the Arp2/3 complex binds to actin,
it is regarded as a nucleus for polymerization. Then, in the processes of further filament
growth, the Arp2/3 complex plays the role of a pointed end-capping protein that enhances
the rapid growth of the filament from its barbed end. The Arp2/3 complex can also nucleate
filament growth from the side of an existing filament. This ability is important for the
dendritic branching that is found at the leading edges of motile cells (Pollard & Borisy,
2003). It has also been established that, in vivo, certain other proteins that take part in the
regulation of filament growth participate in these processes (Paavilainen et al., 2004). The
termination of filament growth is regulated by gelsolin and tensin. These proteins bind to
the barbed end of the filament and block the addition of new monomers. Gelsolin also is
known to participate in the severing of filaments (Burtnick et al., 2004), whereas
tropomyosins (a highly conserved family of ABPs) are known to bind along the side of the
actin filament to prevent its spontaneous depolymerization and even to protect it from
severing by gelsolin. There are several other ABPs that participate in actin filament length
determination. These proteins contain domains that allow them to interact with other
proteins of the cell signaling networks. This interaction allows the remodeling of the actin
cytoskeleton at appropriate times and places within the cell. An example of such an ABP is
nebulin, which is an elongated protein with numerous low-affinity actin-binding sites
(Winder & Ayscough, 2005).
When an actin filament is disassembled, F-actin must be depolymerized. The bestcharacterized proteins that drive depolymerization are the actin depolymerizing factor
(ADF) and cofilin family members (Winder & Ayscough, 2005). After depolymerization,
several highly conserved ABPs intervene in the process of actin turnover. These ABPs bind
ADP-actin as it is released from the end of the filament (e.g., ADF/cofilin, twinfilin),
facilitating the nucleotide exchange from ADP to ATP (e.g., profilin, CAP) and delivering
the actin monomer to the barbed end of a filament to facilitate a new round of
polymerization (e.g., profilin, twinfilin, verprolin/WIP, WASP). For rapid filament growth
in cells, there must be a sufficiently large amount of ATP-actin ready to polymerize but
preserved in the monomer form until an appropriate signal is given. For this purpose, there
are special ABPs, the best studied of which are the thymosin family. A special signal triggers
the activation of profilin, which leads to the release of thymosin from actin and results in the
release of a large amount of ATP-actin that is ready to polymerize (Hertzog et al., 2004).
Beyond these examples, F-actin interacts with many ABPs that do not influence its structure
and dynamics. These ABPs include myosins that use actin as a track along which to move
(Winder & Ayscough, 2005), cytoskeletal linkers (dystrophin, utrophin, vinculin) that
interconnect different cytoskeletal elements and membrane anchors (annexins) that interact
with both actin and the membrane.
Actin in the nucleus was discovered at practically the same time as in the cell (Lane, 1969),
but this localization was taken to be an artifact. The focused study of nuclear actin began
only recently. Currently, the presence of actin in the nucleus has been unequivocally
demonstrated (Vartiainen, 2008). Actin has been shown to be an important regulator of

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

73

transcription (Miralles & Visa, 2006), transcription factor activity (Vartiainen et al., 2007),
and chromatin remodeling (Zheng et al., 2009). At the same time, nuclear actin is less well
studied than the cytoplasmic form. The existence of F-actin in the nucleus was controversial
for a long time because it was not recognized by phalloidin fluorescence (Visegrady et al.,
2005). However, all of the ABPs that interact with F-actin have been detected in the nucleus
(Gonsior et al., 1999), and the actin monomer-sequestering drug Latrunculin has been
reported to inhibit several nuclear actin-dependent functions, including the export of RNA
and proteins (Hofmann et al., 2001), nuclear envelope assembly (Krauss et al., 2003),
transcription (McDonald et al., 2006) and transcription-induced interchromosomal
interaction (Nunez et al., 2008). These observations comprised indirect evidence that actin in
the nucleus must be in a polymerized form. Several other studies have been published in
which the authors try to prove the existence of actin filaments in the nucleus, but the most
convincing is a recent microscopy study (McDonald et al., 2006). Approximately 20% of the
total nuclear actin pool is in the polymeric state (McDonald et al., 2006). The failure of
phalloidin to stain nuclear actin can be explained by its lower concentration relative to that
in the cytoplasm (the nucleus contains approximately 1% as much actin as the cytoplasm),
its decoration by ABPs (such as ADF/cofilin (McGough et al., 1997)) and possibly by a lower
length (Vartiainen, 2008). At the same time, the dendritic actin branches have not been
visualized in the nucleus, although Arp2/3 and other components that nucleate these
filaments were found in the nucleus. The other unsolved problem is that of actin transport in
and out of the nucleus. There is some evidence that actin can cross the nuclear pore
complexes in a complex with profilin and exportin-6, although its import mechanism is still
unclear (Vartiainen, 2008).
Interestingly, the "functional" form of actin differs in the muscle, the cytoplasm and the
nucleus. In the muscle, once they are generated, filaments are not disassembled and new
filaments appear only during muscle growth or reparation; therefore, the main functional
form is F-actin. In non-muscle cytoplasm, although the cytoskeleton is composed of actin
fibrils, it can be assembled and disassembled. Cell motility is also based on actin filament
polymerization and depolymerization. Therefore, a sufficiently large amount of actin
monomers must be stored in the cytoplasm to support the effective function of actin. In the
nucleus, for the first time, actin monomers play a significant role by regulating SFR (serum
response factor) activity. The actin monomer pool is involved in controlling the expression
of many proteins that are themselves components of the actin cytoskeleton (Miralles & Visa,
2006).

7. Conclusion: Actin as a partially intrinsically disordered hub protein

Overall, actin has many characteristics that are typical of ID proteins. In vitro, its unfolding
is irreversible, i.e., the information contained in its polypeptide chain is not enough for
regular folding, or the intramolecular contacts that appear upon folding are not enough
for the polypeptide to fold itself without chaperones and to maintain the folded native state
without fastening it with Ca++ ions. Actin always exists in complexes: while folding, it
successively interacts with the chaperone Hsp 70, then with PFD and finally with the
chaperonin CCT, which provides for correct folding and Ca++ and ATP incorporation;
fibrillar actin is formed by the self-association of G-actin molecules; in the cytoplasm or
nucleus, actin is in complex with ABPs; and, in particular, the G-actin pool exists preserved
in complex with profilin. Interestingly, inactivated actin is also a monodisperse complex

74

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

(not an amorphous aggregate) that, possibly, has some functional role. Actin not only cannot
fold without chaperons but also cannot form a compact structure without its ligands, the
Ca++ ion and ATP. Actin has several binding sites and can interact with an enormous
number of partners. While interacting with numerous ABPs, actin acts as a hub protein, as is
typical for ID proteins. Many of the ABPs themselves are ID proteins of the signaling system
and interact with other hub proteins. Actin is ubiquitous. It is one of the main components
of the system of muscle contraction, it forms the cytoskeleton, it is found in the cell nucleus
in which, except for the motility and scaffold functions, actin acts as a regulatory protein
that participates in the processes of transcription and chromatin remodeling. The analysis of
the amino acid sequence of actin with the use of the PONDR program (Obradovic et al.,
2005; Uversky, 2011) reveals that actin contains segments of polypeptide chain that are
prone to be disordered (Figure 5).

PONDR score

1.00
0.75
0.50
0.25
0.00

100
200
300
Amino acid residue number

Fig. 5. PONDR score for actin. The PONDR VLXT protein disorder predictor was used
(Obradovic et al., 2005). The portions of the polypeptide chain for which the PONDR score >
0.5 are prone to form disordered fragments of polypeptide chains.
It appears that currently, the "actin" scientific community is not acquainted with, or may be
acquainted with but not interested in, the most recent achievements in the field of protein
structure and folding, while those researchers who study protein folding, ID protein folding
in particular, do not seem to consider what an interesting object for their investigation actin
can be. We will be pleased if this publication could help groups of researchers from diverse
fields collaborate to join their efforts in the study of actin. Recently, V.N. Uversky published
a work with the intriguing title ID proteins from A to Z (Uversky, 2011). We believe that
this card file will not be full if, in the first cell (letter A), there is not a section entitled Actin
as an ID protein.

8. Acknowledgement
This work was supported in part by the Program "Molecular and Cell Biology" of the
Russian Academy of Sciences.

9. References
Altschuler, G. M.; Klug, D. R. & Willison, K. R. (2005). Unfolding energetics of G-alpha-actin:
a discrete intermediate can be re-folded to the native state by CCT. J Mol Biol Vol.
353, No. 2, pp. 385-396

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

75

Altschuler, G. M. & Willison, K. R. (2008). Development of free-energy-based models for

chaperonin containing TCP-1 mediated folding of actin. J R Soc Interface Vol. 5, No.
29, pp. 1391-1408
Anfinsen, C. B.; Haber, E.; Sela, M. & White, F. H., Jr. (1961). The kinetics of formation of
native ribonuclease during oxidation of the reduced polypeptide chain. Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A Vol. 47, No., pp. 1309-1314
Anufrieva, E. V.; Nekrasova, T. N.; Sheveleva, T. V. & Krakovyak, M. G. (1994). Structure
and structural transformations of macromolecules water-soluble polymers and
luminescence of magnesium salt of 8-anilinenaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid. Vysokomol
Soed (russian) Vol. 36, No., pp. 449-456
Bertazzon, A.; Tian, G. H.; Lamblin, A. & Tsong, T. Y. (1990). Enthalpic and entropic
contributions to actin stability: calorimetry, circular dichroism, and fluorescence
study and effects of calcium. Biochemistry Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 291-298
Burtnick, L. D.; Urosev, D.; Irobi, E.; Narayan, K. & Robinson, R. C. (2004). Structure of the
N-terminal half of gelsolin bound to actin: roles in severing, apoptosis and FAF.
Embo J Vol. 23, No. 14, pp. 2713-2722
Contaxis, C. C.; Bigelow, C. C. & Zarkadas, C. G. (1977). The thermal denaturation of bovine
cardiac G-actin. Can J Biochem Vol. 55, No. 4, pp. 325-331
Crick, S. L.; Jayaraman, M.; Frieden, C.; Wetzel, R. & Pappu, R. V. (2006). Fluorescence
correlation spectroscopy shows that monomeric polyglutamine molecules form
collapsed structures in aqueous solutions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Vol. 103, No. 45,
pp. 16764-16769
Daughdrill, G. W.; Pielak, G. J.; Uversky, V. N.; Cortese, M. S. & Dunker, A. K. (2005).
Natively disordered proteins, In: Natively disordered proteins, J. Buchner, and T.
Kiefhaber, eds., pp. 271-353, Wiley-VCH, Verlag GmbH & Co., Weinheim,
Germany
De La Cruz, E. M. & Pollard, T. D. (1995). Nucleotide-free actin: stabilization by sucrose and
nucleotide binding kinetics. Biochemistry Vol. 34, No. 16, pp. 5452-5461
Dominguez, R. & Holmes, K. C. (2011). Actin structure and function. Annu Rev Biophys Vol.
40, No., pp. 169-186
dos Remedios, C. G.; Chhabra, D.; Kekic, M.; Dedova, I. V.; Tsubakihara, M.; Berry, D. A. &
Nosworthy, N. J. (2003). Actin binding proteins: regulation of cytoskeletal
microfilaments. Physiol Rev Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 433-473
Dosztanyi, Z. & Tompa, P. (2008). Prediction of protein disorder. Methods Mol Biol Vol. 426,
No., pp. 103-115
Dunker, A. K.; Brown, C. J.; Lawson, J. D.; Iakoucheva, L. M. & Obradovic, Z. (2002).
Intrinsic disorder and protein function. Biochemistry Vol. 41, No. 21, pp. 6573-6582
Dunker, A. K.; Cortese, M. S.; Romero, P.; Iakoucheva, L. M. & Uversky, V. N. (2005).
Flexible nets: The roles of intrinsic disorder in protein interaction networks. FEBS
Journal Vol. 272, No. 20, pp. 5129-5148
Dunker, A. K.; Silman, I.; Uversky, V. N. & Sussman, J. L. (2008). Function and structure of
inherently disordered proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol Vol., No., pp.
Dutta, S.; Burkhardt, K.; Young, J.; Swaminathan, G.; Matsuura, T.; Henrick, K.; Nakamura,
H. & Berman, H. (2009). Data Deposition and Annotation at the Worldwide Protein
Data Bank. Molecular Biotechnology Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 1-13

76

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Dyson, H. J. & Wright, P. E. (2005). Intrinsically unstructured proteins and their functions.
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 197-208
Egelman, E. H. (1985). The structure of F-actin. J Muscle Res Cell Motil Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 129151
Feldman, D. E. & Frydman, J. (2000). Protein folding in vivo: the importance of molecular
chaperones. Curr Opin Struct Biol Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 26-33
Ferron, F.; Longhi, S.; Canard, B. & Karlin, D. (2006). A practical overview of protein
disorder prediction methods. Proteins Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 1-14
Fink, A. L. (1995). Molten globules. Methods Mol Biol Vol. 40, No., pp. 343-360
Fink, A. L. (1998). Protein aggregation: folding aggregates, inclusion bodies and amyloid.
Fold Des Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. R9-23
Finkelstein, A. V. & Ptitsyn, O. B. (2002). Protein Physics: A Course of Lectures, Academic
Press.
Frankel, S.; Condeelis, J. & Leinwand, L. (1990). Expression of actin in Escherichia coli.
Aggregation, solubilization, and functional analysis. J Biol Chem Vol. 265, No. 29,
pp. 17980-17987
Fujii, T.; Iwane, A. H.; Yanagida, T. & Namba, K. (2010) Direct visualization of secondary
structures of F-actin by electron cryomicroscopy. Nature Vol. 467, No. 7316, pp. 724728
Gonsior, S. M.; Platz, S.; Buchmeier, S.; Scheer, U.; Jockusch, B. M. & Hinssen, H. (1999).
Conformational difference between nuclear and cytoplasmic actin as detected by a
monoclonal antibody. J Cell Sci Vol. 112 ( Pt 6), No., pp. 797-809
Graceffa, P. & Dominguez, R. (2003). Crystal structure of monomeric actin in the ATP state.
Structural basis of nucleotide-dependent actin dynamics. J Biol Chem Vol. 278, No.
36, pp. 34172-34180
Hanson, J. & Lowy, J. (1963). The structure of F-actin and of actin filaments isolated from
muscle. Journal of Molecular Biology Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 46-IN45
Herman, I. M. (1993). Actin isoforms. Curr Opin Cell Biol Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 48-55
Hertzog, M.; van Heijenoort, C.; Didry, D.; Gaudier, M.; Coutant, J.; Gigant, B.; Didelot, G.;
Preat, T.; Knossow, M.; Guittet, E. & Carlier, M. F. (2004). The beta-thymosin/WH2
domain; structural basis for the switch from inhibition to promotion of actin
assembly. Cell Vol. 117, No. 5, pp. 611-623
Hofmann, W.; Reichart, B.; Ewald, A.; Muller, E.; Schmitt, I.; Stauber, R. H.; Lottspeich, F.;
Jockusch, B. M.; Scheer, U.; Hauber, J. & Dabauvalle, M. C. (2001). Cofactor
requirements for nuclear export of Rev response element (RRE)- and constitutive
transport element (CTE)-containing retroviral RNAs. An unexpected role for actin.
J Cell Biol Vol. 152, No. 5, pp. 895-910
Holmes, K. C.; Popp, D.; Gebhard, W. & Kabsch, W. (1990). Atomic model of the actin
filament. Nature Vol. 347, No. 6288, pp. 44-49
Holmes, K. C. & Kabsch, W. (1991). Muscle proteins: actin. Current Opinion in Structural
Biology Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 270-280
Hsin, J.; Arkhipov, A.; Yin, Y.; Stone, J. E. & Schulten, K. (2002). Using VMD: An
Introductory Tutorial, In: Using VMD: An Introductory Tutorial, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.,
Kabsch, W.; Mannherz, H. G.; Suck, D.; Pai, E. F. & Holmes, K. C. (1990). Atomic structure of
the actin:DNase I complex. Nature Vol. 347, No. 6288, pp. 37-44

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

77

Karlsson, R. (1988). Expression of chicken beta-actin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Gene Vol.

68, No. 2, pp. 249-257
Kasai, M.; Nakano, E. & Oosawa, F. (1965). Polymerization of Actin Free from Nucleotides
and Divalent Cations. Biochim Biophys Acta Vol. 94, No., pp. 494-503 0006-3002
(Print)0006-3002 (Linking)
Krauss, S. W.; Chen, C.; Penman, S. & Heald, R. (2003). Nuclear actin and protein 4.1:
essential interactions during nuclear assembly in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Vol. 100, No. 19, pp. 10752-10757
Kuznetsova, I. M. & Turoverov, K. K. (1983). [Polarization of intrinsic fluorescence of
proteins. III. Intramolecular submobility of tryptophan residues]. Mol Biol (Mosk)
Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 741-754
Kuznetsova, I. M.; Khaitlina, S.; Konditerov, S. N.; Surin, A. M. & Turoverov, K. K. (1988).
Changes of structure and intramolecular mobility in the course of actin
denaturation. Biophys Chem Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 73-78
Kuznetsova, I. M.; Turoverov, K. K. & Uversky, V. N. (1999). Inactivated actin, and
aggregate comprised of partially-folded monomers, has a overall native-like
packing density. Protein Peptide Lett Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 173-178
Kuznetsova, I. M.; Stepanenko, O. V.; Stepanenko, O. V.; Povarova, O. I.; Biktashev, A. G.;
Verkhusha, V. V.; Shavlovsky, M. M. & Turoverov, K. K. (2002). The place of
inactivated actin and its kinetic predecessor in actin folding-unfolding. Biochemistry
Vol. 41, No. 44, pp. 13127-13132
Kuznetsova, I. M.; Turoverov, K. K. & Uversky, V. N. (2004). Use of the phase diagram
method to analyze the protein unfolding-refolding reactions: fishing out the
"invisible" intermediates. J Proteome Res Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 485-494
Lane, N. J. (1969). Intranuclear fibrillar bodies in actinomycin D-treated oocytes. J Cell Biol
Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 286-291
Le Bihan, T. & Gicquaud, C. (1993). Kinetic study of the thermal denaturation of G actin
using differential scanning calorimetry and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun Vol. 194, No. 3, pp. 1065-1073
Lehrer, S. S. & Kerwar, G. (1972). Intrinsic fluorescence of actin. Biochemistry Vol. 11, No. 7,
pp. 1211-1217
Lorenz, M.; Popp, D. & Holmes, K. C. (1993). Refinement of the F-actin model against X-ray
fiber diffraction data by the use of a directed mutation algorithm. J Mol Biol Vol.
234, No. 3, pp. 826-836
Maciver, C. K. (2004).
http://www.bms.ed.ac.uk/research/others/smaciver/Encyclop/encycloABP.htm.
Vol., No., pp.
Mason, P. E.; Neilson, G. W.; Enderby, J. E.; Saboungi, M. L.; Dempsey, C. E.; MacKerell, A.
D., Jr. & Brady, J. W. (2004). The structure of aqueous guanidinium chloride
solutions. J Am Chem Soc Vol. 126, No. 37, pp. 11462-11470
McDonald, D.; Carrero, G.; Andrin, C.; de Vries, G. & Hendzel, M. J. (2006). Nucleoplasmic
beta-actin exists in a dynamic equilibrium between low-mobility polymeric species
and rapidly diffusing populations. J Cell Biol Vol. 172, No. 4, pp. 541-552
McGough, A.; Pope, B.; Chiu, W. & Weeds, A. (1997). Cofilin changes the twist of F-actin:
implications for actin filament dynamics and cellular function. J Cell Biol Vol. 138,
No. 4, pp. 771-781

78

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

McLaughlin, P. J.; Gooch, J. T.; Mannherz, H. G. & Weeds, A. G. (1993). Structure of gelsolin
segment 1-actin complex and the mechanism of filament severing. Nature Vol. 364,
No. 6439, pp. 685-692
Merritt, E. A. & Bacon, D. J. (1997). Raster3D: photorealistic molecular graphics. Methods
Enzymol Vol. 277, No., pp. 505-524
Miralles, F. & Visa, N. (2006). Actin in transcription and transcription regulation. Curr Opin
Cell Biol Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 261-266
Neirynck, K.; Waterschoot, D.; Vandekerckhove, J.; Ampe, C. & Rommelaere, H. (2006).
Actin interacts with CCT via discrete binding sites: a binding transition-release
model for CCT-mediated actin folding. J Mol Biol Vol. 355, No. 1, pp. 124-138
Nunez, E.; Kwon, Y. S.; Hutt, K. R.; Hu, Q.; Cardamone, M. D.; Ohgi, K. A.; Garcia-Bassets,
I.; Rose, D. W.; Glass, C. K.; Rosenfeld, M. G. & Fu, X. D. (2008). Nuclear receptorenhanced transcription requires motor- and LSD1-dependent gene networking in
interchromatin granules. Cell Vol. 132, No. 6, pp. 996-1010
Obradovic, Z.; Peng, K.; Vucetic, S.; Radivojac, P. & Dunker, A. K. (2005). Exploiting
heterogeneous sequence properties improves prediction of protein disorder.
Proteins Vol. 61 Suppl 7, No., pp. 176-182
Oldfield, C. J.; Meng, J.; Yang, J. Y.; Yang, M. Q.; Uversky, V. N. & Dunker, A. K. (2008).
Flexible nets: disorder and induced fit in the associations of p53 and 14-3-3 with
their partners. BMC Genomics Vol. 9 Suppl 1, No., pp. S1
Olovnikov, I. A.; Kravchenko, J. E. & Chumakov, P. M. (2009). Homeostatic functions of the
p53 tumor suppressor: regulation of energy metabolism and antioxidant defense.
Semin Cancer Biol Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 32-41
Oosawa, W. (1971). Actin, In: Actin, S. N. Timasheff, and G. D. Fasman, eds., pp. 261-322, M.
Dekker, New York
Otterbein, L. R.; Graceffa, P. & Dominguez, R. (2001). The crystal structure of uncomplexed
actin in the ADP state. Science Vol. 293, No. 5530, pp. 708-711
Paavilainen, V. O.; Bertling, E.; Falck, S. & Lappalainen, P. (2004). Regulation of cytoskeletal
dynamics by actin-monomer-binding proteins. Trends Cell Biol Vol. 14, No. 7, pp.
386-394
Pollard, T. D. & Borisy, G. G. (2003). Cellular motility driven by assembly and disassembly
of actin filaments. Cell Vol. 112, No. 4, pp. 453-465
Povarova, O. I.; Kuznetsova, I. M. & Turoverov, K. K. (2005). [Physical-chemical properties
of actin in different structural states. New ideas about its folding-unfolding
pathways]. Tsitologiia Vol. 47, No. 11, pp. 953-977
Povarova, O. I.; Kuznetsova, I. M. & Turoverov, K. K. (2007). Different disturbances--one
pathway of protein unfolding. Actin folding-unfolding and misfolding. Cell Biol Int
Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 405-412
Povarova, O. I.; Kuznetsova, I. M. & Turoverov, K. K. (2010). Differences in the pathways of
proteins unfolding induced by urea and guanidine hydrochloride: molten globule
state and aggregates. PLoS One Vol. 5, No. 11, pp. e15035
Ptitsyn, O. B. (1995). Molten globule and protein folding. Adv Protein Chem Vol. 47, No., pp.
83-229
Reisler, E. & Egelman, E. H. (2007). Actin structure and function: what we still do not
understand. J Biol Chem Vol. 282, No. 50, pp. 36133-36137

Actin Folding, Structure and Function:

Is It a Globular or an Intrinsically Disordered Protein?

79

Schleicher, M. & Jockusch, B. M. (2008). Actin: its cumbersome pilgrimage through cellular
compartments. Histochem Cell Biol Vol. 129, No. 6, pp. 695-704
Schoenenberger, C. A.; Mannherz, H. G. & Jockusch, B. M. (2011). Actin: From structural
plasticity to functional diversity. Eur J Cell Biol Vol. 90, No. 10, pp. 797-804
Shortle, D. & Ackerman, M. S. (2001). Persistence of native-like topology in a denatured
protein in 8 M urea. Science Vol. 293, No. 5529, pp. 487-489
Shortle, D. (2002). The expanded denatured state: an ensemble of conformations trapped in a
locally encoded topological space. Adv Protein Chem Vol. 62, No., pp. 1-23
Skarp, K. P. & Vartiainen, M. K. (2010). Actin on DNA-an ancient and dynamic relationship.
Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) Vol. 67, No. 8, pp. 487-495 1949-3592 (Electronic)
Straub, F. B., ed. (1942). Actin (New-York Basel).
Tatunashvili, L. V. & Privalov, P. L. (1984). [Calorimetric study of G-actin denaturation].
Biofizika Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 583-585
Tran, H. T.; Mao, A. & Pappu, R. V. (2008). Role of backbone-solvent interactions in
determining conformational equilibria of intrinsically disordered proteins. J Am
Chem Soc Vol. 130, No. 23, pp. 7380-7392
Turoverov, K. K.; Biktashev, A. G.; Khaitlina, S. Y. & Kuznetsova, I. M. (1999a). The
structure and dynamics of partially folded actin. Biochemistry Vol. 38, No. 19, pp.
6261-6269
Turoverov, K. K.; Kuznetsova, I. M.; Khaitlina, S. Y. & Uverskii, V. N. (1999b). Unusual
Combination of the Distorted Structure and Frozen Internal Mobility in Inactivated
Actin Molecule. Protein and Peptide Letters Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 73-78
Turoverov, K. K.; Verkhusha, V. V.; Shavlovsky, M. M.; Biktashev, A. G.; Povarova, O. I. &
Kuznetsova, I. M. (2002). Kinetics of actin unfolding induced by guanidine
hydrochloride. Biochemistry Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 1014-1019
Turoverov, K. K. & Kuznetsova, I. M. (2003). Intrinsic fluorescence of Actin. J Fluorescence
Vol. 13, No., pp. 105-111
Uversky, V. N. (2008). Alpha-synuclein misfolding and neurodegenerative diseases. Curr
Protein Pept Sci Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 507-540
Uversky, V. N. (2011). Intrinsically disordered proteins from A to Z. Int J Biochem Cell Biol
Vol. 43, No. 8, pp. 1090-1103
Vartiainen, M. K.; Guettler, S.; Larijani, B. & Treisman, R. (2007). Nuclear actin regulates
dynamic subcellular localization and activity of the SRF cofactor MAL. Science Vol.
316, No. 5832, pp. 1749-1752
Vartiainen, M. K. (2008). Nuclear actin dynamics--from form to function. FEBS Lett Vol. 582,
No. 14, pp. 2033-2040
Verkhusha, V. V.; Shavlovsky, M. M.; Nevzglyadova, O. V.; Gaivoronsky, A. A.; Artemov,
A. V.; Stepanenko, O. V.; Kuznetsova, I. M. & Turoverov, K. K. (2003). Expression
of recombinant GFP-actin fusion protein in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia
pastoris. FEMS Yeast Res Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 105-111
Visegrady, B.; Lorinczy, D.; Hild, G.; Somogyi, B. & Nyitrai, M. (2005). A simple model for
the cooperative stabilisation of actin filaments by phalloidin and jasplakinolide.
FEBS Lett Vol. 579, No. 1, pp. 6-10
Wang, H.; Robinson, R. C. & Burtnick, L. D. (2010). The structure of native G-actin.
Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) Vol. 67, No. 7, pp. 456-465

80

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

West, J. J.; Nagy, B. & Gergely, J. (1967). Free adenosine diphosphate as an intermediary in
the phosphorylation by creatine phosphate of adenosine diphosphate bound to
actin. J Biol Chem Vol. 242, No. 6, pp. 1140-1145
Winder, S. J. & Ayscough, K. R. (2005). Actin-binding proteins. J Cell Sci Vol. 118, No. Pt 4,
pp. 651-654
Zheng, B.; Han, M.; Bernier, M. & Wen, J.-k. (2009). Nuclear actin and actin-binding proteins
in the regulation of transcription and gene expression. FEBS Journal Vol. 276, No.
10, pp. 2669-2685

4
Microtubules During the
Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells
Elena Smirnova

Biology Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University,

Russia
1. Introduction

The microtubules control many cellular functions and play a key role in cell morphogenesis
and development. They are dynamic heteropolymers composed of - and -tubulin and
microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) that bind to microtubules and regulate their
polymerization, organization and dynamic behavior. The structure of microtubules and
tubulins are almost identical from yeast to human, yet the mechanisms that control the
assembly, organization and behavior of microtubules, vary among different organisms.
Thus, in animal cells the microtubule system is usually organized by the centrosome, the
dominant microtubule organizing center (MTOC) that nucleates microtubules and controls
spatial organization of the microtubules in the cell. Microtubule minus ends are anchored at
MTOC, while the dynamic plus ends are oriented towards the cell periphery, forming asterlike array. Interphase cells typically assemble single aster with long microtubules often
reaching the cell periphery. Upon the entry to mitosis, the spindle, composed of two asters
with short microtubules, replaces interphase aster-like array. Unlike animal cells, plants do
not have centrosome-like MTOC and assemble several distinct microtubule arrays, replacing
each other during the cell cycle. The cortical microtubule system (CMT) is present during
interphase (G1, S, and G2 phases) and plays a crucial role in the construction of the cell wall
by guiding the deposition of new cell wall polymers. In many types of cells microtubules
emanate from the nuclear surface towards the cell cortex, assembling another interphase
array termed radial microtubule system (RMT). During cell division, microtubules rearrange
into specialized arrays the preprophase band (PPB), the spindle and the phragmoplast.
The PPB and phragmoplast are unique to plants. The PPB (a circular array of microtubules)
forms in G2 phase and disassembles prior to the nuclear envelope breakdown at the onset of
prometaphase. The PPB defines the future division plane and the site of the cell plate
formation during cytokinesis. The plant mitotic spindle provides equal distribution of
chromosomes in mitosis, yet spindle assembly and organization differ from those in other
eukaryotes, mainly due to the absence of the defined centrosome/MTOC in the spindle
poles. The phragmoplast is a special microtubule array that substitutes the contractile ring
of animal cells during cytokinesis. Phragmoplast directs the synthesis of a new cell wall that
physically separates two daughter cells. Different microtubule arrays have distinctive
features, use different tubulin isoforms, tubulin modifications and microtubule associated
proteins in assembly of each array. In view on extensive studies of the molecular
mechanisms underlying the cytoskeletal functions, this chapter will be focused both on
specificity, and basic structural and functional aspects of organization of plant microtubule
system.

82

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2. Specific features of plant microtubules

2.1 Tubulin
Although tubulin and subunits have been highly conserved over the evolution of
eukaryots, plant tubulin is immunologically and pharmacologically different from tubulin
of animals and fungi. Thus, animal and plant tubulin have 79-81% sequence identity; the
subunit of plant tubulin have distinct peptide mapping pattern, its electrophoretic mobility
is higher than of subunit, what is in contrast with animal tubulin subunits (Fosket &
Morejohn, 1992). Plant -tubulin shares 60% sequence identity with animal -tubulin, and,
oppositely to animal cells, its electrophoretic mobility is higher than of and subunits (Liu
et al., 1994). Nevertheless, microtubules comprising each plant array have an identical
structure, and their functional diversity within the same cell is supported by multiple
tubulin modifications. The heterogeneities of tubulin molecules are created on different
levels by two mechanisms. On the genome level it is the activity of the multi-genes families,
encoding plant and tubulins. Tubulin genes are not expressed uniformly during plant
development and the expression of tubulin isotypes is tissue-specific. On the cytoplasmic
level it is the posttranslational tubulin modifications. Tubulin is subjected to the
detyrosination/tyrosination
cycle,
the
removal
of
penultimate
glutamate,
polyglutamylation, polyglycylation, acetylation, phosphorylation and palmitoylation. Most
modifications occur on microtubules rather than on unpolymerized tubulin, and notably
contribute to the diversity of tubulins. Post-translational tubulin modifications create
subpopulations of microtubules, involved in specific functions within particular cellular
compartments, and play an essential role in the reorganization of the microtubule
cytoskeleton during the life cycle of plant cells (Cai, 2010). Thus the development of specific
plant cells and tissues is characterized by the expression of distinct tubulin genes and,
consequently, by the use of distinct tubulin isotypes, which are post-translationally
modified to control the microtubule properties and functions.
2.2 Resistance to microtubule depolymerizing compounds
Plant tubulin is pharmacologically different from tubulin of animals, fungi and slime molds.
This is manifested by a low affinity to colchicine, an alkaloid produced by several plants of
the Liliacea family. The drug is known as an anti-microtubule and anti-mitotic agent for both
plant and vertebrate cells (Eigsti & Dustin, 1955). There are principal differences in the
response of these organisms to colchicine. The minimal concentration required for mitotic
block of animal and plant cells differs considerably. Thus, animal cells are about 100,000
more sensitive to the colchicine than plant cells. Colchicine is usually lethal to dividing
animal cells even at the minimal concentrations necessary to block mitosis, yet plant cells
can survive in a state of colchicine-induced mitotic arrest (C-mitosis) for several days and
return to division after colchicine is removed (Eigsti & Dustin, 1955). It appears that plant
microtubules as compared to vertebrate ones, are more resistant to colchicine treatment due
to the low affinity of plant tubulin dimers to the drug, although they can be completely
disrupted by extremely high concentrations of colchicine. Dinitroaniline herbicides
(oryzalin, trifluralin), amiprophosmethyl (APM) and phenylcarbamates efficiently bind to
plant tubulin and prevent microtubule polymerization. Plant tubulin has a high affinity to
these herbicides, which, in turn, have no effect on animal tubulin; therefore these agents are
broadly used in experimental studies of plant microtubule dynamic and function (Morejohn
& Fosket, 1991).

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

83

2.3 Microtubule nucleation

Higher plant cells do not have a single dominant MTOC comparable to the centrosome of
animal cells or spindle pole body of yeast. Instead, plant microtubules are initiated from
dispersed nucleating sites - the -TuRCs (-tubulin ring complexes), which serve as the
microtubule nucleation units. -TuRCs are composed of -tubulin small complexes (-TuSCs)
and several other proteins. The conserved -TuSCs contain two molecules of -tubulin and
one molecule each of Spc97 and Spc98 homologs, and are the minimal nucleation unit
(Erhardt et al., 2002). Additional proteins in the larger ring complexes considerably enhance
the nucleation activity, and some specific subunits are presumed to recruit the nucleation
complexes to the particular cellular sites. -tubulin dependent nucleation of microtubules in
plant cells occurs preferentially along the sidewalls of assembled microtubules, with new
ones arising at discreet angles relative to assembled microtubules, and forming a Y-type or
branched structure. A cytoplasmic -tubulin complex shuttles between the cytoplasm and
the sides of microtubules and has nucleation activity only when bound to the
microtubules.Thus microtubule nucleation in plant cells requires both existing microtubules
and the presence of -tubulin (Murata et al., 2005).
2.4 Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs)
MAPs in plants regulate the assembly, repositioning and dismantling of all microtubule
arrays throughout the cell cycle, and facilitate microtubule growth, dynamics, organization,
and function (Sedbrook, 2004). Some MAPs are specific only to plants, while others are
found in other organisms.
2.4.1 MOR1 (microtubule organization 1)
The Arabidopsis MICROTUBULE ORGANIZATION 1 MOR1/GEM1 is a homolog of
XMAP215/TMP200 and belongs to a highly conserved MAP215/Dis1 group of MAPs found
in all eukaryotes. MOR1 is essential for the organization of CMT array, proper organization
and function of the PPB, the mitotic spindle, the phragmoplast formation and the
progression of cell division. MOR1 and several other MAPs also contribute to microtubuleassembly dynamics (Kaloriti et al., 2007).
2.4.2 Plus end interacting proteins (+TIPs)
+TIPs are a diverse group of proteins characterized by their preferential localization to
microtubule plus ends, where they regulate microtubule dynamic instability and mediate
microtubule interactions with intracellular components such as the cell cortex, organelles,
kinetochores, and other cytoskeletal elements (Bisgrove et al., 2004). Two important +TIPs in
plants are END BINDING1 (EB1) and SPIRAL1 (SPR1). EB1 proteins are highly conserved in
animals and fungi, yet SPR1 appears to be plant specific. Among known functions of EB1
proteins are the promotion of microtubule polymerization, stabilization, regulation of
spindle positioning and chromosome segregation (Komaki et al., 2010). SPR1 and EB1 may
act together to regulate directional cell expansion in response to the environmental
stimulation. Another +TIP protein, CLASP, found in Arabidopsis, is involved in modulation
of microtubulecortex interactions and contributes to the PPB formation (Wasteneys &
Ambrose, 2008).

84

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2.4.3 Katanin
Katanin is a heterodimeric microtubule severing protein composed of an ATPase 60 kDa
catalytic subunit with microtubule fragmenting activity and an 80 kDa regulatory subunit.
The Arabidopsis katanin homolog exhibits a punctate localization pattern at the cell cortex
and the perinuclear region. Overexpression of p60 katanin in Arabidopsis causes abnormal
cortical microtubule bundling and fragmentation along their lengths. Plant katanin may
function by severing microtubules at their minus ends, thus releasing the minus ends from
the nucleating centers and allowing microtubules to be organized into bundles (Kaloriti et
al., 2007).
2.4.4 MAP65 family
MAP65 family is a group of 6065 kDa proteins that co-purify with microtubules. The
Arabidopsis genome encodes nine MAP65 proteins of varying functions. Arabidopsis,
tobacco, zinnia and carrot homologs bundle microtubules in vitro and, in some instances, in
vivo. Some MAP65 members (AtMAP65-1, AtMAP65-3, NtMAP65-1a) belong to midzone
MAPs because they localize at the antiparallel region of the developing phagmoplast and
probably play essential role in cytokinesis by crossbridging microtubules that need to retain
spatial organization in reorganizing microtubule arrays (Kaloriti et al., 2007). MAP65-4
regulates dynamic instability of microtubules by decreasing catastrophe and increasing
rescue events. It is colocalized with mitotic microtubules, specifically with microtubules of
the developing mitotic spindle during prophase and with the kinetochore fibers from
prometaphase to the end of anaphase. Thus, MAP65-4 could mediate lateral interactions
between spindle microtubules and participate in the formation and dynamics of
microtubules within kinetochore fibers (Fashe et al., 2010).
2.4.5 Wave-dampened 2
WVD2 gene encodes a 23 kDa MAP that appears to regulate cell expansion through its
association with and/or organization of cortical microtubules. WVD2 C-terminal domain is
distantly related to the vertebrate microtubule-associated protein TPX2, involved in
RanGTP-mediated spindle assembly around chromosomes.
2.4.6 AIR 9 (auxin induced root cultures 9)
AIR9 is a 187 kDa MAP, conserved in plants and found on microtubules of the cortical array
and the PPB, but down regulated during mitosis. AIR9 reappears at the former PPB site
when growing phragmoplast contacts the cortex, at the site of cell plate insertion and on the
new cross walls, suggesting that AIR9 recognizes a component of the former PPB. Thus
AIR9 may be involved in the maturation of those cell plates, which already contacted the
established by the PPB cortical division site (Buschmann et al., 2006).
2.4.7 AtMAP70
MAP70 is a plant specific multi-gene family of proteins, sharing 70-80% identity and
approximately 70 kDa molecular mass. AtMAP70-1 colocalizes with microtubules of all
arrays, but is missing in microtubules of the midzone. AtMAP70-5 is smaller (58 kDa),

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

85

shares 47% sequence identity, and its possible functions are the regulation of microtubule
dynamics and a role in anisotropic cell expansion and organ growth (Kaloriti et al., 2007).
2.5 Plant motors
Microtubule motor proteins play an essential role in the organization and function of
microtubule arrays during cell division and cell growth in plants. They are responsible for
the motility of macromolecular complexes and organelles, and the segregation of
chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis.
2.5.1 Kinesins
61 genes encoding kinesins were identified in the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana, and most
kinesins are evolutionarily divergent from their counterparts in animals and fungi (Lee &
Liu, 2004). Kinesins are grouped into sub- families by phylogenetic analyses of their motor
domains.
Plus end directed kinesins:
1.

2.

3.

The N-terminal motor kinesin AtFRA1 (kinesin-4) belongs to the kinesin-4 or

KIF4/chromokinesin subfamily. Animal chromokinesins typically play roles in
chromosome condensation, chromatid motility and microtubule assembly, while
AtFRA1 contributes to cellulose microfibril deposition in the cell wall. Thus the
sequence similarity in the motor domain does not necessarily confer any functional
relationship among kinesins from different organisms.
The internal motor kinesin - kinesin-13. Two Arabidopsis kinesins, AtKinesin-13A and
AtKinesin-13B, belong to the kinesin-13 subfamily, previously known as MCAK or KIN
I. AtKinesin-13A is specifically associated with plant Golgi stacks. Animal internal
motor kinesins in this subfamily are not motors. Instead, they are microtubule
depolymerases activated by microtubule end binding. Therefore, this again
demonstrates that sequence homology in the motor domain alone does not guarantee
functional similarity for kinesins from different organisms.
Kinesins in the BIMC (Kinesin-5) subfamily. Four Arabidopsis genes encode kinesins in
the BIMC/Kinesin-5 subfamily. Besides the sequence conservation in the motor domain
of these four kinesins and their animal and fungal counterparts, all kinesin-5 members
contain a conserved phosphorylation site for the key cell-cycle kinase p34cdc2.

Minus end directed kinesins:

A number of C-terminal kinesins are minus end-directed motors. Among minus enddirected kinesins, however, some have the motor domain located at the N-terminus, while
some others have it in the middle.
1.

2.

KATA/ATK1 and close relatives. These kinesins are closely related to the NCD (nonclaret disjunction) kinesin-14 subfamily and are implicated in the organization of
microtubules of the spindle and the phragmoplast.
The calmodulin-binding KCBP/ZWI kinesin. KCBP/ZWI is a single gene that encodes
a unique calmodulin-binding kinesin, possibly involved in stabilization of microtubule
ends.

86
3.

4.

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

The actin-binding KCH kinesins. Minus end-directed kinesins with a unique calponinhomology (CH) domain at the N terminus. They have only been reported in organisms
of the kingdom Plantae. The presence of a CH domain in a kinesin is intriguing as it is
typically found in actin-binding proteins like calponin and fimbrin. KCHs may serve as
linkers between microtubules and actin microfilaments.
Other minus end-directed kinesins. There are nine other Arabidopsis kinesins in the
category of minus end-directed motors. Four have the motor domain located at the N
terminus, the feature that has never been reported for kinesins from animals and fungi.

Special group of kinesins involved in cytokinesis:

N-terminal kinesins are involved in cytokinesis and localize to the division site, yet in
distinct manner.
1.

2.

3.

AtNACK1/HIK kinesins and a MAP kinase cascade. AtNACK1/HIK is an activator of

a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade and is essential for the completion of
the cell plate formation. NACK1 is also required for cell plate expansion after initiation
of the cytokinesis.
AtPAKRP1/AtKinesin-12A and similar kinesins. AtPAKRP1/AtKinesin-12A and two
similar kinesins are specifically associated with the plus end of phragmoplast
microtubules and are predicted as plus end-directed motors. They are implicated in the
maintaining of orderly organization of microtubules within the phragmoplast.
Kinesins transporting Golgi-derived vesicles. Phragmoplast-associated kinesin,
AtPAKRP2, is specifically associated with Golgi-derived vesicles in the phragmoplast.
At least two other Arabidopsis kinesins are also exclusively associated with vesicles in
the phragmoplast. Therefore, they are predicted to be examples of plus end-directed
kinesin motors that deliver Golgi-derived vesicles during cytokinesis.

2.5.2 Dynein
Higher plants (angiosperms) lack cilia and flagella in their life cycle, and their non-motile
sperm cells are conveyed to the egg by a growing pollen tube. These plants also lack the
axonemal dynein, cytoplasmic dynein 2 and no full-length genes for cytoplasmic dynein 1
subunits, except for the light chain LC8, have been found in the sequenced genome of
Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa and Populus trichocarpa. However, immunological and
biochemical studies showed the presence of dynein heavy chain (DHC) related polypeptide
in pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum (Moscatelli et al., 1998) and root cells of wheat Triticum
aestivum L. (Shanina et al., 2009). Dynein is an ancient and evolutionary conservative
multiprotein complex, found in diverse groups of organisms, from yeast to human, and
DHC is the largest dynein subunit, containing ATP-binding/motor and microtubulebinding domain. To date, nothing is known about dynein in plants that have flagella
apparatus at certain stages of their life cycle. For instance, the microtubules of the flagellar
axonemes of water fern Marsilea vestita have the typical 9 + 2 arrangement with only inner
dynein arms present (Hyams, 1985). Flagellated sperm cells also develop in ancient
gymnosperms, Ginkgo and cycads, which are the only seed producing plants
(spermatophytes) that have motile or free swimming sperm (Vaughn and Renzaglia, 2006)
with abundant flagellar apparatus (100-50,000 flagella per cells) (Renzaglia and Garbary,

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

87

2001). Thus, higher plants have high molecular weight antigen that shares biochemical and
immunological properties with DHC, yet its identity remains unclear.
2.6 Microtubule dynamics
The distinctive feature of plant microtubules is the unusual dynamic behavior, exemplified
at least in some stages of microtubule life cycle. Cortical microtubules in plant cells exhibit
the treadmilling (addition of tubulin subunits at plus ends and removal at minus ends),
what is remarkably different from the behavior of microtubules in animal cells, when
microtubules are attached to the centrosome with their minus ends, and plus ends exhibit
the dynamic instability (slow growth rescue, and rapid disassembly catastrophe).
Moreover, plant microtubules display a unique type of dynamics, a combination of dynamic
instability and treadmilling behavior, termed hybrid treadmilling, which involves
dynamic instability behavior at the plus end, coupled with a slow depolymerization at the
minus end. Polymerization-biased dynamic instability at one end and slow
depolymerization at the other end results in sustained microtubule migration across the cell
cortex (Shaw et al., 2003).
Another unique feature of higher plant microtubules is that unlike microtubules of most
animal cells, they do not originate from a single or multiple MTOCs (Mineyuki, 2007;
Murata et al., 2007). Plant microtubules change the arrangement with the progression of
the cell cycle, assembling distinct types of microtubule arrays, which function at the
appropriate stage of the cell cycle. The CMT system or/and RMT system is present during
interphase, PPB, mitotic spindle and phragmoplast successively replace each other during
mitosis (Fig. 1, 2).

Fig. 1. Microtubules during the cell cycle of root meristem cells of Triticum aestivum L. (a)
Cortical microtubule bundles in interphase cell. (b) The development of broad PPB during
G2 phase. (c) Matured PPB in prophase cell. (d) PPB and prophase spindle. (e)
Prometaphase spindle. (f) Metaphase spindle. (g) Anaphase spindle. (h) Initial stage of
phragmoplast formation in anaphase. (i-k) Successive stages of phragmoplast formation and
development during anaphase-telophase. (k-l) Radial microtubule network during
transition to G1 phase.

88

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 2. Microtubules during the cell cycle of isolated endosperm cells of Scadoxus katherinae
Bak. (a) Radial microtubule system in interphase cell. (b) Early stage of prophase spindle
organization. (c) Prophase spindle. (d) Prometaphase spindle. (e) Metaphase spindle. ( f, g)
Spindle in mid and late anaphase. ( h, i) Phragmoplast formation and development during
telophase. (j) Radial microtubule arrays during transition to G1 phase.

3. Microtubule systems of interphase cells

3.1 Radial microtubule system (RMT)
RMT system is composed of microtubules radiating from the nuclear surface toward the cell
periphery. During somatic division of flowering plants this microtubule array is observed for
relatively short time, when the cell is completing the cytokinesis and before the establishment
of the interphase CMT (Fig. 1k-l). RMT system is typical for some special cases of flowering
plant cell division (Fig. 2a, j). In isolated endosperm cells of Scadoxus, RMT system is composed
of elementary structural units microtubule converging centers (MTCCs). The pointed tips of
MTCCs are associated with the nuclear surface, and the divergent ends are oriented outwards
and extend toward the plasma membrane. Cumulative evidence indicates that minus end of
radial microtubules are associated with the nuclear surface, while plus ends are oriented
toward the cell periphery. MTCCs could be the transitory structures, instrumental for orderly
reorganization of RMT and other microtubule arrays in plant cells (Smirnova & Bajer, 1994,
1998). RMTs arrays emanating from the nuclear surface are also present in vacuolated cells,
where they are termed endoplasmic microtubules (EMTs) (Dhonukshe et al., 2005). Thus
nuclear surface may function as MTOC for RMTs, yet the microtubule nucleating factors have
not been clearly identified. Chromatin affects microtubule nucleation through the nuclear
membrane, as it was shown for reconstituted nuclei in Xenopus extracts (Heald et al., 1996,
1997). Targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) is one of the proteins implicated in the nucleation of
microtubules around chromosomes in a RanGTP-dependent manner. TPX2 orthologue was
found in Arabidopsis, (Evrard et al., 2009) and experimental studies showed that it nucleates

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

89

perinuclear microtubules/RMTs, leading to the formation of a prophase spindle, and then

may act as a spindle microtubule nucleator and stabilizer (Vos et al., 2008).
3.2 Cortical microtubule system (CMT)
Plant CMT network consists of a population of relatively short, overlapping microtubules
that bundle into a higher order structures. In rapidly elongating cells, the CMT bundles
typically circumference the cell and are arranged transverse to the elongation axis of the cell
(Fig. 1a). Once the phase of cell elongation slows down, the transverse CMTs reorient into a
predominantly oblique or longitudinal direction with respect to the cells elongation axis
(Wasteneys, 2004; Lucas & Shaw, 2008; Wasteneys & Ambrose, 2008).
Several mechanisms have been proposed in order to explain the assembly and dynamic
organization of the cortical arrays:
1.

2.

3.

Microtubules are initiated de novo or originate from the existing microtubules in the
cortical cytoplasm. First, seed microtubules appear at the cortex of early interphase cells.
Then -tubulin nucleates new microtubules along the lengths of existing microtubules,
resulting in dispersed Y-branched organizational centers (Murata et al., 2005). As a
result, new cortical microtubules form on the pre-existing microtubules as branches with a
defined angle (Hashimoto & Kato, 2006). Nascent microtubules detach form the
nucleation sites and migrate to the cortex by hybrid treadmilling (Shaw et al., 2003).
Microtubules originate from the nuclear surface, then are severed and translocated to
defined cortical positions, establishing CMT. At the M/G1 transition, microtubules are
nucleated on the nuclear surface and extend to the cell cortex. -tubulin also first
accumulates at the nuclear surface and then spreads to the cortex. Therefore, the
radial/endoplasmic microtubules could be involved in distributing the -TuRCs from
the nuclear surface to the plasma membrane. However, the majority of new
microtubules are initiated de novo at the cell cortex and do not originate from the
endoplasmic microtubules. New microtubule initiation sites have been detected only in
associations with pre-existing microtubules and in cortical regions that have no
detectable microtubules (Hashimoto & Kato, 2006; Wasteneys & Ambrose, 2008).
Lateral and axial sliding (translocation) of existing microtubules into new positions
results in relocation, rearrangement and redistribution of microtubules in the cortex
and/or from the perinuclear location toward the cortical cytoplasm. After microtubules
are nucleated and released/severed from -TuRCs, both ends of the microtubules are
free. The assembly dynamics of free microtubules may be marked by net
polymerization at the plus-ends and net depolymerization at the minus-ends. The
combined effect of these dynamic properties produces sustained treadmilling motility,
when single microtubule translocates across the cell cortex. Thus, the migration of
polymers to new positions is achieved by the balanced addition and removal of
subunits at the microtubule ends.

3.2.1 Dynamic behavior of microtubules in the cortex

CMTs arise or arrive in random orientations throughout the cells cortex, and this orientation
is maintained in actively dividing meristem cells. In rapidly elongating cells, the discordant
microtubule orientations do not persist for long, and microtubules of cortical arrays tend to
acquire a common polarity by selective stabilization of concordant microtubules. Treadmilling
leads to microtubule interactions, resulting in microtubules crossing over one another,

90

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

selectively disassembling, pausing or bundling. The latter depends on the angle of interaction
between encountering microtubules. A steep angle of interaction (more than 40) usually leads
to the disassembly of the microtubules, while the shallow angle (less than 40) results in
alignment and lateral interaction of the encountering microtubules (Ehrhardt, 2008). MAPs,
including +TIPs and those forming the cross-bridges between the lattices of adjacent
microtubules (MAP65 family), may be involved in the organization of microtubule bundles.
The combination of microtubule encounter activities ultimately determines the spatial
organization of cortical microtubules in each cell types and explains the mechanism of selforganization of randomly nucleated microtubules into parallel arrays (Pastuglia & Buchez,
2007; Lucas & Shaw, 2008; Wasteneys & Ambrose, 2008).
3.2.2 Association of cortical microtubules with plasma membrane
After microtubules are initiated in the cortical cytoplasm, they usually detach from the
original nucleation sites but remain tightly anchored to the cortex. The presence of crossbridge structures between cortical microtubules and the plasma membrane points to the
presumptive plasma-membrane-associated protein linkers anchoring microtubules to the
cortex. Phospholipase is one of the molecules involved in attaching the CMTs to the plasma
membrane (Kaloriti et al., 2007), yet cortical microtubule attachment could be also mediated
by the +TIPs.
3.2.3 The functions of CMT array
Most plant cells have cellulose cell walls and CMT network beneath the plasma membrane.
During interphase, CMTs are typically coaligned with the cellulose microfibrils, and, therefore,
it has long been thought that the organization of the interphase CMTs regulates the axis of cell
elongation by guiding the oriented deposition of cellulose microfibrils. The microfibrils, in
turn, provide the constraints to restrict turgor-induced cell expansion to an axis perpendicular
to the net orientation of the cellulose microfibrils. The functional association of microtubules
with the cellulose synthase complex located on the plasma membrane (Paredez et al. 2006)
strongly supports the concept that at least in some cell types, cortical microtubules can
organize cellulose synthase complexes and guide their movement through the plasma
membrane as they create the cell wall. The latest data confirmed that cortical microtubules not
only guide the trajectories of cellulose synthase complexes in the plasma membrane, but also
regulate the insertion and internalization of cellulose synthase complexes (Crowell et al., 2009).
Moreover, cellulose synthase complexes also influence cortical microtubule array stability and
organization (Paredez et al., 2008), indicating that while cortical array organization directs the
trajectories of cellulose synthase complexes movement, the activity of cellulose synthase
complexes affects cortical array organization as well. However, organized cortical
microtubules are not always essential for maintaining or establishment of transversely
oriented cellulose microfibrils in expanding cells, indicating that the relationship between
CMT array organization, microfibril orientation and the axis of cell elongation is more
complex. In this view, the template incorporation model and microfibril length regulation
model are the alternative concepts of microtubules-microfibrils interplay (Wasteneys, 2004).

4. Preprophase band of microtubules (PPB)

Most differentiated and expanded cells have a system of parallel bundled microtubules
oriented perpendicular to the longest axis of the cell and localized in the cortical cytoplasm

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

91

(CMTs). Prior to mitosis, this cortical system is replaced by the PPB, a unique plant array of
cortical microtubules and actin filaments, encircling the nucleus and positioned just
underneath the plasma membrane. PPB is formed in G2 phase and disassembled prior to
prometaphase. The PPB at first occupies broad area of the cortex (about 2/3rd of the
peripheral area), but then it gradually matures, microtubules, forming the band, become
more densely packed as the cell approaches the mitosis (Fig. 1b, c). PPB demarcates the
cortical division site where the newly formed cell plate will be fused with the parental
plasma membrane (Van Damme et al., 2007, Van Damme & Geelen, 2008; Mller et al.,
2009).
4.1 The occurrence of PPB
The division events that involve a PPB is thought to be an adaptation for cells that are part
of a complex multicellular architecture. Indeed, PPBs occur in meristems and meristemoids
during vegetative growth, and absent in microsporogenesis, megasporogenesis, in the first
assymetrical mitosis of the embryo, in embryo sac development (Mineyuki, 1999). In line
with the idea that the PPB correlates with divisions in tissues, it was noticed that some
suspension-cultured cells divide without the need for a PPB or frequently produce abnormal
PPBs, but still manage to divide.
4.2 The origin of PPB
Few mechanisms have been proposed to explain the origin of the PPB: de novo assembly of PPB
microtubules, recruitment of tubulin from the degraded cortical microtubules to microtubules
of the PPB, rearrangement of existing cortical microtubules to the site of the PPB development.
Current models implicate the distinctive dynamic behavior of cortical microtubules in PPB
formation (Ehrhardt, 2008; Wasteneys & Ambrose, 2008; Mller et al., 2009). During
interphase, microtubules are distributed throughout the cell cortex. The growing plus ends of
dynamic microtubules that are bound to the cell cortex frequently run into other single
microtubules and microtubule bundles. Steep-angle collisions promote microtubule shrinkage,
whereas shallow-angle encounters facilitate coalignment into bundles. These interactions of
microtubules may promote the self-organization of dynamic microtubules into a parallel
arrangement. During PPB initiation at the transition from interphase to mitosis, the growth
rate and the stochastic alternating frequencies between growing and shrinking phases increase
in cortical microtubules, outside the PPB. Combined with the stabilizing activities in the
developing PPB, these changes in microtubule dynamics may cause disassembly of cortical
microtubules outside the PPB and accumulation of microtubules to form PPB. It has been
assumed that at preprophase, cortical microtubules become restricted to the future plane of
division via selective depolymerization of non-PPB microtubules and/or selective stabilization
of microtubules in the PPB zone. However, the general hypothesis that bundling stabilizes the
dynamic properties of the constituent microtubules was not confirmed, because no evidence
that bundled microtubules are stabilized against depolymerization through changes to their
dynamic properties was found.
4.3 The regulation of PPB formation
A variety of proteins is involved in PPB formation by differentially regulating nucleation,
dynamics and stability of microtubules. Microtubule binding proteins like MOR1/GEM1
modulate microtubule dynamics and promote PPB formation. MAP65 members bundle

92

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

microtubules by forming cross bridges between overlapping microtubules and thus could
potentially stabilize PPB microtubules via bundling. +TIP family member CLASP has been
implicated in PPB organization and narrowing via modulation of microtubule dynamics in
the PPB zone and/or by mediating microtubule-cortex interactions. Arabidopsis signaling
proteins, TON1a, TON1b and TON2, are also crucial for the formation of PPB, because
plants lacking any of these proteins do not form PPBs and, as a result, have misoriented cell
divisions (Mller et al., 2009).
4.4 Functional properties of PPB
The position of the PPB in the cortical cytoplasm forecasts the division plane and the site
where the cell plate inserts into the mother wall during cytokinesis. The PPB is dismantled
prior to prometaphase, therefore the separation in time between the destruction of the PPB
and the insertion of the cell plate led to the idea that the PPB leaves behind a landmark that
will guide the expanding phragmoplast to the site where the PPB was positioned prior to its
disassembly. After the PPB is disassembled, some type of memory of its location must
remain throughout mitosis and cytokinesis. A number of negative and positive markers of
the division site have been found in the cortex (Mller et al., 2009; Rasmussen et al., 2011).
Negative markers:
1.

2.
3.

4.

The actin-depleted zone (ADZ) of the cell cortex. Actin microfilaments are an integral
part of the plant cytoskeleton. During interphase-mitosis transition, the actin network
does not disappear throughout the peripheral space like the cortical microtubules.
Upon breakdown of the PPB a region devoid of actin, termed the actin depleted zone
(ADZ), is formed in the cortex. Because the position of the ADZ corresponds to that of
the PPB, it too marks the division zone. It is important to note that this negative
template remains throughout metaphase and anaphase, establishing the landmark at
the plasma membrane. However, the role of ADZ as a negative marker of cortical
division site remains ambiguous.
Cortical actin twin peaks two bands of high actin density flanking the cortical
division site. In this view, ADZ should be interpreted as a zone of low actin abundance
rather than one with complete loss of the filaments.
The Arabidopsis kinesin-like protein KCA1 is another negative marker of the cortical
division site, specifically the plasma membrane domain. Like cortical actin, it is locally
depleted at the cortical division site during mitosis and cytokinesis, creating a KCA1depleted zone (KDZ). KDZ coincides with the position of the disassembled PPB and
established ADZ. Once established, the KDZ does no longer require an intact
microtubule or actin cytoskeleton and persists throughout cytokinesis.
Endocytic vesicles form more frequently in the PPB zone than in other areas of the cell
cortex, suggesting that endocytosis could be important for establishment of the division
plane.

Positive markers:
TAN and RanGAP1 have been identified as positive markers of the division plane,
continuously localizing there from preprophase through the completion of cytokinesis.
1.

The TAN1 gene encodes a highly basic protein that binds to the microtubules of the
PPB and localizes in the cortical division site during mitosis and cytokinesis. TAN is

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

2.

3.

4.

93

implicated in guidance and linking of the phragmoplast to cortical division site

throughout cytokineis.
Like TAN, RanGAP1 is recruited to the division plane, co-localizing with the PPB and
remaining at the cortical division site throughout mitosis and cytokinesis. Ran-GAP1 is
also localized to elsewhere in dividing cells including the nuclear envelope, spindle
midzone, kinetochores and cell plate. It is not yet clear whether RanGAPs are required
for PPB assembly/disassembly, or for phragmoplast guidance during cytokinesis.
A closely related Arabidopsis kinesins, POK1 and POK2 (phragmoplast orienting
kinesins) are required for the correct localization of TAN and RanGAP1. POK1 and
POK2 in combination are needed for localization of TAN to the PPB and cortical
division site, suggesting that TAN becomes associated with the division plane as cargo
of POK1 and POK2. By contrast, RanGAP1 does not require POK1 and/or POK2 for colocalization with PPBs, but does require these kinesins for its maintenance at the cortical
division site after PPB disassembly.
The plasma membrane domain is defined by the localization of a plant specific protein
TPLATE that has homology with coat proteins. During cytokinesis TPLATE
accumulates in the cell plate and appears in the cortical division site just before cell
plate fusion with plasma membrane. These finding suggests that TPLATE promotes
vesicle trafficking to the cortical division site, where the cell plate contacts and fuses
with plasma membrane.

Another essential PPB function is the proper positioning and orientation of the mitotic
spindle. It is well known that cells lacking PPB may assemble multipolar prophase spindles,
which are inevitably transformed into bipolar ones during prometaphase, after the nuclear
envelope breakdown (Smirnova and Bajer, 1998). Alternatively, cells with PPB establish a
bipolar cap-like organization of the prophase spindle perpendicular to the plane of division
before nuclear envelope breakdown. It appeared that in vacuolated cells microtubules
bridging the PPB and the prophase nucleus contribute to the bipolarity, orientation, and
position of the prophase spindle by transmitting tensile forces that facilitate the organization
of perinuclear microtubules from their initial random distribution, into two halves, oriented
perpendicular to the PPB plane. This tension serves to co-align perinuclear microtubules in a
direction similar to those of the bridge microtubules, thus providing a spatial cue for the
orientation of the prophase spindle axis. Consequently, the PPB is an equatorial organizer of
the prophase spindle (Ambrose & Cyr, 2008). However, non vacuolated cells have scarce or
no microtubules bridging the PPB to the nucleus, therefore other mechanisms may control
the spindle polarity and orientation.
Thus, the major PPB functions are the determination of the cortical division plane,
promotion of the spindle morphogenesis and positional stability. PPB also controls
premitotic migration and orientation of the nucleus in the cytoplasm of vacuolated cells,
anchoring the premitotic nucleus in the central cytoplasm, and is a source of
tubulin/microtubules pool for the assembling spindle.

5. Plant spindle
The mitotic spindles of higher plants do not have microtubule focusing structures at the
spindle poles therefore it is usually barrel-shaped and lacks astral microtubules (Fig. 1f, 2d).
The spindle consists of distinct kinetochore fibers (K-fibers), composed of kinetochore and
non-kinetochore microtubules. The proximal parts of the K-fibers are attached to the

94

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

kinetochores, while convergent distal ends are oriented away from the chromosomes and
terminate at the ill-defined polar areas. For instance, the mitotic spindle of the higher plant
Scadoxus (formerly Haemanthus) is composed of multiple contiguous K-fibers, arranged as
microtubule fir trees (MTFTs). Parallel central microtubules of MTFT, attached to the
kinetochore, form a core of K-fiber (the trunk of the "fir tree") and non-kinetochore skew
peripheral microtubules, represent the branches (Bajer and Mol-Bajer, 1982, 1986). All Kfibers/MTFTs within each half-spindle are aligned parallel to the spindle axis, and the
structural integrity of the spindle is maintained by skew non-kinetochore microtubules,
whereas the functional properties (support of chromosome movement) are provided by
kinetochore microtubules. Each half-spindle may be composed entirely from K-fibers,
conjoined together by non-kinetochore microtubules. The mitotic spindle is responsible for
equal segregation of sister chromatids during cell division. This function is accomplished by
the establishment of a plane of symmetry, which is materialized by the metaphase plate,
orthogonal to the spindle axis and on which the chromosomes are positioned before
separation.
5.1 The flexibility of plant spindle
Although conventional metaphase spindle is barrel-shaped and lacks astral microtubules, its
shape may be altered during specialized types of division, for instance, during generative
cell/nucleus division in pollen tube of different plants. In Tradescantia virginiana and
Convallaria majalis, the spindle is comprised of an axial system of microtubule bundles, with
kinetochores distributed along the length and depth of the tube. The same type of division
in Nicotiana tabacum is characterized by oblique metaphase plate and the presence of distinct
spindle with often pointed poles (Liu & Palevitz, 1991; Del Casino et al., 1999). During
generative cell division in Ornithogalum virens, metaphase spindle has a conventional shape,
encompassing diffuse poles (Bana et al., 1996). Focused spindle poles are typical for
divisions during microsporogenesis and cultured plant cells. Such loose organization of the
spindle poles is crucial for spindle plasticity, required to counteract spatial constrains due to
the presence of the rigid cell wall. Moreover, the focused spindle pole helps to maintain
normal chromosome distribution and grouping, because if the spindle pole is not
convergent, the division may lead to several developmental defects, such as the formation of
micronuclei, multiple micro-spindles and phragmoplasts. Therefore, in most cells, anaphase
chromosome movement occurs concomitantly with transformation of broad and ill-defined
polar areas into convergent ones. It seems that dynamic changes of the spindle pole during
metaphase-anaphase transition occur only in cells with broad metaphase spindle (Fig. 2 e-g),
while tapered spindles retain their shape throughout division. Notably, reversed spindle
pole transformations take place during prophase-metaphase transition, when pointed poles
transform into diffuse ones (Fig. 1 d-f, 2 c-e). Chromosomes/kinetochores may play an
important role in this process, because the changes in spindle pole configuration are
triggered after the nuclear envelope breakdown at the onset of prometaphase.
5.2 The stages of spindle formation
The pathways of spindle assembly depend on the presence/absence of the PPB. In cells with
PPB, the microtubules first assemble perinuclear network, which gradually transforms into
two dense accumulations or polar caps, located on both sides of the nucleus and oriented
perpendicular to the PPB axis. The polar caps are linked by microtubules thus forming the
initial, yet already bipolar, prophase spindle (Fig. 1 d). Alternatively, the prophase spindle

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

95

may exhibit an especially variable pattern of organization in cells lacking PPB (division of
isolated endosperm cells, cultured suspension cells), but during prometaphase, the spindle
ultimately acquires bipolar configuration. This pathway of spindle assembly is not well
understood, but the initial stage is marked by the formation of dense microtubule network
around the nucleus in early prophase (Fig. 2 b). In mid-late prophase, microtubule network
transforms into bipolar (Fig. 2 c), multipolar or apolar spindle-like configurations (Smirnova
and Bajer, 1998). After nuclear envelope breakdown, which marks the onset of
prometaphase, aberrations of the spindle structure are eliminated/corrected and final
alignment of spindle axis takes place (Fig. 2 d, e). Although multipolar prophase spindles
are common, multipolar metaphase spindles are extremely rare in all types of dividing
higher plant cells. Thus, the formation of the bipolar spindle in prophase is not a
prerequisite for bipolarity of the metaphase spindle.
5.3 MTOC-independent spindle assembly in higher plants
It is no longer doubted that the functional spindle can be assembled by MTOC-independent
mechanism (Murata et al., 2007), yet the suggestion that higher plant spindles are formed by
self-reorganization of microtubules in the absence of the centrosome/MTOC, was made
before substantial molecular evidence came out (Smirnova and Bajer, 1992). Observations on
microtubule reorganization in isolated dividing endosperm cells and cell fragments of
Scadoxus revealed that microtubule system is comprised of elementary structural and
functional units termed microtubule converging centers (MTCC) (Bajer & Mol-Bajer, 1986;
Smirnova & Bajer, 1994, 1998). The remarkable cycle of MTCCs formation, exceptionally
manifested in endosperm cells, is an expression of self-reorganization of microtubules, and
the self-reorganization is also the major "driving force" for spindle assembly. Conceptual
importance of this conclusion was that (1) it argued against the role of centrosome/MTOC
in spindle organization and (2) invited speculations that MTCCs might have been developed
in higher plants as a functional substitute of localized MTOC(s). In view of this concept, the
consecutive stages of spindle organization were defined. Microtubules/MTCCs growth is
initiated from the nuclear surface, with minus ends attached or directed toward the nucleus.
Excessive formation of MTCCs in prophase would require disconnection or severing of
assembled MTCCs from the nucleating sites. Free MTCCs coalesce around the nucleus
making dense perinuclear cage. Closely located MTCCs interact according to the dynamic
properties of their ends and action of microtubule-based motors (self-reorganize). Random
translocation and reorientation of MTCCs result in appearance of microtubules arrays of
mixed polarity, followed by sorting into bundles of uniform polarity. The metaphase
spindle is composed of microtubules with minus ends located away from the
nucleus/chromosomes (oppositely to interphase), therefore during spindle assembly minus
ends must be extended away, cross-linked and converged into poles, while plus ends are
captured and transiently stabilized by chromosomes/kinetochores. Thus, primary, yet not
necessarily bipolar, spindle is formed in prophase. In prometaphase prophase spindle
transforms into ultimate bipolar metaphase spindle due to the interference of the
chromosomes/kinetochores in this process. Simultaneously, the focused appearance of the
prophase spindle poles is usually disturbed. The splitting of the spindle pole into multiple
sub-poles reflects the potential functional autonomy of each K-fiber. This is crucial in
conditions of constrained cellular geometry that precludes the movement/rotation of the
spindle within the cell and change of the cell shape. Consequently, higher plants facilitate
spindle formation by assembling MTCCs as ready-to-use units, instead of single

96

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

microtubules. MTCCs form the spindle by self-reorganization therefore it is indeed inside

out assembly of the spindle (Smirnova and Bajer, 1998).
The basic molecular mechanisms underlying MTOC-independent spindle assembly are now
well understood (Wadsworth et al., 2010; Dunkan and Wakefiled, 2011). Briefly, in the initial
phase of this process, chromosomes generate an environment enriched in RanGTP.
Importins and direct traffic through nuclear pores during interphase and sequester
several essential proteins. Proteins binding to importins in mitosis are the kinesin-like
protein XCTK2, targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) and nuclear protein of the mitotic
apparatus (NuMA). These proteins have been proposed to be targets of RanGTP in the
spindle assembly pathway. The importins-TPX2 complex is dissociated by RanGTP and
once released TPX2 promotes microtubule nucleation in the vicinity of chromosomes. The
size and shape of chromatin defines the shape and orientation of the initial spindle
(Dinarina et al., 2009). Assembled microtubules are first randomly oriented; then, they
coalesce and start to organize through the movement and sorting of randomly nucleated
microtubules into bipolar structures. Two proteins Eg5 and Kid were suggested to be
regulated by RanGTP and to participate in these events. Sorted microtubules within each of
the two arrays become bunched together at their minus ends, thus giving the entire array
the shape of a spindle. Microtubule minus ends may be focus into spindle poles, and this
process involves two proteins regulated by RanGTP: NuMA and XCTK2. The TPX2 was
confirmed to be a central regulator of spindle assembly in plant cells, because its absence or
excess inhibits spindle formation. Plant TPX2 is predominantly nuclear during interphase
and is actively exported before nuclear envelope breakdown to initiate prophase spindle
assembly. Thus, plants have adapted nuclearcytoplasmic shuttling of TPX2 to maintain
proper spindle assembly without centrosomes (Vos et al., 2008). However, there is a basic
difference in microtubule focusing and pole stabilizing activities between vertebrate and
plant cells. The convergent pole of the prophase spindle is rearranged into unfocused one
during prophase-metaphase, and inversely during metaphase-anaphase (part 4.1),
indicating that the mechanisms of microtubule focusing and stabilization are switched on
and off throughout mitosis. In conclusion, MTOC-independent spindle assembly appears to
be exceptionally manifested in higher plants, yet our knowledge about the molecular
mechanisms of this process is still fragmentary.

6. Phragmoplast
Cytokinesis in cells of flowering plants is achieved through the construction of a new cell
wall from the inside-out. A cell plate forms between daughter nuclei at the end of mitosis
and expands centrifugally to form a new cell wall positioned between new plasma
membranes. It is initiated through the fusion of Golgi-derived vesicles, which contribute
polysaccharides, proteins and membranous vesicles for the cell plate formation. These
vesicles are guided to the cell plate by the microtubules of the phragmoplast, assembled in
the interzonal area after chromosomes segregation in anaphase. Therefore cytokinesis in
plants is considered as targeted secretion to the plane of division (Assaad, 2001; Jrgens,
2005; Mller et al., 2009). Phragmoplast is composed of two sets of interacting microtubules
of opposite polarities, terminating in ribosome free, cell plate assembly matrix, actin
filaments, ER and Golgi derived vesicles. It begins to form in the central part of the intersone
already in anaphase, expanding laterally throughout telophase. Upon completion of
cytokinesis it fuses with the parental cell wall at the site of the PPB location, where the cell
plate attaches to the mother cell wall.

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

97

6.1 The phragmoplast assembly and development

The phragmoplast is assembled from microtubules of opposing polarity, interacting with their
plus ends and pointing toward the equatorial region. These microtubules are aligned
perpendicular to the future site of the cell plate localization. The phragmoplast is initiated in
the midzone of the equatorial region in anaphase, between the trailing chromosome arms, and
is shaped as cylindrical or barrel-like structure. Golgi-derived vesicles are carried from
opposite sides, along microtubules toward the plus ends, where they fuse and first form
vesicular-tubular membranous network, which is then transformed into the cell plate. During
initial stages of formation, the cell plate is associated with the delivering vesicles microtubules
of the phragmoplast. As the cell plate grows and expands centrifugally towards the parental
cell wall, microtubules in the mid zone disassemble and in turn, assemble at the phragmoplast
periphery, along the edge of the growing cell plate, resulting in displacement of microtubules
toward the cell periphery. Consequently, the shape of the phragmoplast changes from
cylindrical to ring-like, and at the end of cytokinesis two microtubule rings surround the edges
of the newly formed cell plate. Microtubules of the phragmoplast provide the tracks for
transport of vesicles to the site of the cell plate formation, yet the fusion of vesicles,
development and maturation of the cell plate does not require microtubules. After the fusion
of the cell plate with the parental cell wall, phragmoplast has an appearance of the
microtubule ring, composed of the two sets of interacting antiparralel microtubules, and
positioned at the site of the PPB localization. During specialized modes of cytokinesis, the
phragmoplast is formed in cells dividing without a PPB, or even in syncytia between
interphase nuclei, suggesting that the pathways of phragmoplast formations may vary among
plant cells and tissues. For istance, during cellularization of endosperm, the multinucleate
cytoplasm is reorganized into nuclear cytoplasmic domains defined by radial systems of
microtubules, emanating from the nuclei. Adventitious phragmoplasts develop at the
interfaces of microtubule systems emanating from adjacent nuclear cytoplasmic domains
(Olsen et al., 1995), suggesting that microtubules of the spindle are not prerequisite for
phragmoplast formation, and that phragmoplast-type of arrays may develop, where opposing
sets of microtubules interact with their plus ends.
6.2 The origin of the phragmoplast
Phragmoplast is a ubiquitous plant structure, though the origin of phragmoplast
microtubules and thereafter, the pathways of phragmoplast development and cell plate
formation may differ among plant cells. For instance, in cells of apical meristem interzonal
microtubules are abundant and give rise to the phragmoplast body (Staehelin & Hepler,
1996), while the central region of interzone in dividing endosperm cells is often nearly
devoid of microtubules (Bajer and Mol-Bajer, 1982). Instead, numerous microtubules,
initiated at the polar areas, appear between trailing chromosome arms in mid-anaphase,
gradually extend toward the equator and give rise to a phragmoplast (Bajer and Mol-Bajer,
1986). These observations demonstrate that phragmoplast originates either predominantly
or entirely from new microtubules, growing from the polar areas, and suggest that plant
cells may have evolved multiple mechanisms of phragmoplast assembly and development.
6.2.1 Pathways of phragmoplast formation during conventional cytokinesis (i.e., in
somatic plant tissues)
Conventional cytokinesis follows after mitosis (Fig. 1 h-k), and phragmoplast originates
from the interpolar microtubules of the anaphase spindle between the sister nuclei.

98

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Interpolar microtubules of each half-spindle interact in the midzone and establish antiparallel arrays, giving rise to the cylindrical microtubule bundle. This bundle differentiates
into two sets of microtubules of opposing polarity the phragmoplast. Microtubules deliver
Golgi-derived vesicles towards the plus ends of microtubules, where vesicles fuse and form
continuous vesicular-tubular network, localized between opposing microtubule sets. The
vesicular-tubular network first differentiates into tubular network and then into fenestrated
plate-like structure. The plate expands laterally, forming numerous finger-like projections
that fuse with the parental cell membrane. This is followed by the closing of the plate
fenestrae and beginning of the cellulose synthesis. The formation of membranous network
takes place in association with the phragmoplast microtubules, while cell wall construction
within this network occurs after the disassembly of microtubules (Samuels et al., 1995).
6.2.2 Syncytial pathway of phragmoplast formation during nonconventional
cytokinesis (i.e., during cellularization of nuclear endosperm)
Nonconventional cytokinesis takes place when mitosis is not immediately followed by
cytokinesis, and the new cell walls are formed at a later stage between sister and non sister
nuclei. The cell plate formation is preceded by synchronous appearance of microtubule sets
of opposing polarity, followed by the assembly of numerous mini-phragmoplasts between
non sister nuclei. Each mini-phragmoplast consists of two opposing sets of microtubules,
which originate from the overlapping microtubule clusters. Golgi-derived vesicles are
transported along these microtubules, fuse with each other and generate a network of wide
membranous tubes. Subsequently, these wide tubes undergo a series of transformations that
eventually give rise to the mature cell wall (Otegui and Staehelin, 2000a, 2000b). Thus
interpolar microtubules of the spindle are not prerequisite for phragmoplast assembly. The
spindle-independent phragmoplast formation also takes place during microsporogenesis,
when microtubules of the radial systems, emanating from the nuclei, elongate and interact
with plus ends, forming phragmoplast-type of arrays (Olsen et al., 1995).
Moreover, interpolar microtubules do not seem to be involved in the assembly of the
phragmoplast even in certain types of dividing cells, because very few or no interpolar
microtubules may be present in the interzone of endosperm cells during anaphase (Fig. 2 g).
Therefore, these sets of spindle microtubules cannot contribute to the formation of the
phragmoplast precursor (cylindrical microtubule bundle). Instead, numerous microtubules
grow from the polar areas towards the cell periphery and the cell equator in anaphasetelophase, assembling aster-like microtubule configurations (Bajer and Mole-Bajer, 1986). The
phragmoplast is assembled from the microtubules elongating from opposing polar areas and
interacting in the mid zone (Fig. 2 h, i). The initial phragmoplast is a barrel-like or double
dome structure, and at final stages of cytokinesis it is shaped as a circular, closed and narrow
band.
6.3 Molecular components of the phragmoplast
Proteins associated with the phragmoplast are usually grouped according to the functions
during cytokinesis. The phragmoplast plays an essential role in the targeted delivery of
membrane vesicles to the plane of cell division, predicted by the PPB. Membrane associated
functions are carried by classes of proteins involved in vesicles docking, fusion, budding
and construction of the membrane. Cytoskeleton associated functions of the phragmoplast
are predetermined by the PPB (part 4.3 and 4.4), and both structures share certain classes of

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

99

proteins, for instance, cross-linking and stabilizing of microtubules by MOR1/GEM 1 and

MAP65 family members. A special class of cytokinetic kineisins (part 2.5.1) is directly
involved in the organization and proper functions of the phragmoplast. Structural MAPs
and kinesins regulate the dynamic stability of the microtubules in the phragmoplast body,
maintain phragmoplast integrity and in this way provide tracks for targeted transport of
vesicles and formation of the cell plate (Jrgens, 2005; Mller et al., 2009).

7. Concluding remarks
Extensive studies of plant microtubules for past decades led to the significant progress in
understanding of the overall dynamics of plant microtubules, mechanisms underlying the
nucleation, organization and function of cortical microtubule arrays, the specificity of plant
cytokinesis and on the contrary, the unifying features with animal cytokinesis. The isolation,
identification and characterization of vast family of microtubule associated proteins closed
many gaps in our knowledge on the functional properties of plants microtubules and the
regulation of their behavior. In spite of that, many questions remain unanswered, or may be
simply overlooked. The goal of this chapter was to give an overview of basic and mainly
structural aspects of plant microtubule cytoskeleton, which is, by all means, not complete
due to space limitations, and draw attention to unsolved problems. Among the intriguing
questions that remain are: the relationship between cortical microtubules and cellulose
microfibrils orientation, the role of the radial microtubules and PPB in morphogenesis of the
mitotic spindle, the molecular mechanisms of MTOC-independent plant spindle assembly as
compared to other organisms, and even more, if one is enough curios and inquisitive to look
inside the plant cell.

8. Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my colleague Wang Wenzhu (MSU) for help with the illustrations.

9. References
Ambrose, C. & Cyr, R. (2008). Mitotic spindle organization by the preprophase band.
Mol. Plant, 1, 950-960.
Assaad, F. (2001). Plant cytokinesis: exploring the link. Plant Physiol., 126, 509-516.
Bajer, A. & Mol-Bajer, J. (1982). Asters, poles and transport properties within spindle-like
microtubule arrays. Cold Spring Harbor Symp., 46, 263-283.
Bajer, A. & Mol-Bajer, J. (1986). Reorganization of microtubules in endosperm cells and cell
fragments of the higher plant Haemanthus in vivo. J. Cell Biol., 102, 263-281.
Bana, M., Tirlapur, U., Charzyska, M. & Cresti, M. (1996). Some events of mitosis and
cytokinesis in the generative cell of Ornithogalum virens L. Planta, 199, 202-208.
Bisgrove, S., Hable, W. & Kropf, D. (2004). +TIPs and microtubule regulation. The beginning
of the plus ends in plants. Plant Physiol., 136, 3855-3863.
Buschmann, H., Chan, J., Sanchez-Pulido, L., Andrade-Navarro, M., Doonan, J. &, Lloyd, C.
(2006). Microtubule-associated AIR9 recognizes the cortical division site at
preprophase and cell-plate insertion. Curr. Biol., 16, 19381943.
Cai, G. (2010). Assembly and disassembly of plant microtubules: tubulin modifications
and binding to MAPs. Exp. Botany, 61, 623626.

100

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Crowell, E., Bischoff, V., Desprez, T., Rolland, A., Stierhof, Y., Schumacher, K., Gonneau,
M., Hfte, H. & Vernhettes, S. (2009). Pausing of Golgi bodies on microtubules
regulates secretion of cellulose synthase complexes in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 21,
1141-1154.
Del Casino, C., Bohdanowitcz, J., Lewandowska, B. & Cresti, M. (1999). The organization of
microtubules during generative-cell division in Convallaria majalis. Protoplasma, 207,
147-153.
Dinarina, A., Pugieux, C., Corral, M., Loose, M., Spatz, J., Karsenti, E. & Ndlec, F. (2009).
Chromatin shapes the mitotic spindle. Cell, 138, 502-512.
Dhonukshe, P., Mathur, J., Hulskamp, M. & Gadella, T. (2005). Microtubule plus-ends reveal
essential links between intracellular polarization and localized modulation of
endocytosis during division-plane establishment in plant cells. BMC Biol., 3, 11.
Duncan, T. & Wakefield, J. (2011). 50 ways to build a spindle: the complexity of microtubule
generation during mitosis. Chromosome Res., 19, 321-333.
Eigsti, O. & Dustin, P. (1955). Colchicine in agriculture, medicine, biology and chemistry. Iowa
State Coll. Press, Aimes, Iowa.
Ehrhardt, D. (2008). Straighten up and fly right microtubule dynamics and
organization of non-centrosomal arrays in higher plants. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 20,
107-116.
Erhardt, M., Stoppin-Mellet, V., Campagne, S., Canaday, J., Mutterer, J., Fabian, T., Sauter,
M., Muller, T., Peter, C., Lambert, A-M. & Schmit, A-C. (2002). The plant Spc98p
homologue colocalizes with -tubulin at microtubule nucleation sites and is
required for microtubule nucleation. J. Cell Sci., 115, 2423-2431.
Evrard, J-L., Pieuchot, L., Vos, J., Vernos, I. & Schmit, A-C. (2009). Plant TPX2 and related
proteins. Plant Sign. Behav., 4, 69-72.
Fache, V., Gaillard, J., Van Damme, D., Geelen, D., Neumann, E., Stoppin-Mellet, V. &
Vantard, M. (2010) Arabidopsis kinetochore fiber-associated MAP65-4 cross-links
microtubules and promotes microtubule bundle elongation. Plant Cell, 22, 38043815.
Fosket, D. & Morejohn, L. (1992). Structural and functional organization of tubulin. Annu.
Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol., 43, 201-240.
Hashimoto, T. & Kato, T. (2006). Cortical control of plant microtubules. Curr. Opin. Plant
Biol., 9, 5-11.
Heald, R., Tournebize, R., Blank, T., Sandaltzopoulos, R., Becker, P., Hyman, A. & Karsenti,
E. (1996). Self-organization of microtubules into bipolar spindle around artificial
chromosomes in Xenopus egg extracts. Nature, 382, 420-425.
Heald, R., Tournebize, R., Habermann, A., Karsenti, E. & Hyman, A. (1997). Spindle
assembly in Xenopus egg extracts: respective roles of centrosomes and
microtubule self-organization. J. Cell Biol., 138, 615-628.
Hyams, J. (1985). Binding of Tetrahymena dynein to axonemes of Marsilea vestita lacking
the outer dynein arms. J Cell Sci., 73, 299-310.
Jrgens, G. (2005). Plant cytokinesis: fission by fusion. Trends Cell Biol., 15, 277-283.
Kaloriti, D., Galva, C., Parupalli, C., Khalifa, N., Galvin, M. & Sedbrook, J. (2007).
Microtubule associated proteins in plants and the processes they manage. J.
Inegrative Plant Biol., 49, 1164-1173.

Microtubules During the Cell Cycle of Higher Plant Cells

101

Komaki, S., Abe, T., Coutuer, S., Inz, D., Russinova, E. & Hashimoto, T. (2010). Nuclearlocalized subtype of end-binding 1 protein regulates spindle organization in
Arabidopsis. J. Cell Sci., 123, 451-459.
Lee, Y. & Liu, B. (2004). Cytoskeletal motors in Arabidopsis. Sixty one kinesins and seventeen
myosins. Plant Physiol., 136, 3877-3883.
Liu, B. & Palevitz, B. (1991). Kinetochore fiber formation in dividing generative cells of
Tradescantia. Kinetochore reorientation associated with the transition between
lateral microtubule interactions and end-on kinetochore fiber. J. Cell Sci., 98, 475482.
Liu, B., Joshi, H., Wilson, T., Silflow, C., Palevitz, B. & Snustad, D. (1994). -tubulin in
Arabidopsis: gene sequence, immunoblot, and immunofluorescence studies. Plant
Cell, 6, 303-314.
Lucas, J. & Shaw, S. (2008) Cortical microtubule arrays in the Arabidopsis seedlings. Curr.
Opin. Plant Biol., 1, 94-98.
Mineyuki, Y. (1999). The preprophase band of microtubules: its function as a cytokinetic
apparatus in higher plants. Int. Rev. Cytol., 187, 1-49.
Mineyuki, Y. (2007). Plant microtubule studies: past and present. J. Plant Res., 120, 4551.
Morejohn, L. & Fosket, D. (1991). The biochemistry of compounds with anti-microtubule
activity in plant cells. Pharmac. Ther., 51, 217-230.
Moscatelli, A., Del Casino, C., Lozzi, L., Cai, G., Scali, M., Tiezzi, A. & Cresti, M. (1995).
High molecular weight polypeptides related to dynein heavy chains in Nicotiana
tabacum pollen tubes J. Cell Sci., 108, 1117-1125.
Mller, S., Wright, A. & Smith, L. (2009). Division plane control in plants: new players in the
band. Trends Cell Biol., 19, 180-188.
Murata, T., Sonobe, S., Baskin, T., Hyodo, S., Hasezawa, S., Nagata, T., Horio, T. & Hasebe,
M. (2005) Microtubule-dependent microtubule nucleation based on recruitment of
-tubulin in higher plants. Nature Cell Biol., 7, 961-968.
Murata, T. & Hasebe, M. (2007). Microtubule-dependent microtubule nucleation in plant
cells. J. Plant Res., 120, 73-78.
Murata, T., Tanahashi, T., Nishiyama, T., Yamaguchi, K. & Hasebe, M. (2007). How do
plants organize microtubules without a centrosome. J. Inegrtive. Plant Biol., 49, 11541163.
Olsen, O-A., Brown, R. & Lemmon, B. (1995). Pattern and process of wall formation in
developing endosperm. BioEssays, 17, 803-812.
Otegui, M. & Staehelin, A. (2000a). Syncytial-type cell plates: a novel kind of cell plate
involved in endosperm cellularization of Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 12, 933-947.
Otegui, M. & Staehelin, A. (2000b). Cytokinesis in flowering plants: more than one way
to
divide the cell. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol., 3, 493-502.
Paredez, A., Wright, A. & Ehrhardt, D. (2006). Microtubule cortical array organization
and plant cell morphogenesis. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol., 9, 571-578.
Paredez, A., Persson, S., Ehrhardt D., Sommerville, C. (2008). Genetic evidence that cellulose
synthase activity influence microtubule cortical array organization. Plant Physiol.,
147, 1723-1734.
Pastuglia, M. & Bouchez, D. (2007). Molecular encounters at microtubule ends in the
plant cortex. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol., 10, 1-7.

102

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Rasmussen, C., Humphries, J. & Smith L. (2011). Determination of symmetric and

asymmetric division planes in plant cells. Annu. Rev. Plant Cell Biol. 62, 387-409.
Renzaglia, K. & Garbary, D. (2001). Motile gametes of land plants: diversity, development
and evolution. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., 20, 107213.
Samuels, A., Giddings, T. & Staehelin, L. (1995). Cytokinesis in tobacco BY-2 and root
tip cells: a new model of cell plate formation in higher plants. J. Cell Biol., 130, 13451357.
Sedbrook, J. (2004). MAPs in plant cells: delineating microtubule growth dynamics and
organization. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol., 7, 632-640.
Shanina, N., Lazareva, E., Skorova, E., Chentsov, Y. & Smirnova, E. (2009). A high molecular
weight polypeptide cross-reacting with the antibodies to the dynein heavy chain
localizes to the subset of Golgi complex in higher plant cells. Cell Biol. Intern., 33,
290-300.
Shaw, S., Kamyar, R. & Ehrhardt, D. (2003). Sustained microtubule treadmilling in
Arabidopsis cortical arrays. Science, 300, 1715-1718.
Smirnova, E. & Bajer, A. (1992). Spindle pole in higher plant mitosis. Cell Motil. Cytoskel., 23,
1-7.
Smirnova, E. & Bajer, A. (1994). Microtubule converging centers, reorganization of the
interphase cytoskeleton and the mitotic spindle in higher plant Haemanthus. Cell
Motil. Cytoskel., 27, 219-233.
Smirnova, E. & Bajer, A. (1998). Early stages of spindle formation and independence of
chromosome and microtubule cycles in Haemanthus endosperm. Cell Motil.
Cytoskel., 40, 22-37.
Staehelin, A. & Hepler, P. (1996). Cytokinesis in higher plants. Cell, 84, 821-824.
Van Damme, D., Vanstraelen, M. & Geelen, D. (2007). Cortical division zone
establishment in plant cells. Trends Plant Sci., 12, 458-464.
Van Damme, D. & Geelen, D. (2008). Demarcation of the cortical division zone in dividing
plant cells. Cell Biol. Int., 32, 178-187.
Vaughn, K. & Renzaglia K. (2006) Structural and immunocytochemical characterization of
the Ginkgo biloba L. sperm motility apparatus. Protoplasma, 227, 165-173.
Vos, J., Pieuchot, L., Evrard, J-L., Janski, N., Bergdoll, M., de Ronde, D., Perez, L., Sardon, T.,
Vernos, I. & Schmit A-C. (2008). The plant TPX2 protein regulates prospindle
assembly before nuclear envelope breakdown. Plant Cell, 20, 2783-2797.
Wadsworth, P., Lee, W-L., Murata, T. & Baskin, T. (2011). Variations on theme: spindle
assembly in diverse cells. Protoplasma, 248, 439-446.
Wasteneys, G. (2004). Progress in understanding the role of microtubules in plant cells. Curr.
Opin. Plant Biol., 7, 651660.
Wasteneys, G. & Ambrose J. (2008). Spatial organization of plant cortical microtubules:
close encounters of the 2D kind. Trends Cell Biol., 19, 62-71.
Xu, X., Zhao, Q., Rodrigo-Peiris, T., Brkljacic, J., He, C., Mller, S. & Meier, I. (2008).
RanGAP1 is a continuous marker of the Arabidopsis cell division plane. Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 1863718642.

Section 2
Genetic Material: Structure and Expression

5
Centromere Evolution: Digging into
Mammalian Primary Constriction
Giuliana Giannuzzi*, Claudia Rita Catacchio* and Mario Ventura

University of Bari,
Italy

1. Introduction
Mammalian cell division requires even and complete distribution of chromosome complement
in daughter cells. At this cell cycle stage, segregation fidelity is critical in order to prevent
aneuploidy. Chromosomes attach by a proteinaceous bridge called kinetochore to the spindle
apparatus (Rieder & Salmon, 1994). The chromosomal locus at which kinetochore is organized
and chromatids align is represented by the centromere, historically and cytologically defined
as primary constriction. Throughout the mammalian order, as well as more generally among all
higher eukaryotes, a few distinctive features describe the centromeric chromatin, such as the
incorporation of the centromeric protein CENP-A, a histone H3 variant (Sullivan, B. A. &
Karpen, 2004; Sullivan, K. F. et al., 1994), and the CENP-B, an essential component of the
mitotic chromosome scaffold (Masumoto et al., 1989).
Phylogenetic studies show that, in contrast to the high conservation of the chromosome
segregation machinery, the primary sequence of centromeric DNA has undergone rapid
evolution resulting strikingly different even among closely related mammalian species. These
studies suggest that specialized chromatin structure is more critical in centromeric function
rather than the presence of specific sequences (Torras-Llort et al., 2009), revealing a role of
epigenetic mechanisms on centromeric identity and function (Karpen & Allshire, 1997).
In this chapter we review the variable DNA sequence that forms mammalian centromeres:
the satellite DNA. The first pilot studies on mammal satellite DNA date back to 1960s and
were accomplished on the mouse, guinea pig, and bovine genomes. Since then, plentiful
analyses have been developed for the characterization of satellite DNA in several mammals,
particularly in human. These studies enabled the formulation of different theories aiming to
explain the rapid evolution of alphoid DNA in primates and clarify a possible role of these
sequences in centromeric function. Therefore, this chapter provides an overview of the state
of the art in the field of mammalian centromeric DNA organization and evolution.

2. Organization of centromeric satellite DNA in non-primate mammals

Mammalia is a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals, characterized by the possession of
hair, three middle ear bones, a four-chambered heart, and mammary glands functional in
*

Equally contributing

106

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

mothers with young. The class Mammalia is divided into two subclasses: the Theria,
comprising the infraclasses Eutheria (the placentals) and Metatheria (the marsupials), and
the Prototheria, comprising the order Monotremata of mammalian species that lay eggs
(Prasad et al., 2008).
The centromeres of all Therian species examined consist of long arrays of head-to-tail
tandemly repeated DNA families, the satellite DNA. One exception to this general rule is the
sequence of newly formed centromeres (the centromere of horse chromosome 11 is an
example), which is devoid of satellite DNA, thus demonstrating that centromeres can stably
function over million years and many generations in the absence of satellite DNA (Wade et
al., 2009). However, the acquisition and maintenance of satellite DNA is an obligated fate for
all mammalian centromeres, since all mature centromeres possess satellite sequences. (Piras
et al., 2010; Wade et al., 2009).
Centromeric satellite DNA sequences have been characterized in almost all mammalian
orders. Here, we report exclusively Therian mammal centromeric satellite, because it has
never been isolated from any species of the subclass Prototheria. Recently, an attempt to
isolate centromeric satellite DNA of the Prototherian mammal platypus (order
Monotremata) failed, suggesting that in this species centromeres are not enriched in satellite
sequences (Alkan et al., 2010). Studies of other Prototherians such as the echidna might
elucidate whether the lack of satellite DNA at centromeres is a platypus feature or it is
common in the entire subclass.
The paragraph reports the state of the art about the sequence and organization of
centromeric satellite DNA in mammalian species of the Eutherian orders Rodentia,
Lagomorpha, Cetartiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Chiroptera, Cingulata, and
Proboscidea and of the infraclass Metatheria, including the orders Diprotodontia and
Didelphimorphia. The description of centromeric satellite DNA in Primates, to which the
human species belongs, has a dedicate section since primate satellite sequences are the best
characterized, both structurally and functionally, and plentiful information and studies have
been developed in this field.
Despite its conserved function, the centromeric satellite is extraordinarily variable in the
repeat unit length, sequence, organization, and relative quantity in respect to the total DNA
even among closely related mammalian species. This singularity is known as the
centromere paradox (Henikoff et al., 2001). In fact, the repeat unit length of the
mammalian centromeric satellites ranges from 7 bp in the red-necked wallaby to 2.3 kb in
the domestic cattle (Table 1). Exception to the high variability is the CENP-B box, a 17 bp
sequence motif that is shared and conserved in all centromeric satellite families involved in
the centromeric function (Masumoto et al., 1989). However, although this apparent lack of
any rule among the satellite sequences, there is an evolutionary conserved pattern of
sequence arrangement and organization (Sunkel & Coelho, 1995).
The study of centromeric satellite in different mammalian orders has contributed to the
knowledge of centromeric satellite organization and evolution. Each mammalian order has
its peculiarity, with some orders best revealing a particular aspect of the centromeric
satellite organization. For examples in few primates the centromere is arranged in higherorder repeat (HOR) and in Cetartiodactyla satellite DNA is distributed among chromosomes
according to the position of the centromere (acrocentric vs. (sub)metacentric), resulting in a
similar centromeric satellite composition and organization among chromosomes that share
the same centromere position.

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

107

Table 1. Satellite families at the centromeres of non-primate mammals. - not available data.

108

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

We start this excursus of mammalian centromeres with the description of centromeric

satellites isolated from mammals other than primates of the superorder Euarchontoglires.
This superorder includes the grandorder Euarchonta and the clade Glires. The grandorder
Euarchonta (true ancestors) comprises extant mammals belonging to the orders Primates,
Scandentia and Dermoptera; the clade Glires includes the orders Rodentia and Lagomorpha.
We illustrate the centromeric satellites of mammals of the orders Rodentia and Lagomorpha,
since satellite DNA from mammals of the orders Scandentia and Dermoptera has never been
characterized.
2.1 Rodentia
The satellite sequences of several Rodentia mammals have been investigated: Mus musculus
(the house mouse), four Acomys species (the spiny mice) (Kunze et al., 1999), Microtus
chrotorrhinus (the rock vole) (Modi, 1992), Gerbillus nigeriae (the Nigerian gerbil) (Volobouev
et al., 1995), and a chromosome 2-specific centromeric DNA repeat from Cricetulus griseus
(the Chinese hamster) (Fatyol et al., 1994). The Microtus and Cricetulus species show satellite
sequences with the longest monomer size (>2.5 kb) reported until now among mammals.
Here, we focus on the centromeric satellites of the house mouse, the most studied Rodentia
species.
The centromere of all mouse telocentric chromosomes consists of two highly conserved,
tandemly repeated sequences discovered by isopycnic centrifugation in CsCl gradient: the
minor and major satellites (Pardue & Gall, 1970; Wong & Rattner, 1988). Minor satellite
DNA represents 0.51% of the mouse genome and comprises an AT-rich 120 bp monomer
that contains the CENP-B box motif (Yoda et al., 1992). The minor satellite array occupies
300600 kb of the terminal region of all mouse telocentric chromosomes (the autosomes and
the X chromosome) and coincides with the centric constriction and function (Kipling et al.,
1991). It does not show evidence of higher-order organization. Major satellite DNA is a more
abundant, AT-rich, 234 bp tandem repeat (Horz & Altenburger, 1981), organized into long
arrays of 2402000 kb (Vissel & Choo, 1989). It represents 510% of the total genomic DNA
and shows pericentromeric localization, adjacent to the minor satellite. The major satellite
monomer is internally repetitious and consists of eight 28-mer or 30-mer subrepeats, with a
set of three related 9 bp ancestral sequence motifs (Horz & Altenburger, 1981). The minor
satellite sequence is divided into two similar halves, which are further subdivided into
quarter repeats. However, it does not have a primordial sequence similar to the 9 bp motif of
the major satellite (Fig. 1).
The minor and major satellite sequences are highly conserved across the centromeres of all
mouse telocentric chromosomes: the minor satellite monomers share a mean pairwise
identity of 95% (Kalitsis et al., 2006); the major satellite monomers share a mean deviation
from the consensus sequence of 3.9% (Vissel & Choo, 1989). This high degree of sequence
conservation argues strongly for frequent recombinational exchanges between
nonhomologous telocentric chromosomes driving sequence homogenization at mouse
centromeres (Kalitsis et al., 2006; Vissel & Choo, 1989).
Besides these two AT-rich satellites, the major and minor satellites, two further GC-rich
satellites have been identified at mouse centromeres: the Mouse Satellite 3 (MS3) and the

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

109

Fig. 1. Organization of centromeric satellites at mammalian centromeres. top Phylogenetic

relationships among mammalian species discussed in the chapter with satellite DNA at their
centromeres. bottom Spatial organization of satellite families at the centromere and
pericentromere of -from right to left- human chromosomes, mouse telocentric chromosomes,
cow autosomes, sheep autosomes, and wallaby autosomes. Chromosome arms are blue
coloured. In the wallaby there is the co-existence of a satellite (Mrb-sat23) and a non-satellite
element (KERV).
Mouse Satellite 4 (MS4). The MS3 monomer is 150 bp long and accounts for 2.2% of the total
DNA; the MS4 monomer is 300 bp long and accounts for 1.6% of the total DNA. Both
monomers contain the CENP-B box. Divergence between MS3 sequences is 0.7% due to
single-nucleotide changes (Kuznetsova et al., 2005).
Mouse chromosome Y centromeric sequence has been recently investigated (Pertile et al.,
2009), highlighting several features never described before at mouse centromeres. Mouse
chromosome Y centromere has a chromosome-specific sequence and a unique multimeric
HOR organization. It comprises a 90 kb array of an AT-rich and minor satellite-like tandem
repeat (Ymin), with distant homology (76.8%) to mouse minor satellite. The Ymin satellite is
closely associated with the kinetochore. It has a HOR sequence organization devoid of
transposable elements, with a unit size of 2.3 (Mus musculus molossinus) or 1.6 (Mus musculus
domesticus) kb, and a sequence identity among the repeated units of 99100%. The HOR unit
has a remarkably complex structure, consisting of an amalgam of highly diverged (<70%
mean pairwise identity) monomers with a periodicity of 6061 or 121 bp. The majority of the
monomers form progressively larger and less diverged repeating HOR subunits, the largest
comprising 2.4 copies of an 840 bp periodicity repeat (with 95% pairwise identity) that spans

110

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

the greater part of the HOR unit domain. The singularity of chromosome Y centromere
argues for an intrachromosomal mode of sequence homogenization and an isolated
evolution (Smith, 1976).
2.2 Lagomorpha
Ekes and collaborators described for the first time the satellite DNA families of a mammal
belonging to the order Lagomorpha, the domestic rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (Ekes et al.,
2004). They found two major centromeric satellite DNA sequences, named Rsat I and Rsat II,
which are not related to each other, and a divergent Rsat II-related subfamily, Rsat IIE. The
Rsat I monomer has an average length of 375 bp, whereas repeat units Rsat II and Rsat IIE
are ~585 bp long. These satellites do not provide a complete coverage of the rabbit
complement, since seven autosome pairs and the sex chromosomes do not contain any of
these satellites. Rsat I, Rsat II and Rsat IIE satellites are each distributed in variable amounts
at the centromeres of a subgroup of rabbit chromosomes, with some chromosomes
containing both Rsat I and Rsat II, or Rsat II and Rsat IIE. Part of Rsat I and Rsat II satellites
shows a dimeric organization. However, further studies are required to isolate the rabbit
sequences that constitute the centromeres devoid of the three known satellites, and to
elucidate the higher-order repeat organization of rabbit satellites.
2.3 Cetartiodactyla
The Laurasiatheria is the evolutionarily closest superorder to the Euarchontoglires, and
comprises the orders Cetartiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Chiroptera, Eulipotyphla,
and Pholidota. The isolation of satellite DNA from a mammal of the last two orders has
never been reported. Among mammals of the order Cetartiodactyla (cetaceans and eventoed ungulates), we describe the centromeric satellites isolated and characterized from two
species of the family Bovidae: the domestic cattle (Bos taurus) of the subfamily Bovinae, and
the domestic sheep (Ovis aries) of the subfamily Caprinae.
The cattle satellite I DNA (the 1.715 family) is a 1.4 kb tandem repeat that comprises 6-9% of
the total genomic DNA (Kurnit et al., 1973). It constitutes the centromeric heterochromatin
of all autosomes, but not of the sex chromosomes (Plucienniczak et al., 1982; Taparowsky &
Gerbi, 1982) (Fig. 1). However, the primitive form of bovine X chromosome is acrocentric
and has satellite I sequences at centromere (Chaves et al., 2005). Three additional bovine
satellites, satellite II, III and IV, were localized at centromeric and pericentromeric regions of
autosomes, respectively: satellite II is mostly localized at the autosomal centromeres;
satellite III is present on most autosomes; satellite IV is present on less than half the
autosomes (Kopecka et al., 1978; Kurnit et al., 1973). None of them is present on the sex
chromosomes. The repeat unit of satellite III is 2,350 bp long and consists of two related and
homogeneous 23-mer tandem subrepeats, the Pvu and the Sau motives, respectively (Pech et
al., 1979). The three bovine satellites I, III and IV, or a subgroup of them, are organized on
autosomes following always the same order: p-tersat IVsat Isat IIIq (Chaves et al., 2003)
(Fig. 1).
Two repetitive DNA families, satellite I (Buckland, 1983; Reisner & Bucholtz, 1983) and
satellite II (Buckland, 1985) are the major components of the sheep centromeric and
pericentromeric heterochromatin, respectively (Burkin et al., 1996; D'Aiuto et al., 1997) (Fig.

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

111

1). The sheep satellite I DNA (the 1.714 family) has a repeat unit of 820 bp and, as the bovine
satellites, constitutes the centromeric heterochromatin of all autosomes, but not of the sex
chromosomes (Buckland, 1983; Burkin et al., 1996; Chaves et al., 2000; Chaves et al., 2005).
However, the amount and organization of satellite I DNA differ among the autosomes, with
a lower amount at the centromeres of the biarmed chromosomes 1, 2, and 3, particularly of
chromosome 1 (Burkin et al., 1996; D'Aiuto et al., 1997). The sheep satellite II DNA has a 700
bp monomer and constitutes the pericentromeric heterochromatin of all chromosomes with
the exception of the Y chromosome (Burkin et al., 1996; D'Aiuto et al., 1997). Differently
from sheep satellite I DNA, the satellite II family has a more variable chromosomal
distribution: few acrocentric chromosomes are devoid and it is present at the centromeres of
sheep metacentric and X chromosomes in large amounts (Burkin et al., 1996).
The bovine and ovine satellite I families show 70% sequence similarity and both consist of a
degenerated 31 bp GC-rich tandem subrepeat (Novak, 1984; Reisner & Bucholtz, 1983). The
presence of this 31 bp motif across the entire length of the satellite I repeat suggests that its
present structure could have arisen from a tandemly amplification of an ancestral ~31 bp
unit. The 31-mer motif sequence has been found also in other bovine satellites, like satellite
III (Plucienniczak et al., 1982; Taparowsky & Gerbi, 1982), and in the deer, muntjac, and
pronghorn centromeric satellites (Bogenberger et al., 1985; Denome et al., 1994; Lee, C. &
Lin, 1996), arguing that the amplification of the ~31 bp unit may have occurred in their
common ancestral.
2.4 Perissodactyla
The order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates) comprises the family Equidae, with eight
living species all belonging to the genus Equus: two horses (E. caballus and E. przewalskii),
two Asiatic donkeys (E. kiang and E. hemionus), one African donkey (E. asinus), and three
zebras (E. grevyi, E. Burchelli, and E. zebra). Despite the Equus species can be crossbred and
diverged recently, sharing a common ancestor about 23 million years ago, their karyotypes
differ extensively and their satellite DNA has evolved rapidly (Wijers et al., 1993).
Moreover, during the evolution of the genus Equus, centromere repositioning, the shift
along the chromosome of the centromere without structural chromosome rearrangements,
has occurred frequently (Carbone et al., 2006). It implies that several evolutionary new
centromeres and ancestral now inactive centromeres are present in the Equus karyotypes.
Several satellite families have been identified in the horse genome with centromeric
localization, suggesting a great diversity and variability in structure and organization of
horse centromeric sequences. The horse major satellite accounts for 510% of the total
genome and has a repeat unit of 221 bp. It is localized at the centromeric regions of 30 pairs
of chromosomes and is missing at the centromere of chromosomes 2 and 11, both
submetacentric. Repeat units share a sequence identity of 90100% and have no internal
repeat structure (Piras et al., 2010; Wijers et al., 1993).
In 1995, another horse satellite family with a repeat unit of 23 bp was isolated and localized
at the centromeres of acrocentric but not metacentric horse chromosomes (Broad et al.,
1995b). This pattern reminds the satellite distribution in Cetartiodactyla that occurs
according to the position of the centromere along the chromosome.
Two further horse satellite families with a repeat unit of 80 bp were identified, with a likely
centromeric localization (Broad et al., 1995a). Alkan and colleagues extracted six distinct

112

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

satellite consensus sequences in the E. caballus genome of 221, 221, 419, 450, 451, and 475 bp,
respectively. Their FISH hybridization patterns included the centromeres of all or a part of
horse chromosomes except chromosome 11 (Alkan et al., 2010). All horse centromeres have
either one or more than one satellite whereas horse chromosome 11 is the only one lacking
any satellite (Alkan et al., 2010; Piras et al., 2010; Wade et al., 2009).
2.5 Carnivora
Few studies have been accomplished on centromeric satellites in species belonging to the
order Carnivora. In 1988 and 1989, the major centromeric satellite of the domestic dog (Canis
familiaris) and of the grey fox (Urocyon cineroargenteus), two species of the order Carnivora
that diverged from a common ancestor 1012 million years ago (Wayne et al., 1997), have
been investigated in regard to their sequence and localization. Chromosomes of the
domestic dog and grey fox are primarily acrocentric. The dog satellite monomer is 737 bp
long and has a GC-content of 51%; the grey fox satellite monomer is 880 bp long and has a
GC-content of 54% (Fanning, 1989). Recently dog fosmid clones containing satellite DNA
were mapped to the centromere of a different subgroup of dog chromosomes. These
heterogeneous patterns support the existence of a complex patchwork organization of
satellites at dog centromeres, similar to horse centromeric sequence organization (Alkan et
al., 2010).
2.6 Chiroptera
Bat genomes (order Chiroptera) are characterized by low DNA content, with a size
approximately 5087% the size of other eutherian genomes (Burton et al., 1989). Centromeric
satellite DNA has been isolated from two bat species of the genus Pipistrellus, family
Vespertilionidae, suborder Microchiroptera: the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
and the Kuhls pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhli). Satellite DNA of the common bat represents
approximately 3% of the whole genome and is organized in tandem repeats with a
monomer size of 418 bp. The monomer units are highly similar, with a sequence identity of
95100% and few base-substitutions randomly spread along the sequence. The common bat
satellite has an AT-content of 62% and contains a putative CENP-B box motif. It is localized
at the pericentromeric constitutive heterochromatin of all the autosomes and X
chromosome, but it is absent from the Y chromosome (Barragan et al., 2003). Pipistrellus kuhli
satellite represents approximately 5% of the total genomic DNA. The monomer unit is 1100
bp long and contains the CENP-B box as well as subrepeats, palindromes, and AT-rich
tracts. The monomers group into two clusters (Fantaccione et al., 2005). Both pipistrelle
satellites are absent in the genomes of other bat species analyzed, thus revealing that they
might be species-specific.
2.7 Cingulata and Proboscidea
The study of centromeric satellite families in mammalian species belonging to the
superorders Xenarthra and Afrotheria of the clade Eutheria has started very recently. In
2010, Alkan and colleagues included in their list of sequenced mammalian genomes to
analyze in regard to centromeric satellite sequences, the armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), a
species of the superorder Xenarthra, order Cingulata, and the African elephant (Loxodonta

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

113

africana), a species of the superorder Afrotheria, order Proboscidea. Using the RepeatNet
algorithm, they extracted a 173 bp satellite consensus from the armadillo genome and a 1220
bp satellite consensus from the African elephant genome, and localized both satellites at the
centromere of all chromosomes of the corresponding species (Alkan et al., 2010).
2.8 Diprotodontia and Didelphimorphia
The infraclass Metatheria comprises the marsupial mammals. Among the extant marsupials,
species of the order Diprotodontia, family Macropodidae, and a species of the order
Didelphimorphia were investigated in regard to their centromeric DNA organization.
The family Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies, and wallaroos), one of the largest in the
infraclass Metatheria, exhibits an extraordinary karyotypic diversity and plasticity (Eldridge
& Close, 1993; Hayman, 1990; Rofe, 1978). The Macropodidae centromere is a highly
dynamic locus and has played a pivotal role in the karyotype evolution of this family, since
all rearrangements, including centromere repositioning, fissions, fusions (Robertsonian
translocations), pericentric inversions, and translocations, involved the centromeric loci as
breakpoints (O'Neill et al., 2004; Rens et al., 2003).
Marsupial satellites are characterized by an uneven distribution among the centromeres of
the different chromosomes. The centromeric satellite families isolated from each marsupial
are also present in other marsupials analyzed, often in a different amount and with a
different localization and distribution.
In 1981, Venolia and Peacock isolated a major satellite from the wallaroo (Macropus robustus)
genome. It accounts for about 10% of the total DNA and localizes at the centromere of all
chromosomes in different amounts and at the nucleolus organizer region (Venolia &
Peacock, 1981). This satellite was localized in other Macropus species. In M. rufus and M.
rufogriseus it is present mainly on the X chromosome at large, non-centromeric blocks, and in
the region of the nucleolus organizer. In M. rufogriseus the satellite also occurs on the Y
chromosome and in M. rufus at the centromere of four acrocentric autosomes.
Six different satellite DNA fractions have been isolated from the genome of the red
kangoroo (Macropus rufus), each accounting for 13% of the total DNA. These satellites
localize at the centromeres with each heterochromatic centromeric block differing in the
amount and distribution of these satellites, as well as at interstitial regions and X
chromosome telomeric heterochromatin (Elizur et al., 1982).
The red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) karyotype has a distinctive feature: its
chromosomes harbour an exceptional amount of centric and pericentric heterochromatin
(Hayman & Martin, 1974), comprising almost 30% of the genome (Bulazel et al., 2006). They
have unusually lengthened pericentromeric regions that are up to half the length of the
chromosome, with the functional centromere restricted to a discrete point location within
the larger region. In 2006, Bulazel and collaborators isolated three satellite families, named
Mrb-sat1, Mrb-sat23, and Mrb-B29, from the red-necked wallaby genome. These satellites
constitute the large centromeric and pericentromeric regions of the wallaby chromosomes
and show a different chromosomal distribution. Mrb-sat23 constitutes the centromeric core
as well as the large pericentric heterochromatic region of all chromosomes and is present in
tandem arrays at all centromeres of most Macropus species (Fig. 1). In M. rufogriseus, Mrb-

114

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

sat23 experienced large-scale amplifications as it resides over the entire Y chromosome and
is spread throughout the extensive X chromosome pericentromere. The presence of a CENPB binding-competent domain on the Y of a marsupial suggests that ancestral mammalian
sex chromosomes utilized CENP-B to differentiate centromere location and that the loss of
CENP-B protein binding and CENP-B box DNA on the Y are derived when found within
eutherian mammals. In this species the centromeric satellite constitution differs between the
autosomes and the sex chromosomes: all autosomes have sequences of only Mrb-sat23,
whereas the X and Y chromosomes harbour sequences of three satellites, Mrb-sat1,
Mrb-sat23, and Mrb-B29, in different amounts (Bulazel et al., 2006).
Besides the satellite sequences, an active retroviral element, the Kangoroo Endogenous
Retrovirus (KERV), is localized at the centromere and pericentromere in the genus Macropus
(Fig. 1). It is considered thereof a major constituent of Macropus active and latent
centromeres since it has undergone amplification at this locus (Ferreri et al., 2011; Ferreri et
al., 2005; Ferreri et al., 2004; O'Neill et al., 1998). Particularly, in M. rufogriseus KERV is
localized at the centromere of all autosomes, but it is absent or present in low copy number
at the centromere of the sex chromosomes (Ferreri et al., 2011; Ferreri et al., 2004). Recently,
Alkan and colleagues reported the centromeric satellite of the short-tailed opossum
(Monodelphis domestica), a marsupial species of the order Didelphimorphia. They identified a
528 bp satellite, that is an LTR/ERV1 element, and localized it at the centromere of four
homologous opossum chromosomes (Alkan et al., 2010). Such finding of a retroviral element
at the centromeres of the short-tailed opossum, a marsupial belonging to a superorder
different from the one of the Macropodidae marsupials, suggests that the use of a retroviral
element as centromeric satellite might be ancestral in the infraclass Metatheria.

3. The centromeric alpha satellite in primates

The order Primates belongs to the subclass Theria, infraclass Eutheria (Fig 1). It includes an
ancient group of which the size (the number of species) is still ambiguous. In fact,
depending on whether some closely related groups are considered to be varieties of the
same species or not, most taxonomic classifications refer to a range of 230270 species.
The order Primates includes two suborders: Strepsirhini (including six families) and
Haplorhini. Strepsirhini has a rhinarium, the tapetum lucidum, a bicornuate uterus, a
toothcomb (with the exception of the Aye-aye), and a toilet-claw for grooming. On the other
hand, the so-called higher primates compose the suborder Haplorhini, in turn divided in
two main hyporders, the Anthropoidea, including the Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) and
the Catarrhini (Old World monkeys and apes), and the Tarsiiformes (Goodman et al., 1989).
Primate predominant class of centromeric DNA is made up of long stretches of repeats
consisting of 171 bp and AT-rich monomers, tandemly reiterated in a head-to-tail
configuration (Vissel & Choo, 1987; Waye & Willard, 1987) commonly referred to as
"alphoid satellite" DNA (Manuelidis, 1978). These sequences have been identified
throughout the order Primates, including great apes, Old World and New World monkeys
(Alves et al., 1994; Musich et al., 1980; Willard & Waye, 1987), with the exception of the
suborder Strepsirhini (Lee, H. R. et al., 2011). Alpha satellite DNA is the most abundant
repetitive DNA in all primate species studied, making up to 35% of each chromosome; it is
pancentromeric in primate chromosomes and appears to be distinctive of the primate
lineage (Vissel & Choo, 1987; Waye & Willard, 1987).

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

115

3.1 Great apes

At human centromeres alphoid DNA extends for ~250 kb up to ~5 Mb (Wevrick & Willard,
1989; Willard, 1990) and is known to exist in two forms designated (1) monomeric arrays
and (2) higher-order repeats (HORs). In the monomeric arrays the 171 bp monomers lack
further sequence structure and the head-to-tail configuration provides directionality to each
satellite block. A higher-order repeat is rather composed of arrays in which a defined
number of monomers has been homogenized as a unit which, in turn, is tandemly repeated
many times to span several megabases, resulting in multiple copies of an alphoid multimer
(Willard & Waye, 1987). At human centromeres monomeric alphoid satellites flank HORs
(Fig. 1). Sequence analysis revealed that monomers within a higher-order repeat unit share
as low as 72% average pairwise sequence identity however, adjacent individual higherorder repeated units are 98100% identical (Rudd & Willard, 2004). Higher-order alpha
satellite within an array is extremely homogeneous and appears to be uninterrupted by
other (non-satellite) DNA sequences (Tyler-Smith & Brown, 1987; Warburton & Willard,
1990). In contrast, monomeric alpha satellite is more heterogeneous in sequence and is
extensively interspersed with non-alpha-satellite sequences such as transposable elements
(Guy et al., 2003; Kazakov et al., 2003; Schueler et al., 2001).
The human higher-order repeating structures can shape alphoid subfamilies. These
subfamilies are classified according to whether they are specific for a single chromosome or
shared by a small group of chromosomes (Choo et al., 1991). As a consequence, (i) some
centromeres contain only the chromosome-specific subfamily, while others possess several
distinctive alphoid subfamilies (Choo et al., 1991) organized in discrete and homogenized
physical blocks (Schueler et al., 2001); (ii) multiple domains located on one chromosome may
belong to the same or to different suprachromosomal families (Choo et al., 1991). Human
alpha satellite sequences have been historically grouped into five suprachromosomal families
(SFs) initially according to the higher-order repeat unit length, revealed by restriction site
periodicity, and then founded on sequence-based phylogenetic analyses (Alexandrov, I. et al.,
2001; Alexandrov, I. A. et al., 1993; Iurov Iu et al., 1988) (Table 2). Human SFs 13 likely
derived from an ancestral sequence by interchromosomal exchange (Waye & Willard, 1986).
The reconstruction of the ancestral monomer sequence revealed that it originated the actual
two phylogenetic homology groups of monomers: J1-D2-W4-W5 belong to group A, J2-D1W1-W2-W3 compose group B (Alexandrov, I. A. et al., 1993). Moreover, there are several
subsets that appear to form two more homogenous families, which are characterized by an
array of equally related monomers (SF 4) and an irregular alternation of two different types of
monomers (SF 5) (Alexandrov, I. et al., 2001; Alexandrov, I. A. et al., 1993). SF 4 consensus
monomer, M1, is closely related to D2 and W4 monomeric types of SF 2 and SF 3; also,
consensus sequences R1 and R2 (SF 5) clearly belong to subset A and B, respectively. SF 4 is
related both structurally and in sequence to the African green monkey alpha component, of
which the consensus sequence is closely associated to the phylogenetic homology group A;
besides, consensus sequences derived from groups A and B resulted to be nearly identical to
R1 and R2. This shows that the amplification of the ancestral sequences that gave rise to the
two homology groupings of alphoid monomers happened at the very beginning of primate
evolution and that SF 5 consensus monomers may represent the ancestral form of primate A-B
satellite. Among the primate lineages, the W1-W5 pentamers and D1-D2 dimers are present in
gorilla, orangutan, chimpanzee, and human, while J1-J2 sequences are present in gorilla,
chimpanzee, and human (Alexandrov, I. A. et al., 1993).

116

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

SF

Repetitive
unit

1
2
3
4
5

dimer
dimer
pentamer
monomer
monomer

Phylogenetic
homology
groups
A-B
B-A
B-B-B-A-A
A
A-B

Consensus
monomers

Chromosomes

J1, J2
D1, D2
W1,W2,W3,W4, W5
M1
R1,R2

1,3,5,6,7,10,12,16,19
2,4,8,9,13,14,15,18,20,21,22
1,11,17,X
5,7,13,14,15,19,21,22,Y
1,2,3,5,6,7,9,11,12,13,14,16,18,19,20,22

Table 2. Structure, periodicity, and localization of human suprachromosomal families. SF,

suprachromosomal family; data from Alexandrov et al., 2001.
Among individuals, array length of a single satellite can be highly polymorphic. There is an
extensive variation of centromere size between nonhomologous as well as homologous
human chromosomes. For example, alpha-satellite array length of human chromosomes X
and Y varies almost three times: in the case of chromosome X from 1380 to 3730 kb (Mahtani
& Willard, 1990); in the case of chromosome Y from 285 to 1020 kb (Tyler-Smith & Brown,
1987).
Cross-hybridization studies of alphoid sequences among great apes show that the higherorder sequence organization of the chromosome X alpha-satellite subset has been conserved
among closely related species (orthologous evolution) (Durfy & Willard, 1990). However,
similar relationships were not found for the other subfamilies. In fact, experimental evidence
suggests that the majority of human-derived chromosome-specific alphoid satellite DNA
probes does not recognize orthologous chromosomes in great apes (Samonte et al., 1997).
3.2 Catarrhini
The first species in which primate centromeric sequence was identified is the African green
monkey (AGM) (Chlorocebus sabaeus). The AGM is an Old World monkey, belonging to the
family Cercopithecidae, genus Chlorocebus. In 1971, Maio and collegues identified the socalled component alpha DNA as the homogenous fraction composing the 20% of the total
AGM genomic DNA, showing a behaviour similar to the mouse satellite DNA in
renaturation kinetics experiments (Maio, 1971). Furthermore, two other Cercopithecidae
species have been investigated in their centromeric main component: the Rhesus monkey
(Macaca mulatta) and the baboon (genus Papio). Both their karyotypes show 20 pairs of
autosomes plus the two sex chromosomes.
In the three species examined, the centromeric satellite DNA is the most abundant repetitive
sequence, since it comprises up to 24% of the AGM and from 8 to 10% of the Rhesus monkey
and baboon genomes (Musich et al., 1980). Besides, in the AGM genome, the tandemly
repeated centromeric satellite monomeric unit is 172 bp long, while its length is doubled to
340 bp in the baboon and the nucleotide divergence among the satellite sequences of the two
species is ~10% (Singer & Donehower, 1979) (Fig. 2). At Rhesus monkey centromeres, the
underlying repetitive alphoid DNA is a 343 bp dimer (Fig. 2). The similarity between the
two 171 and 172 bp component monomers is as much as 70%. Nevertheless, few highidentity regions have been detected, conserved not only between the two Rhesus monomers
but also among all known Cercopithecidae monomers. Homologies between the macaque
consensus alphoid sequence and the baboon, AGM and human alphoid sequences are >98%,
81%, and <70%, respectively (Musich et al., 1980).

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

117

Fig. 2. Centromeric satellite organization in primates. left Simplified phylogenetic

relationships among primate species. Estimated divergence times are reported in million of
years. right Schematic organization of the alphoid arrays at primate centromeres. Arrows
represent monomeric units. All Anthropoidea families have alphoid DNA at centromeres.
For the genus Daubentonia (orange arrows) a model of the centromeric DMA1 and DMA2
satellites is proposed.
Among Catarrhini, a species belonging to the superfamily Hominoidea, family Hylobatidae,
has been, lately, deeply characterized in its centromeric satellite: the white-cheecked gibbon
(Nomascus leucogenys). In N. leucogenys alphoid monomers are 171 bp long and show four
different hybridization patterns: telomeric, centromeric, telomeric-centromeric and Ychromosome specific (Fig. 2). N. leucogenys is then the first primate species analysed in
which alphoid DNA is detected at ectopic regions (telomeric and interstitial sites); though,
the authors speculate that the different mapping pattern may be likely due to different
sequence organizations rather than to site-specific sequence divergence. In fact, the gibbon
karyotype is known to be extensively rearranged against the ancestral primate karyotype,
leading to the hypothesis that alphoid sequences at telomeric level could represent the rest
of the evolutionary fissions within centromeric breakpoints (Cellamare et al., 2009).
3.3 Platyrrhini
The group Platyrrhini includes five families: Callitrichidae, Cebidae, Aotidae, Pitheciidae,
and Atelidae. Few centromeric sequences of several Platyrrhini species have been studied:
three components of the family Pitheciidae (Alves et al., 1994) plus the common marmoset
(Cellamare et al., 2009).
Centromeric sequence analysis on the black bearded saki (Chiropotes satanas) of the genus
Chiropotes and the Rio Tapajs saki (Pithecia irrorata) of the genus Pithecia family Pitheciidae,
have abundant amounts of satellite with monomeric unit of 539 and 559 bp, respectively.
The difference in size between the two sequences is mainly due to 14 contiguous bases of
which almost half consists in GA dinucleotides suggesting a strand slippage mechanism as a
cause of the expansion.

118

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

The 539 bp alphoid satellite in Chiropotes satanas consists of four 170 bp subunits of which
the third is incomplete. C. satanas alphoid DNA strongly hybridizes to Pithecia, while
hybridization to the black-headed uakari (Cacajao melanocephalus) is much less intense, thus
suggesting a satellite content loss in this species rather than a higher sequence divergence,
since the divergence time between Chiropotes and Cacajao is thought to be about 5 Myr
(millions years), while the divergence time between Chiropotes/Cacajao and Pithecia is 8 Myr
(Schneider et al., 1993). Moreover, in Cacajao melanocephalus a substantial proportion of the
satellite mass is composed by a 340 bp alphoid monomer, while the ~550 pb monomer
constitutes a small subset. Nevertheless, it is likely that the ~550 bp monomer arose from an
array of 340 bp repeats, leading to the conclusion that the ancestor of the Pitheciini harbored
both structures (Alves et al., 1998) (Fig. 2).
Insights of the centromeric satellite among New World monkeys come from the genus
Callithrix, more precisely from the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Cellamare and
collaborators characterized C. jacchus centromeric sequences by several cytogenetic and
molecular approaches. Their analysis showed that, like for the above-mentioned New World
monkeys, the alpha satellite monomer in this species is 340 bp long (Fig. 2). Thus, it is likely
that two of these ancestral monomers fused and no further homogenization occurred
between the two halves. The similarity between the first and second monomer is reported to
be 4050% and no results were obtained from sequence comparisons with great apes
(human, chimpanzee, and gorilla), nor Old World monkeys (macaque) alphoid sequences
(Cellamare et al., 2009).
3.4 Strepsirhini
Recently, the centromeric sequence of the aye-aye has been characterized (Daubentonia
madagascariensis). Aye-aye centromeres are composed of two different, AT-rich, CENP-Aassociated classes of repetitive DNA, termed DMA1 and DMA2, ~146 and ~268 bp long,
respectively. DMA1 and DMA2 are often adjacent to one other at aye-aye centromeres and
are completely unrelated to alphoid DNA in sequence composition though including a
highly divergent CENP-B box. Moreover, their sequence analysis revealed significant
homology values in the first 100 bp of both monomers, thus indicating that the two satellite
classes share an evolutionary history (Lee, H. R. et al., 2011) (Fig. 2).
3.5 The evolution of alphoid DNA
Alphoid DNA in primates evolves rapidly (Mahtani & Willard, 1990; Wevrick & Willard,
1989); alpha-satellite DNA monomers evolve through a non-independent mechanism
named molecular drive (Charlesworth et al., 1994; Smith, 1976; Stephan, 1986), a stochastic
process in which mutations can accumulate, spread quickly through a repeat family, and fix
in a population (Dover, 1982). In this evolutionary process mutations are homogenized
throughout members of the satellite DNA family, and fixed within a species (Dover, 1982).
Although Schindelhauer and Schwarz favour gene conversion as an explanation for both
intrachromosomal and inter-homologue homogenization (Schindelhauer & Schwarz, 2002),
only unequal crossover can explain the generation and maintenance of a multimeric higherorder repeat length, the extensive spread of sequence variants across megabases, and the
rapid fall in sequence identity documented at the edge of the centromeric array.

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

119

Wu and Manuelidis proposed a two-step evolutionary process for the formation of tandem
duplication arrays: after homology between two sequences is created, an unequal crossover
might occur and thus result in dimer formation from divergent monomers; subsequently an
amplification of the dimer into long tandem arrays might occur by subsequent unequal
crossovers (Wu & Manuelidis, 1980). Eventually, a subset of monomers might be
homogenized together to form HOR unit in which former monomers constitute subunits
(Warburton & Willard, 1990; Willard & Waye, 1987). As the number of tandem repeats
increases so will frequency of unequal crossovers between them. By this mechanism, variant
nucleotides can be spread along tandem repeats at a rate much faster than, and independent
of, the mutation rate (Choo, 1990). The two major types of phylogenetically distinct alpha
satellite DNA existing in great apes are a consequence of the homogenization process:
multimeric, higher-order repeats of ~171 bp units form centrally located, chromosomespecific alphoid domains (class A and B alphoid monomers), flanked by domains of more
heterogeneous monomeric alpha-satellite from which they have evolved (class A alphoid
monomers) lacking any further organization.
The final outcome of molecular drive is concerted evolution, exhibiting higher identity
between HORs within a species than with the orthologous array in other species (Dover,
1982; Rudd et al., 2006; Willard & Waye, 1987), thus explaining the great diversity (24%
divergence) seen between the human and chimpanzee alphoid regions on chromosomes 21
and 22. Given the neutral mutation rate of 0.13% per Myr and the estimated divergence of
human and chimpanzee lineages 6-8 Mya (million years ago), those levels of divergence
would have been absolutely unexpected. The extreme variability of HOR length among
individuals may then be explained by the fact that unequal crossovers between higher-order
repeat units will occur more frequently than between monomeric units because of the
exceptionally high homology among HORs (Willard & Waye, 1987). Besides, these
mechanisms appear to proceed in a localized, short-range fashion that leads to the formation
of large domains of sequence identity, rather than among intra- or interchromosomal
repeats (Dover, 2002), thus resulting in the chromosome-specific alphoid subdomains. As a
consequence, adjacent monomers display a higher degree of sequence similarity (Durfy &
Willard, 1989; Roizes, 2006; Schindelhauer & Schwarz, 2002; Willard & Waye, 1987) and
monomers at array ends show lower identity due to the low efficiency of homogenization
mechanisms at the edges of the satellite array (Schueler et al., 2005).
Unequal crossover events of alpha satellite arrays may represent both interchromosomal
and intrachromosomal structural modifications. In the first case they will give rise to
suprachromosomal families of higher-order alpha satellite (Alexandrov, I. A. et al., 1993;
Waye & Willard, 1986), while in the latter they will result in chromosome-specific arrays of
higher-order alpha satellite (Durfy & Willard, 1989; Schindelhauer & Schwarz, 2002;
Schueler et al., 2001; Willard & Waye, 1987). In summary, the adjacent organization of
higher-order and monomeric alpha satellite, as well as the fact that lower primates have
only monomeric alpha satellite at their centromeres (Alves et al., 1994; Musich et al., 1980;
Rosenberg et al., 1978), supports the hypothesis that higher-order alpha-satellite evolved
from ancestral arrays of monomeric alpha-satellite and subsequently transposed to the
centromeric regions of all great ape chromosomes (Alexandrov, I. et al., 2001; Kazakov et al.,
2003; Schueler et al., 2001; Warburton et al., 1996). This is further confirmed by the age
gradient revealed by L1 elements in alphoid regions. The theory is that after the insertion of

120

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

active LINEs that disrupts the centromeric periodicity, thus compromising the centromere
function, an expansion of alphoid DNA occurs in order to compensate this unrest (Schueler
et al., 2001; Shepelev et al., 2009). As a consequence, the analysis of LINEs can be used to
deduce and calculate the age of different satellite blocks. These studies reveal that the most
distal alpha-satellite domain is the oldest, with an age gradient advancing proximally
through the satellite region.
Finally, it is clear that monomeric alpha satellite present within the pericentromeric regions
of human chromosomes predates higher-order arrays of alpha satellite and thus may
represent direct descendants of the ancestral primate centromere sequence. Thus,
monomeric alphoid arrays are likely the remnants of the centromeres of our primate
ancestors, once active and homogenous, that have been replaced by HOR sequences that are
a much more efficient substrate for homogenization.
In the evolution of the order Primates, the 171 bp repeat unit seems to be the starting point.
Two 171 bp monomers were firstly amplified together as a dimer, then in the Platyrrini
lineage, the two monomers began to accumulate differences due to the decrease of
homogenization mechanisms, thus forming the specific New World monkeys ~342 bp
monomeric unit (variation of this unit generated the 550 bp in Chiropotes and Cacajao). In the
Catharrini ancestor, instead, the ~171 bp dimer continued to be amplified by unequal
crossover, thus forming the dimeric structure common to all the centromeres as reported in
macaque and baboon. Moreover, in the superfamily Hominoidea the 171 bp monomer
amplified and diverged in monomeric arrays in gibbon and in higher-order repeats in
orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and human.

4. Methods for centromeric sequence analysis: History and news

The study and analysis of repetitive elements such as centromeric satellite are particularly
complicated due the low-variation and high-copy-number nature of these sequences. The
development of specific techniques and the application of conventional assays have both
contributed in satellite DNA analysis over the last decades.
Elective methods for the analysis of repetitive DNA sequences were the measurement of
DNA renaturation kinetics (Britten et al., 1974), the isopycnic centrifugation in gradients of
CsCl and CsSO4 (Szybalski, 1968), and hybridization techniques. The application of these
techniques to the analysis of mammalian genomes revealed the existence of several DNA
fractions, which differed in their physical and chemical properties. In particular, they
allowed the identification and separation of repeated DNA sequences taking advantage of
the different copy number and density, respectively, from the bulk of the whole DNA. In
fact, the term satellite derives from the satellite bands in the genomic DNA profile in CsCl
density-gradient centrifugation assay. Southern blot analyses have been successfully applied
to discover and examine the tandem-repetitive nature of satellite DNA, with cleavage sites
for a number of different restriction endonucleases spaced at highly regular intervals.
Further, the development of sequencing strategies has allowed its characterization at the
nucleotide level. Most of these historical techniques are still widely used for centromeric
satellite sequence analysis, in combination with the newly developed ones.
Further advances came from cytogenetics and molecular cytogenetics that provided some
insights in the location and organization of satellite sequences. C-banding has been used to
specifically stain the constitutive heterochromatin, including centromeric regions; the use of

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

121

satellite sequences as probes first in ISH (in situ hybridization) and then in FISH
(Fluorescent in situ hybridization) experiments, has allowed the definition of their
centromeric and pericentromeric localization and distribution among chromosomes. Thus,
the application of such techniques clarified the role of satellite DNA as the main constituent
of mammalian centromeric DNA. Besides the structurally characterization of centromeric
heterochromatin, several functional studies of its protein constituents have been developed.
The availability of the CREST antiserum, containing a mixture of antibodies against
constitutive centromeric proteins, and of the anti-CENPA, anti-CENPB, anti-CENPC, and
anti-CENPE specific antibodies, has allowed the localization of the centromeric functionality
through immunofluorescence assays. The combination of satellite-FISH and
immunofluorescence has definitely showed the co-localization of satellite DNA and
centromeric functionality. The awareness of the binding between centromeric DNA and
proteins has suggested the use of anti-CENP antibodies to isolate centromeric competent
DNA from the bulk of the total DNA through chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)
assays. The subsequent FISH-localization, cloning, and sequencing of the isolated DNA
allow the full characterization of centromeric competent DNA.
The recent development of high-throughput sequencing technologies has greatly increased
the number of organisms with a sequenced genome. However, in genome sequencing
projects of mammalian species, the assembly and characterization of centromeric regions
cannot be directly achieved due to their repetitive and complex nature. In fact, in each
human and other primate genome chromosome assembly there is no sequence in the
existing gap between the p and q arms (Rudd & Willard, 2004). Nonetheless, whole-genome
shotgun (WGS) sequence reads are not completely inapplicable for the characterization of
centromeric regions and satellite DNA sequences. In fact, two computational methods were
recently developed to isolate and characterize the centromeric repeats from WGS sequence
data: HORdetect (Alkan et al., 2007) and RepeatNet (Alkan et al., 2010). HORdetect recovers
alpha satellite sequences and predicts higher-order repeat structure in primate sequencing
projects; RepeatNet allows the identification of higher-order repeat structures with no a
priori information about the consensus, being thus applicable to any sequenced organism.
This method has expanded the knowledge of mammalian satellite DNA and isolated for the
first time centromeric satellites from species of the orders Cingulata, Proboscidea, and
Didelphimorphia, previously reported in this chapter, although further efforts are needed to
better characterize the isolated sequences.

5. Conclusion
The overall data collected so far allows the postulation of several considerations regarding
centromeric satellite DNA in mammals. Several aspects are quite common among
mammalian species, whereas others are shared among a subset of species, in some cases
among evolutionarily distant ones, displaying an example of convergent evolution
phenomena for satellite DNA. The main features described are summarized in Table 1.
Satellite DNA shows high variability across mammalian taxa in monomer size, nucleotide
sequence, and quantity relative to the total genome. Although the satellite sequence is not
evolutionarily conserved, there are recurrent elements among satellite sequences of closely
related species. It is clear that satellite DNA follows a concerted evolution mechanism, so
monomers are more similar to monomers of the same species than to monomers of other
species. The amount of centromeric and pericentromeric satellite DNA is highly variable as
well, and it is not related to the total genome size of the species. In fact, bats have a low C

122

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

value but do not show a small relative amount of satellite DNA, as it was thought before its
evaluation: the percentage of satellite DNA relative to the total DNA, 35%, is very similar
to the data of other mammals (Table 1).
Quite common features of satellite DNA are: i) the presence of internal direct and inverted
subrepeats (Bogenberger et al., 1985; Lee, C. & Lin, 1996; Zhang & Horz, 1984); ii) the
presence of the same satellite DNA families at the centromeres of autosomes and the X
chromosome, but not at the Y chromosome centromere, like in mouse, sheep, and bat; iii) a
greater divergence of the Y centromere sequence in comparison to the other centromeres,
like in mouse and primates. Sheep, swine, and horse have a different satellite content in
acrocentric and metacentric chromosomes. In two evolutionarily distant mammals, the
marsupial Macropus rufogriseus and the rodent Microtus chrotorrhinus, giant sex
chromosomes derived from a large block of heterochromatin at the centromeric and
pericentromeric regions have been observed. Finally, evidence of a different rate at which
autosomes and sex chromosomes accumulate and dissipate centromeric material has been
found in cervid deer, muntjac, and in the genus Macropus (Bulazel et al., 2006; Li et al., 2005;
Lin & Li, 2006), with the retention for longer periods of time of tandem arrays of ancestral
satellites in the sex chromosomes that are not found in the autosomes.
The centromeric satellite is valuable as phylogenetic marker to establish the evolutionarily
relationships among species, when they are not found or are ambiguous in the fossil record
or other data (Saffery et al., 1999). The centromeric satellite was used as a phylogenetic
marker in regard to two different aspects: its nucleotide sequence and its chromosome
localization and distribution. The analysis of satellite DNA sequence, thanks to its high
divergence rate and rapid evolution during speciation, was used to define the evolutionarily
relationships among closely related species that diverged recently. An example is provided
by the analysis performed on the spiny mice satellites (Kunze et al., 1999). On the other
hand, the comparison of satellite DNA in situ hybridization patterns and the study of the
nature and amplification of the satellite DNA families on the autosomes and the X
chromosome allowed to infer phylogeny and increase the resolution of the evolutionary tree
of the Artiodactyla (Chaves et al., 2000; Chaves et al., 2005; Modi et al., 1996). In the family
Equidae, the phylogeny of four Equus chromosomes was reconstructed by centromere and
satellite DNA localization (Alkan et al., 2010; Wade et al., 2009). Moreover, the analysis of
satellite DNA sequence, organization, and chromosome distribution, in conjunction with
karyotype analysis, is a valuable tool to measure species relationships while also elucidating
important aspects of both genome and repetitive sequence evolution.
All the data collected up to date in mammals suggest that centromere satellite sequences are
neither necessary nor sufficient for centromere function, and that repetitive DNA is more
likely a consequence than a source of centromere function. Nevertheless, the pancentromeric
presence of satellite DNA on all mammalian centromeres clearly indicates that a repetitive,
ordered, and homogenous sequence is important for centromere maintenance during the
evolution of the species.

6. References
Alexandrov, I., Kazakov, A., Tumeneva, I., Shepelev, V. and Yurov, Y. (2001). Alpha-satellite
DNA of primates: old and new families. Chromosoma, Vol. 110, No. 4, (Aug 2001),
pp. (253-66)

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

123

Alexandrov, I.A., Medvedev, L.I., Mashkova, T.D., Kisselev, L.L., Romanova, L.Y. and
Yurov, Y.B. (1993). Definition of a new alpha satellite suprachromosomal family
characterized by monomeric organization. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 21, No. 9, (May 11
1993), pp. (2209-15)
Alkan, C., Cardone, M.F., Catacchio, C.R., Antonacci, F., O'Brien, S.J., Ryder, O.A., Purgato,
S., Zoli, M., Della Valle, G., Eichler, E.E. and Ventura, M. (2010). Genome-wide
characterization of centromeric satellites from multiple mammalian genomes.
Genome Res, Vol. 21, No. 1, (Jan 2010), pp. (137-45)
Alkan, C., Ventura, M., Archidiacono, N., Rocchi, M., Sahinalp, S.C. and Eichler, E.E. (2007).
Organization and evolution of primate centromeric DNA from whole-genome
shotgun sequence data. PLoS Comput Biol, Vol. 3, No. 9, (Sep 2007), pp. (1807-18)
Alves, G., Seuanez, H.N. and Fanning, T. (1994). Alpha satellite DNA in neotropical
primates (Platyrrhini). Chromosoma, Vol. 103, No. 4, (Jul 1994), pp. (262-7)
Alves, G., Seuanez, H.N. and Fanning, T. (1998). A clade of New World primates with
distinctive alphoid satellite DNAs. Mol Phylogenet Evol, Vol. 9, No. 2, (Apr 1998),
pp. (220-4)
Barragan, M.J., Martinez, S., Marchal, J.A., Fernandez, R., Bullejos, M., Diaz de la Guardia, R.
and Sanchez, A. (2003). Pericentric satellite DNA sequences in Pipistrellus
pipistrellus (Vespertilionidae; Chiroptera). Heredity, Vol. 91, No. 3, (Sep 2003), pp.
(232-8)
Bogenberger, J.M., Neumaier, P.S. and Fittler, F. (1985). The muntjak satellite IA sequence is
composed of 31-base-pair internal repeats that are highly homologous to the 31base-pair subrepeats of the bovine satellite 1.715. Eur J Biochem, Vol. 148, No. 1,
(Apr 1 1985), pp. (55-9)
Britten, R.J., Graham, D.E. and Neufeld, B.R. (1974). Analysis of repeating DNA sequences
by reassociation. Methods Enzymol, Vol. 29, No. 0,1974), pp. (363-418)
Broad, T.E., Ede, A.J., Forrest, J.W., Lewis, P.E., Phua, S.H. and Pugh, P.A. (1995a). Families
of tandemly repeated DNA elements from horse: cloning, nucleotide sequence, and
organization. Genome, Vol. 38, No. 6, (Dec 1995a), pp. (1285-9)
Broad, T.E., Forrest, J.W., Lewis, P.E., Pearce, P.D., Phua, S.H., Pugh, P.A. and Stewart-Scott,
I.A. (1995b). Cloning of a DNA repeat element from horse: DNA sequence and
chromosomal localization. Genome, Vol. 38, No. 6, (Dec 1995b), pp. (1132-8)
Buckland, R.A. (1983). Comparative structure and evolution of goat and sheep satellite I
DNAs. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 11, No. 5, (Mar 11 1983), pp. (1349-60)
Buckland, R.A. (1985). Sequence and evolution of related bovine and caprine satellite DNAs.
Identification of a short DNA sequence potentially involved in satellite DNA
amplification. J Mol Biol, Vol. 186, No. 1, (Nov 5 1985), pp. (25-30)
Bulazel, K., Metcalfe, C., Ferreri, G.C., Yu, J., Eldridge, M.D. and O'Neill, R.J. (2006).
Cytogenetic and molecular evaluation of centromere-associated DNA sequences
from a marsupial (Macropodidae: Macropus rufogriseus) X chromosome. Genetics,
Vol. 172, No. 2, (Feb 2006), pp. (1129-37)
Burkin, D.J., Broad, T.E. and Jones, C. (1996). The chromosomal distribution and
organization of sheep satellite I and II centromeric DNA using characterized sheephamster somatic cell hybrids. Chromosome Res, Vol. 4, No. 1, (Jan 1996), pp. (49-55)

124

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Burton, D.W., Bickham, J.W. and Genoways, H.H. (1989). Flow-cytometric analyses of
nuclear DNA content in four families of neotropical bats. Evolution, Vol. 43,1989),
pp. (756-765)
Carbone, L., Nergadze, S.G., Magnani, E., Misceo, D., Francesca Cardone, M., Roberto, R.,
Bertoni, L., Attolini, C., Francesca Piras, M., de Jong, P., Raudsepp, T., Chowdhary,
B.P., Guerin, G., Archidiacono, N., Rocchi, M. and Giulotto, E. (2006). Evolutionary
movement of centromeres in horse, donkey, and zebra. Genomics, Vol. 87, No. 6,
(Jun 2006), pp. (777-82)
Cellamare, A., Catacchio, C.R., Alkan, C., Giannuzzi, G., Antonacci, F., Cardone, M.F., Della
Valle, G., Malig, M., Rocchi, M., Eichler, E.E. and Ventura, M. (2009). New insights
into centromere organization and evolution from the white-cheeked gibbon and
marmoset. Mol Biol Evol, Vol. 26, No. 8, (Aug 2009), pp. (1889-900)
Charlesworth, B., Sniegowski, P. and Stephan, W. (1994). The evolutionary dynamics of
repetitive DNA in eukaryotes. Nature, Vol. 371, No. 6494, (Sep 15 1994), pp. (215-20)
Chaves, R., Adega, F., Heslop-Harrison, J.S., Guedes-Pinto, H. and Wienberg, J. (2003).
Complex satellite DNA reshuffling in the polymorphic t(1;29) Robertsonian
translocation and evolutionarily derived chromosomes in cattle. Chromosome Res,
Vol. 11, No. 7,2003), pp. (641-8)
Chaves, R., Guedes-Pinto, H., Heslop-Harrison, J. and Schwarzacher, T. (2000). The species
and chromosomal distribution of the centromeric alpha-satellite I sequence from
sheep in the tribe Caprini and other Bovidae. Cytogenet Cell Genet, Vol. 91, No. 14,2000), pp. (62-6)
Chaves, R., Guedes-Pinto, H. and Heslop-Harrison, J.S. (2005). Phylogenetic relationships
and the primitive X chromosome inferred from chromosomal and satellite DNA
analysis in Bovidae. Proc Biol Sci, Vol. 272, No. 1576, (Oct 7 2005), pp. (2009-16)
Choo, K.H. (1990). Role of acrocentric cen-pter satellite DNA in Robertsonian translocation
and chromosomal non-disjunction. Mol Biol Med, Vol. 7, No. 5, (Oct 1990), pp. (43749)
Choo, K.H., Vissel, B., Nagy, A., Earle, E. and Kalitsis, P. (1991). A survey of the genomic
distribution of alpha satellite DNA on all the human chromosomes, and derivation
of a new consensus sequence. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 19, No. 6, (Mar 25 1991), pp.
(1179-82)
D'Aiuto, L., Barsanti, P., Mauro, S., Cserpan, I., Lanave, C. and Ciccarese, S. (1997). Physical
relationship between satellite I and II DNA in centromeric regions of sheep
chromosomes. Chromosome Res, Vol. 5, No. 6, (Sep 1997), pp. (375-81)
Denome, R.M., O'Callaghan, B., Luitjens, C., Harper, E. and Bianco, R. (1994).
Characterization of a satellite DNA from Antilocapra americana. Gene, Vol. 145,
No. 2, (Aug 5 1994), pp. (257-9)
Dover, G. (1982). Molecular drive: a cohesive mode of species evolution. Nature, Vol. 299,
No. 5879, (Sep 9 1982), pp. (111-7)
Dover, G. (2002). Molecular drive. Trends Genet, Vol. 18, No. 11, (Nov 2002), pp. (587-9)
Durfy, S.J. and Willard, H.F. (1989). Patterns of intra- and interarray sequence variation in
alpha satellite from the human X chromosome: evidence for short-range
homogenization of tandemly repeated DNA sequences. Genomics, Vol. 5, No. 4,
(Nov 1989), pp. (810-21)

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

125

Durfy, S.J. and Willard, H.F. (1990). Concerted evolution of primate alpha satellite DNA.
Evidence for an ancestral sequence shared by gorilla and human X chromosome
alpha satellite. J Mol Biol, Vol. 216, No. 3, (Dec 5 1990), pp. (555-66)
Ekes, C., Csonka, E., Hadlaczky, G. and Cserpan, I. (2004). Isolation, cloning and
characterization of two major satellite DNA families of rabbit (Oryctolagus
cuniculus). Gene, Vol. 343, No. 2, (Dec 22 2004), pp. (271-9)
Eldridge, M.D. and Close, R.L. (1993). Radiation of chromosome shuffles. Curr Opin Genet
Dev, Vol. 3, No. 6, (Dec 1993), pp. (915-22)
Elizur, A., Dennis, E.S. and Peacock, W.J. (1982). Satellite DNA sequences in the red
kangaroo (Macropus rufus). Aust J Biol Sci, Vol. 35, No. 3,1982), pp. (313-25)
Fanning, T.G. (1989). Molecular evolution of centromere-associated nucleotide sequences in
two species of canids. Gene, Vol. 85, No. 2, (Dec 28 1989), pp. (559-63)
Fantaccione, S., Pontecorvo, G. and Zampella, V. (2005). Molecular characterization of the
first satellite DNA with CENP-B and CDEIII motifs in the bat Pipistrellus kuhli.
FEBS Lett, Vol. 579, No. 11, (Apr 25 2005), pp. (2519-27)
Fatyol, K., Cserpan, I., Praznovszky, T., Kereso, J. and Hadlaczky, G. (1994). Cloning and
molecular characterization of a novel chromosome specific centromere sequence of
Chinese hamster. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 22, No. 18, (Sep 11 1994), pp. (3728-36)
Ferreri, G.C., Brown, J.D., Obergfell, C., Jue, N., Finn, C.E., O'Neill, M.J. and O'Neill, R.J.
(2011). Recent amplification of the kangaroo endogenous retrovirus, KERV, limited
to the centromere. J Virol, Vol. 85, No. 10, (May 2011), pp. (4761-71)
Ferreri, G.C., Liscinsky, D.M., Mack, J.A., Eldridge, M.D. and O'Neill, R.J. (2005). Retention
of latent centromeres in the Mammalian genome. J Hered, Vol. 96, No. 3, (May-Jun
2005), pp. (217-24)
Ferreri, G.C., Marzelli, M., Rens, W. and O'Neill, R.J. (2004). A centromere-specific retroviral
element associated with breaks of synteny in macropodine marsupials. Cytogenet
Genome Res, Vol. 107, No. 1-2,2004), pp. (115-8)
Goodman, M., Koop, B.F., Czelusniak, J., Fitch, D.H., Tagle, D.A. and Slightom, J.L. (1989).
Molecular phylogeny of the family of apes and humans. Genome, Vol. 31, No.
1,1989), pp. (316-35)
Guy, J., Hearn, T., Crosier, M., Mudge, J., Viggiano, L., Koczan, D., Thiesen, H.J., Bailey, J.A.,
Horvath, J.E., Eichler, E.E., Earthrowl, M.E., Deloukas, P., French, L., Rogers, J.,
Bentley, D. and Jackson, M.S. (2003). Genomic sequence and transcriptional profile
of the boundary between pericentromeric satellites and genes on human
chromosome arm 10p. Genome Res, Vol. 13, No. 2, (Feb 2003), pp. (159-72)
Hayman, D.L. (1990). Marsupial cytogenetics. Aust J Zool, Vol. 37,1990), pp. (331-349)
Hayman, D.L. and Martin, P.G. (1974). Mammalia I: Monotremata and Marsupialia. Animal
Cytogenetics. John., B. 4.
Henikoff, S., Ahmad, K. and Malik, H.S. (2001). The centromere paradox: stable inheritance
with rapidly evolving DNA. Science, Vol. 293, No. 5532, (Aug 10 2001), pp. (1098102)
Horz, W. and Altenburger, W. (1981). Nucleotide sequence of mouse satellite DNA. Nucleic
Acids Res, Vol. 9, No. 3, (Feb 11 1981), pp. (683-96)
Iurov Iu, B., Mitkevich, S.P. and Aleksandrov, I.A. (1988). [Molecular cytogenetic research
on the polymorphism of segments of the constitutive heterochromatin in human
chromosomes]. Genetika, Vol. 24, No. 2, (Feb 1988), pp. (356-65)

126

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Kalitsis, P., Griffiths, B. and Choo, K.H. (2006). Mouse telocentric sequences reveal a high
rate of homogenization and possible role in Robertsonian translocation. Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A, Vol. 103, No. 23, (Jun 6 2006), pp. (8786-91)
Karpen, G.H. and Allshire, R.C. (1997). The case for epigenetic effects on centromere identity
and function. Trends Genet, Vol. 13, No. 12, (Dec 1997), pp. (489-96)
Kazakov, A.E., Shepelev, V.A., Tumeneva, I.G., Alexandrov, A.A., Yurov, Y.B. and
Alexandrov, I.A. (2003). Interspersed repeats are found predominantly in the "old"
alpha satellite families. Genomics, Vol. 82, No. 6, (Dec 2003), pp. (619-27)
Kipling, D., Ackford, H.E., Taylor, B.A. and Cooke, H.J. (1991). Mouse minor satellite DNA
genetically maps to the centromere and is physically linked to the proximal
telomere. Genomics, Vol. 11, No. 2, (Oct 1991), pp. (235-41)
Kopecka, H., Macaya, G., Cortadas, J., Thiery, J.P. and Bernardi, G. (1978). Restriction
enzyme analysis of satellite DNA components from the bovine genome. Eur J
Biochem, Vol. 84, No. 1, (Mar 1978), pp. (189-95)
Kunze, B., Traut, W., Garagna, S., Weichenhan, D., Redi, C.A. and Winking, H. (1999).
Pericentric satellite DNA and molecular phylogeny in Acomys (Rodentia).
Chromosome Res, Vol. 7, No. 2,1999), pp. (131-41)
Kurnit, D.M., Shafit, B.R. and Maio, J.J. (1973). Multiple satellite deoxyribonucleic acids in
the calf and their relation to the sex chromosomes. J Mol Biol, Vol. 81, No. 3, (Dec 15
1973), pp. (273-84)
Kuznetsova, I.S., Prusov, A.N., Enukashvily, N.I. and Podgornaya, O.I. (2005). New types of
mouse centromeric satellite DNAs. Chromosome Res, Vol. 13, No. 1,2005), pp. (9-25)
Lee, C. and Lin, C.C. (1996). Conservation of a 31-bp bovine subrepeat in centromeric
satellite DNA monomers of Cervus elaphus and other cervid species. Chromosome
Res, Vol. 4, No. 6, (Sep 1996), pp. (427-35)
Lee, H.R., Hayden, K.E. and Willard, H.F. (2011). Organization and molecular evolution of
CENP-A-associated satellite DNA families in a basal primate genome. Genome Biol
Evol, (Aug 9 2011),
Li, Y.C., Cheng, Y.M., Hsieh, L.J., Ryder, O.A., Yang, F., Liao, S.J., Hsiao, K.M., Tsai, F.J.,
Tsai, C.H. and Lin, C.C. (2005). Karyotypic evolution of a novel cervid satellite
DNA family isolated by microdissection from the Indian muntjac Y-chromosome.
Chromosoma, Vol. 114, No. 1, (May 2005), pp. (28-38)
Lin, C.C. and Li, Y.C. (2006). Chromosomal distribution and organization of three cervid
satellite DNAs in Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis). Cytogenet Genome Res,
Vol. 114, No. 2,2006), pp. (147-54)
Mahtani, M.M. and Willard, H.F. (1990). Pulsed-field gel analysis of alpha-satellite DNA at
the human X chromosome centromere: high-frequency polymorphisms and array
size estimate. Genomics, Vol. 7, No. 4, (Aug 1990), pp. (607-13)
Maio, J.J. (1971). DNA strand reassociation and polyribonucleotide binding in the African
green monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops. J Mol Biol, Vol. 56, No. 3, (Mar 28 1971), pp.
(579-95)
Manuelidis, L. (1978). Chromosomal localization of complex and simple repeated human
DNAs. Chromosoma, Vol. 66, No. 1, (Mar 22 1978), pp. (23-32)
Masumoto, H., Masukata, H., Muro, Y., Nozaki, N. and Okazaki, T. (1989). A human
centromere antigen (CENP-B) interacts with a short specific sequence in alphoid

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

127

DNA, a human centromeric satellite. J Cell Biol, Vol. 109, No. 5, (Nov 1989), pp.
(1963-73)
Modi, W.S. (1992). Nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of a tandem satellite
array from the rock vole Microtus chrotorrhinus (Rodentia). Mamm Genome, Vol. 3,
No. 4,1992), pp. (226-32)
Modi, W.S., Gallagher, D.S. and Womack, J.E. (1996). Evolutionary histories of highly
repeated DNA families among the Artiodactyla (Mammalia). J Mol Evol, Vol. 42,
No. 3, (Mar 1996), pp. (337-49)
Musich, P.R., Brown, F.L. and Maio, J.J. (1980). Highly repetitive component alpha and
related alphoid DNAs in man and monkeys. Chromosoma, Vol. 80, No. 3,1980), pp.
(331-48)
Novak, U. (1984). Structure and properties of a highly repetitive DNA sequence in sheep.
Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 12, No. 5, (Mar 12 1984), pp. (2343-50)
O'Neill, R.J., Eldridge, M.D. and Metcalfe, C.J. (2004). Centromere dynamics and
chromosome evolution in marsupials. J Hered, Vol. 95, No. 5, (Sep-Oct 2004), pp.
(375-81)
O'Neill, R.J., O'Neill, M.J. and Graves, J.A. (1998). Undermethylation associated with
retroelement activation and chromosome remodelling in an interspecific
mammalian hybrid. Nature, Vol. 393, No. 6680, (May 7 1998), pp. (68-72)
Pardue, M.L. and Gall, J.G. (1970). Chromosomal localization of mouse satellite DNA.
Science, Vol. 168, No. 937, (Jun 12 1970), pp. (1356-8)
Pech, M., Streeck, R.E. and Zachau, H.G. (1979). Patchwork structure of a bovine satellite
DNA. Cell, Vol. 18, No. 3, (Nov 1979), pp. (883-93)
Pertile, M.D., Graham, A.N., Choo, K.H. and Kalitsis, P. (2009). Rapid evolution of mouse Y
centromere repeat DNA belies recent sequence stability. Genome Res, Vol. 19, No.
12, (Dec 2009), pp. (2202-13)
Piras, F.M., Nergadze, S.G., Magnani, E., Bertoni, L., Attolini, C., Khoriauli, L., Raimondi, E.
and Giulotto, E. (2010). Uncoupling of satellite DNA and centromeric function in
the genus Equus. PLoS Genet, Vol. 6, No. 2, (Feb 2010), pp. (e1000845)
Plucienniczak, A., Skowronski, J. and Jaworski, J. (1982). Nucleotide sequence of bovine
1.715 satellite DNA and its relation to other bovine satellite sequences. J Mol Biol,
Vol. 158, No. 2, (Jun 25 1982), pp. (293-304)
Prasad, A.B., Allard, M.W., Program, N.C.S. and Green, E.D. (2008). Confirming the
phylogeny of mammals by use of large comparative sequence data sets. Mol Biol
Evol, Vol. 25, No. 9, (Sep 2008), pp. (1795-808)
Reisner, A.H. and Bucholtz, C.A. (1983). Apparent relatedness of the main component of
ovine 1.714 satellite DNA to bovine 1.715 satellite DNA. EMBO J, Vol. 2, No.
7,1983), pp. (1145-9)
Rens, W., O'Brien, P.C., Fairclough, H., Harman, L., Graves, J.A. and Ferguson-Smith, M.A.
(2003). Reversal and convergence in marsupial chromosome evolution. Cytogenet
Genome Res, Vol. 102, No. 1-4,2003), pp. (282-90)
Rieder, C.L. and Salmon, E.D. (1994). Motile kinetochores and polar ejection forces dictate
chromosome position on the vertebrate mitotic spindle. J Cell Biol, Vol. 124, No. 3,
(Feb 1994), pp. (223-33)
Rofe, R.H. (1978). G-banded chromosomes and the evolution of Macropodidae. Aust
Mammal, Vol. 2,1978), pp. (52-62)

128

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Roizes, G. (2006). Human centromeric alphoid domains are periodically homogenized so

that they vary substantially between homologues. Mechanism and implications for
centromere functioning. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 34, No. 6,2006), pp. (1912-24)
Rosenberg, H., Singer, M. and Rosenberg, M. (1978). Highly reiterated sequences of
SIMIANSIMIANSIMIANSIMIANSIMIAN. Science, Vol. 200, No. 4340, (Apr 28
1978), pp. (394-402)
Rudd, M.K. and Willard, H.F. (2004). Analysis of the centromeric regions of the human
genome assembly. Trends Genet, Vol. 20, No. 11, (Nov 2004), pp. (529-33)
Rudd, M.K., Wray, G.A. and Willard, H.F. (2006). The evolutionary dynamics of alphasatellite. Genome Res, Vol. 16, No. 1, (Jan 2006), pp. (88-96)
Saffery, R., Earle, E., Irvine, D.V., Kalitsis, P. and Choo, K.H. (1999). Conservation of
centromere protein in vertebrates. Chromosome Res, Vol. 7, No. 4,1999), pp. (261-5)
Samonte, R.V., Ramesh, K.H. and Verma, R.S. (1997). Comparative mapping of human
alphoid satellite DNA repeat sequences in the great apes. Genetica, Vol. 101, No.
2,1997), pp. (97-104)
Schindelhauer, D. and Schwarz, T. (2002). Evidence for a fast, intrachromosomal conversion
mechanism from mapping of nucleotide variants within a homogeneous alphasatellite DNA array. Genome Res, Vol. 12, No. 12, (Dec 2002), pp. (1815-26)
Schneider, H., Schneider, M.P., Sampaio, I., Harada, M.L., Stanhope, M., Czelusniak, J. and
Goodman, M. (1993). Molecular phylogeny of the New World monkeys
(Platyrrhini, primates). Mol Phylogenet Evol, Vol. 2, No. 3, (Sep 1993), pp. (225-42)
Schueler, M.G., Dunn, J.M., Bird, C.P., Ross, M.T., Viggiano, L., Program, N.C.S., Rocchi, M.,
Willard, H.F. and Green, E.D. (2005). Progressive proximal expansion of the
primate X chromosome centromere. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol. 102, No. 30, (Jul
26 2005), pp. (10563-8)
Schueler, M.G., Higgins, A.W., Rudd, M.K., Gustashaw, K. and Willard, H.F. (2001).
Genomic and genetic definition of a functional human centromere. Science, Vol. 294,
No. 5540, (Oct 5 2001), pp. (109-15)
Shepelev, V.A., Alexandrov, A.A., Yurov, Y.B. and Alexandrov, I.A. (2009). The
evolutionary origin of man can be traced in the layers of defunct ancestral alpha
satellites flanking the active centromeres of human chromosomes. PLoS Genet, Vol.
5, No. 9, (Sep 2009), pp. (e1000641)
Singer, D. and Donehower, L. (1979). Highly repeated DNA of the baboon: organization of
sequences homologous to highly repeated DNA of the African green monkey. J Mol
Biol, Vol. 134, No. 4, (Nov 15 1979), pp. (835-42)
Smith, G.P. (1976). Evolution of repeated DNA sequences by unequal crossover. Science, Vol.
191, No. 4227, (Feb 13 1976), pp. (528-35)
Stephan, W. (1986). Recombination and the evolution of satellite DNA. Genet Res, Vol. 47,
No. 3, (Jun 1986), pp. (167-74)
Sullivan, B.A. and Karpen, G.H. (2004). Centromeric chromatin exhibits a histone
modification pattern that is distinct from both euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Nat Struct Mol Biol, Vol. 11, No. 11, (Nov 2004), pp. (1076-83)
Sullivan, K.F., Hechenberger, M. and Masri, K. (1994). Human CENP-A contains a histone
H3 related histone fold domain that is required for targeting to the centromere. J
Cell Biol, Vol. 127, No. 3, (Nov 1994), pp. (581-92)

Centromere Evolution: Digging into Mammalian Primary Constriction

129

Sunkel, C.E. and Coelho, P.A. (1995). The elusive centromere: sequence divergence and
functional conservation. Curr Opin Genet Dev, Vol. 5, No. 6, (Dec 1995), pp. (756-67)
Szybalski, W. (1968). Use of cesium sulfate for equilibrium density gradient centrifugation.
Methods Enzymol, Vol. 12B,1968), pp. (330-360)
Taparowsky, E.J. and Gerbi, S.A. (1982). Sequence analysis of bovine satellite I DNA (1.715
gm/cm3). Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 10, No. 4, (Feb 25 1982), pp. (1271-81)
Torras-Llort, M., Moreno-Moreno, O. and Azorin, F. (2009). Focus on the centre: the role of
chromatin on the regulation of centromere identity and function. EMBO J, Vol. 28,
No. 16, (Aug 19 2009), pp. (2337-48)
Tyler-Smith, C. and Brown, W.R. (1987). Structure of the major block of alphoid satellite
DNA on the human Y chromosome. J Mol Biol, Vol. 195, No. 3, (Jun 5 1987), pp.
(457-70)
Venolia, L. and Peacock, W.J. (1981). A highly repeated DNA from the genome of the
wallaroo (Macropus robustus robustus). Aust J Biol Sci, Vol. 34, No. 1,1981), pp. (97113)
Vissel, B. and Choo, K.H. (1987). Human alpha satellite DNA--consensus sequence and
conserved regions. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 15, No. 16, (Aug 25 1987), pp. (6751-2)
Vissel, B. and Choo, K.H. (1989). Mouse major (gamma) satellite DNA is highly conserved
and organized into extremely long tandem arrays: implications for recombination
between nonhomologous chromosomes. Genomics, Vol. 5, No. 3, (Oct 1989), pp.
(407-14)
Volobouev, V., Vogt, N., Viegas-Pequignot, E., Malfoy, B. and Dutrillaux, B. (1995).
Characterization and chromosomal location of two repeated DNAs in three
Gerbillus species. Chromosoma, Vol. 104, No. 4, (Dec 1995), pp. (252-9)
Wade, C.M., Giulotto, E., Sigurdsson, S., Zoli, M., Gnerre, S., Imsland, F., Lear, T.L.,
Adelson, D.L., Bailey, E., Bellone, R.R., Blocker, H., Distl, O., Edgar, R.C., Garber,
M., Leeb, T., Mauceli, E., MacLeod, J.N., Penedo, M.C., Raison, J.M., Sharpe, T.,
Vogel, J., Andersson, L., Antczak, D.F., Biagi, T., Binns, M.M., Chowdhary, B.P.,
Coleman, S.J., Della Valle, G., Fryc, S., Guerin, G., Hasegawa, T., Hill, E.W., Jurka,
J., Kiialainen, A., Lindgren, G., Liu, J., Magnani, E., Mickelson, J.R., Murray, J.,
Nergadze, S.G., Onofrio, R., Pedroni, S., Piras, M.F., Raudsepp, T., Rocchi, M.,
Roed, K.H., Ryder, O.A., Searle, S., Skow, L., Swinburne, J.E., Syvanen, A.C.,
Tozaki, T., Valberg, S.J., Vaudin, M., White, J.R., Zody, M.C., Lander, E.S. and
Lindblad-Toh, K. (2009). Genome sequence, comparative analysis, and population
genetics of the domestic horse. Science, Vol. 326, No. 5954, (Nov 6 2009), pp. (865-7)
Warburton, P.E., Haaf, T., Gosden, J., Lawson, D. and Willard, H.F. (1996). Characterization
of a chromosome-specific chimpanzee alpha satellite subset: evolutionary
relationship to subsets on human chromosomes. Genomics, Vol. 33, No. 2, (Apr 15
1996), pp. (220-8)
Warburton, P.E. and Willard, H.F. (1990). Genomic analysis of sequence variation in
tandemly repeated DNA. Evidence for localized homogeneous sequence domains
within arrays of alpha-satellite DNA. J Mol Biol, Vol. 216, No. 1, (Nov 5 1990), pp.
(3-16)
Waye, J.S. and Willard, H.F. (1986). Molecular analysis of a deletion polymorphism in alpha
satellite of human chromosome 17: evidence for homologous unequal crossing-over

130

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

and subsequent fixation. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 14, No. 17, (Sep 11 1986), pp. (691527)
Waye, J.S. and Willard, H.F. (1987). Nucleotide sequence heterogeneity of alpha satellite
repetitive DNA: a survey of alphoid sequences from different human
chromosomes. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 15, No. 18, (Sep 25 1987), pp. (7549-69)
Wayne, R.K., Geffen, E., Girman, D.J., Koepfli, K.P., Lau, L.M. and Marshall, C.R. (1997).
Molecular systematics of the Canidae. Syst Biol, Vol. 46, No. 4, (Dec 1997), pp. (62253)
Wevrick, R. and Willard, H.F. (1989). Long-range organization of tandem arrays of alpha
satellite DNA at the centromeres of human chromosomes: high-frequency arraylength polymorphism and meiotic stability. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol. 86, No.
23, (Dec 1989), pp. (9394-8)
Wijers, E.R., Zijlstra, C. and Lenstra, J.A. (1993). Rapid evolution of horse satellite DNA.
Genomics, Vol. 18, No. 1, (Oct 1993), pp. (113-7)
Willard, H.F. (1990). Centromeres of mammalian chromosomes. Trends Genet, Vol. 6, No. 12,
(Dec 1990), pp. (410-6)
Willard, H.F. and Waye, J.S. (1987). Chromosome-specific subsets of human alpha satellite
DNA: analysis of sequence divergence within and between chromosomal subsets
and evidence for an ancestral pentameric repeat. J Mol Evol, Vol. 25, No. 3,1987), pp.
(207-14)
Wong, A.K. and Rattner, J.B. (1988). Sequence organization and cytological localization of
the minor satellite of mouse. Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 16, No. 24, (Dec 23 1988), pp.
(11645-61)
Wu, J.C. and Manuelidis, L. (1980). Sequence definition and organization of a human
repeated DNA. J Mol Biol, Vol. 142, No. 3, (Sep 25 1980), pp. (363-86)
Yoda, K., Kitagawa, K., Masumoto, H., Muro, Y. and Okazaki, T. (1992). A human
centromere protein, CENP-B, has a DNA binding domain containing four potential
alpha helices at the NH2 terminus, which is separable from dimerizing activity. J
Cell Biol, Vol. 119, No. 6, (Dec 1992), pp. (1413-27)
Zhang, X.Y. and Horz, W. (1984). Nucleosomes are positioned on mouse satellite DNA in
multiple highly specific frames that are correlated with a diverged subrepeat of
nine base-pairs. J Mol Biol, Vol. 176, No. 1, (Jun 15 1984), pp. (105-29)

6
mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus
and Its Export to the Cytoplasm
Naoko Fujiwara, Takuya Shiki and Seiji Masuda
Division of Integrated Life Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University,
Japan
1. Introduction
Fail-safe biogenesis of mRNA is crucial for translating genetic information into proteins in
a high-fidelity manner. This process occurs in the nucleus and involves various mRNA
processing steps. Recent findings indicate that these mRNA processing steps and the
export of mRNA into the cytoplasm are linked in eukaryotic cells. This link is called
coupling and is thought to be indispensable for precise and efficient gene expression,
because this coupling mechanism is conserved among many species. Through this
coupling mechanism, only the properly-processed mRNAs are efficiently exported to the
cytoplasm where protein synthesis occurs. Various mRNA binding proteins are identified
to function in this system. Most of these proteins are recruited to the transcripts at an
early stage of the mRNA lifecycle. Moreover, these proteins remain associated with the
transcripts to a much later stage and function by prompting mRNA processing in the
nucleus, coupling the mRNA processing steps and its export and surveillance of the
improperly-processed mRNA in the cytoplasm. Here we review mRNA biogenesis in
eukaryotic cells with an emphasis on the importance of this coupling mechanism for highfidelity gene expression.

2. mRNA transcription by RNA polymerase II

The transcription of mRNA is the first step of translating genetic information into a protein.
This genetic information encoded in the DNA is transcribed into mRNA by a huge
molecular machine called RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Pol II is responsible for transcribing
all the protein-coding genes.
2.1 Initiation
At the first stage of the transcription process, Pol II needs to be recruited to a gene promoter.
Pol II cannot recognize the promoters of target genes alone. Instead, Pol II depends on a
series of accessory factors known as general transcription factors (GTFs) (Orphanides et al.,
1996; Roeder, 1996; Woychik and Hampsey, 2002). Pol II and the associated GTFs termed
TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF and TFIIH assemble on the promoter to form the
preinitiation complex (PIC). Mediator, a large multisubunit complex, regulates PIC

132

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

assembly, integrating various regulatory signals into the transcriptional activity (Conaway
and Conaway, 2011). After the formation of PIC on the promoter, TFIIH, a complex
harboring DNA helicases, melts the DNA to expose the template strand. Then RNA
synthesis begins.
Once the first nucleotide bonds have been formed, Pol II is released from the promoter to
facilitate downstream transcription. Most of the general transcription factors dissociate from
the promoter, whereas mediator is likely to remain associated at the promoter to facilitate
the next round of polymerase recruitment and reinitiation (Yudkovsky et al., 2000).

Fig. 1. mRNA lifecycle

RNA polymerase II complex (Pol II) transcribes all the protein-coding genes in the nucleus.
Transcribed pre-mRNA undergoes the various processing steps. Immature mRNA is held in
the nucleus and degraded. Only the properly-processed mRNA is exported from the
nucleus to the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm, there are other quality check systems that are
associated with the pioneer-round of translation and degrade the aberrant mRNA. Hence,
only the properly-processed mRNA managing to pass all of these exams can serve as the
template for protein synthesis.
2.2 Promoter-proximal pausing
The recruitment of Pol II to the promoter is believed to be the rate-limiting step in gene
expression (Saunders et al., 2006). However, recent genome-wide studies using drosophila
and mammalian cells suggest that a number of developmental and inducible genes contain
stalled Pol II in their promoter-proximal regions, that is 2050 nt downstream from the
transcription start site (Aida et al., 2006; Barboric and Peterlin, 2005; Bender et al., 1987;

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

133

Gilmour and Lis, 1986; Krumm et al., 1992; Saunders et al., 2006; Sims et al., 2004; Strobl and
Eick, 1992). Moreover, activation of the stalled Pol II is thought to be responsible for the
expression of these genes (Saunders et al., 2006). DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF) and
the negative elongation factor (NELF) (Wu et al., 2003; Yamaguchi et al., 2002) are found to
be associated with the pausing Pol II. TFIIS, TFIIF and the positive transcription-elongation
factor-b (P-TEFb) assist in rescuing Pol II from this pause state (Adelman et al., 2005;
Peterlin and Price, 2006). Pol II stalling is enriched at highly regulated genes that are
essential for responses to stimuli or embryonic development (Muse et al., 2007; Zeitlinger et
al., 2007). Pol II stalling at the promoter supports the quick expression of these genes
(Lorincz and Schubeler, 2007; Saunders et al., 2006).
2.3 Elongation
A number of factors interact with Pol II during the transition into productive elongation,
such as P-TEFb mentioned above. Once Pol II engages in productive elongation, the mature
Pol II complex is remarkably stable and can transcribe hundreds of kilobases without
dissociating from the DNA template (Singh and Padgett, 2009).
2.4 Termination
Transcriptional termination is crucial for the release of the transcripts from the transcription
site. This process also facilitates Pol II release from the DNA template, promoting Pol II
recycling for further rounds of transcription. Pol II release also contributes to proper gene
regulation. Without such events, the correct function of neighboring genes may be
influenced because of the penetrating Pol II from an upstream gene.
Currently, two models describing transcriptional termination of protein-coding genes are
proposed. Pol II termination is known to be functionally coupled to an RNA maturation step
called 3 adenylation (see below). During the 3 adenylation, the stalling of Pol II, the
endonucleolytic cleavage of the nascent transcripts and the subsequent degradation of the
downstream transcript occur. One of the models is called the allosteric model which
proposes that Pol II stalling during 3 adenylation causes a conformational change in Pol II,
which makes Pol II lose its processivity and leads to dissociation of Pol II from the template
(Calvo and Manley, 2001; Greenblatt et al., 1993; Logan et al., 1987). The second model is the
torpedo model. The model proposes that a 5 to 3 RNA exonuclease involved in the
clearance of downstream byproducts of the 3 adenylation catches up to the elongating Pol II
and causes it to terminate (Connelly and Manley, 1988).

3. Coupling transcription to mRNA processing steps

Once RNA synthesis starts, the transcribed pre-mRNA undergoes three major processing
steps and these processing steps occur co-transcriptionally (Buratowski, 2009; Egloff and
Murphy, 2008; Fuda et al., 2009; Koch et al., 2008; Kuehner et al., 2011). They are 5 capping,
splicing and 3 adenylation. The proper completion of these processing steps is necessary for
the production of export-competent mature mRNA molecules. Although the biochemical
basis of each step is distinct, they are all coupled to transcription. A unique carboxyterminal domain (CTD) on Rpb1, the largest subunit of Pol II, provides the platform for this

134

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

coupling system (Proudfoot et al., 2002). The data that 5 capping, splicing and 3
adenylation are all inhibited by the truncation of CTD without affecting transcription
provides evidence for the important role of CTD in coupling transcription to these
processing steps (McCracken et al., 1997).
3.1 Phosphorylation status of CTD during mRNA synthesis
CTD is a conserved repeat of the heptapeptide Tyr-Ser-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Ser (Cramer et al.,
2001). The number of repeats is 26 in yeast and 52 in humans. A unique feature of CTD is
that its pattern of phosphorylation changes dynamically according to the transcriptional
activity of Pol II (Buratowski, 2009; Egloff and Murphy, 2008; Fuda et al., 2009; Koch et al.,
2008; Kuehner et al., 2011).
During the PIC assembly, Pol II with unphosphorylated CTD is recruited to the gene
promoters. The mediator binds unphosphorylated Pol II. Then, within the PIC, TFIIH
phosphorylates the CTD on Ser5, which leads to the release of mediator from Pol II. This
allows Pol II to engage in processive transcription and depart from the promoter (Max et al.,
2007). Even if Pol II harbors Ser5P CTD, it may still stall at the promoter-proximal region
and synthesize short and abortive transcripts as described above. As Pol II manages to
escape from pausing and transcribes further downstream, the level of Ser5P decreases;
however, a low level of Ser5P is maintained throughout the elongation process.
Subsequently, Ser2 is phosphorylated by Cdk9, a kinase subunit of the positive elongation
factor P-TEFb as well as the elongation factor DSIF (also known as Spt4/Spt5), that leads to
transcription into a gene body (Peterlin and Price, 2006). Along with transcriptional
termination, Ser2P is dephosphorylated and this may help Pol II reinitiate transcription.
Each of these different modification patterns preferentially recruits a distinct set of
processing factors at the right time during mRNA transcription and maturation.
Furthermore, according to the X-ray study of yeast Pol II, CTD resides adjacent to the
narrow tunnel for nascent transcripts to exit. This location appears to be appropriate for
CTD-associating factors to work on pre-mRNAs (Fabrega et al., 2003) .
3.2 Coupling to 5 capping
Capping is the first modification to the pre-mRNA. This is an m7GpppN structure added at
the 5 end of the nascent transcript. In the nucleus, this structure is recognized by the cap
binding complex (CBC) (Izaurralde et al., 1994), which contains CBP20 and CBP80. The
CBC-bound cap structure functions to protect the nascent transcript from attack by
nucleases. It also has important roles both in the export of mature mRNAs from the nucleus
and the quality control of mRNAs (Proudfoot et al., 2002). In the cytoplasm, the cap
structure also serves as the binding site for the eukaryotic elongation factor eIF4E to recruit
the ribosome.
Capping occurs after 2030 nt of RNA is synthesized from the transcription start site and
involves two enzymes, HCE (Human Capping Enzyme) and MT (RNA 7-methyltransferase)
(Hirose and Manley, 2000). These capping enzymes bind specifically to the Ser5P CTD of Pol
II (Fabrega et al., 2003). Ser5P CTD is most abundant in the promoter-proximal region and
ensures the 5capping of the pre-mRNA at the earliest stage of the transcription process.

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

135

Fig. 2. Coupling transcription to mRNA processing steps

Here we present the overview of the coupling between Pol II transcription and mRNA
processing steps. Transcription begins with the assembly of the transcriptional initiation
complex (PIC) on the promoter (i). Soon after RNA synthesis begins, m7pppGN cap
structure is added to the 5 end of transcript (ii). Processive elongation stimulates the
recruitment of spliceosome (iii). At the polyA site, pre-mRNA is cleaved and subsequently
adenylated. 3 adenylation provokes the transcriptional termination to make Pol II dissociate
from DNA template (iv, v).
3.3 Coupling to splicing
Most mammalian genes contain introns. Since these sequences represent non-coding parts
of the gene, in order to make a functional protein, introns must be removed from the
template by means of splicing. Along with the completion of splicing, the exon-exon
junction complex (EJC) is deposited about 24 nt upstream of the exonexon junctions (Le Hir
and Andersen, 2008; Tange et al., 2004). EJC plays important roles in mRNA export from the
nucleus and in cytoplasmic mRNA quality control (see below).
The pre-mRNA contains several cis-elements that are essential for the splicing reaction, such
as 5 splice site, the branch-point, the poly-pyrimidine tract and the 3 splice site. These
elements are recognized by the spliceosome, a large proteinRNA complex. The two
sequential trans-esterification reactions carried out by the spliceosome lead to the ligation of
the exon sequences and the excision of the introns. To accomplish the precise splicing, the
proper recognition of these cis-elements by the spliceosome is crucial. To aid spliceosome
deposition, there are other auxiliary sequences within the pre-mRNA. For example, a

136

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

sequence within an exon is called the exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) (Chew et al., 1999;
Wang et al., 2005; Wu et al., 2005). The serine/arginine-rich (SR) family of essential splicing
factors play a particularly important role in splicing by binding to the ESE and recruiting the
rest of the splicing machinery(Cartegni and Krainer, 2002; Cramer et al., 1999; Liu et al.,
1998; Sun et al., 1993).
Transcripts derived from Pol II transcription are more efficiently spliced than those
transcribed by T7 which lacks CTD (Das et al., 2006). Introducing mutations within the CTD
greatly reduces the efficiency of splicing without affecting transcription as well as inhibition
of CTD phosphorylation by kinase inhibitors (Bentley, 2005; Bird et al., 2004). Therefore,
phosphorylated CTD seems to be crucial for the coupling of transcription and splicing.
Several splicing factors such as U1 snRNP, a component of the spliceosome, and the SR
protein factors directly associate with Pol II through the CTD (Das et al., 2007). Some SR
proteins bind indirectly to the CTD of Pol II (Das et al., 2007; de Almeida and CarmoFonseca, 2008). These physical interactions seem to play a role in coordinating the
transcriptional activity with the efficiency of splicing.
3.4 Coupling to 3 adenylation and transcription termination
Most of the protein-coding mRNAs undergo 3 adenylation. At the 3 end of the transcript, a
polyadenosine tail (polyA tail) of approximately 200300 nt is added (Danckwardt et al.,
2008; Proudfoot et al., 2002). Pre-mRNA is cleaved prior to polyadenylation. The cleavage
occurs at a CA dinucleotide defined by the sequence elements within the 3 end region of
the pre-mRNA. These elements consist of the AAUAAA consensus sequence and the
U/GU-rich region (downstream sequence element or DSE) that is located 1030 nt upstream
and 30 nt downstream of the cleavage site, respectively. Multiple protein factors assemble
onto these sequence elements to define the cleavage site. Cleavage and the polyadenylation
specificity factor (CPSF) binds to the AAUAAA sequence, resulting in the pausing of Pol II
transcription (Glover-Cutter et al., 2008). After the cleavage stimulation factor (CstF) binds
to the U/GU-rich region, CPSF binds to CstF (Kazerouninia et al., ; Kuehner et al., 2011; Nag
et al., 2007; Park et al., 2004) . Since the binding of CPSF to CstF is mutually exclusive with
Pol II binding (Nag et al., 2007), that binding event induces the release of paused Pol II and
the CPSF-mediated cleavage. The upstream cleavage product is polyadenylated, whereas
the downstream cleavage product is degraded. CPSF is associated with the elongation
complex by interaction with the Pol II body and CstF interacts with CTD. In yeast, Pcf11, a
subunit of the cleavage/polyadenylation factor, binds preferentially to the Ser 2P CTD via
its CID (CTD-interacting domain) (Licatalosi et al., 2002). Moreover, purified Pol II or CTD
can stimulate 3' adenylation in vitro (Hirose and Manley, 1998). Thus, the efficiency of the 3
adenylation is dramatically enhanced by coupling to transcription.
As mentioned above, transcriptional termination is tightly linked to 3 adenylation (Logan et
al., 1987; Whitelaw and Proudfoot, 1986). A functional polyA site (Zaret and Sherman, 1982)
and several essential subunits of the cleavage factor including Pcf11 are necessary for Pol II
termination(Birse et al., 1998; Gross and Moore, 2001; Minvielle-Sebastia et al., 1997). These
data explain why CTD is required for optimal termination of transcription downstream of
the polyA site (McCracken et al., 1997; McNeil et al., 1998). Thus, the elongation machinery
stimulates both 3 adenylation and transcriptional termination.

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

137

4. mRNA export
In eukaryotes, the nucleus is physically segregated from the cytoplasm by the nuclear
envelope. Transcription and subsequent processing occur in the nucleus, whereas
translation is a cytoplasmic event, therefore, processed mRNAs must be transported from
the nucleus to the cytoplasm for translation.
Nucleocytoplasmic transport events occur through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) that
penetrates the nuclear envelope (Kohler and Hurt, 2007; Mattaj and Englmeier, 1998). The
NPC is imaged like a spouted basket, and allows the bidirectional transport of
macromolecules such as proteins or RNA molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
The transported cargoes, that are imported into or exported from the nucleus, are
recognized by different transport receptors.
4.1 Tap-p15 mRNA export factor and its adaptors
The export receptor of mRNA is the Tap and p15 (Mex67 and Mtr2 in yeast) heterodimer
complex (Gruter et al., 1998; Segref et al., 1997). The stable interaction with NPC is not
accomplished only by Tap, but also requires heterodimerization with p15 (Guzik et al.,
2001). In the absence of the Tap-p15 association, the mRNA is retained in the nucleus by the
mRNA quality control system (Fasken and Corbett, 2009; Moraes, 2010).

Fig. 3. Coupling splicing to export.

Because mRNA processing is coupled to its export, the proper processing facilitates mRNA
export into the cytoplasm. Black bars represent exons and gray bars represent introns.
As splicing proceeds, the TREX complex is loaded onto mRNA and SR proteins on ESEs
become hypophsophrylated. These factors function as adaptors for Tap/p15, mRNA export
receptor. On the other hand, unspliced pre-mRNA is retained in the nucleus by the nulear
retention activity of RES. Please see text for other nuclear retention mechanisms.

138

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Numerous additional factors cooperate with the mRNA export receptor. The role of these
factors is to establish a physical bridge between the mRNA and its export receptor Tap-p15.
One of the important adaptors is the TREX (transcription-export) complex that consists of
the Ref family protein Aly (Yra1 in yeast), UAP56 (Sub2 in yeast) and the THO complex
(Masuda et al., 2005; Strasser et al., 2002). Because the direct interaction of mRNA and
Mex67 appears to be weak, the TREX subunit Aly/Yra1 mediates interaction between
mRNA and the Tap/Mex67 complex (Reed, 2003; Reed and Hurt, 2002).
Another class of mRNA export adaptors is the SR proteins. As mentioned above, the SR
proteins have essential roles in splicing. Some of the SR proteins such as SF2/ASF and 9G8
function as mRNA export adaptors as well (Huang et al., 2003).
4.2 Coupling transcription and processing to nuclear export
Remarkably, these adaptors are attached to transcripts as pre-mRNA processing steps
proceed.
The TREX complex is recruited onto mRNA during splicing (Masuda et al., 2005) and
associates with the cap binding complex (CBC) through a direct interaction between Aly and
CBC (Cheng et al., 2006; Nojima et al., 2007). Later the TREX complex is thought to be
replaced by the Tap-p15 mRNA export receptor. Hence, the TREX complex integrates
transcription or splicing with nuclear export. A study using electron microscopy revealed
that the fully maturated mRNA is exported in the 5 to 3 direction (Visa et al., 1996);
therefore, the association of the TREX complex at the cap site seems to guide the directional
mRNA export.
SR proteins are recruited to the splicing machinery in a hyperphosphorylated form and
become hypophosphorylated after splicing. The change in the phosphorylation state
triggers the recruitment of TAPp15 (Huang et al., 2003). The phosphorylation status of
the SR proteins could act as a switch to signal the export competence of the spliced
mRNP.
The importance of the coupling of mRNA export to transcription was initially suggested by
the observation that spliced mRNAs exit the nucleus more efficiently than unspliced
mRNAs or RNAs derived from cDNAs (Luo and Reed, 1999). Splicing-dependent
recruitment and stabilization of these adaptors explains why mRNAs produced from intron
containing genes are more efficiently exported than mRNAs derived from cDNAs.
Besides these factors described above, a complex called TREX-2 is proposed to functionally
couple transcription and mRNA export. TREX-2 is composed of Sac3, Thp1, Sus1 and Cdc31
(Fischer et al., 2004; Rodriguez-Navarro et al., 2004). Sac3 was originally identified as an
additional mRNA export adaptor in yeast (Fischer et al., 2002). Sac3 physically associates
with the Mex67Mtr2 export receptor. Sus1 in the TREX-2 complex interacts with SAGA, a
large transcription initiation complex that catalyzes histone acetylation and deubiquitylation
(Kohler et al., 2006; Shukla et al., 2006). TREX-2 and SAGA generate a physical contact with
the NPC. TREX-2 therefore couples SAGA-dependent gene transcription to mRNA export
both by facilitating the export receptor loading onto transcribed mRNAs and by bringing
the transcription site closer to NPC.

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

139

4.3 The role of Dbp5-Gle1 and IP6 in the release of mRNA into the cytoplasm
To ensure the unidirectional transport of cargo, transport receptors need cues to determine
which side of the NPC they are on. A shuttling of proteins between the nucleus and the
cytosol requires a family of conserved nuclear transport receptors known as karyopherins
(Chook and Blobel, 2001; Mosammaparast and Pemberton, 2004; Strom and Weis, 2001).
Importin family proteins, the most studied karyopherins, directly or indirectly recognize
cargo signals. The affinity for cargoes and the direction of nucleocytoplasmic transport by
the importin family of proteins is determined by the asymmetric nucleus/cytoplasm
distribution of RanGTP and RanGDP; the so-called Ran gradient (Gorlich and Kutay, 1999;
Pemberton et al., 1998). In the case of nuclear export, the interaction between karyopherin
and the cargo is stabilized by the RanGTP concentrated in the nucleus, whereas in the
cytoplasm, RanGDP, which is derived from RanGTP hydrolysis by RanGAP, causes the
complex to disassemble and terminate the export step.
In contrast, bulk mRNA export does not depend on karyopherins or the Ran gradient. If the
Tap-p15 heterodimer still interacts with mRNA at the NPC, mRNA could be returned to the
nucleus. Dbp5-Gle1 and inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) function to ensure the
unidirectional export of mRNA into the cytoplasm.
In yeast, Dbp5 removes Mex67 from mRNA in vivo and displaces the RNA binding protein
Nab2 in vitro (Lund and Guthrie, 2005; Tran et al., 2007). Consequently, Dbp5 remodels the
profile of proteins binding to transcripts, thus preventing mRNA from returning to the
nucleus. Dbp5 is a DEAD-box RNA helicases. DEAD-box RNA helicases are highly
conserved among eukaryotes and contain a highly conserved core with ATP-binding and
RNA-binding sites (Rocak and Linder, 2004). DEAD-box RNA helicases conjugate their
ATPase activities to their helicase activities. The ATP-bound form of Dbp5, closed form,
sandwiches RNA, but the ADP-bound form, open form, releases RNA (Ledoux and
Guthrie, 2011). Moreover, only the ADP-bound Dbp5 can remove Nab2 from mRNA,
whereas ATP-bound Dbp5 does not. Consequently, the alteration of ATP to ADP within
Dbp5 may be crucial for its remodeling activity. Dbp5 exhibits quite low ATPase activity on
its own. Gle1 and IP6 activate the ATPase activity of Dbp5 (Dossani et al., 2009; Weirich et
al., 2006). Recently, the Dbp5-Gle1 and IP6 complex was shown to be structurally similar to
the eIF4A-eIF4G complex which is essential for translation initiation. eIF4A is a DEAD-box
family protein, and eIF4G activates eIF4A exactly as Gle activates Dbp5 (Montpetit et al.,
2011). Dbp5 is concentrated at the cytoplasmic face of the NPC where it interacts with the
nucleoporin Nup159 (NUP214/CAN in human) (Weirich et al., 2004). On the other hand,
Dbp5 is relatively abundant and also localizes in the cytoplasm. Remarkably, Dbp5 shuttles
between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and the inhibition of Xpo1, an importin family
protein, results in the accumulation of Dbp5 in the nucleus (Hodge et al., 1999). Moreover, it
is reported that Dbp5 is recruited to mRNA at an early stage in the transcription process
(Estruch and Cole, 2003). This raises the question of why Dbp5 removes Tap from mRNA
only after transit through the NPC and not in the nucleus. The current model is shown in
Fig.4. Gle1 is concentrated at the cytoplasmic face of the NPC via interaction with two
cytoplasmic components of NPC, Nup42 (CG1 in human) and Nup159. As a result of this
biased localization of Gle1, the ATPase of Dbp5 is activated only on the cytoplasmic side of
the NPC. Then, Dbp5 should dissociate Mex67 from mRNA, and mRNA is unidirectionally
exported to the cytoplasm.

140

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 4. The current model of mRNA export.

(I) Mex67-Mtr2 (Tap-p15 in human), mediated by Yra1 or SR proteins, exports mRNA to the
NPC. (II) On the cytoplasmic side of the NPC, Dbp5, activated by Gle1 and IP6, removes
RNA binding proteins including Mex67 from the mRNA, which is called remodeling.
Thereby, mRNA export to the cytoplasm is one-way traffic.
4.4 Non-canonical mRNA export pathway
The importin family protein Xpo1, also known as Crm1, does not have a major role in
mRNA export. However, Xpo1 is shown to be involved in nuclear export of a subset of
transcripts, such as mRNAs containing adenosine/uridine-rich elements (AREs) positioned
in their 3 untranslated regions (Barreau et al., 2005; Chen and Shyu, 1995).

5. mRNA quality control

When mRNA undergoes proper processing, it travels through the NPC to the cytoplasm for
protein synthesis. However, if the mRNA is not properly processed, it should be held in the
nucleus or be degraded to avoid the production of aberrant proteins that may disrupt
cellular function. Currently, several mRNA quality control systems are found in the nucleus
and the cytoplasm.
5.1 Nuclear retention of aberrant mRNA
Myosin-like proteins (Mlp1p and Mlp2p in yeast and Tpr in vertebrates) are filamentous
proteins anchored at the NPC (Kohler and Hurt, 2007). Deletion of Mlp1 results in the leakage
of unspliced transcripts into the cytoplasm (Galy et al., 2004). Mlp1 interacts with Nab2
(Fasken et al., 2008; Grant et al., 2008; Green et al., 2003; Vinciguerra et al., 2005), and the splice
site-binding protein SF1 and the branch point-binding protein also interact with Mlp1 in an
RNA-dependent manner (Galy et al., 2004). At the NPC, through sequestering unspliced
transcripts or facilitating the export of mature mRNA, Mlps function as gatekeepers to assure
that only mature mRNAs are exported from the nucleus. In addition, pre-mRNA retention and

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

141

the splicing (RES) complex, which binds to the SF3b subcomplex in the spliceosome, are also
implicated in pre-mRNA retention in the nucleus (Kaida et al., 2007). Some ESEs have been
shown to possess activity to retain unspliced mRNAs, and the splicing reaction can reset the
nuclear retention state caused by the ESEs (Taniguchi et al., 2007).
Several data suggest that the improperly-processed transcripts are submitted to the
retention at the transcription site and subsequently undergo degradation. The nuclear
exosome nuclease complex plays a crucial role in this mRNA quality control in the nucleus.
(Abruzzi et al., 2006; Bousquet-Antonelli et al., 2000; Burkard and Butler, 2000; Custodio et
al., 1999; Das et al., 2003; Dower et al., 2004; Dunn et al., 2005; Hilleren et al., 2001; Libri et
al., 2002; Milligan et al., 2005; Torchet et al., 2002; Zenklusen et al., 2002).
The exosome is a ring-shaped multimolecular complex involved in degradation of various
RNAs both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm (see below for the function of exosome in
cytoplasmic mRNA quality control) (Belostotsky, 2009; Houseley et al., 2006; Lebreton and
Seraphin, 2008; Lorentzen et al., 2008; Lorentzen and Conti, 2006; Lykke-Andersen et al.,
2009; Schmid and Jensen, 2008; van Hoof and Parker, 1999; Vanacova and Stefl, 2007). In
the nucleus, the exosome interacts with its nuclear-specific binding partner, Rrp6. When
mRNA processing, such as splicing or 3 adenylation, is perturbed, transcripts are
retained within foci near or at the transcription site and are degraded in an Rrp6dependent manner.
5.2 mRNA quality control in the cytoplasm
The mature mRNAs exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm are now applied to
translation. At the first translation round, so called the pioneer-round of translation, mRNA
undergoes a quality check. At least three mechanisms are currently known (Houseley and
Tollervey, 2008; Isken and Maquat, 2007; Shyu et al., 2008). They are nonsense-mediated
mRNA decay (NMD) (Culbertson and Neeno-Eckwall, 2005; Isken and Maquat, 2008), nonstop decay (NSD) (Vasudevan et al., 2002) and no-go decay (NGD).
Some mutations can cause the emergence of a pre-mature termination codon (PTC) within
the mRNA. Such nonsense mutations result in the production of C-terminally truncated
proteins that may be harmful to the cell. After the splicing, EJC is deposited 2024 nt
upstream of the exonexon junctions (Le Hir and Andersen, 2008; Tange et al., 2004).
Normal termination codons in mammalian transcripts are usually found within the last
exon. Consequently, EJC should be displaced at a pioneer round of translation. However, if
PTC is present more than 50-55 nt upstream of EJC, EJC remains on the transcripts and the
translating ribosome meets EJC. This event triggers NMD to degrade PTC containing
mRNA. Most PTC-containing mRNAs in mammals come from aberrant alternative splicing
(McGlincy and Smith, 2008). Upf 1-3 proteins have a central role in facilitating the
recognition of PTC (Muhlemann and Lykke-Andersen, 2010). PTC-containing mRNAs are
degraded through two pathways. One is initiated through decapping at the 5 end and/or
deadenylation at the 3 end. These reactions make it easy to degrade mRNA by
exoribonucleases. In a second pathway, mRNA is first endonucleolytically cleaved by Smg6,
and then degraded both in 5 to 3 and 3 to 5 direction by exonucleases (Muhlemann and
Lykke-Andersen, 2010; Nicholson et al., 2010).

142

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 5. mRNA quality control in the cytoplasm

When mRNA reaches the cytoplasm, it is applied to the first translation cycle; the so-called
pioneer-round of translation. During this translation, mRNA is submitted to the final
quality check before the vigorous protein synthesis. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay
(NMD) for mRNAs harboring pre-mature termination codons (PTC) (a), non-stop decay
(NSD) for mRNAs without functional termination codons (b) and no-go decay (NGD) for
mRNAs with strong secondary structures are identified to participate in this translationcoupled quality control.

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

143

mRNAs that lack the termination codons are also targeted for the translation-dependent
mRNA decay, NSD. When a ribosome translates through the polyA tail because of the lack
of a termination codon and stalls at the 3-end of the mRNA, Ski7, a component of the
cytoplasmic exosome, interacts with the stalled ribosome and triggers the rapid degradation
of the non-stop mRNA (Isken and Maquat, 2007).
Some mRNAs produced from aberrant alternative splicing contain strong secondary
structures. Such structures prevent translation by the ribosome and cause the ribosome to
stall. The ribosome is rescued by the NGD pathway. NGD clears the stalled ribosome and
rapidly degrades the mRNA transcript (Doma and Parker, 2006). Dom34 and Hbs1 interact
with the stalled ribosome and assist in the disassembly of the translational complex. They
also trigger mRNA decay through endonucleolytic cleavage and subsequent exonucleolytic
decay (Doma and Parker, 2007).

6. Concluding remarks
Various mRNA-processing proteins are recruited onto the transcripts at the early stage of
the mRNA lifecycle. Besides their functions to facilitate pre-mRNA processing, they also
serve as a dress-code that indicates that the coded mRNA is properly processed and
competent for export and translation. Pol II coordinates transcriptional activity for the
recruitment of these factors to the transcripts. Hence, from its birth in the nucleus to its
degradation in the cytoplasm, mRNA is kept under strict surveillance to ensure high-fidelity
gene expression.

7. Acknowledgment
This work was supported by Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from The Japan Society to
N. F. and by grants-in-aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology of Japan, Nagase Science and Technology Foundation, Central Miso Research
Institute, The Kieikai Research Foundation and Hokto Bioscience Foundation to S. M.

8. References
Abruzzi, K. C., Belostotsky, D. A., Chekanova, J. A., Dower, K., and Rosbash, M. (2006). 3'end formation signals modulate the association of genes with the nuclear periphery
as well as mRNP dot formation. Embo J 25, 4253-4262.
Adelman, K., Marr, M. T., Werner, J., Saunders, A., Ni, Z., Andrulis, E. D., and Lis, J. T.
(2005). Efficient release from promoter-proximal stall sites requires transcript
cleavage factor TFIIS. Mol Cell 17, 103-112.
Aida, M., Chen, Y., Nakajima, K., Yamaguchi, Y., Wada, T., and Handa, H. (2006).
Transcriptional pausing caused by NELF plays a dual role in regulating immediateearly expression of the junB gene. Mol Cell Biol 26, 6094-6104.
Barboric, M., and Peterlin, B. M. (2005). A new paradigm in eukaryotic biology: HIV Tat and
the control of transcriptional elongation. PLoS Biol 3, e76.
Barreau, C., Paillard, L., and Osborne, H. B. (2005). AU-rich elements and associated factors:
are there unifying principles? Nucleic Acids Res 33, 7138-7150.

144

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Belostotsky, D. (2009). Exosome complex and pervasive transcription in eukaryotic

genomes. Curr Opin Cell Biol 21, 352-358.
Bender, T. P., Thompson, C. B., and Kuehl, W. M. (1987). Differential expression of c-myb
mRNA in murine B lymphomas by a block to transcription elongation. Science 237,
1473-1476.
Bentley, D. L. (2005). Rules of engagement: co-transcriptional recruitment of pre-mRNA
processing factors. Curr Opin Cell Biol 17, 251-256.
Bird, G., Zorio, D. A., and Bentley, D. L. (2004). RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal
domain phosphorylation is required for cotranscriptional pre-mRNA splicing and
3'-end formation. Mol Cell Biol 24, 8963-8969.
Birse, C. E., Minvielle-Sebastia, L., Lee, B. A., Keller, W., and Proudfoot, N. J. (1998).
Coupling termination of transcription to messenger RNA maturation in yeast.
Science 280, 298-301.
Bousquet-Antonelli, C., Presutti, C., and Tollervey, D. (2000). Identification of a regulated
pathway for nuclear pre-mRNA turnover. Cell 102, 765-775.
Buratowski, S. (2009). Progression through the RNA polymerase II CTD cycle. Mol Cell 36,
541-546.
Burkard, K. T., and Butler, J. S. (2000). A nuclear 3'-5' exonuclease involved in mRNA
degradation interacts with Poly(A) polymerase and the hnRNA protein Npl3p. Mol
Cell Biol 20, 604-616.
Calvo, O., and Manley, J. L. (2001). Evolutionarily conserved interaction between CstF-64
and PC4 links transcription, polyadenylation, and termination. Mol Cell 7, 10131023.
Cartegni, L., and Krainer, A. R. (2002). Disruption of an SF2/ASF-dependent exonic splicing
enhancer in SMN2 causes spinal muscular atrophy in the absence of SMN1. Nat
Genet 30, 377-384.
Chen, C. Y., and Shyu, A. B. (1995). AU-rich elements: characterization and importance in
mRNA degradation. Trends Biochem Sci 20, 465-470.
Cheng, H., Dufu, K., Lee, C. S., Hsu, J. L., Dias, A., and Reed, R. (2006). Human mRNA
export machinery recruited to the 5' end of mRNA. Cell 127, 1389-1400.
Chew, S. L., Liu, H. X., Mayeda, A., and Krainer, A. R. (1999). Evidence for the function of an
exonic splicing enhancer after the first catalytic step of pre-mRNA splicing. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A 96, 10655-10660.
Chook, Y. M., and Blobel, G. (2001). Karyopherins and nuclear import. Curr Opin Struct Biol
11, 703-715.
Conaway, R. C., and Conaway, J. W. (2011). Function and regulation of the Mediator
complex. Curr Opin Genet Dev 21, 225-230.
Connelly, S., and Manley, J. L. (1988). A functional mRNA polyadenylation signal is
required for transcription termination by RNA polymerase II. Genes Dev 2, 440452.
Cramer, P., Bushnell, D. A., and Kornberg, R. D. (2001). Structural basis of transcription:
RNA polymerase II at 2.8 angstrom resolution. Science 292, 1863-1876.
Cramer, P., Caceres, J. F., Cazalla, D., Kadener, S., Muro, A. F., Baralle, F. E., and Kornblihtt,
A. R. (1999). Coupling of transcription with alternative splicing: RNA pol II

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

145

promoters modulate SF2/ASF and 9G8 effects on an exonic splicing enhancer. Mol
Cell 4, 251-258.
Culbertson, M. R., and Neeno-Eckwall, E. (2005). Transcript selection and the recruitment of
mRNA decay factors for NMD in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Rna 11, 1333-1339.
Custodio, N., Carmo-Fonseca, M., Geraghty, F., Pereira, H. S., Grosveld, F., and Antoniou,
M. (1999). Inefficient processing impairs release of RNA from the site of
transcription. Embo J 18, 2855-2866.
Danckwardt, S., Hentze, M. W., and Kulozik, A. E. (2008). 3' end mRNA processing:
molecular mechanisms and implications for health and disease. Embo J 27, 482498.
Das, B., Butler, J. S., and Sherman, F. (2003). Degradation of normal mRNA in the nucleus of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Cell Biol 23, 5502-5515.
Das, R., Dufu, K., Romney, B., Feldt, M., Elenko, M., and Reed, R. (2006). Functional
coupling of RNAP II transcription to spliceosome assembly. Genes Dev 20, 11001109.
Das, R., Yu, J., Zhang, Z., Gygi, M. P., Krainer, A. R., Gygi, S. P., and Reed, R. (2007). SR
proteins function in coupling RNAP II transcription to pre-mRNA splicing. Mol
Cell 26, 867-881.
de Almeida, S. F., and Carmo-Fonseca, M. (2008). The CTD role in cotranscriptional RNA
processing and surveillance. FEBS Lett 582, 1971-1976.
Doma, M. K., and Parker, R. (2006). Endonucleolytic cleavage of eukaryotic mRNAs with
stalls in translation elongation. Nature 440, 561-564.
Doma, M. K., and Parker, R. (2007). RNA quality control in eukaryotes. Cell 131, 660-668.
Dossani, Z. Y., Weirich, C. S., Erzberger, J. P., Berger, J. M., and Weis, K. (2009). Structure of
the C-terminus of the mRNA export factor Dbp5 reveals the interaction surface for
the ATPase activator Gle1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106, 16251-16256.
Dower, K., Kuperwasser, N., Merrikh, H., and Rosbash, M. (2004). A synthetic A tail
rescues yeast nuclear accumulation of a ribozyme-terminated transcript. Rna 10,
1888-1899.
Dunn, E. F., Hammell, C. M., Hodge, C. A., and Cole, C. N. (2005). Yeast poly(A)-binding
protein, Pab1, and PAN, a poly(A) nuclease complex recruited by Pab1, connect
mRNA biogenesis to export. Genes Dev 19, 90-103.
Egloff, S., and Murphy, S. (2008). Role of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II in
expression of small nuclear RNA genes. Biochem Soc Trans 36, 537-539.
Estruch, F., and Cole, C. N. (2003). An early function during transcription for the yeast
mRNA export factor Dbp5p/Rat8p suggested by its genetic and physical
interactions with transcription factor IIH components. Mol Biol Cell 14, 16641676.
Fabrega, C., Shen, V., Shuman, S., and Lima, C. D. (2003). Structure of an mRNA capping
enzyme bound to the phosphorylated carboxy-terminal domain of RNA
polymerase II. Mol Cell 11, 1549-1561.
Fasken, M. B., and Corbett, A. H. (2009). Mechanisms of nuclear mRNA quality control.
RNA Biol 6, 237-241.

146

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fasken, M. B., Stewart, M., and Corbett, A. H. (2008). Functional significance of the
interaction between the mRNA-binding protein, Nab2, and the nuclear poreassociated protein, Mlp1, in mRNA export. J Biol Chem 283, 27130-27143.
Fischer, T., Rodriguez-Navarro, S., Pereira, G., Racz, A., Schiebel, E., and Hurt, E. (2004).
Yeast centrin Cdc31 is linked to the nuclear mRNA export machinery. Nat Cell Biol
6, 840-848.
Fischer, T., Strasser, K., Racz, A., Rodriguez-Navarro, S., Oppizzi, M., Ihrig, P., Lechner, J.,
and Hurt, E. (2002). The mRNA export machinery requires the novel Sac3p-Thp1p
complex to dock at the nucleoplasmic entrance of the nuclear pores. Embo J 21,
5843-5852.
Fuda, N. J., Ardehali, M. B., and Lis, J. T. (2009). Defining mechanisms that regulate RNA
polymerase II transcription in vivo. Nature 461, 186-192.
Galy, V., Gadal, O., Fromont-Racine, M., Romano, A., Jacquier, A., and Nehrbass, U. (2004).
Nuclear retention of unspliced mRNAs in yeast is mediated by perinuclear Mlp1.
Cell 116, 63-73.
Gilmour, D. S., and Lis, J. T. (1986). RNA polymerase II interacts with the promoter region of
the noninduced hsp70 gene in Drosophila melanogaster cells. Mol Cell Biol 6, 39843989.
Glover-Cutter, K., Kim, S., Espinosa, J., and Bentley, D. L. (2008). RNA polymerase II pauses
and associates with pre-mRNA processing factors at both ends of genes. Nat Struct
Mol Biol 15, 71-78.
Gorlich, D., and Kutay, U. (1999). Transport between the cell nucleus and the cytoplasm.
Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 15, 607-660.
Grant, R. P., Marshall, N. J., Yang, J. C., Fasken, M. B., Kelly, S. M., Harreman, M. T.,
Neuhaus, D., Corbett, A. H., and Stewart, M. (2008). Structure of the N-terminal
Mlp1-binding domain of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA-binding protein,
Nab2. J Mol Biol 376, 1048-1059.
Green, D. M., Johnson, C. P., Hagan, H., and Corbett, A. H. (2003). The C-terminal domain of
myosin-like protein 1 (Mlp1p) is a docking site for heterogeneous nuclear
ribonucleoproteins that are required for mRNA export. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
100, 1010-1015.
Greenblatt, J., Nodwell, J. R., and Mason, S. W. (1993). Transcriptional antitermination.
Nature 364, 401-406.
Gross, S., and Moore, C. (2001). Five subunits are required for reconstitution of the cleavage
and polyadenylation activities of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cleavage factor I. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A 98, 6080-6085.
Gruter, P., Tabernero, C., von Kobbe, C., Schmitt, C., Saavedra, C., Bachi, A., Wilm, M.,
Felber, B. K., and Izaurralde, E. (1998). TAP, the human homolog of Mex67p,
mediates CTE-dependent RNA export from the nucleus. Mol Cell 1, 649-659.
Guzik, B. W., Levesque, L., Prasad, S., Bor, Y. C., Black, B. E., Paschal, B. M., Rekosh, D., and
Hammarskjold, M. L. (2001). NXT1 (p15) is a crucial cellular cofactor in TAPdependent export of intron-containing RNA in mammalian cells. Mol Cell Biol 21,
2545-2554.

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

147

Hilleren, P., McCarthy, T., Rosbash, M., Parker, R., and Jensen, T. H. (2001). Quality control
of mRNA 3'-end processing is linked to the nuclear exosome. Nature 413, 538-542.
Hirose, Y., and Manley, J. L. (1998). RNA polymerase II is an essential mRNA
polyadenylation factor. Nature 395, 93-96.
Hirose, Y., and Manley, J. L. (2000). RNA polymerase II and the integration of nuclear
events. Genes Dev 14, 1415-1429.
Hodge, C. A., Colot, H. V., Stafford, P., and Cole, C. N. (1999). Rat8p/Dbp5p is a shuttling
transport factor that interacts with Rat7p/Nup159p and Gle1p and suppresses the
mRNA export defect of xpo1-1 cells. Embo J 18, 5778-5788.
Houseley, J., LaCava, J., and Tollervey, D. (2006). RNA-quality control by the exosome. Nat
Rev Mol Cell Biol 7, 529-539.
Houseley, J., and Tollervey, D. (2008). The nuclear RNA surveillance machinery: the link
between ncRNAs and genome structure in budding yeast? Biochim Biophys Acta
1779, 239-246.
Huang, Y., Gattoni, R., Stevenin, J., and Steitz, J. A. (2003). SR splicing factors serve as
adapter proteins for TAP-dependent mRNA export. Mol Cell 11, 837-843.
Isken, O., and Maquat, L. E. (2007). Quality control of eukaryotic mRNA: safeguarding cells
from abnormal mRNA function. Genes Dev 21, 1833-1856.
Isken, O., and Maquat, L. E. (2008). The multiple lives of NMD factors: balancing roles in
gene and genome regulation. Nat Rev Genet 9, 699-712.
Izaurralde, E., Lewis, J., McGuigan, C., Jankowska, M., Darzynkiewicz, E., and Mattaj, I. W.
(1994). A nuclear cap binding protein complex involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Cell
78, 657-668.
Kaida, D., Motoyoshi, H., Tashiro, E., Nojima, T., Hagiwara, M., Ishigami, K., Watanabe, H.,
Kitahara, T., Yoshida, T., Nakajima, H., et al. (2007). Spliceostatin A targets SF3b
and inhibits both splicing and nuclear retention of pre-mRNA. Nat Chem Biol 3,
576-583.
Kazerouninia, A., Ngo, B., and Martinson, H. G. (2010). Poly(A) signal-dependent
degradation of unprocessed nascent transcripts accompanies poly(A) signaldependent transcriptional pausing in vitro. Rna 16, 197-210.
Koch, F., Jourquin, F., Ferrier, P., and Andrau, J. C. (2008). Genome-wide RNA polymerase
II: not genes only! Trends Biochem Sci 33, 265-273.
Kohler, A., and Hurt, E. (2007). Exporting RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Nat Rev
Mol Cell Biol 8, 761-773.
Kohler, A., Pascual-Garcia, P., Llopis, A., Zapater, M., Posas, F., Hurt, E., and RodriguezNavarro, S. (2006). The mRNA export factor Sus1 is involved in Spt/Ada/Gcn5
acetyltransferase-mediated H2B deubiquitinylation through its interaction with
Ubp8 and Sgf11. Mol Biol Cell 17, 4228-4236.
Krumm, A., Meulia, T., Brunvand, M., and Groudine, M. (1992). The block to transcriptional
elongation within the human c-myc gene is determined in the promoter-proximal
region. Genes Dev 6, 2201-2213.
Kuehner, J. N., Pearson, E. L., and Moore, C. (2011). Unravelling the means to an end: RNA
polymerase II transcription termination. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 12, 283-294.

148

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Le Hir, H., and Andersen, G. R. (2008). Structural insights into the exon junction complex.
Curr Opin Struct Biol 18, 112-119.
Lebreton, A., and Seraphin, B. (2008). Exosome-mediated quality control: substrate
recruitment and molecular activity. Biochim Biophys Acta 1779, 558-565.
Ledoux, S., and Guthrie, C. (2011). Regulation of the Dbp5 ATPase cycle in mRNP
remodeling at the nuclear pore: a lively new paradigm for DEAD-box proteins.
Genes Dev 25, 1109-1114.
Libri, D., Dower, K., Boulay, J., Thomsen, R., Rosbash, M., and Jensen, T. H. (2002).
Interactions between mRNA export commitment, 3'-end quality control, and
nuclear degradation. Mol Cell Biol 22, 8254-8266.
Licatalosi, D. D., Geiger, G., Minet, M., Schroeder, S., Cilli, K., McNeil, J. B., and Bentley, D.
L. (2002). Functional interaction of yeast pre-mRNA 3' end processing factors with
RNA polymerase II. Mol Cell 9, 1101-1111.
Liu, H. X., Zhang, M., and Krainer, A. R. (1998). Identification of functional exonic splicing
enhancer motifs recognized by individual SR proteins. Genes Dev 12, 1998-2012.
Logan, J., Falck-Pedersen, E., Darnell, J. E., Jr., and Shenk, T. (1987). A poly(A) addition site
and a downstream termination region are required for efficient cessation of
transcription by RNA polymerase II in the mouse beta maj-globin gene. Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A 84, 8306-8310.
Lorentzen, E., Basquin, J., and Conti, E. (2008). Structural organization of the RNAdegrading exosome. Curr Opin Struct Biol 18, 709-713.
Lorentzen, E., and Conti, E. (2006). The exosome and the proteasome: nano-compartments
for degradation. Cell 125, 651-654.
Lorincz, M. C., and Schubeler, D. (2007). RNA polymerase II: just stopping by. Cell 130, 1618.
Lund, M. K., and Guthrie, C. (2005). The DEAD-box protein Dbp5p is required to dissociate
Mex67p from exported mRNPs at the nuclear rim. Mol Cell 20, 645-651.
Luo, M. J., and Reed, R. (1999). Splicing is required for rapid and efficient mRNA export in
metazoans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 96, 14937-14942.
Lykke-Andersen, S., Brodersen, D. E., and Jensen, T. H. (2009). Origins and activities of the
eukaryotic exosome. J Cell Sci 122, 1487-1494.
Masuda, S., Das, R., Cheng, H., Hurt, E., Dorman, N., and Reed, R. (2005). Recruitment of
the human TREX complex to mRNA during splicing. Genes Dev 19, 1512-1517.
Mattaj, I. W., and Englmeier, L. (1998). Nucleocytoplasmic transport: the soluble phase.
Annu Rev Biochem 67, 265-306.
Max, T., Sogaard, M., and Svejstrup, J. Q. (2007). Hyperphosphorylation of the C-terminal
repeat domain of RNA polymerase II facilitates dissociation of its complex with
mediator. J Biol Chem 282, 14113-14120.
McCracken, S., Fong, N., Yankulov, K., Ballantyne, S., Pan, G., Greenblatt, J., Patterson, S. D.,
Wickens, M., and Bentley, D. L. (1997). The C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase
II couples mRNA processing to transcription. Nature 385, 357-361.
McGlincy, N. J., and Smith, C. W. (2008). Alternative splicing resulting in nonsensemediated mRNA decay: what is the meaning of nonsense? Trends Biochem Sci 33,
385-393.

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

149

McNeil, J. B., Agah, H., and Bentley, D. (1998). Activated transcription independent of the
RNA polymerase II holoenzyme in budding yeast. Genes Dev 12, 2510-2521.
Milligan, L., Torchet, C., Allmang, C., Shipman, T., and Tollervey, D. (2005). A nuclear
surveillance pathway for mRNAs with defective polyadenylation. Mol Cell Biol 25,
9996-10004.
Minvielle-Sebastia, L., Preker, P. J., Wiederkehr, T., Strahm, Y., and Keller, W. (1997). The
major yeast poly(A)-binding protein is associated with cleavage factor IA and
functions in premessenger RNA 3'-end formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94,
7897-7902.
Montpetit, B., Thomsen, N. D., Helmke, K. J., Seeliger, M. A., Berger, J. M., and Weis, K.
(2011). A conserved mechanism of DEAD-box ATPase activation by nucleoporins
and InsP6 in mRNA export. Nature 472, 238-242.
Moraes, K. C. (2010). RNA surveillance: molecular approaches in transcript quality control
and their implications in clinical diseases. Mol Med 16, 53-68.
Mosammaparast, N., and Pemberton, L. F. (2004). Karyopherins: from nuclear-transport
mediators to nuclear-function regulators. Trends Cell Biol 14, 547-556.
Muhlemann, O., and Lykke-Andersen, J. (2010). How and where are nonsense mRNAs
degraded in mammalian cells? RNA Biol 7, 28-32.
Muse, G. W., Gilchrist, D. A., Nechaev, S., Shah, R., Parker, J. S., Grissom, S. F., Zeitlinger, J.,
and Adelman, K. (2007). RNA polymerase is poised for activation across the
genome. Nat Genet 39, 1507-1511.
Nag, A., Narsinh, K., and Martinson, H. G. (2007). The poly(A)-dependent transcriptional
pause is mediated by CPSF acting on the body of the polymerase. Nat Struct Mol
Biol 14, 662-669.
Nicholson, P., Yepiskoposyan, H., Metze, S., Zamudio Orozco, R., Kleinschmidt, N., and
Muhlemann, O. (2010). Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in human cells:
mechanistic insights, functions beyond quality control and the double-life of NMD
factors. Cell Mol Life Sci 67, 677-700.
Nojima, T., Hirose, T., Kimura, H., and Hagiwara, M. (2007). The interaction between capbinding complex and RNA export factor is required for intronless mRNA export. J
Biol Chem 282, 15645-15651.
Orphanides, G., Lagrange, T., and Reinberg, D. (1996). The general transcription factors of
RNA polymerase II. Genes Dev 10, 2657-2683.
Park, N. J., Tsao, D. C., and Martinson, H. G. (2004). The two steps of poly(A)-dependent
termination, pausing and release, can be uncoupled by truncation of the RNA
polymerase II carboxyl-terminal repeat domain. Mol Cell Biol 24, 4092-4103.
Pemberton, L. F., Blobel, G., and Rosenblum, J. S. (1998). Transport routes through the
nuclear pore complex. Curr Opin Cell Biol 10, 392-399.
Peterlin, B. M., and Price, D. H. (2006). Controlling the elongation phase of transcription
with P-TEFb. Mol Cell 23, 297-305.
Proudfoot, N. J., Furger, A., and Dye, M. J. (2002). Integrating mRNA processing with
transcription. Cell 108, 501-512.
Reed, R. (2003). Coupling transcription, splicing and mRNA export. Curr Opin Cell Biol 15,
326-331.

150

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Reed, R., and Hurt, E. (2002). A conserved mRNA export machinery coupled to pre-mRNA
splicing. Cell 108, 523-531.
Rocak, S., and Linder, P. (2004). DEAD-box proteins: the driving forces behind RNA
metabolism. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 5, 232-241.
Rodriguez-Navarro, S., Fischer, T., Luo, M. J., Antunez, O., Brettschneider, S., Lechner, J.,
Perez-Ortin, J. E., Reed, R., and Hurt, E. (2004). Sus1, a functional component of the
SAGA histone acetylase complex and the nuclear pore-associated mRNA export
machinery. Cell 116, 75-86.
Roeder, R. G. (1996). The role of general initiation factors in transcription by RNA
polymerase II. Trends Biochem Sci 21, 327-335.
Saunders, A., Core, L. J., and Lis, J. T. (2006). Breaking barriers to transcription elongation.
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 7, 557-567.
Schmid, M., and Jensen, T. H. (2008). The exosome: a multipurpose RNA-decay machine.
Trends Biochem Sci 33, 501-510.
Segref, A., Sharma, K., Doye, V., Hellwig, A., Huber, J., Luhrmann, R., and Hurt, E. (1997).
Mex67p, a novel factor for nuclear mRNA export, binds to both poly(A)+ RNA and
nuclear pores. Embo J 16, 3256-3271.
Shukla, A., Stanojevic, N., Duan, Z., Sen, P., and Bhaumik, S. R. (2006). Ubp8p, a histone
deubiquitinase whose association with SAGA is mediated by Sgf11p, differentially
regulates lysine 4 methylation of histone H3 in vivo. Mol Cell Biol 26, 3339-3352.
Shyu, A. B., Wilkinson, M. F., and van Hoof, A. (2008). Messenger RNA regulation: to
translate or to degrade. Embo J 27, 471-481.
Sims, R. J., 3rd, Belotserkovskaya, R., and Reinberg, D. (2004). Elongation by RNA
polymerase II: the short and long of it. Genes Dev 18, 2437-2468.
Singh, J., and Padgett, R. A. (2009). Rates of in situ transcription and splicing in large human
genes. Nat Struct Mol Biol 16, 1128-1133.
Strasser, K., Masuda, S., Mason, P., Pfannstiel, J., Oppizzi, M., Rodriguez-Navarro, S.,
Rondon, A. G., Aguilera, A., Struhl, K., Reed, R., and Hurt, E. (2002). TREX is a
conserved complex coupling transcription with messenger RNA export. Nature
417, 304-308.
Strobl, L. J., and Eick, D. (1992). Hold back of RNA polymerase II at the transcription start
site mediates down-regulation of c-myc in vivo. Embo J 11, 3307-3314.
Strom, A. C., and Weis, K. (2001). Importin-beta-like nuclear transport receptors. Genome
Biol 2, REVIEWS3008.
Sun, Q., Mayeda, A., Hampson, R. K., Krainer, A. R., and Rottman, F. M. (1993). General
splicing factor SF2/ASF promotes alternative splicing by binding to an exonic
splicing enhancer. Genes Dev 7, 2598-2608.
Tange, T. O., Nott, A., and Moore, M. J. (2004). The ever-increasing complexities of the exon
junction complex. Curr Opin Cell Biol 16, 279-284.
Taniguchi, I., Masuyama, K., and Ohno, M. (2007). Role of purine-rich exonic splicing
enhancers in nuclear retention of pre-mRNAs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104, 1368413689.

mRNA Biogenesis in the Nucleus and Its Export to the Cytoplasm

151

Torchet, C., Bousquet-Antonelli, C., Milligan, L., Thompson, E., Kufel, J., and Tollervey, D.
(2002). Processing of 3'-extended read-through transcripts by the exosome can
generate functional mRNAs. Mol Cell 9, 1285-1296.
Tran, E. J., Zhou, Y., Corbett, A. H., and Wente, S. R. (2007). The DEAD-box protein Dbp5
controls mRNA export by triggering specific RNA:protein remodeling events. Mol
Cell 28, 850-859.
van Hoof, A., and Parker, R. (1999). The exosome: a proteasome for RNA? Cell 99, 347-350.
Vanacova, S., and Stefl, R. (2007). The exosome and RNA quality control in the nucleus.
EMBO Rep 8, 651-657.
Vasudevan, S., Peltz, S. W., and Wilusz, C. J. (2002). Non-stop decay--a new mRNA
surveillance pathway. Bioessays 24, 785-788.
Vinciguerra, P., Iglesias, N., Camblong, J., Zenklusen, D., and Stutz, F. (2005). Perinuclear
Mlp proteins downregulate gene expression in response to a defect in mRNA
export. Embo J 24, 813-823.
Visa, N., Izaurralde, E., Ferreira, J., Daneholt, B., and Mattaj, I. W. (1996). A nuclear capbinding complex binds Balbiani ring pre-mRNA cotranscriptionally and
accompanies the ribonucleoprotein particle during nuclear export. J Cell Biol 133, 514.
Wang, J., Smith, P. J., Krainer, A. R., and Zhang, M. Q. (2005). Distribution of SR protein
exonic splicing enhancer motifs in human protein-coding genes. Nucleic Acids Res
33, 5053-5062.
Weirich, C. S., Erzberger, J. P., Berger, J. M., and Weis, K. (2004). The N-terminal domain of
Nup159 forms a beta-propeller that functions in mRNA export by tethering the
helicase Dbp5 to the nuclear pore. Mol Cell 16, 749-760.
Weirich, C. S., Erzberger, J. P., Flick, J. S., Berger, J. M., Thorner, J., and Weis, K. (2006).
Activation of the DExD/H-box protein Dbp5 by the nuclear-pore protein Gle1 and
its coactivator InsP6 is required for mRNA export. Nat Cell Biol 8, 668-676.
Whitelaw, E., and Proudfoot, N. (1986). Alpha-thalassaemia caused by a poly(A) site
mutation reveals that transcriptional termination is linked to 3' end processing in
the human alpha 2 globin gene. Embo J 5, 2915-2922.
Woychik, N. A., and Hampsey, M. (2002). The RNA polymerase II machinery: structure
illuminates function. Cell 108, 453-463.
Wu, C. H., Yamaguchi, Y., Benjamin, L. R., Horvat-Gordon, M., Washinsky, J., Enerly, E.,
Larsson, J., Lambertsson, A., Handa, H., and Gilmour, D. (2003). NELF and DSIF
cause promoter proximal pausing on the hsp70 promoter in Drosophila. Genes Dev
17, 1402-1414.
Wu, Y., Zhang, Y., and Zhang, J. (2005). Distribution of exonic splicing enhancer elements in
human genes. Genomics 86, 329-336.
Yamaguchi, Y., Inukai, N., Narita, T., Wada, T., and Handa, H. (2002). Evidence that
negative elongation factor represses transcription elongation through binding to a
DRB sensitivity-inducing factor/RNA polymerase II complex and RNA. Mol Cell
Biol 22, 2918-2927.
Yudkovsky, N., Ranish, J. A., and Hahn, S. (2000). A transcription reinitiation intermediate
that is stabilized by activator. Nature 408, 225-229.

152

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Zaret, K. S., and Sherman, F. (1982). DNA sequence required for efficient transcription
termination in yeast. Cell 28, 563-573.
Zeitlinger, J., Stark, A., Kellis, M., Hong, J. W., Nechaev, S., Adelman, K., Levine, M., and
Young, R. A. (2007). RNA polymerase stalling at developmental control genes in
the Drosophila melanogaster embryo. Nat Genet 39, 1512-1516.
Zenklusen, D., Vinciguerra, P., Wyss, J. C., and Stutz, F. (2002). Stable mRNP formation and
export require cotranscriptional recruitment of the mRNA export factors Yra1p and
Sub2p by Hpr1p. Mol Cell Biol 22, 8241-8253.

7
Membrane Initiated Effects of
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in
Prostate Cancer Cells: Effects on AP1 and
CREB Mediated Transcription
1Systems

Dennis Larsson1, Adele Jonas1, Niklas Bergsten1,

Fredrik Sthl2 and Sandra Karlsson1

Biology Research Centre - Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences,

University of Skvde,
2University College of Bors, School of Health Sciences,
Sweden

1. Introduction
The biologically active form of vitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], is
formed through a multistep process in the liver and the kidneys, initiated in the skin by solar
UVB radiation. Vitamin D compounds are transported in the body by vitamin D binding
protein (DBP) to either nuclear vitamin D receptors (nVDR) or putative membrane associated
vitamin D receptors (mVDR) where it exerts its biological responses in target organs by
nuclear- and membrane- initiated signaling pathways (Bouillon et al., 1995; Holmn et al.,
2009). Finally, 1,25(OH)2D3 becomes inactivated by 24-hydroxylase which transforms it into
1,24,25(OH)3D3, a substance with much lower affinity for VDR (Bouillon et al., 1995).
In the nuclear initiated signaling pathway, occupancy of the nuclear vitamin D receptor
(nVDR) by 1,25(OH)2D3 leads to modulation of gene transcription of hormone-sensitive
genes (Krishnan & Feldman, 2010). In conformity with several other receptors of the nuclear
steroid/thyroid superfamily, nVDR forms heterodimers with retinoid X receptor (RXR)
(Sutton et al., 2003). Subsequent interaction with the vitamin D response element (VDRE) in
the promoter sequence of target genes initiates induction or repression of transcription,
hence generating a biological response (Haussler et al., 2011).
Vitamin D exerts multiple actions in the organism including the well-known regulation of
calcium and phosphate homeostasis (Holick, 2006), but it also possesses anti-proliferative,
pro-differential and pro-apoptotic actions in cancer cells as well as increasing the effect of a
number of established anti-cancer drugs (Trump et al., 2010).
The association of vitamin D with human cancer is well described in adenocarcinoma of the
prostate gland, i.e. prostate cancer (PCa). Clear correlation between vitamin D deficiency and
risk factors for PCa, such as high age and darker pigmented skin, has been observed. Thus, the
amount of vitamin D decline with age, and the elevated levels of melanin in African
Americans partly inhibits sun initiated vitamin D synthesize (Hsing & Chokkaligam, 2006).

154

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Furthermore, 1,25(OH)2D3 has been proven to decrease the risk of PCa by controlling prostate
cell proliferation (Holick, 2006).
In a previous paper, we have shown that 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates prostate cell
differentiation, apoptosis and proliferation via multiple pathways, which involves both
nuclear and membrane receptors found in the JNK/SAPK (c-Jun N-terminal kinases/stressactivated protein kinase) pathway. (Hagberg et al., 2008; Larsson et al., 2008; Holmn et al.,
2009; Karlsson et al., 2010).
The JNK/SAPK pathway may be induced by several different means, such as chemical and
physical stress, UV-radiation and osmotic shock, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, and
even G-coupled receptor signaling, (Matsukawa et al., 2004). Among the cytokines that triggers
the JNK/SAPK pathway, TNF- is predominant, and it is also known to regulate cellular
events associated with cancer cell phenotype, such as apoptosis, cell proliferation and
differentiation. Still, it has been shown that cancer cells are resistant to apoptosis induced by
TNF- (Chopra et al., 2004). This resistance seems to involve certain survival signals, one of
which being the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-B). It is therefore thought
that if NF-B is inhibited, the cancer cells would become more sensitive to TNF- induced
apoptosis. Indeed, this seemed to be the case in TNF- resistant leukemia cells that were
treated with sulforaphane, a putative anti-cancer drug that showed a non-specific inhibition of
the TNF- induced NF-B activation (Moon et al., 2009). In addition, there were indications
that this inhibition of NF-B lead to prolonged JNK/SAPK activation in the leukemia cells.
Other studies indicate that activation of JNK also seems to regulate and can be regulated by
NF-B (Nachmias et al., 2004). A similar result to the sulforaphane inhibition of the TNF-
induced NF-B has been reported for breast cancer cells treated with vitamin D. Thus,
Michigan cancer foundation 7 (MCF-7) breast cancer cells, were found to become sensitized to
apoptosis induced by TNF- when treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 (Golovko et al., 2005).
Transcription factor NF-B can be regulated in concert with another transcription factor,
activator protein 1 (AP1). AP1 is a complex consisting of homodimers and heterodimers of
the jun and fos families and the activity of AP1 seems to be regulated by differential
expression of the jun and fos families. The c-Jun components of AP1 can be regulated by the
phosphorylating activity of active JNK (Dedieu and Lefebvre, 2006). Thus, in the two
prostate carcinoma cell lines PC-3 and LNCaP, overexpression of the early growth response
protein EGR-1, selectively increased the activity of both NF-B and AP1 and the activation
of these transcription factors appeared to be essential for the induction of proliferation and
anchorage independence (Parra et al., 2011).
Another important mediator of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis is the cyclic
response element binding protein (CREB). CREB is part of the cAMP regulated pathway and
is phosphorylated by protein kinase A (PKA). CREB does not have direct contact with the
transcriptional machinery. Therefore it requires CREB binding protein (CBP) to achieve
transcriptional activation. There are several steroid and thyroid hormones that act to bind
CBP e.g. luteinizing hormone, glucagon and adrenaline which all exert influence over cAMP
and PKA. There are no direct evidences that vitamin D receptors are coupled to a protein
complex which includes adenylate cyclase. However, several studies have demonstrated
that 1,25(OH)2D3 evoke rapid increases in PKA activity, intracellular cAMP concentrations
which have been found to be associated with G-protein-coupled signaling as well as
regulation of Ca2+ transport through Ca2+-channels (Massheimer et al., 1999; Schwartz et al.,
2002; Dirks-Naylor & Lennon-Edwards, 2011).

Membrane Initiated Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Prostate Cancer Cells:

Effects on AP1 and CREB Mediated Transcription

155

Knowing how the cell cycle arrest and the anti-proliferative effects are induced on a
molecular level is important when developing successful therapeutic tools against cancer.
1,25(OH)2D3 stands out as a potential anti-cancer drug, even with its severe side effect of
hypercalcemia, and treating LNCaP cells with 1,25(OH)2D3 results in an accumulation of
cells in the G1 phase, growth arrest, and to some extent apoptosis. In order to get a better
understanding of how this kind of action of 1,25(OH)2D3 is regulated we have in this study
made the following investigations:
First, monitor the response on JNK/SAPK complex dependent activation of AP1 to
1,25(OH)2D3 and TNF- in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Secondly, decide whether 1
,25(OH)2D3 regulates TNF- production and release by LNCaP cells and thus have an
indirect effect via the TNF- signaling pathway on cell growth, differentiation and
apoptosis, and third, evaluate the PKA dependent activation of cyclic response element
binding protein (CREB) in LNCaP cells treated with 1,25(OH)2D3.

2. Materials and methods

2.1 Cell culture
LNCaP cells were cultured in Gibco RPMI 1640 media (Invitrogen, UK). The media
contained FBS (10%), PEST (1%), L-glutamine (1%), HEPES and sodium pyruvate (1%). The
cells were subcultured five days after the initial culture and seeded at a density of 20 000
cells/well onto a 96-well plate (Nunc, Thermo Fischer Scientific, US) or 50 000 cells/well at a
24 well plate (Nunc, Thermo Fisher Scientific). At the point of seeding to the plate, the
growth media was substituted for Opti-MEM (Invitrogen, UK) with 5% FBS and 1% NEAA
without phenol-red-free and without antibiotics to prepare for transfection. The cells were
incubated at 37C and 5% CO2 for 48 hour prior 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment.
2.2 Transient transfection and CREB reporter assay (cAMP/PKA)/AP1 reporter assay
SureFECTTM transfection reagent and CignalTM CREB reporter/CignalTM AP1 reporter kit
was used according to the manufacturers protocol (SA BioSciences, USA) to monitor
cAMP/PKA pathway activity and the activity of AP1-regulated transduction pathways. The
CREB reporter is a viral vector based on the Cytomegalo virus (CMV) that has been
rendered replication incompetent and robbed of all virulence factors. It consist of inducible
firefly luciferase that response to CREB and constitutively expressed Renilla constructs. The
reporter is designed to monitor cAMP/PKA pathway activity and together with a Dual
GloTM Luciferase Assay System (Promega, USA), it provides an easy approach to study the
activity of this pathway. The AP1 reporter contains a mixture of inducible AP1-responding
firefly luciferase construct and a constitutively expressing Renilla luciferase construct. The
luciferase construct codes for the firefly luciferase reporter gene which is under the control
of a minimal cytomegalovirus (mCMV) promoter and tandem repeats of the TPA response
element. The Renilla construct codes for the Renilla luciferase reporter gene, which acts
under control of a CMV. It is used as a control for normalizing transfection efficiency and
for monitoring cell viability.
Briefly, in both assays, the LNCaP cells were transfected using SureENTRY transfection
reagent in a 96-well plate. The LNCaP cells were seeded at the time of transfection. The
medium used for the transfection was Opti-MEM serum-free culture medium. Dilutions of

156

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

the AP1/CREB reporter and the positive and negative controls were prepared as well as
dilutions for SureENTRY. The cells were then washed with PBS and trypsinised and then
suspended in Opti-MEM serum-free cell culture medium. The cell pellet was the
resuspended in Opti-MEM cell culture medium. A haemocytometer was used to determine
cell density and 10 000 cells was then seeded into each well. The Cignal reporter, negative
and positive control was added to the appropriate wells and SureENTRY was added to each
well and incubated for 48 hours. The cells were then treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 and
luminescence measurements were made for selected interval.
2.3 1,25(OH)2D3 and G-protein coupled PKA/CREB-dependent gene expression in
LNCaP cells
Following incubation, cells transfected with the CREB reporter, were treated with
1,25(OH)2D3 in the concentrations 10-7 M with or without the G-protein inhibitor
Guanosine 5-[-thio]diphosphate trilithium (GDP--S; 100 M; Sigma-Aldrich). Ethanol
(0,001%) was used as control.
2.4 Luminescence measurements
Luminescence levels were measured at four time points, 24, 48, 72 and 96h in a luminometer
(FLUOstar Galaxy, BMG Labtech, Germany) using the Dual GloTM Luciferase Assay System
(Promega, US). At the first interval, Dual Glo ReagentTM was prepared by mixing Dual Glo
SubstrateTM with Dual Glo BufferTM at a ratio of 1:1. Stop & Glo ReagentTM was prepared by
mixing Stop & Glo SubstrateTM with Stop & Glo BufferTM, at a ratio of 1:100 at each time
interval, before measuring activity. At each measuring interval, 75 l of Dual GloTM was
added to the examined wells to check inducible activity, according to manufacturers
recommendations and were incubated at room temperature for 12-15 minutes. Following
the Firefly luciferase reading, 75 l of Stop & Glo ReagentTM was added to check the noninducible luciferase activity. As with Dual Glo ReagentTM, the wells were incubated for 1215 minutes. The principle is that Firefly luciferase (Dual Glo ReagentTM) is inducible, while
Renilla luciferase (Stop & Glo ReagentTM) is not. This provides a reference point to compare
and normalize obtained data.
2.5 Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 and TNF- on AP1-dependent gene expression in LNCaP
cells
The cells were treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 (10-7 M) or TNF- (10-9 M) with or without 20 M
SP600125 (JNK/SAPK inhibitor (0.001% of ethanol was used as a control)). Luminescence
measurements were taken after 24, 48, 72 and 96h. The experiments were repeated in
triplicates.
2.6 Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on TNF- production in LNCaP cells
Each well of a 24 well plate was seeded with 50 000 LNCaP cells. The cells were then treated
with 10-7 M 1,25(OH)2D3 and 20 M of the JNK/SAPK inhibitor, SP600125. As a control,
0.001% of ethanol was used. TNF- production in the cell culture media was measured post
72 and 96 hours treatment using a commercial TNF- specific ELISAs according to the
manufacturers instructions (Promega, USA). Each experiment was repeated three times.

Membrane Initiated Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Prostate Cancer Cells:

Effects on AP1 and CREB Mediated Transcription

157

2.7 Statistics
Two-way ANOVAs were performed using GraphPad Prism to evaluate the data from the
assays. For the AP1 reporter assay, triplicates were used for all four time points and all
treatments except for the ethanol controls, in which case duplicates were used for all time
points. For the TNF- specific ELISA four replicates were used for all the samples and
duplicates for the standards, control and blank wells. The P value threshold was set to
0.05.

3. Results and discussion

Previous studies on prostate cancer cells have reported that 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates
proliferation and cell survival through membrane initiated signaling pathways (Hagberg
et al., 2008; Larsson et al., 2008). Similar observations have been made in vitamin D
responsive tissues, where membrane initiated signaling have been linked to PKA, PKC
and MAPK signaling pathways (Schwartz et al., 2002; Dirks-Naylor and Lennon-Edwards,
2011). This study was aimed to further elucidate membrane initiated signaling by
1,25(OH)2D3 in LNCaP prostate cancer cells by evaluating the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on
AP1 and CREB-dependent gene expression as well as testing the hypothesis that
1,25(OH)2D3 might evoke membrane initiated effects through TNF- and TNF- initiated
signaling pathways.
3.1 Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on AP1-dependent gene expression

600

***
400

1,25(OH) 2D3
1,25(OH) 2D3+JNK/SAPK
inhibitor

**

**
200

96

72

48

0
24

Relative Luciferase Activity

As shown in Figure 1, 1,25(OH)2D3 increased AP1-dependent gene expression after

treatment at 48 (p<0.05), 72 (p<0.001) and 96h (p<0.0001) compared to control treated
LNCaP cells (0.001% ethanol). The effect was time-dependent and at 96h, a difference in
AP1-dependent gene expression was observed between the cells treated with 1,25(OH)2D3
and cells treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 + SP600125 (JNK/SAPK inhibitor)(p<0.05). Thus,
1,25(OH)2D3 increase AP1-dependent gene expression through the JNK/SAPK signaling
pathway in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

Time (h)
Fig. 1. Effects of 1 ,25(OH)2D3 (10-7 M) on AP1-dependent gene expression.

158

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

AP1-dependent gene expression was determined in LNCaP prostate cancer cells by a AP1
reporter assay (SA Biosciences) by measuring Firefly luciferase activity relative to the Renilla
luciferase activity after treatment with 1 ,25(OH)2D3 (10-7 M) with or without SP600125
(20 M), using ethanol as control. LNCaP cell were treated for 24, 48, 72 or 96h before
measuring the AP1 activity. Data were normalised and are expressed as % of control. The
level of significance was set to p<0,05. Data are presented as mean SEM
The data from this study supports previous observations in prostate cancer cells where
1,25(OH)2D3 decrease cell proliferation (Larsson et al., 2008) and where at least a part of the
decreased proliferation has been connected an increase in the phosphorylation of
JNK/SAPK and c-jun (Larsson et al., 2008; Hagberg et al., 2008; Karlsson et al., 2010). Effects
on MAPK signaling pathways by 1,25(OH)2D3 is not limited to prostate cancer cells. In
human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells, Kim et al. (2007) 1,25(OH)2D3 induced HL-60 cell
differentiation through a pathway involved with PI3-K/PKC/ERK/JNK and in human
osteosarcoma SaOS-2 cells (Wu et al., 2007), 1,25(OH)2D3 were reported to be involved in
JNK/SAPK activation as well as ERK 1/2 MAPK signaling and that only sustained and not
transient treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 induced AP1 activation.
3.2 Effects of TNF- on AP1-dependent gene expression

400
*

300

TNF-
TNF- + JNK/SAPK inhibitor

**

200
100

96

72

48

0
24

Relative Luciferase Activity

TNF- increased AP1-dependent gene expression after 72 (p<0.01) and 96h (p<0.05)
compared to control treated LNCaP cells. The effect was not time-dependent and no
differences in AP1-dependent gene expression was observed between the cells treated with
TNF- and cells treated with TNF- + SP600125 (JNK/SAPK inhibitor) at any time-point.
Thus, TNF- increases AP1-dependent gene expression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

Time (h)
Fig. 2. Effects of TNF- (1 nM) on AP1-dependent gene expression.
AP1-dependent gene expression was determined in LNCaP prostate cancer cells by a AP1
reporter assay (SA Biosciences) by measuring Firefly luciferase activity relative to the Renilla
luciferase activity after treatment with TNF- (1 nM) with or without SP600125 (20 M),
using ethanol as control. LNCaP cell were treated for 24, 48, 72 or 96h before measuring the

Membrane Initiated Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Prostate Cancer Cells:

Effects on AP1 and CREB Mediated Transcription

159

AP1 activity. Data were normalised and are expressed as % of control. The level of
significance was set to p<0,05. Data are presented as mean SEM
The findings in the present study are in concert with reports from MIN6N8 pancreatic cells (Kim et al., 2005) and MCF7 breast cancer cells (Yin et al. 2009), where the JNK/SAPK
signaling pathway was reported to increase AP1 dependent gene expression. However, Yin
et al. (2009) showed that the AP1 transactivation activity had its peak after 3 hours but was
still significantly elevated after 24h. In the present study, the response in an increased AP1
activity came after 48 hours and persisted throughout the experiment. The difference in
response reported in this study and by Yin et al. (2009) may be because of differences
between breast cancer and prostate cancer cells but could also reflect that the concentration
of TNF- in experiments performed by Yin et al. (2009) could have been a limiting factor.
3.3 Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on TNF- production in LNCaP cells and TNF-
concentrations in culture media
The TNF- specific ELISA showed that 1,25(OH)2D3 did not affect the production of TNF-
in LNCaP cells and thus, does not have an effect on TNF- signaling pathway by increased
concentrations of the growth factor in the media. This suggest that TNF- acts
independently of 1,25(OH)2D3 in activation of the JNK/SAPK signaling pathway. These
results are consistent with the findings of Golovko et al. (2005), who reported that under
physiological conditions, 1,25(OH)2D3 does not affect the production of TNF-, but that
TNF- mRNA expression was up-regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 as well as its analogue CB1093
in LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells. Chopra et al. (2004) studied the role of TNF- in
regulation of growth and apoptosis in three different prostate cell lines: normal prostate
epithelial cells, LNCaP cells and PC3 cells and could demonstrate that normal prostate
epithelial cells and PC3 cells were resistant to growth arrest and apoptosis induced by TNF and LNCaP cells were highly sensitive to the growth factor. Thus, from the results in the
present study as well as previous studies (Golovko et al., 2005; Chopra et al., 2004,) we
conclude that 1,25(OH)2D3 and TNF- acts through independent pathways ending up in an
up-regulation of AP1-dependent gene expression.
3.4 Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on CREB-dependent gene expression
1,25(OH)2D3 increased CREB-dependent gene expression compared to control treated
LNCaP cells (Figure 3). The effect was time- and G protein-dependent where treatment with
10-7 M 1,25(OH)2D3 increased CREB-dependent gene expression compared to cells treated
with 10-7 M 1,25(OH)2D3 + GDP--s (G protein inhibitor ) at 24 (p<0.05), 48h (p<0.0001) but
were decreased compared to the G-protein inhibited cells at 72h (p<0.05). Thus,
1,25(OH)2D3 increases CREB-dependent gene expression through a G protein-dependent
PKA/CREB signaling pathway in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.
PKA/CREB-dependent gene expression was determined in LNCaP prostate cancer cells by
a CREB reporter assay (SA Biosciences) by measuring Firefly luciferase activity relative to
the Renilla luciferase activity after treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 (10-7 M) with or without
GDP--S (100 M), using ethanol as control. LNCaP cell were treated for 24, 48, 72 or 96h
before measuring the CREB activity. Data were normalised and are expressed as % of
control. The level of significance was set to p<0,05. Data are presented as mean SEM

160

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 3. Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 (10-7 M) on PKA/CREB-dependent gene expression.

The fact that 1,25(OH)2D3 both activate JNK/SAPK and PKA/CREB-dependent gene
expression indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3 exert it effects through more than one pathway and
mean that there might be more than one receptor that mediate the responses of this
metabolite. Alternatively, the receptor could form different complexes that upon activation
start unique signal cascades. An example of a similar observation is membrane initiated
signaling in skeletal muscle, where six different signaling pathways have been described for
1,25(OH)2D3 (Vasquez et al., 1996; Capiati et al., 2000; Dirks-Naylor and Lennon-Edwards,
2011). The point that there are two different vitamin D receptors (VDR, PDIA3) associated
with the cell membrane (Holmen et al., 2009; Karlsson et al., 2010) and that PDIA3 has been
suggested to form a trimer with at least three high affinity binding sites (Karlsson et al.,
2010) make us to postulate that depending on the docking site of 1,25(OH)2D3 to the
receptor, the resulting change in three dimensional structure of the hormone-receptor
complex, starts a subsequent signaling cascade. The response will thus be dependent on
both time and space where both short-term and long-term effect will be important in
regulating prostate cell biology.
3.5 Conclusions
In conclusion, our findings support previous reports and suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3
regulate prostate cell biology via multiple pathways and targeting of specific pathways for
1,25(OH)2D3 might provide more effective therapies compared to the vitamin D therapies
currently clinically tested and may serve as a complementary treatment in patients with
androgen independent prostate cancer.
3.6 Future directives
The nature of membrane initiated signaling as a response to 1,25(OH)2D3 is not yet
clarified. It has been debated over the last two decades and currently there are two major
candidates to be a membrane associated receptor for 1,25(OH)2D3 (VDR and PDIA3). Our
laboratory have for several years studied membrane initiated signaling by 1,25(OH)2D3, in
silico and in vitro, to elucidate signaling pathways and its key components with the goal to

Membrane Initiated Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Prostate Cancer Cells:

Effects on AP1 and CREB Mediated Transcription

161

clarify the biological role of the pathways in regulating prostate cancer. Focus on future
work will be to create specific antagonists and agonists (the pharmacopore approach) to the
putative membrane associated receptors to clarify their functions in vitro and hopefully get
molecules that have a high specificity to single receptor binding site.

4. References
Bouillon, R.; Okamura, W.H. & Norman, A.W. (1995). Structure-function relationships in the
vitamin D endocrine system. Endocrine Reviews, Vol.16, No.2, pp.200-57.
Capiati, D.; Vasquez, G.; Tellez Inon, M.T & R.L. Boland, (2000). Role of protein kinase C in
1,25(OH)2 -Vitamin D3 during development of skeletal muscle cells in culture.
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Vol 77, pp 200-212.
Chopra, D. P.; Menard, R. E.; Januszewski, J. & Mattingly, R. R. (2004). TNF-a-mediated
apoptosis in normal human prostate epithelial cells and tumor cell lines. Cancer
Letters, Vol. 203, pp.145-154.
Dedieu, S. & Lefebvre, P. (2006). Retinoids interfere with the AP1 signaling pathway in
human breast cancer cells. Cellular signaling, Vol.18, pp.889-898.
Dirks-Naylor, A.J & Lennon-Edwards, S. (2011). The effects of vitamin D on skeletal muscle
function and cellular signaling. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Vol.125, pp. 159-168.
Fanger, G. R.; Gerwins, P.; Widmann, C.; Jarpe, M. B.; and Johnson, G. L. (1997). MEKKs,
GCKs, MLKs, PAKs, TAKs, and tpls: upstream regulators of the c-Jun
aminoterminal kinases? Current Opinion in Genetics & Development. Vol.7, pp.67-74.
Golovko, O.; Nazarova, N. & Tuohimaa, P. (2005). Vitamin Dinduced upregulation of
tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in prostate cancer cells. Life Sciences, Vol.77,
pp.562-577.
Hagberg, M.; Holmn, J.; Olausson, J.; Karlsson, S.; Johansson, V. & Larsson, D. (2008).
Rapid activation of JNK/SAPK in LNCaP prostate cancer cells by 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3 is independent of PDIA3 (1,25-MARRS). Current Trends in
Steroid Research, Vol.5, pp. 1724.
Haussler, M.R.; Jurutka, P.W.; Mizwicki, M. & Norman, A.W. (2011). Vitamin D receptor
(VDR)-mediated actions of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3: Genomic and non-genomic
mechanisms. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Vol.25,
No.4, pp.543-59.
Holick, M.F. (2006). Vitamin D: its role in cancer prevention and treatment. Progression in
Biophysics and Molecular Biology,Vol.92, No.1, pp.49-59.
Holmn, J.; Jansson, A. & Larsson, D. (2009). A kinetic overview of the receptors involved in
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 signaling: a systems
biology approach, critical reviews in eukaryoticsignaling: a systems biology
approach. Critical Reviews on Eukaryotic Gene Expression, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 181196.
Hsing, A.W. & Chokkalingam, A.P. (2006). Prostate cancer epidemiology. Frontiers in
Bioscience. Vol.11, pp.1388-413.
Karlsson, S.; Olausson, J.; Lundh, D.; Sgrd, D.; Mandal, A.; Holmstrm, K.O.; Stahel, A.;
Bengtsson, J. & Larsson, D. (2010). Vitamin D and prostate cancer: The role of
membrane initiated signaling pathways in prostate cancer progression. Journal of
Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vol.121, pp.413-416.
Kim, D.S.; Kim, S.H.; Song, J.H.; Chang Y.-T.; Hwang S.Y. & Kim, T.S. (2007). Enhancing
effects of ceramide derivatives on 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced

162

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

differentiation of human HL-60 leukemia cells. Journal of Life Sciences Vol.81, pp.
1638-1644.
Kim, W.H.; Lee, J.W.; Gao, B. & Jung, M.H. (2005). Synergistic activation of JNK/SAPK
induced by TNF- and IFN-: Apoptosis of pancreatic h-cells via the p53 and ROS
pathway. Journal of Cellular signaling Vol.17, pp. 1516-1532.
Krishnan, A.V. & Feldman, D. (2010). Molecular pathways mediating the anti-inflammatory
effects of calcitriol: implications for prostate cancer chemoprevention and treatment.
Endocrine Related Cancer. Vol.17, No.1, pp.R19-38.
Larsson, D.; Hagberg, M.; Malek, N.; Kjellberg, C.; Senneberg, E.; Tahmasebifar, N. &
Johansson, V. (2008). Membrane initiated signaling by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
in LNCaP prostate cancer cells, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology,
Vol.617, pp. 573579.
Massheimer, V.; Boland, R. & deBoland, A.R. (1999). In vivo treatment with calcitriol
(1,25(OH)2D3) reverses age-dependent alterations of intestinal calcium uptake in
rat enterocytes. Calcified Tissue International, Vol.64, pp.173-178.
Matsukawa, J., Matsuzawa, A., Takeda, K. & Ichijo, H. (2004). The ASK1-MAP kinase
cascades in mammalian stress response. Journal of Biochemistry. Vol.136, pp.261-265
Moon, D.O., Kim, M.O., Kang, S.H., Choi, Y.H. & Kim, G.Y. (2009). Sulforaphane
suppresses TNF alpha -mediated activation of NF-kappaB and induces apoptosis
through activation of reactive oxygen species-dependent caspase-3. Cancer
Letters. Vol. 274, No.1, pp.132-42.
Nachmias, B.; Ashhab, Y. & Ben-Yehuda, D. (2004). The inhibitor of the apoptosis protein
family (IAPs): an emerging target in cancer therapy. Seminars in Cancer Biology,
Vol.14, pp.231-243.
Parral, E., Ferreira, J & Ortega A. (2011). Overexpression of EGR-1 modulates the activity of
NF-B and AP-1 in prostate carcinoma PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines. International
Journal of Oncology. Vol.39, No.2, pp.345-52.
Schwartz, Z.; Sylvia, V.L.; Larsson, D.; Nemere, I.; Cassasola, D.; Dean, D. & Boyan B.D.
(2002). 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates chondrocyte matrix vesicle protein kinase C (PKC)
directly via G-protein-dependent mechanisms and indirectly via incorporation of
PKC during matrix vesicle biogenesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol.277, No.14,
pp. 11828-11837.
Sutton, A. L. & MacDonald, P. N. (2003). Vitamin D: more than a bone-a-fide hormone.
Molecular Endocrinology. Vol.17, pp.777791.
Trump, DL, Deeb., K & Johnson, CS. (2010). Vitamin D: Considerations in the Continued
Development as an Agent for Cancer Prevention and Therapy. Cancer Journal.
Vol.16, No.1, pp.19.
Vasquez, G. & de Boland, A.R. (1996). Involvement of protein kinase C in the modulation of
1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3-induced 45Ca2+ uptake in rat and chick cultured
myoblasts. Biochemical and Biophysical Acta,Vol.1310, pp. 157-162.
Wu, W.; Zhang, X. & Zanello, L.P. (2007). 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 antiproliferative
actions involve vitamin D receptor-mediated activation of MAPK pathways and
AP-1/p21 upregulation in human osteosarcoma. Cancer Letters, Vol.254, pp.75-86.
Yin, Y.; Wang S.; Sun,Y.; Matt, Y.; Colburn, N. H.; Shu, Y. & Han, X. (2009). JNK/AP-1
pathway is involved in tumor necrosis factor-a induced expression of vascular
endothelial growth factor in MCF7 cells. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Vol.63,
pp.429-435.

8
Genetic Transformation and Analysis of ProteinProtein Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes
from Dendrobium moniliforme
Supatida Abdullakasim1 and Takashi Handa2*
1Department

of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen,

Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom,
2School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa,
1Thailand
2Japan

1. Introduction
In angiosperm, flower formation has been initiated by transition of adult vegetative phase to
reproductive phase under controlling of plant endogenous signals like hormone and
circadian rhythm, and external factors such as photoperiod and temperature (Taiz and
Zeiger, 2010). Floral organs of angiosperm are generally arranged in four whorls from outer
part into inner part of a flower comprise; sepal-petal-stamen-carpel respectively. Analysis of
molecular mechanism controlling flower development reveals that the formation of floral
organs concerns functions of a group of transcription factors namely the ABC genes family.
Coen and Meyerowitz (1991) have formulated the classical ABC model to explain function
of these floral organ identity genes. Based on the classical ABC model, class A gene consists
of APETALA1 (AP1) and APETALA2 (AP2) from Arabidopsis, act to specify sepal in whorl1.
Combination of class A and class B genes, such as APETALA3 (AP3) and PISTILLATA (PI) in
Arabidopsis and DEFICIENS (DEF) and GLOBOSA (GLO) in Antirrhinum, is necessary for
petal and stamen development in whorls 2 and 3, respectively. A combination of class B and
class C genes including AGAMOUS (AG) in Arabidopsis controls stamen development in
whorl 3. The class C gene alone specifies carpel development in the forth floral whorl.
During the timeline of evolution, duplication event has once occurred in the ancestral B
genes and gave rise of two gene lineages includes AP3/DEF and PI/GLO (Goto and
Myerowitz, 1994; Jack et al., 1994 and Kramer et al., 1998). The second duplication has taken
place in the AP3 lineages causes separation of the B function genes into three sub-clades;
euAP3 clade generally presents in higher eudicots, paleo AP3 clade exists in lower eudicots,
magnolid dicot, monocot and basal angiosperm (Kramer and Irish, 2000), and an additional
sub-clade of paleo AP3 named TOMATO MADS BOX GENE6 (TM6) (Pnueli et al., 1991, Yu
et al., 1999 and Hsu and Yang, 2002). Expression pattern and function of genes in the TM6*

Corresponding Author

164

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

lineage are diverse than other class B gene lineages. In petunia, expression of Petunia TM6
was detected in whorl 3 and 4 of flower and it plays a role like function of the C-class gene
(Rijpkema et al., 2006). Recently, numerous of the class B genes have been widely proved for
gene expression pattern and functions in several flowering plant species. In Orchidaceae, at
least four AP3/DEF-like and one PI/GLO-like class B genes have been reported to contribute
the developmental mechanism of perianth and reproductive organ development.

2. Molecular mechanism regulating orchids floral morphogenesis

Orchidaceae is one of the largest families in angiosperm containing more than 24,000 plant
species (Fay and Chase, 2009). Flowers have been admired by people due to the great
diversity of flower color and morphology. An orchid flower is usually comprised of 3 types
of perianth arrange in 4 floral whorls include whorl 1 of three outer tepals (tepal is a
technical term for sepal and petal that the floral morphology is similar), whorl 2 of inner
tepals and whorl 3 and 4 of `gynostemium or `column which is a reproductive organ
where the male and female are fused into a single unit. One tepal in the second floral whorl
called `labellum or lip is typically large and colorful, which provides for trapping insect to
help pollination. Another two inner petals are usually smaller than the lip and have
morphologically similar structure of the three outer tepals.
Similarity between sepal and petal morphology is a dominant character in non-grass
monocotyledonous plants such as lily, tulip, asparagus and orchids. van Tunen et al. (1993)
has proposed a modified ABC model to explain the similarity of outer and inner tepals in
tulip which is due to expanded expression of class B genes to the first floral whorl. The
hypothesis has been confirmed by Kanno et al. (2003) that the identical of outer and inner
tepals formation of tulip concerns regulatory mechanisms of two DEF- and GLO-like genes,
in which all genes are expressed in both of the first and second floral whorls.
Formation of all type of perianth in orchid flower is regulated by the two lineages of class Bfunction genes: AP3/DEF-like and PI/GLO-like lineage associated with the E-function genes
(Xu et. al., 2006). While only a DEF-like gene generally present in genome of dicotyledonous
plants, at least four DEF-like genes have been detected in genome of Phalaenopsis orchids
(Tsai et al., 2004). Therefore the chance to form heterodimeric interaction between DEF-like
gene and GLO-like gene in orchid genome may help to generate different morphology of the
petaloid organs.
Recently, several DEF- and GLO-like genes were isolated from orchid species. Given the
DEF- and GLO-like genes phylogenic analysis, orchid DEF-like genes are the paleo AP3
type. Mondragon-Palomino and Theien (2008, 2009 and 2011) have formulated the orchid
code to explain orchids perianth formation. In the orchid code, there are four clades of
DEF-like and a clade of GLO-like lineage. Based on overall current research of DEF-like
genes, clade 1 contains PeMADS2-like genes, including PeMADS2 (Phalaenopsis equestris),
DcOAP3A (Dendrobium crumenatum) and OMADS5 (Oncidium Gower Ramsey). Clade 2
consists of OMADS3-like genes, including OMADS3 (O. Gower Ramsey) and PeMADS5 (P.
equestris). Clade 3 contains PeMADS3-like genes, including PeMADS3 (P. equestris),
DcOAP3B (D. crumenatum) and HrDEF (Habenaria radiata). Clade 4 contains PeMADS4-like
genes such as PeMADS4 (P. equestris).
Results from phylogenic and gene expression analysis suggested that another gene
duplication may be taken placed within the group of paleo AP3-like genes of orchid and

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein

Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes from Dendrobium moniliforme

165

cause partition into two sister clades. Clades 1 and 2 are considered as a first sister clade in
which gene expression is detected in both of outer and inner tepal formation. Clade 3 and 4
are another sister clade specifying only inner tepal development, but excluding outer tepal
(Mondragon-Palomino and Theien 2009, 2011).
In the GLO-like lineage, only one GLO-like gene was found in most of orchid genomes.
However H. radiata has two GLO-like genes (Kim et al., 2007). Orchid GLO-like gene
expression in all floral whorls of outer and inner tepals (Xu et al., 2006, Kim et al., 2007 and
Sirisawat et al., 2010).

3. Isolation of class B MADS-box genes from genome of Dendrobium

moniliforme
Dendrobium is a huge genus of orchid containing more than 1,200 species (Adams, 2011).
Most of species are epiphytic and occasionally lithophytic. Flower of Dendrobium orchids
usually has 3 outer tepals, 3 inner tepals in which one of them has developed to be labellum
or lip that usually large, colorful to trap for pollination purpose. Female and male
reproductive organ of Dendrobium orchid has fused as a single unit called column.
Dendrobium moniliforme or SEKKOKU in Japanese is a native orchid of Japan, and
historical story about this orchid has been recorded since the Edo period. This species have a
great variety of floral mutant phenotypes such as the double-petal mutant which lip has
conversed to be normal petal, and the peloric mutant which flower has 3 outer tepals and 3
lips replaced of normal inner tepals (Figure 1). Therefore D. moniliforme serves as a good
source for genetic analysis of floral organ identity. Perianth morphology of the double-petal
mutant is similar to flower of Apostasia orchid, a genus of primitive orchid which has very
simple gynostemium. Perianth forms in dimensional symmetry in which outer and inner
tepals are similar in shape and color. This symmetrical flower is supposed to be a character
of ancestral orchids (Mondragon-Palomino and Theien 2008). Since lip development
requires more heterodimeric complex between the DEF-and GLO-like genes than petal in
Phalaenopsis (Tsai et al., 2004), lip is considered as an elevated perianth organ during
evolution of orchid flower. Based on this hypothesis, the peloric mutant of D. moniliforme
may be developed after the wild-type one.
Recently, at least 17 floral organ identity genes were isolated from several species of
Dendrobium orchids comprising D. Madame Thong-In, D. thyrsiflorum (Reichb. f.), D.
crumenatum and D. moniliforme (Yu and Goh, 2000, Skipper et al., 2006, Xu et al., 2006,
Sirisawat et al., 2009, Sirisawat et al., 2010). Seven from 12 genes are members of class B
MADS-box genes named DcOAP3A, DMAP3A, DcOAP3B, DMAP3B, DMMADS4, DcOPI
and DMPI (Table 1).
In D. moniliforme, three paleo AP3-like and one PI-like genes were isolated and classified
(Sirisawat et al., 2009 and 2010). Phylogenetic analysis using amino acid sequences showed
that DMAP3A was a member of clade 1 PeMADS2-like genes and which was 96 and 88%
identical to DcOAP3A and PeMADS2, respectively. DMAP3B was clustered in the clade 3 of
PeMADS3-like genes and which was 96 and 88% identical to DcOAP3A and PeMADS3
respectively. As a representative of PeMADS4-like genes in Dendrobium orchid, DMMADS4
showed 87% identical to PeMADS4 which belonged to clade 4 of AP3/DEF-like lineage of
orchid (Figure 2).

166

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Apart from Habenaria radiata which has two GLO-like genes, most of orchids have only one
GLO-like gene in genome and the sequences are greatly similar. In particular, DMPI showed
96 and 93% identical to PeMADS6 and HrGLO2, respectively (Figure 3). The great similarity
of GLO-like sequences among Orchidaceae (more than 90%) indicated that functions of the
group genes may also be highly conserve.

Fig. 1. Flower morphology of Dendrobium moniliforme wild-type (A), the double petal
mutants (B) and the peloric mutant (C).
Class
A

Gene
DOMADS1

DthyrFL1

Species
Dendrobium
Madame Thong-In
D. Madame
Thong-In
D. Madame
Thong-In
D. thyrsiflorum

AP1/FUL

DthyrFL2

D. thyrsiflorum

AP1/FUL

DthyrFL3

D. thyrsiflorum

AP1/FUL

DcOAP2
DcOAP3A
DcOAP3B
DMAP3A

D. crumenatum
D. crumenatum
D. crumenatum
D. moniliforme

AP2
AP3/DEF
AP3/DEF
AP3/DEF

DMAP3B

D. moniliforme

AP3/DEF

DMMADS4

D. moniliforme

AP3/DEF

DcOPI
DMPI

D. crumenatum
D. moniliforme

PI/GLO
PI/GLO

DcOAG1
DcOAG2
DcOSEP1

D. crumenatum
D. crumenatum
D. crumenatum

AG
AG
SEP

DOMADS2
DOMADS3

C
D
E

Sub Family
AP1/AGL9
AP1/AGL9
AP1/AGL9

Accession No. Reference

AF198174
Yu and Goh,
2000
AF198175
Yu and Goh,
2000
AF198176
Yu and Goh,
2000
AY927236
Skipper et al.,
2005
AY927237
Skipper et al.,
2005
AY927238
Skipper et al.,
2005
DQ119837
Xu et al., 2006
DQ119838
Xu et al., 2006
DQ119839
Xu et al., 2006
EU056327
Sirisawat et al.,
2010
EU056328
Sirisawat et al.,
2010
GU132995
Sirisawat et al.,
2009
DQ119840
Xu et al., 2006
EU056326
Sirisawat et al.,
2010
DQ119841
Xu et al., 2006
DQ119842
Xu et al., 2006
DQ119843
Xu et al., 2006

Table 1. List of floral organ identity genes isolated from genus Dendrobium

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein

Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes from Dendrobium moniliforme

100
51

69

100
75
100

51
67

62

100

100
85

100
54

100

98

100

64
100

100

Outgroup

100

Clade 4

66

Clade 3

94
89

AP 3/DEF-like genes in orchid

59
82

Clade 2

100

95

(Dendrobium moniliforme)
(Dendrobium crumenatum)
(Phalaenopsis equestris)
(Gongora galeata)
(Cymbidium spp.)
(Vanilla planifolia)
(Gongora galeata)
(Oncidium)
(Phalaenopsis equestris)
(Spiranthes odorata)
(Dendrobium moniliforme)
(Dendrobium crumenatum)
(Gongora galeata)
(Phalaenopsis equestris)
(Spiranthes odorata)
(Habenaria riadiata)
(Vanilla planifolia)
(Dendrobium moniliforme)
(Phalaenopsis equestris)
(Phragmipedium longifolium)
(Spiranthes odorata)
(Vanilla planifolia)
(Phragmipedium longifolium)
(Lilium longiorum)
(Lilium regale)
(Alstroemeria ligtu)
(Tulipa gesneriana)
(Tulipa gesneriana)
(Alstroemeria ligtu)
(Oryza sava)
(Tricum aesvum )
(Zea mays)
(Phragmipedium longifolium)
(Arabidopsis thaliana)
(Anrrhinum majus)
(Anrrhinum majus)
(Arabidopsis thaliana)

Clade 1

100

DMAP3A
DMAP3A
DcOAP3A
PeMADS2
GogalDEF1
MADS1
VaplaDEF1
GogalDEF2
OMADS3
PeMADS5
SpodoDEF2
DMAP3B
DMAP3B
DcOAP3B
GogalDEF3
PeMADS3
SpodoDEF1
HrDEF
VaplaDEF3
DMMADS4
DMMADS4
PeMADS4
PhlonDEF4
SpodoDEF3
VaplaDEF2
PhlonDEF3
LMADS1
LRDEF
AlsDEFa
TGDEFA
TGDEFB
AlsDEFb
OsMADS16
TaMADS51
SILKY1
PhlonDEF1
AP3
DEF
SQUA
AP1

167

Fig. 2. The most parsimonious tree of AP3/DEF-like genes in plants based on an alignment of
the full-length amino acid sequence using UPGMA method. Numbers are bootstrap values
after 100 replicate runs. The four orchid AP3/DEF like clades were indicated by brackets.
The B-class sequences isolated from D. moniliforme in this study were bolded. Two class A
MADS-box genes were used as outgroup.

168

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

p
100

(Phalaenopsis equestris)

PhPI15

(Phalaenopsis hybrid)

SpodoGLO1

(Spiranthes odorata)

HrGLO2

(Habenaria radiata)

DMPI
DMPI

(Dendrobium moniliforme)

PhlonGLO1

(Phragmipedium longifolium)

VaplaGLO1

(Vanilla planifolia)

OrcPI

(Orchis italica)

HrGLO1

(Habenaria radiata)

TGGLO

(Tulipa gesneriana)

LRGLOA

(Lilium regale)

81

98

100

100

51

74

78

PI/GLO-like genes in orchid

PeMADS6

82

89

100

100
66
82

(Asparagus ocinalis)

AOGLOA

(Asparagus ocinalis)

OsMADS2

(Oryza sava)

ZMM16

(Zea mays)

FBP1

(Petunia hybrida)

GLO

(Anrrhinum majus)

CUM26

(Cucumis savus)

PI

(Arabidopsis thaliana)

SQUA

(Anrrhinum majus)

AP1

(Arabidopsis thaliana)

Outgroup

100

AOGLOB

Fig. 3. The most parsimonious tree of PI/GLO-like genes in plants based on an alignment of
the full-length amino acid sequence using UPGMA method. Numbers are bootstrap values
after 100 replicate runs. The PI/GLO-like genes from orchid were indicated by brackets. The
B-class sequences isolated from D. moniliforme in this study were boxed. Two class A MADSbox genes were used as outgroup.

4. Expression analysis of orchid class B-function genes by RT-PCR and

Quantitative real-time PCR
Expression of AP3/DEF- and PI/GLO-like class B genes in angiosperm is usually detected in
the second and third floral whorls of petal and stamen, respectively. Formation of double
petals is a typical character in basal angiosperm and monocot plants. In non-grass monocots,
expanded expression of the B function genes to the first floral whorl was found in tulip
(Kanno et al., 2003), Habenaria radiata (Kim et al., 2007) , D. crumenatum (Xu et al., 2006) and
P. equestris (Tsai et al., 2004) which contributes the petaloid-sepal formation in the first floral
whorl in those plants.
Diverse expression pattern of DEF-like genes was found in orchid (Table 2). The combinational
interaction between orchid DEF-and GLO-like genes is associated with distinct morphology of

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein

Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes from Dendrobium moniliforme

169

all perianth organs such as outer tepals, two inner tepals and lip in orchid. In particular,
expression of GLO-like genes is strongly detected in all floral whorls and highly conserved
gene expression pattern is shown throughout Orchidaceae (Table 2). Similar to expression
pattern of GLO-like genes, DEF-like genes in the clade 1 and 2 are strongly expressed in both
of whorl 1 and whorl 2, whereas the signals of DEF-like genes of clade 3 and clade 4 are not
detected in whorl 1 (Table 2). The results suggest that development of outer tepals in whorl1 of
orchid is regulated by combinational interaction between DEF- and GLO-like genes of clade 1
and 2 (Mondragon-Palomino and Theien, 2011).
Sub
family
AP3/DEF
Clade 1

Clade 2
Clade 3

Clade 4

PI/GLO

Gene name

Species

Sepal

Petal

Lip

Column

Ovary

DcOAP3Aa
DMAP3Ab
PeMADS2c
PhlonDEF2d
OMADS5e
VaplaDEF1d
OMADS3f
PeMADS5c
PhlonDEF1d
DcOAP3Ba
DMAP3Bb
HrDEFg
OMADS9e
PeMADS3c
PhlonDEF3d
VaplaDEF3d
DMMADS4h
PeMADS4c
PhlonDEF4d
VaplaDEF2d

Dendrobium crumenatum
Dendrobium moniliforme
Phalaenopsis equestris
Phragmipedium longifolium
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Vanila planifolia
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Phalaenopsis equestris
Phragmipedium longifolium
Dendrobium crumenatum
Dendrobium moniliforme
Habenaria radiata
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Phalaenopsis equestris
Phragmipedium longifolium
Vanila planifolia
Dendrobium moniliforme
Phalaenopsis equestris
Phragmipedium longifolium
Vanila planifolia

+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
++
+++
++
+++
-

+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
++
++

+++
+++
+
+
++
+
+++
++
+
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
++
++

+++
+++
+
+++
ND
+++
ND
+
++
+++
+++
+
ND
+
++
+++
+++
+++
++
++

ND
++
ND
++
ND
+
ND
ND
++
ND
ND
ND
ND
+++
ND
+

DcOPIa
DMPIb
HrGLO1g
HrGLO2g
OMADS8e
PeMADS6i
PhlonGLOd
VaplaGLO d

Dendrobium crumenatum
Dendrobium moniliforme
Habenaria radiata
Habenaria radiata
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Phalaenopsis equestris
Phragmipedium longifolium
Vanila planifolia

+++
+++
+++
++
+++
+++
+++
++

+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
++

+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
+++
++

+++
+++
+++
+
ND
+++
+++
++

ND
+++
ND
ND
ND
+++
++
++

The - sign indicates non of gene expression, + sign indicate level of gene expression, ND indicates data
is not applicable.
aData from Xu et al., 2006, bData from Sirisawat et al., 2010, cData from Tsai et al., 2004, dData from
Mondragn-Palomino and Theien, 2011, eData from Chang et al., 2010, fData from Hsu and Yang et al.,
2002, gData from Kim et al., 2005, hData from Sirisawat et al., 2009, i Data from Tsai et al., 2005.

Table 2. Summary of expression patterns of AP3/DEF-like and PI/GLO-like genes during the
development of flower buds in different orchid tissues.
Strong expression of PeMADS4, a clade 4 DEF-like gene, in lip of orchid flowers indicates
that this gene is a key gene to specify lip formation. However, the expression of other genes
in the clade 4 such as DMMADS4 (D. moniliforme), PhlonDEF4 (Phragmipedium longifolium)
and VaplaDEF2 (Vanilla planifolia) is found in both whorls of petal and lip similar to

170

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

expression pattern of the clade 3 DEF-like genes (Table 2). This result suggests that the clade
3 and 4 DEF-like genes regulated both of petal and lip development. In particular, clade 3
and 4 DEF-like genes from P. longifolium and V. planifolia were strongly expressed in
labellum rather than in petals (Mondragon-Palomino and Theien, 2011). Additionally,
expression of the four clades DEF-and GLO-like genes also associate with development of
reproductive organs in the whorl 3 and 4 floral whorls.
Modulated signal of some DEF- and GLO-like gene expression was also found in immature
ovary of orchid flower. Generally, ovary development in angiosperm is regulated by
function of class D MADS-box genes (Lopez-Dee et al. 1999; Favaro et al. 2002), however
molecular mechanism of class B MADS-genes related to ovary development is not well
understood. In Phalaenopsis, expression of PeMADS6, a GLO-like gene, was strongly detected
in immature ovary and the signal was decreased after pollination. Therefore expression of
class B MADS-box genes in ovary is supposed to be regulated by pollination (Tsai et al.,
2005).

5. Analysis of protein-protein interactions by the yeast 2-hybrid system

Yeast two-hybrid screening is a method to examine interaction between protein-protein,
protein-DNA by detecting binding property of the protein-protein, protein-DNA in yeast
cells. Heterodimer formations between AP3/DEF- and PI/GLO- like proteins are required
for function of class B MADS-box genes in angiosperm. In Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum,
AP3/DEF- like proteins needs to make heterodimer with the PI/GLO-like proteins to
function accurately as transcriptional regulators (Schwarz-Sommer et al. 1992, Honma and
Goto 2001, Immink et al., 2003).
Homodimeric formation of protein is supposed to be primarily characteristic of the class B
floral homeotic proteins. In the gymnosperm Gnetum gnemon, GGM2 is able to bind DNA in
a sequence-specific manner as a homodimer (Winter et al., 2002). In angiosperm, there are
three sub-lineage of AP3/DEF-like proteins include paleo AP3, TM6 and euAP3 lineage.
Some paleo AP3- and TM6-like proteins maintain homodimeric configuration, however
most of protein in euAP3 lineage that generally present in dicotyledonous plants lost the
ability of homodimeric formation and they need forming heterodimer with protein in the PI
lineage (Winter et al., 2002, Hsu and Yang, 2002).
In non grass monocots, some class B function proteins are able to make homodimeric
formation such as LMADS1 (Lilium longiflorum) (Tzeng and Yang, 2001) and TGGLO (Tulipa
gesneriana) (Kanno et al., 2003). To confirm suspected interactions of DEF-and GLO-like
proteins in D. moniliforme, we performed the Matchmaker Two-Hybrid assay (Clontech Co.
Ltd.) according to the suppliers instruction. The entire coding sequence of DMMADS4 gene
was ligated to the pGBKT binding domain vector (pGBKT-DMMADS4) or the pGADT7
activation domain vector (pGADT7-DMMADS4). In the same way, the PCR fragments of
DMPI were ligated to the pGBKT binding domain vector (pGBKT-DMPI) or the pGADT7
activation domain vector (pGADT7-DMPI). Several possible protein-protein interaction of
the DMMADS4 and DMPI were screened by cotransformation to yeast using the lithium
acetate method (Gietz et al., 1992). The transformants were selected on selection medium
and then analyzed for the - galactosidase activity. The results showed that the DMMADS4
was strongly interacted with the DMPI as heterodimer formation. Additionally, DMMADS4
is able to form homodimer weakly, whereas DMPI could not make the homodimeric
interaction (Figure 4).

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein

Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes from Dendrobium moniliforme

171

Fig. 4. Homodimeric interaction between pGBKT-DMMADS4 and pGADT-DMMADS4 (A)

and heterodimeric interaction between pGBKT-DMMADS4 and pGADT-DMPI (B)
(Sirisawat et al., 2009). Strong signal was detected when pGBKT-DMMADS4 and pGADTDMPI form as heterodimer.
Sub family
AP3/DEF
Clade 1
Clade 2
Clade 3
Clade 4
Sub family

Protein name

Species

Homodimer
formation

Heterodimer
formation with
PI/GLO

Reference

DcOAP3A
PeMADS2
OMADS5
OMADS3
PeMADS5
DcOAP3B
OMADS9
PeMADS3
DMMADS4
PeMADS4

Dendrobiun crumenatum
Phalaenopsis equestris
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Phalaenopsis equestris
Dendrobium crumenatum
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Phalaenopsis equestris
Dendrobium moniliforme
Phalaenopsis equestris

++
+
++
+
++

+++ (DcOPI)
++ (PeMADS6)
- (OMADS8)
++ (OMADS8)
+ (PeMADS6)
+++ (DcOPI)
- (OMADS8)
+++ (PeMADS6)
+++ (DMPI)
+++ (PeMADS6)

Xu et al., 2006
Tsai et al., 2008
Chang et al., 2010
Chang et al., 2010
Tsai et al., 2008
Xu et al., 2006
Chang et al., 2010
Tsai et al., 2008
Sirisawat et. al., 2009
Tsai et al., 2008

Protein name

Species

Homodimer
formation

Heterodimer
formation with
AP3/DEF

Reference

DcOPI
DMPI
OMADS8
PeMADS6

Dendrobium crumenatum
Dendrobium moniliforme
Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Phalaenopsis equestris

+++
+++
++
+++

Xu et al., 2006
Sirisawat et al., 2009
Chang et al., 2010
Tsai et al., 2008

PI/GLO

(DMOAP3A)
(DMMADS4)
(OMADS3)
(PeMADS3)

The sign indicates no interaction between two proteins, + sign indicates level of protein-protein
interaction

Table 3. Protein-protein interaction of class B MADS-box protein in Orchidaceae

172

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Similar to other flowering plants, most of DEF- like proteins in orchid need to make
heterodimer with the GLO-like protein to initiate flower organ development. Strong
heterodimeric signal between the four clade DEF-and GLO-like proteins was detected in P.
equestris, D. crumenatum and D. moniliforme (Table 3). In clade 4 DEF-like proteins, although
PeMADS4 or DMMADS4 is able to make homodimer, a stronger signal was detected when
the protein form heterodimer with the orchid GLO-like protein. Interestingly, the clade 1
and 3 DEF-like proteins of O. Grower Ramsey have also retained the ancestral characteristic
of the B-MADS box protein since they are able to form as homodimer (Table 3). Several
possibility of heterodimeric interaction between the DEF- and GLO-like protein may be help
to improve the orchid flower diversity.

6. Agrobacterium mediated-transformation of class B MADS-box genes from

D. moniliforme to Arabidopsis
Genetic transformation is a general molecular basis to learn functions of genes. In orchids,
genetic transformation usually limit by problems of low transformation efficiency, extensive
regeneration time due to long juvenile period of orchid and labor consumption to generate
transgenic plants. As the results, most of orchid class B MADS-box genes were clarified their
function by ectopically expressed in Arabidopsis. Additionally, rescue of Arabidopsis mutant
phenotype is another way to know orchid gene function.
Ectopic expression of AP3 in Arabidopsis causes conversion of carpel to stamen-like structures
in whorl 4 (Jack et al., 1994). In orchids, most of AP3/DEF-like genes are paleo AP3-type in
which the sequence is greatly different from Arabidopsis AP3, therefore over-expressing of
several paleo AP3-like genes from orchids such as OMADS3 (Oncidium), DcOAP3A (D.
crumenatum), DMAP3B (D. moniliforme) in Arabidopsis do not affect the wild-type floral
morphology (Hsu and Yang, 2002, Xu et al., 2006, Sirisawat et al., 2010). In contrast to
AP3/DEF-like lineage, conserved function of the PI/GLO-like genes was found between
Arabidopsis and orchids since ectopic expression of PI/GLO-like genes from several species of
orchids, including DcOPI, DMPI, PeMADS6 and OMADS8, causes partial transformation of
sepal to petal-like organs in the first floral whorl (Figure 5A). This suggests that function of
ancestral PI/GLO-like genes is slightly developing during the evolution of angiosperm.
In Arabidopsis, ectopically expressing AP3/PI caused transition of the whorl 1 sepal to be petal
and the whorl 4 carpel to be stamen (Jack et al., 1994), therefore heterodimeric formation of
AP3 and PI play role to control petal and stamen development. In D. moniliforme, although the
DMMADS4 and DMAP3B were isolated from D. moniliforme and had the similar gene
expression pattern, DNA sequence of DMMADS4 was more related to PeMADS4 (P. equestris)
than DMAP3B. Therefore, the DMMADS4 is considered to be a member of the clade 4
PeMADS4-like genes rather than group of DMAP3B (Figure 2). Since functional analysis of
orchid clade 4 DEF-like genes has not been confirmed in Orchidaceae, we over-expressed the
DMMADS4 in Arabidopsis and verify whether it can make heterodimeric interaction to regulate
flower organ identity with the DMPI, a PI/GLO-like protein of D. moniliforme. F1 populations
were generated by crossing the 35S::DMMADS4 with the 35S::DMPI. The results showed that
plants of 35S::DMMADS4 have the same floral characteristics with wild-type Arabidopsis.
Progenies derived from crossing population between 35S::DMMADS4 and 35S::DMPI showed
the phenotype resembling to Arabidopsis plants over-expressing AP3/PI (Krizek and
Meyerowitz, 1996) in which the sepal in whorl 1converted into petal-like organs resulting in
double petal formation (Figure 5B). Scanning electron microscope has been performed to
verify differentiation between epidermal cell morphology between flower organ in whorl 1

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein

Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes from Dendrobium moniliforme

173

and whorl 2 of the wild-type and transgenic plants. The results showed that the epidermal
cells at the adaxial surface of the petaloid sepals in 35S::DMMADS4/35S::DMPI were similar to
the epidermal cells at the base of petals (Figure 6). Thus heterodimer formation of DMMADS4
and DMPI play roles in regulating the development of petals.
Unlike transgenic Arabidopsis plants ectopically expressing AP3/PI in which the number of
stamens was increased due to the addition of a stamen in whorl 4, in
35S::DMMADS4/35S::DMPI plants the number of stamens in whorl 3 was equal to that in
wild-type (6 stamens), and no carpel-to-stamen conversion was noted in whorl 4. However,
the carpels and ovaries of the transgenic plants were poorly developed; leading to the
production of short and rough siliques compared to wild type (Figure 7D). Additionally, the
seeds within the siliques of the 35S::DMMADS4/35S::DMPI plants were tightly packed
(Figure 7D), and the number of seeds per silique in the 35S::DMMADS4/35S::DMPI plants
was reduced (data not shown), compared with wild-type plants. However, the seeds were
fertile and had the same characteristics as the seeds of the wild-type plants.
Functional analysis of clade 3 and 4 DEF-like genes; DMAP3B and DMMADS4 from D.
moniliforme in Arabidopsis revealed that both genes are functional homology in order to
control petal formation and regulation of ovary development (Figure 5B, 7A,7C, 7D). As the
transgenic Arabidopsis obtains DMAP3B/DMPI or DMMADS4/DMPI showed
indistinguishable phenotype of stamen and carpel compared to the wild-type plants, it is
unclear how DMAP3B/DMPI and DMMADS4/DMPI are involved in stamen and carpel
development. Because the male (stamen) and female (carpel) reproductive organs in orchids
are fused together into a single unit named column, most of class-B genes are expressed in
this organ. The functions of class-B proteins as they relate to column development should be
clarified in further study.

Fig. 5. Phenotypes of transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing class B MADS-box genes from

orchids

174

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 6. Cell morphology of sepal and petal in wild-type, 35S::DMMADS4, 35S::DMPI and
35S::DMMADS4/35S::DMPI. Adaxial surface of sepal in 35S::DMMADS4 (B) was similar to
the wild-type sepal (A). Rounded cells were detected at the adaxial surface of petal in wildtype (E), 35S::DMMADS4 (F), 35S::DMPI (G) and 35S::DMMADS4/35S::DMPI (H). The
rounded cells were also presented at central region of the petaloid-sepal in 35S::DMPI plants
(C). In 35S::DMMADS4/35S::DMPI, elongated cells of petal were observed over the entire
area of the petaloid-sepal (D).

Fig. 7. Siliques of transgenic Arabidopsis overexpresing 35S::DMAP3B/35S:: DMPI (A, C),

and 35S::DMMADS4/35S:: DMPI (D), and wild-type plants (B).

7. Conclusions
Three paleo AP3-like genes; DMAP3A, DMAP3B and DMMADS4 and a PI-like genes; DMPI
were isolated from D. moniliforme and clarified for gene expression pattern, protein-protein
interaction and the gene functions. The results showed that all four genes have similar
expression patterns to their homolog from other orchids and most of them need to make
heterodimeric interaction to drive their transcriptional output. Functional analysis of a clade
4-paleo AP3-like genes; DMMADS4 in Arabidopsis showed that it has functional homology
with the clade 3 orchid paleo AP3-like genes (Xu et.al, 2006 and Sirisawat et.al.,2010) and
also has highly conserved function to Arabidopsis AP3 in controlling of petal formation.

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein

Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes from Dendrobium moniliforme

175

Based on a systematic reviews drawing together with the results of several research studies on
floral organ identity genes in orchids, Mondragon-Palomino and Theien (2008-9, 2011) has
defined orchid code to explain molecular mechanism underlying orchid flower formation. In
the orchid code, a duplication event is suggested to occur to an ancestral paleo AP3-like gene
of orchid, this give rise of two sister clades in which the first sister clade consists of clade 1 and
2 paleo AP3-like genes and another sister clade includes clade 3 and 4 paleo AP3-like genes.
Both sister clades have evolved under different rates of substitution (Mondragon-Palomino
and Theien, 2009). Genes in the clade 1 and 2 maintain some characters of ancestral AP3-like
genes such as diverse expression pattern in all floral whorls, retaining its ability to form
homodimeric of protein which most AP3-like genes of eudicot has lost the ability to form
homodimers, they need to make heterodimeric interaction with PI (Hsu and Yang, 2002).
Additionally, ectopic expression of DcOAP3A, a paleo AP3-like gene in clade 1 together with
DcOPI, a PI-like gene, could not generate phenotypes to indicate the possible function of the
heterodimeric interaction between these AP3 and PI-like genes from orchid (Xu et al., 2006).
In contrast to the function of clade 1 and 2, the clade 3 and 4 paleo AP3-like have similar
expression pattern to eudicot AP3 in which the expression of genes was regularly found in
whorl 2 and column, no signal was detected in the first floral whorl like that of the clade 1
and 3. Functional analysis suggests that clade 3 and 4 are functionally homolog in order to
control petal development of D. moniliforme and show highly conserved function to AP3-like
genes of dicotyledonous plants as Arabidopsis, suggesting that these two clade of paleo AP3like genes are greatly elevated from the ancestral AP3 throughout evolution while the clade
1 and 3 retain ancestral characterization of the B functional gene.
Additionally, ectopic expression of paleo AP3-like genes in clade 3 and 4 i.e. DMAP3B and
DMMADS4 with its potential partner DMPI caused suppression of ovary development in
transgenic Arabidopsis obtained DMAP3B/PI or DMMADS4/DMPI, although it could not
been found when the AP3-or PI-like gene was expressed singly. The results suggesting that
heterodimeric interaction between the paleo AP3-like genes in clade 3 or 4 with a PI-like
gene from D. moniliforme is not only required for petals development, but also they play
some role during growth of other part of flower including ovary.
Ovary of orchid usually stay in the immature stage throughout anthesis, development of
mature ovary is initiated after pollination (Nadeau et al., 1996). Since expression of some
paleo AP3-like genes and PI-like gene were also detected in the immature ovary of orchids
(Table 2), orchid B-function genes may involve mechanism related prolongation of the
immature ovary. As the result, production of undersize silique in transgenic Arabidopsis
obtained DMAP3B/PI or DMMADS4/DMPI may be due to functions of the heterodimeric
interaction of those B-function genes in order to prolong immature stage of ovary growth.

8. References
Adams, B.P. 2011. Systematics of Dendrobiinae (Orchidaceae), with special reference to
Australian taxa. Bot. J. Lin. Soc. 166: 105126.
Chang, Y.Y., N.H. Kao, J.Y. Li, W.H. Hsu, Y.L. Liang and J.W. Wu. 2010. Characterization of
the possible roles for B class MADS Box genes in regulation of perianth formation
in Orchid. Plant Physiol. 152: 837-853.
Coen, E.S. and E.M. Meyerowitz. 1991. The war of the whorls: genetic interactions
controlling flower development. Nature 353: 31-37.
Favaro, R., R.G. Immink, V. Ferioli, B. Bernasconi, M. Byzova, G.C. Angenent, M.M. Kater

176

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

and L. Colombo. 2002. Ovule-specific MADS-box proteins have conserved proteinprotein interactions in monocot and dicot plants. Mol. Genet. Genomics 268: 152
159.
Fay, F.M. and W.M. Chase. 2009. Orchid biology: from Linnaeus via Darwin to the 21st
century. Ann. Bot. 104: 359364.
Goto, K. and E.M. Meyerowitz. 1994. Function and regulation of the Arabidopsis floral
homeotic gene PISTILLATA. Genes Dev. 8: 15481560.
Honma, T. and K. Goto. 2001. Complexes of MADS-box proteins are sufficient to convert
leaves into floral organs. Nature 409: 525-529.
Hsu, H.F., C.H. Yang. 2002. An orchid (Oncidium Gower Ramsey) AP3-like MADS genes
regulate floral formation and initiation. Plant Cell Physiol. 43: 1198-1209.
Immink, R.G., S. Ferrario, J. Busscher-Lange, M. Kooiker, M. Busscher and G.C. Angenent.
2003. Analysis of the petunia MADS-box transcription factor family. Mol. Genet.
Genomics 268: 598606.
Jack, T., G.L. Fox and E.M. Meyerowitz. 1994. Arabidopsis homeotic gene APETALA3 ectopic
expression: transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation determine floral
organ identity. Cell 76: 703-716.
Kanno, A., A.H. Saeki, T. Kameya, H. Saedler and G. Theissen. 2003. Heterotopic expression
of class B floral homeotic genes supports a modified ABC model for tulip (Tulipa
gesneriana). Plant Mol. Biol. 52: 831841.
Kim, S.Y., P.Y. Yun, T. Fukuda, T. Ochiai, J. Yokoyama, T. Kameya and A. Kanno. 2007.
Expression of a DEFICIENS-like gene correlates with the differentiation between
sepal and petal in the orchid, Habenaria radiata (Orchidaceae). Plant Sci. 172: 319326.
Kramer, E.M., R.L. Dorit and V.F. Irish. 1998. Molecular evolution of genes controlling petal
and stamen development: duplication and divergence within the APETALA3 and
PISTILLATA MADS-box gene lineages. Genetics 149: 765-783.
Kramer, E.M. and V.F. Irish. 2000. Evolution of the petal and stamen developmental
programs: Evidence from comparative studies of the lower eudicots and basal
angiosperms. Int. J. Plant Sci. 161: S29-S40.
Krizek, B.A. and E.M. Meyerowitz. 1996. The Arabidopsis homeotic genes APETALA3 and
PISTILLATA are sufficient to provide class B organ identity function. Development
112, 11-22.
Lopez-Dee, Z.P., P. Wittich, M.E. Pe` , D. Rigola, I. del Buono, M. Sari Gorla, M.M. Kater,
and L. Colombo. 1999. OsMADS13, a novel rice MADS-box gene expressed during
ovule development. Dev. Genet. 25: 237244.
Mondragon-Palomino, M. and G. Theien. 2008. MADS about the evolution of orchid
flowers, Trends Plant Sci. 13: 51-59.
Mondragon-Palomino, M. and G. Theien. 2009. Why are orchid flowers so diverse?
Reduction of evolutionary constraints by paralogues of class B floral homeotic
genes. Ann. Bot. 104: 583594.
Mondragn-Palomino. M., L. Hiese, A. Hrter, M.A. Koch, G. Theien. 2009. Positive
selection and ancient duplications in the evolution of class B floral homeotic genes
of orchids and grasses. BMC Evol. Biol. 9:81.

Genetic Transformation and Analysis of Protein-Protein

Interaction of Class B MADS-Box Genes from Dendrobium moniliforme

177

Mondragn-Palomino. M. and G. Theien. 2011. Conserved differential expression of

paralogous DEFICIENS- and GLOBOSA-like MADS-box genes in the flowers of
Orchidaceae: refining the orchid code. Plant J. 66: 10081019.
Nadeau, J.A., X.S. Zhang, J. Li and S.D. Oneill. 1996. Ovule development: identification of
stage-specific and tissue-specific cDNAs. Plant Cell 8: 213-239.
Pnueli, L., M. Abu-Abeid, D. Zamir, W. Nacken, Z. Schwarz-Som mer. 1991. The MADS box
gene family in tomato: temporal expression during floral development, conserved
secondary structures and homology with homeotic genes from Antirrhinum and
Arabidopsis. Plant J. 1: 255266.
Rijpkema, R.S., S. Royaert, J. Zethof, G. van der Weerden, T. Gerats and M. Vandenbussche.
2006. Analysis of the petunia TM6 MADS box gene reveals functional divergence
within the DEF/AP3 Lineage. Plant Cell 18:1819-1832.
Skipper, M., L.B. Johansen, K.B. Pedersen, S. Frederiksen, B.B. Johnasen. 2006. Cloning and
transcription analysis of an AGAMOUS and SEEDSTICK ortholog in the orchid
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum (Reichb. f.). Gene 366: 266-74.
Sirisawat, S., N. Fukuda, H. Ezura and T. Handa. 2009. DMMADS4, a DEF-like gene from
Dendrobium is required for floral organ identity and flower longevity of orchid.
Acta Hort. (ISHS) 836: 259-264.
Sirisawat, S., H. Ezura, N. Fukuda, T. Kounosu and T. Handa. 2010. Ectopic expression of an
AP3-like and a PI-like genes from Sekkoku orchid (Dendrobium moniliforme) causes
the homeotic conversion of sepals to petals in whorl 1 and the suppression of carpel
development in whorl 4 in Arabidopsis flowers. Plant Biotech. 27:183-192.
Schwarz-Sommer, Z., I. Hue, P. Huijser, P.J. Flor, R. Hansen, F. Tetens, W.E. Lonnig, H.
Saedler and H. Sommer. 1992. Characterization of the Antirrhinum floral homeotic
MADS-box gene deficiens Evidence for DNA binding and autoregulation of its
persistent expression throughout flower development. EMBO J. 11: 251263.
Tsai, W.C., C.S. Kuoh, M.H. Chuang, W.H. Chen and H.H. Chen. 2004. Four DEF-like MADS
box genes displayed distinct floral morphogenetic roles in Phalaenopsis Orchid.
Plant Cell Physiol. 45: 831-844.
Tsai, W.C., P.F. Lee, H.I. Chen, Y.Y. Hsiao, W.J. Wei, Z.J Pan, M.H. Chuang, C.S. Kuoh, W.H.
Chen and H.H. Chen. 2005. PeMADS6, a GLOBOSA/PISTILLATA-like gene in
Phalaenopsis equestris involved in petaloid formation, and correlated with flower
longevity and ovary development. Plant Cell Physiol. 46: 1125-1139.
Tsai, W.C., Z.J. Pan, Y.Y. Hsiao, M.F. Jeng, T.F. Wu, W.H. Chen and H.H. Chen. 2008.
Interactions of B-class complex proteins involved in tepal development in
Phalaenopsis orchid. Plant Cell Physiol. 49: 814-824.
Tzeng, T.Y. and C.H. Yang. 2001. A MADS box gene from lily (Lilium Longiflorum) is
sufficient to generate dominant negative mutation by interacting with PISTILLATA
(PI) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Physiol. 42: 1156-1168.
Van Tunen, A.J., W. Eikelboom and G.C. Angenent. 1993. Floral organogenesis in Tulipa.
Flow. News. 16: 3337.
Winter, K.U., C. Weiser, K. Kaufmann, A. Bohne, C. Kirchner, A. Kanno, H. Saedler andG.
Theien. 2002. Evolution of class B floral homeotic proteins: obligate
heterodimerization originated from homodimerization. Mol. Biol. Evol. 19: 587
596.

178

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Xu, Y., L.L. Teo, J. Zhou, P.P. Kumar and H. Yu. 2006. Floral organ identity genes in the
orchid Dendrobium crumenatum. Plant J. 46: 54-68.
Yu, D., M. Kotilainen, E. Pllnen, M. Mehto, P. Elomaa, Y. Helariutta, V.A. Albert and H.
Teeri. 1999. Organ identity genes and modified patterns of flower development in
Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae). Plant J. 17: 5162.
Yu, H. and C.J. Goh. 2000. Identification and characterization of three orchid MADS-box
genes
of the AP1/AGL9 subfamily during floral transition. Plant Physiol. 123:

Section 3
Molecular and Cellular Regulatory Mechanisms

9
Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin
Involvement in the Regulation of Gene
Transcription and Genome Organization
Yong Zhong Xu, Cynthia Kanagaratham and Danuta Radzioch

McGill University,
Canada

1. Introduction
Actin is one of the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells. It is a 43-kDa protein that was
originally identified and purified from skeletal muscle. Once thought to be simply a
component of muscle cells, actin has later been shown to be a highly conserved and
ubiquitiously distributed protein in eukaryotic cells. It has been extensively studied as a
cytoplasmic cytoskeletal protein that is involved in a wide range of cellular processes,
including cell motility, growth and cytokinesis; endocytosis, exocytosis and secretion; signal
transduction, synaptic transmission as well as intracellular trafficking (Ascough,
2004;Brakebusch and Fassler, 2003;Suetsugu and Takenawa, 2003). In the cytoplasm, actin
exists in equilibrium between monomers (globular- or G-actin) and polymers (filamentous- or
F-actin). The dynamics of actin, the coordinated assembly and disassembly of actin filaments
in response to cellular and extracellular signaling, is critical for the diverse functions of actin
and is tightly regulated by a plethora of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) in the cytoplasm (dos
Remedios et al., 2003). To date, over 70 distinct classes of ABPs have being identified and the
inventory is still far from been completed (Pollard and Borisy, 2003).
While the cytoplasmic functions of actin are well established, the findings obtained from
studies on nuclear actin have encountered consistent skepticism for many years. Presence of
actin in the nucleus was considered to be cytoplasmic contamination from extraction or
fixation procedures, or antibody cross-reactivity (Pederson and Aebi, 2002;Shumaker et al.,
2003). In addition, many known functions of actin in the cytoplasm are associated with the
polymerization of actin into filaments, which can be detected by phalloidin staining.
However, under normal conditions, nuclei cannot be stained by phalloidin. Nevertheless, in
the past decade, there has been convincing data demonstrating that actin, actin-related
proteins (Arps) as well as ABPs are not only present in the nucleus but also play important
roles in diverse nuclear activities. Actin has been localized to specialized subnuclear
compartments such as the nucleoli, splicing speckles and Cajal bodies (Fomproix and
Percipalle, 2004;Gedge et al., 2005;Saitoh et al., 2004). In these subnuclear compartments,
actin proves to be involved in almost all the processes associated with gene expression, from
chromatin remodeling via transcription to ribonucleoprotein (RNP) assembly and
maturation, as well as mRNA nuclear export (Blessing et al., 2004;Chen and Shen,
2007;Olave et al., 2002). Other nuclear processes in which actin is implicated, include

182

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

assembly of the nuclear structure (Krauss et al., 2003;Krauss et al., 2002;Olave et al., 2002),
genome organization, and regulation of transcription factor activity (Olave et al.,
2002;Vartiainen et al., 2007).
In this chapter, the several aspects related to the nuclear actin presence and its importance in
the regulation of gene expression will be reviewed.

2. Nuclear architecture and distribution of actin

The cell nucleus is a complex and multi-functional organelle, which displays a high degree
of spatial organization and structural integrity. The most well characterized structural
component of the cell nucleus is the nuclear lamina, mainly composed of A- and B-type
laminas as well as laminaassociated proteins (Stewart et al., 2007). The laminas are
evolutionarily conserved nuclear-specific intermediate filaments that are essential for many
nuclear functions, including the maintenance of nuclear shape, DNA replication,
transcription, chromatin organization, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis (Andres and
Gonzalez, 2009;Vlcek and Foisner, 2007;Wiesel et al., 2008). Actin has been shown to interact
with the c-terminus of A-type laminas (Sasseville and Langelier, 1998). A-type laminas are
connected to the cytoskeleton by a linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC)
complex found in the nuclear envelope. Connecting the A-type laminas to the cytoskeleton
is necessary for nuclear migration and positioning within the cell as well as for transmitting
mechanical signals from the cytoplasm to the nucleus (Starr, 2009;Tzur et al., 2006;Worman
and Gundersen, 2006).
Two important components of the LINC complex are Sun domain proteins and Nesprins.
Located on the outer nuclear membrane, Nesprin 1 and 2 can interact with F-actin as well as
Sun 1 and Sun 2 located on the inner nuclear membrane. Sun proteins, in turn, bind to
lamina A (Crisp et al., 2006;Ostlund et al., 2009). Emerin, a lamina-associated protein, is also
important for nuclear structure and has been shown to bind to actin. The interactions
between actin, lamina and emerin indicate that an actin-containing structural network exists
at the nuclear envelope and is involved in maintaining the nuclear structure and nuclear
functions (Fairley et al., 1999;Holaska and Wilson, 2007;Lattanzi et al., 2003). The importance
of actin in nuclear assembly was demonstrated using Xenopus egg extracts in which nuclear
assembly is initiated after fluorescence-labelled actin is added. Moreover, the nuclear
assembly gets blocked by Latrunculin A, which binds to G-actin and inhibits F-actin
formation, suggesting that F-actin is required for nuclear assembly. In addition, the
interaction between actin and protein 4.1 is implicated in this process (Krauss et al.,
2003;Krauss et al., 2002).
Actin has also been associated with the nuclear matrix (Capco et al., 1982;Okorokov et al.,
2002;Valkov et al., 1989;Verheijen et al., 1986). The nuclear matrix is a network of proteins
throughout the inside of nucleus, which provides a structural framework for maintaining
spatial order within nucleus and for proper nuclear functions , such as DNA replication and
repair, gene transcription, RNA splicing and transport (Berezney, 2002;Berezney et al.,
1996;Hancock, 2000). It is tempting to speculate that nuclear actin acts as a component of
intranuclear filament network (or nucleoskeleton) that is analogous to cytoskeleton. This
was supported by a study showing a colocalization between actin and EAST (enhances
adult sensory threshold), a structural protein of the nucleus. In a Drosophila model, EAST
has been shown to be a ubiquitious nuclear protein forming a network throughout the

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

183

nucleus (Wasser and Chia, 2000). A number of studies have also confirmed that an actincontaining filament network exists in the nucleus. Studies of the Xenopus oocyte nuclei
using electron microscopy have found that filaments containing actin and protein 4.1 form a
network that attach to Cajal bodies and other subnuclear organelles (Kiseleva et al., 2004). In
this manner, the meshwork of actin-containing filaments might contribute to the nuclear
compartmentalization.

3. Regulation of nuclear actin

3.1 The form of actin in the nucleus
Actin has been shown to be involved in diverse nuclear processes; but how and in what form
actin takes part in these events remains to be elucidated. It has been suggested that nuclear
actin coexists as a monomer (G-actin), short oligomer and polymer structure (Gieni and
Hendzel, 2009;McDonald et al., 2006). These different forms of nuclear actin are believed to be
required for a variety of processes in the nucleus. There has been a great body of evidence in
support of the presence of G-actin in the nucleus (Pederson and Aebi, 2002;Pederson and Aebi,
2005). Firstly, a number of G-actin binding proteins have been identified in the nucleus,
including cofilin, profilin, -thymosin, gelsolin and gelsolin-like protein (Huff et al.,
2004;Pendleton et al., 2003;Percipalle, 2009;Prendergast and Ziff, 1991;Skare et al., 2003).
Secondly, using DNase I affinity chromatography, actin can be copurified with RNA
polymerase I and II machinery (Fomproix and Percipalle, 2004;Kukalev et al., 2005;Obrdlik et
al., 2008). DNase I binds to G-actin with very high affinity and F-actin with low affinity
(Zechel, 1980). This suggesting that actin co-precipitated with RNA polymerase I and II is
likely to be present in its monomeric or short oligomeric form. Thirdly, monoclonal antibodies
directed against epitopes which are unique to monomeric or dimeric actin, display distinctive
immunostaining of the nucleus (Jockusch et al., 2006). Fourthly, the nuclear lamina proteins,
such as lamina A (Sasseville and Langelier, 1998), emerin (Lattanzi et al., 2003), and nesprin
(Zhang et al., 2002a) form complexes with actin. Biochemical evidence reveals that G-actin is
present in these complexes.
It has been very challenging to document polymerization status of actin in the nucleus.
Phalloidin staining is the most common method used for detecting actin filaments in the
cytoplasm. Under physiological conditions, nuclear actin present in most of the cells cannot
be detected by phalloidin staining, which specifically recognizes actin filaments of at least
seven subunits in length. However, under certain cellular stress conditions, distinctive actin
rods (also called bundles or paracrystals) can be induced in the nucleus in a variety of cell
types. These conditions include dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment (Sanger et al.,
1980a;Sanger et al., 1980b), heat shock (Iida et al., 1986;Welch and Suhan, 1985), Latrunculin
B treatment and ATP deletion (Pendleton et al., 2003) as well as viral infection (Charlton and
Volkman, 1991;Feierbach et al., 2006). Cellular stress-induced formation of actin filaments
seems to be caused by an increased nuclear actin level because nuclear translocation and
accumulation of actin are also observed at the same time. This is supported by the
observation that actin filaments exist in the Xenopus oocytes, which have a very high
concentration of actin (2mg/ml) due to the lack of nuclear export receptor, exportin 6
(Bohnsack et al., 2006;Clark and Rosenbaum, 1979;Roeder and Gard, 1994;Stuven et al., 2003).
In addition, some nuclear-actin dependent functions, such as nuclear export of RNA and
proteins (Hofmann et al., 2001), nuclear envelope assembly (Krauss et al., 2003), transcription
(McDonald et al., 2006) and intranuclear movement of Herpes simplex virus-1 capsid

184

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

(Forest et al., 2005) as well as movement of chromosome loci (Hu et al., 2008) can be inhibited
by Latrunculin B, a drug that binds G-actin with high affinity and prevents polymerization
and thus F-actin formation (Spector et al., 1989). These indirect evidence imply that some
sort of polymerized actin exist in the nucleus to carry out corresponding nuclear functions.
The presence of polymeric actin in the nucleus was also shown (McDonald et al., 2006) in
living cells using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments. In that
study, FRAP, which allows to analyze the dynamic properties of GFP-actin in the nucleus,
shows that both a fast recovery and a slow recovery GFP-actin exist in the nucleus.
Moreover, the latter type of actin is sensitive to actin mutants and Latrunculin B. Therefore,
the slow species represents a polymeric form of actin with distinctive dynamics which is
quite different from the actin dynamics observed in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, recent
studies provided evidence that the nuclear polymeric actin is important for RNA
polymerase I-mediated transcription and transcriptional activation of HoxB genes by RNA
polymerase II (Ferrai et al., 2009;Ye et al., 2008).
3.2 Regulation of nuclear translocation of actin
Extracellular stress can induce nuclear translocation of actin. Sanger and colleagues
demonstrated that a disappearance of stress fibers from the cytoplasm and a reversible
translocation of cytoplasmic actin into the nucleus occur after treatment of PtK2 and WI-38
cells with 10% DMSO (Sanger et al., 1980a;Sanger et al., 1980b). Courgeon and colleagues
showed that heat shock causes actin to accumulate in the nucleus of Drosophila cells
(Courgeon et al., 1993). In mast cells, entry of actin into the nucleus was induced by either
treatment with Latrunculin B, or ATP depletion (Pendleton et al., 2003). Most recently,
nuclear translocation of actin was found in HL-60 cells and human peripheral blood
monocytes when differentiated to macrophages by phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate (PMA)
(Xu et al., 2010). These results suggest that actin is able to shuttle between the cytoplasm and
the nucleus. To date, the molecular mechanism by which actin enters into the nucleus in
response to cellular stress has not been established.
The nuclear envelope is a lipid bilayer that forms a barrier between the nuclear and
cytoplasmic spaces. The traffic between nucleus and cytoplasm is mediated through nuclear
pore complexes (NPCs) embedded in the nuclear envelope. NPCs allow passive diffusion of
small molecules (such as ion and protein smaller than 40 kDa) but restrict the movement of
larger molecules across the nuclear envelope. Macromolecules usually carry specific signals
allowing them to access the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery. Monomeric actin has a
molecular weight of ~43 kDa, therefore it is unlikely to enter into nucleus by diffusion. Actin
lacks a classical nuclear localization signal (NLS) and to date, no specific import receptor for
actin has been identified. Therefore it most likely relies on an active carrier which guides it
into the nucleus. Cofilin, an actin-binding protein, is suggested to be involved in the
regulation of nuclear import of actin. Cofilin contains a NLS and it has been recognized as a
component of intranuclear actin rods in response heat shock and DMSO treatment (Nishida
et al., 1987). A study by Pendleton et al. showed that stress-induced nuclear accumulation of
actin was blocked by an anti-cofilin antibody, demonstrating that cofilin is required for actin
import into the nucleus (Pendleton et al., 2003).
For nuclear export, actin seems to use an active transport mechanism. The actin polypeptide
has two well conserved nuclear export signals (NESs). In yeast, these two sequences were
specifically recognized by chromosome region maintenance 1 (CRM1, also known as
exportin 1), a general export receptor for cargos bearing leucine-rich export signals, and

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

185

actin can then be rapidly removed from nucleus. Transfection of cells with mutant actin
lacking NESs or inhibition of CRM1 by leptomycin B results in nuclear accumulation of
actin (Wada et al., 1998). Exportin 6, a member of the importin superfamily of transport
receptor, is responsible for nuclear actin export in mammalian cells (Stuven et al., 2003).
Knockdown of exportin 6 by RNA interference also leads to nuclear accumulation of actin
and the formation of actin rods. Interestingly, exportin 6 recognizes the actin:profilin
complex rather than actin or profilin individually, suggesting a difference in the form of
actin being presented to CRM1 and to exportin 6.
So far, the exact roles of nuclear accumulation of actin in response to external signals remain to
be understood. Nuclear actin controls transcription of its target genes through several different
ways: (1) Actin specifically binds to a 27-nt repeat element in the intron 4 of the endothelial
nitric oxide synthase gene to regulate its expression (Ou et al., 2005;Wang et al., 2002); (2) Actin
participates in chromatin remodeling for gene activation as a component of the chromatin
remodeling complex (Rando et al., 2002;Song et al., 2007;Zhao et al., 1998); (3) Actin plays a
direct role in RNA transcription by being part of the pre-initiation complex with RNA
polymerase II (Hofmann et al., 2004). (4) Actin participates in transcriptional elongation as a
component of RNP particles. Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that under stress, actin
translocates into nuclei to function as a transcriptional modulator, playing an important role in
the regulation of gene transcription along with stress-activated transcription factor. This
hypothesis is supported by recent studies showing that nuclear accumulation of actin is
involved in transcriptional activation of SLC11A1 gene during macrophage-like differentiation
of HL-60 cells induced by PMA (Xu et al., 2011;Xu et al., 2010).
3.3 Regulation of actin polymerization
It is believed that the concentration of nuclear actin is sufficient for spontaneous
polymerization. Therefore, in order to have dynamic equilibrium of the different forms of
actin, an active process preventing polymerization is required.
Many of the regulators known to control cytoplasmic actin dynamics have also been shown
to be present in the nucleus (Table 1). These regulators include Arps such as Arp 2/3; and
ABPs such as cofilin, profilin and CapG; and signalling molecules (see section 3.4). In
humans, Arp2/3 represents a stable complex of two Arps (Arp2 and Arp3) and five other
subunits including p16, p20, p21, p34, p41 (Deeks and Hussey, 2005;Welch et al., 1997). The
Arp2/3 complex is capable of initiating de novo polymerization of actin and stimulating the
formation of branched actin filaments when activated by members of Wiskott-Aldrich
syndrome protein (WASP) family (Higgs and Pollard, 2001;Machesky and Insall,
1998;Pollard and Borisy, 2003;Volkmann et al., 2001). The WASP family members share a
common C-terminal verprolin-cofilin-acidic (VCA) region. Polymerization of actin is
initiated by the interaction of the VCA region with both Arp2/3 complex and an actin
monomer, forming the first subunit of de novo actin polymer (Dayel and Mullins, 2004;Kim
et al., 2000;Prehoda et al., 2000;Rohatgi et al., 1999). The potential role of Arp2/3 in the
regulation of actin dynamics in the nucleus was suggested based on the viral infection
studies, for example infection with baculovirus, results in accumulation of Arp2/3 complex
in the nucleus, where it becomes activated by WASP-like virus protein p78/83. This event in
turn results in Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization that is essential for virus replication
(Goley et al., 2006). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that N-WASP and Arp2/3
complex associate with RNA polymerase II and regulate the efficiency of gene transcription.

186

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Induction of actin polymerization through the N-WASP-Arp2/3 complex pathway has been
shown to be required for efficient transcription by RNA polymerase II (Wu et al., 2006;Yoo et
al., 2007). Importance of the Arp2/3 complex mediated actin polymerization in other
nuclear actin-dependent processes remains to be fully elucidated.

Table 1. Proteins known to modulate cytoplasmic actin dynamics exist in nucleus

Actin filaments capping proteins bind the barbed (or fast growing end) of an actin filament
and therefore block filament assembly or promote disassembly at that end. In the cytoplasm,
members of the gelsolin family are characterized by the ability to cap, sever and bundle
actin filaments in a Ca2+-dependent manner in the cytoplasm (Archer et al., 2005). Several
members of gelsolin family has been detected in nucleus, including gelsolin (Nishimura et
al., 2003;Salazar et al., 1999), CapG (De, V et al., 2004;Onoda et al., 1993), flightless (Lee et al.,
2004) and supervillin (Wulfkuhle et al., 1999). In the nucleus, gelsolin has been found to be
involved in chromosome decondensation by severing actin (Ocampo et al., 2005). Flightless
I has been found to bind to actin and Arp BAF53, a subunit of mammalian chromatin
remodelling complex, and negatively regulates actin polymerization (Archer et al., 2005). It
is currently unclear whether other members regulate actin dynamics in the nucleus.
Interestingly, many of them appear to function as transcriptional coactivators for nuclear
hormone receptors (Gettemans et al., 2005).

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

187

Many G-actin binding proteins are also present in the nucleus. Thymosin 4 is the most
abundant polypeptide of the -thymosin family in the cytoplasm and regulates F-actin
polymerization by sequestering polymers (Huff et al., 2004). In the nucleoplasm, thymosin
4 is present at a high level and suggested to sequester nuclear actin and block actin
polymerization (Hannappel, 2007;Huff et al., 2004). In addition, it has been shown to interact
with ATP-dependent DNA helicase II to regulate specific gene expression (Bednarek et al.,
2008). Despite its small size (~4.9 kDa), Huff et al. showed that passive diffusion of
thymosin 4 through the NPC can be ruled out (Huff et al., 2004), and its nuclear localization
has been reported to be regulated by the DNA mismatch repair enzyme human mutL
homolog 1 (hMLH1) (Brieger et al., 2007). Profilin is a small protein that binds specifically
with G-actin. It enhances the nucleotide exchange on actin to convert ADP actin into ATP
actin, which can readily be incorporated in to a growing filament. In the nucleus, formation
of profilin-actin complex is required for nuclear export of actin through exportin 6 (Stuven et
al., 2003), to avoid excess actin polymerization in the nucleus. This was supported by
Bohnsack and colleagues work (Bohnsack et al., 2006).
ADP/cofilins represent a family of small actin-regulatory proteins that bind to both actin
monomers and filaments, and remove actin filaments by severing and depolymerising
(Maciver and Hussey, 2002). Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay, they have
been shown to bind to actin directly in the nucleus and at levels much higher than in the
cytoplasm (Chhabra and dos Remedios, 2005). As mentioned in section 3.2, actin
accumulates in the nucleus and forms intranuclear actin rods under a variety of cellular
stress conditions. Cofilin has been recognized as a component of the actin rods (Gettemans
et al., 2005). The high level of cofilin present in the nucleoplasm and in the actin rods might
explain the reason why actin filaments appear to be restricted in the nucleus since the
cofilin/actin structures cannot be stained with phalloidin (Nishida et al., 1987). The
formation of nuclear actin rods is highly dynamic and is reversible when the cellular stress
conditions are removed (Gieni and Hendzel, 2009), suggesting that cofilin might play a role
in restricting the excess accumulation of polymeric actin, which otherwise could affect the
polymeric actin-mediated nuclear process.
3.4 Signalling molecules regulating actin dynamics
The activities of ABPs are tightly controlled through various signalling pathways to ensure
proper spatial and temporal regulation of actin dynamics in the cells. Several signalling
molecules, including small GTPases, Ca2+ and phosphoinositides which display wellcharacterized effects on actin dynamics in the cytoplasm, are also found in the nucleus.
Small GTPases of the Rho family, such as Cdc42 and Rac1, have been found in the nucleus,
(Williams, 2003). As discussed above, Arp2/3 is an important candidate for regulating
nuclear actin polymerization and N-WASP, the most potent inducer of Arp2/3 mediated
actin nucleation remains to be the only member of the WASP family found in the nucleus
(Suetsugu et al., 2001;Zalevsky et al., 2001). In the cytoplasm, N-WASP is activated by Cdc42,
linking Rho family GTPase signalling with Arp2/3 mediated actin polymerization (Rohatgi
et al., 1999). N-WASP is also activated by Rac1, and both Cdc42- and Rac1-mediated
stimulation of N-WASP activity is further enhanced by the presence of phosphatidylinositol
4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The functional significance of the presence of Rho GTPases in the
nucleus is not fully known. Some downstream effectors of Rho family GTPase, such as LIM

188

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

kinases (LIMK), has been shown to localize to the nucleus. LIMK can phosphorylate and
inactivate cofilin, suggesting that Rho GTPase signalling pathway may play an important
role in regulation of nuclear actin cytoskeleton. Rac1 was shown to shuttle in and out of the
nucleus during the cell cycle and to accumulate in the nucleus in late G2 phase. In addition,
GTP-bound Rac1 and a Rac1/Cdc42 GTPase activating- protein, MgcRacGAP, bind directly
to phosphorylated transcription factors, STAT3 and STAT5, to mediate their translocation
into the nucleus. Therefore, nuclear accumulation of Rac1 may also regulate actin
polymerization influencing RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription.
Phosphoinositides (PIs) are major regulators of actin dynamics in the cytoplasm (Mao and
Yin, 2007). PIs control actin polymerization by modulating the activity of regulatory
proteins promoting actin assembly and inhibiting disassembly of actin filaments. For
example, PIP2 activates nucleation of actin filaments induced by N-WASP-Arp2/3 complex
and inhibits the actin-binding activity of cofilin (Hilpela et al., 2004). PIP2 also binds and
inhibits capping proteins, and seems to remove capping proteins from capped ends of actin
filaments, which may help to stimulate actin assembly (Kim et al., 2007). Based on the
observations, one can speculate that PIs also modulate actin-binding activity of capping
proteins in the nucleus. So far, the downstream targets of PI signalling remains poorly
identified. Several studies have linked chromatin remodelling complexes with PIs. For
example, PIP2 participates in the recruitment of mammalian chromatin remodelling
complex, BRG1/BRM associated factor (BAF), to nuclear matrix-associated chromatin, upon
activation of antigen receptor in T-lymphocytes (Zhao et al., 1998). Further analysis has
revealed that PIP2 can bind directly to BRG1, an ATPase subunit of the BAF complex,
modulate the actin-binding activity of BRG1 (Rando et al., 2002). Within the BAF complex,
BRG1 is associated with -actin and Arp BAF53 through two actin-binding domains.
Interestingly, one of the acting-binding domains of BRG1 is required for PIP2 binding. Based
on these findings, a model is designed in which interaction between PIP2 and BRG1 would
essentially uncap -actin or BAF53, thereby allowing them to interact with actin filaments in
the nuclear matrix (Rando et al., 2002).
In the cytoplasm, actin dynamics is also controlled by Ca2+ level. The activity of several
ABPs, including members of gelsolin family, are regulated by Ca2+ influx (Archer et al.,
2005). For example, Ca2+ activates gelsolin to allow capping and severing of actin filaments.
The importance of Ca2+-regulated actin severing has been well-documented in platelet
activation (Witke et al., 1995). Gelsolin has six Ca2+ binding sites within domain S1-S6. When
domains S5 and S6 are occupied by Ca2+ at submicromolar concentration gelsolin is
activated to bind actin. However, for full activation of severing activity, higher Ca2+
concentrations are required most likely filling the sites on domains S1, S2 and S4 (Burtnick et
al., 2004;Choe et al., 2002). It is clear that nuclear Ca2+ level is regulated which in turn
regulates the activity of transcription factors, such as DREAM (Carrion et al., 1999) and
CREB (Chawla et al., 1998). Likewise, it is possible that nuclear Ca2+ level could modulate
the activity of actin-containing chromatin remodelling complex by controlling activity of
certain nuclear ABPs.

4. Involvement of actin in chromatin remodelling

Eukaryotic DNA is tightly packaged into nucleosome repeats. Each nucleosome unit consist
of a histone octamer core surrounded by a segment of 146 base pairs of double stranded

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

189

DNA. Histone octamer core is composed of two-molecule each of H2A, H2B, H3 and H4
proteins. This kind of packaging of genomic DNA in chromatin represents barriers that
restrict access to a variety of DNA regulatory proteins involved in the processes of
transcription, replication, DNA repair and recombination machinery. To overcome these
barriers, eukaryotic cells possess a number of multiprotein complexes which can alter the
chromatin structure and make DNA accessible. These complexes can be divided into two
groups, histone-modifying enzymes and ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes.
The histone-modifying enzymes post-translationally modify the N-terminal tails of histone
proteins through acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, ADP-ribosylation and
methylation (Sterner and Berger, 2000;Wang et al., 2007). On the other hand, ATP-dependent
chromatin remodelling complexes use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to disrupt the DNAhistone contact, move nucleosomes along DNA, and remove or exchange nucleosomes
(Gangaraju and Bartholomew, 2007). Actin and Arps were first identified as integral
components of the BAF complex, a mammalian SWI/SNF-like chromatin remodelling
complex, that is involved in T-lymphocyte activation (Zhao et al., 1998). Since then, actin and
Arps have been found to be present in a wide variety of chromatin remodelling and histonemodifying complexes (Figure 1C) in yeast, Drosophila and mammalian cells.
4.1 Actincontaining chromatin remodelling complex
The ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes can be classified into at least four
different families based on their central ATPases: SWI/SNF complex (or BAF complexes)
with a SWI2/SNF2 ATPase; ISWI complex with an ISWI ATPase; Mi-2 (or CHD) complex
containing a chromodomain-helicase-DNA binding protein ATPase; and INO80 complex
with an INO80 ATPase (Farrants, 2008). Only the complexes of SWI/SNF and INO80
families have actin and Arps as subunits that are bound directly. Most members of
SWI/SNF family contain actin and Arp4 homologues. In Drosophilia, the orthologous
complexes BAP (Brahma associated proteins) and PBAP (polybromo-associated BAP) each
contains actin and the Arp BAF55. In mammals, the orthologous complexes BAF, PBAF and
p400 all contain actin and the Arp BAF53. The yeast SWI/SNF complex was the first to be
discovered in S. cerevisiae. Many components of the SWI/SNF complex were initially
identified in independent screens for genes that regulate mating-type switching (SWI genes)
and sucrose non-fermenting (SNF genes) phenotype in yeasts (Abrams et al., 1986;Carlson et
al., 1981;Nasmyth and Shore, 1987;Neigeborn and Carlson, 1984;Neigeborn and Carlson,
1987;Stern et al., 1984;Vignali et al., 2000). The yeast SWI/SNF complex contains 11 known
subunits, of which the SWI2/SNF2 subunit possesses both chromatin remodelling and
DNA-dependent ATPase activities. In yeast, the SWI/SNF complex and another
orthologous complex RSC lack actin but were shown to contain two yeast specific Arps Arp7 and Arp9 (Table 2). Interestingly, the yeast genome encodes both actin and Arp4 but
they are replaced with novel Arps.
The INO80 family includes the yeast INO80 complex and its orthologues Pho-dINO80
(Drosophila) and INO80 (human); the yeast SWR1 complex and its orthologue SRCAP
(human); and the yeast NuA4 complex and its orthologues TIP60 (Drosophila) and
TRAAP/TIP60 (human) (Table 3). The yeast INO80 complex contains actin and Arp 4, Arp5
and Arp8, of which Arp5 and Arp8 and actin are conserved in Drosophila and mammals.
Arp4 and actin are also components of yeast SWR1 and Nu4 complex. BAF53, a mammalian
orthologue of Arp4, is present in the mammalian orthologous complex INO80, SRCAP, and
TIP60 (Hargreaves and Crabtree, 2011).

190

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Complex

SWI/SNF

RSC

Species

Yeast

Yeast

Drosophila

ATPase
Actin
ARP

Swi2/Snf2
No
ARP7, ARP9

Sth1
No
ARP7, ARP9

Main subunits
or

BAP

PBAP

BAF

PBAF

nBAF

Drosophila

Human

Human

Mouse

Mouse

BRM
-actin
BAP55 or
BAP47

BRM
-actin
BAP55 or
BAP47

BRG1/hBRM
-actin
BAF53a or
BAF53b

BRG1
-actin
BAF53a

BRG1
-actin
BAF53b

BRG1
-actin
BAF53a

OSA

BAP170

BAF250a or

BAF200

BAF250a or

BAF250a

BAF250b or

BAF250b

BAF200

BAF200

BAF250b

npBAF

or

Swi3

Rsc1, Rsc2, Rsc4

Rsc8

BAP155

Swp73

Rsc6

BAP60

Polybromo
BAP155

BAF155 and/or

BAF180
BAF155 and/or

BAF155 and/or

BAF155

BAF170
BAF60a

BAF170
BAF60a

BAF170
BAF60a

BAF47/hSNF5

BAF47/SNF5

BAF57

BAF57

and/or

Snf5

Sfh1

BAP45/SNR1 BAP45/SNR1

BAF170
BAF60a or
BAF60b or
BAF60c
BAF47/hSNF5

BAP111

BAF57

BAP60

BAF47/SNF5

Unique
Subunits

Swi1, Swp82
Taf14, Snf6
Snf11

BAP111

Rsc3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 30
Htl1, Lbd7, Rtt102

Table 2. Complexes of the SWI/SNF family

Table 3. Complexes of the INO80 family

BAF57

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

191

Actin was first identified in the mammalian BAF complex. Biochemical analysis indicated
that actin is not only tightly bound to BRG1, the ATPase subunit of BAF, but also needed for
the ATPase activity required for BAF association with chromatin (Zhao et al., 1998). To date,
the molecular mechanisms that underlie the functions of actin and Arps in the chromatin
remodelling remain largely unknown. Recently, a helicase-SANT-associated (HSA) domain
was identified in the ATPase of several chromatin remodelling complexes. This domain is
required for the binding of actin and Arps. Altering the HSA domain causes a loss of actin
and Arps in these complexes and reduces ATPase activity, confirming the important role of
actin and Arps in chromatin remodelling (Szerlong et al., 2008).
4.2 Actin recruits histone modifying enzymes
Actin has been identified as a component of pre-mRNA particles (pre-mRNPs) via binding
to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (hnRNPs) in insects and mammals
(Kukalev et al., 2005;Percipalle et al., 2003;Percipalle et al., 2002;Percipalle et al., 2001;Zhang et
al., 2002b). In the dipteran insect Chironomus tentans, actin was found to bind directly to the
nuclear protein HRP65-2 (HRP65 isoform 2). Disruption of this interaction by a competing
peptide, which mimics the actin-binding motif of HRP65, inhibited RNA polymerase IImediated transcription at the level of transcript elongation (Percipalle et al., 2003). The
inhibitory effect of this peptide can be counteracted by a general inhibitor of histone
deacetylases (trichostatin A), suggesting that actin-HRP65-2 interaction is involved in
acetylation/deacetylation of histones. Indeed, HRP65-2 and actin were shown to form a
complex with p2D10 in vivo. p2D10 is a histone H3 specific acetyltransferase, a C. tentans
ortholog of the largest subunit of the transcription factor TFIIIC (Sjolinder et al., 2005).
Disruption of the interaction between HRP65-2 and actin releases p2D10 from RNA
polymerase II-transcribing gene, coinciding with reduced H3 histone acetylation and
inhibition of transcription, indicating that HRP65-actin interaction provides a molecular
platform to recruit chromatin modifying factors to the transcribing genes allowing to
maintain genes in an active state (Figure 1B) (Sjolinder et al., 2005).
Similarly, in human cells, the interaction between actin and hnRNP U, another component
of pre-mRNPs, was also shown to be essential for RNA polymerase II-mediated
transcription elongation. hnRNP U has been shown to bind to actin via a conserved actinbinding motif located at the C-terminus. Both actin and hnRNP U were shown to be
associated with the phosphorylated C-terminal domain (CTD) of polymerase II and
antibodies against either of these components are able to block transcription of class II
genes (Kukalev et al., 2005). Furthermore, the actin - hnRNP U complex was shown to be
required for the recruitment of histone acetyltransferase (HAT), PCAF, to actively
transcribed genes, and they are all present at promoter and coding regions of constitutively
expressed class II genes (Figure 1 B) (Obrdlik et al., 2008). It was previously shown that
binding of hnRNP U to RNA polymerase II inhibited the phosphorylation of the CTD
mediated by TFIIH, suggesting that actin-hnRNP U interaction might modify the inhibitory
effect of hnRNP U on CTD phosphorylation, and that this modification is required for
transcription elongation (Kim and Nikodem, 1999;Kukalev et al., 2005).

5. Involvement of actin in transcription machinery

Transcription is a process of synthesizing an RNA molecule from a sequence of DNA. The
major steps of transcription include pre-initiation, initiation, elongation and termination.

192

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Transcription is performed by an enzyme called RNA polymerase. Eukaryotic cells have

three distinct classes of RNA polymerases characterized by the type of RNA they synthesize.
RNA polymerase I is located in the nucleolus, a functionally highly specialized subnuclear
compartment, and it is responsible for transcribing ribosomal RNA (rRNA). RNA
polymerase II is located in nucleoplasm and responsible for synthesizing the precursors of
messenger RNA (mRNA) and most small nuclear RNAs (snRNA) and microRNA (miRNA).
RNA polymerase III is also located in nucleoplasm, and transcribes 5S rRNA, transfer RNA
(tRNA), U6 snRNA and other small RNAs.
The first finding that demonstrated a role of nuclear actin in transcriptional process was
documented by Smith et al. (Smith et al., 1979). The authors found that actin co-purified
with RNA polymerase II from the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. Following this original
finding, the subsequent studies demonstrated that actin was present in transcriptionally
active nuclear extracts from HeLa cells and calf thymus, and was able to initiate the
transcription by RNA polymerase II in vitro (Egly et al., 1984). Another study, published
about the same time, showed that transcription of lampbrush chromosomes was inhibited
when antibodies directed against actin or ABPs were microinjected into the nuclei of living
oocytes of Pleurodeles waltl. This study provided first solid evidence for an association
between actin and transcription (Scheer et al., 1984). However, these two important findings
were largely ignored and postulated as being artifacts of contamination. Although a number
of key advances in the nuclear actin field occurred after 1984, skepticism of new data
remained until two decades later when several studies finally provided convincing and noncontestable evidence for the involvement of actin in gene transcription (Grummt,
2006;Pederson and Aebi, 2002; Percipalle and Visa, 2006). However, many questions remain
to be answered to fully understand the exact molecular mechanism of regulation of
transcription by various forms of actin.
5.1 Role of actin and nuclear myosin 1 in gene transcription by RNA polymerase I
Actin has been shown to be present not only in mammalian nucleoplasm but also in nucleoli
(Andersen et al., 2005), suggesting a role for actin in transcription by RNA polymerase I.
Indeed, co-immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showed
that actin is associated physically with RNA polymerase I and present on actively
transcribing ribosomal genes at both the promoter and transcribed regions (Fomproix and
Percipalle, 2004; Philimonenko et al., 2004). Microinjection of anti-actin antibodies into the
nuclei inhibited rRNA synthesis in living cells (Philimonenko et al., 2004). Furthermore, in
vitro transcription assays revealed that antibody against actin also inhibited rRNA synthesis
in cell-free systems containing either naked rDNA or pre-assembled chromatin templates
(Philimonenko et al., 2004). Interestingly, anti-actin antibody did not affect the synthesis of
initial trinucleotide (initiation phase) but inhibited the synthesis of run-off transcripts
(elongation phase), indicating that actin is required for RNA polymerase I transcription in
post-initiation steps.
Nuclear myosin 1 (NM1), a short-tailed myosin acting as an actin-dependent ATPase, has
also been found in nucleoli (Fomproix and Percipalle, 2004), suggesting that actin and
myosin might work together as actomyosin in transcription. NM1 and actin are present in a
complex with RNA polymerase I (Fomproix and Percipalle, 2004; Philimonenko et al., 2004).
The same as actin, NM1 is present on the rDNA promoter and antibodies directly against

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

193

NM1 also inhibited RNA polymerase I transcription both in in vivo and in vitro transcription
assays (Percipalle et al., 2006;Philimonenko et al., 2004). Previously, two contradictory
findings were reported on this subject. One study showed that NM1 is not associated with
the coding region (Philimonenko et al., 2004); however another similar study using different
anti-NM1 antibodies demonstrated that a fraction of nucleolar NM1 is associated with the
coding region (Percipalle et al., 2006). A possible reason for these discrepant findings could
be that NM1 has different conformations during different steps of transcription, which
could be recognized by different antibodies. Philimonenko and co-workers have shown that
actin can directly interact with RNA polymerase I independent of whether or not it is
engaged in transcription; however, NM1 binds to the transcription machinery via
interaction with TIF-IA (Philimonenko et al., 2004). TIF-IA is a RNA polymerase I-specific
transcription initiation factor that mediates growth-dependent regulation of RNA
polymerase I activity and rRNA transcription (Grummt, 2003). Based on these findings, one
could speculate that actin and NM1 get close in proximity that they can interact with each
other during the formation of transcription initiation complex and presumably activate
RNA polymerase activity and rRNA synthesis. Ye and co-workers studies provided
further support to this hypothesis (Ye et al., 2008). In addition, NM1 was also found to be
present on the coding region of 18S and 28S genes as a component of the chromatin
remodelling complex B-WICH, which comprises the William syndrome transcription factor
(WSTF) and SNF2h besides NM1, and is required for RNA polymerase I transcription
activation and maintenance (Percipalle et al., 2006). This suggests that MN1 is also
implicated in the post-initiation phases of transcription. Recently, a study showed that
knockdown of WSTF resulted in reduced recruitment of HATs at the rDNA which coincided
with a lower level of histone acetylation.
5.2 Role of actin in transcription by RNA polymerase II
A number of studies have supported the role of actin in RNA polymerase II transcription
machinery. Firstly, actin is co-purified with RNA polymerase II (Egly et al., 1984;Hofmann
et al., 2004;Smith et al., 1979), which maybe a general feature, as actin is also co-purified with
RNA polymerase I (see 5.1) and III (see 5.3). Secondly, microinjection of anti-actin antibodies
into the nuclei of Xenopus oocytes blocks chromosome condensation (Rungger et al., 1979),
and microinjecting antibodies directed against actin or Arps inhibit RNA polymerase IImediated transcription (Hofmann et al., 2004;Scheer et al., 1984;Xu et al., 2010). Thirdly, actin
is a component of preinitiation complexes (Figure 1A), and the formations of preinitiation
complexes are blocked by depletion of actin from nuclear extracts (Hofmann et al., 2004).
Fourthly, ChIP assays showed that actin can be recruited to the promoters of actively
transcribed genes (Hofmann et al., 2004;Xu et al., 2010). For example, actin is absent from the
promoters of the interferon--inducible gene MHC2TA and interferon--inducible gene
G1P3 before induction but it is associated with their promoters after gene induction.
Recently, using ChIP-on chip assays, we have demonstrated that actin is recruited to a wide
range of gene promoters during the PMA-induced macrophage-like differentiation of HL-60
cells. These data disprove the notion that actin might non-specifically interacts with the
promoter regions. If this was the case, -actin would have been found at the promoter of all
genes even in the absence of induction. Even though significant progress has been made,
the mechanisms of how actin is getting selectively recruited to the target genes still remains
unknown.

194

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 1. Model for the function of actin in RNA polymerase II mediated transcription.
(A) Actin can interact with RNA polymerase II and is involved in the formation of
preinitiation complex, and affect transcription directly. (B) Actin participates in the
recruitment of histone modifying enzymes to protein-coding genes. Actin binds to hnRNP
proteins and becomes incorporated into pre-mRNPs. Actin forms a complex with adaptor
proteins, such as hnRNP U in mammals and HRP65 in C. tentans, and facilitates the
recruitment of HATs, such as PCAF and p2D10 to the transcribing gene. HATs acetylate
histones that maintain genes in active state. (C) Actin is implicated in chromatin
remodelling as a component of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes. TBP,
TATA binding protein; TFII B and TFII F, transcription factor II B and transcription factor
IIF; Pol II, RNA polymerase II; hnRNP U, heterogeneous nuclear protein U; HAT, histone
acetyltransferase.

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

195

5.3 Role of actin in RNA transcription by RNA polymerase III

Actin also plays an important role in RNA polymerase III transcription. Hu and colleagues
have shown that actin can be co-purified with either tagged or endogenous RNA
polymerase III, like with polymerase I and II (Hu et al., 2003;Hu et al., 2004). Moreover, actin was found to be associated with RNA polymerase III via direct protein-protein
interactions with at least one of three RNA polymerase III subunits RPC3, RPABC2 and
RPABC3. ChIP assays showed that -actin is located at the promoter region of actively
transcribed U6 gene, and can be dissociated from RNA polymerase III complex after
inhibition of transcription by methane methylsulfonate (MMS), which resulted in the
appearance of an inactivate RNA polymerase III. Notably, in an in vitro U6 transcription
system, this inactive RNA polymerase III was not able to perform transcription, while
adding exogenous -actin reconstituted the transcriptional activity. These data indicate a
crucial role for actin in RNA polymerase III-mediated transcription.
5.4 Regulation of subcellular localization and activity of transcription factor
It has been shown that nuclear actin is associated with the transcription activity of the serum
response factor (SRF), a member of highly conserved MADX box family of transcription
factors. SRF regulates the expression of immediate-early genes such as c-fos and actin, as well
as muscle-specific genes, and these target genes are involved in cell growth, proliferation,
differentiation and cytoskeletal organization (Miano, 2003). Myocardin and myocardin-related
transcription factors (MRTFs) act as powerful cofactor of SRF in mammalian cells (Cen et al.,
2004;Parmacek, 2007). MRTF-A (also known as MAL and MKL1) is a G-actin binding protein
and its subcellular localization and activity are regulated by the concentration of monomeric
actin (Miralles et al., 2003;Vartiainen et al., 2007). In serum-starved NIH 3T3 cells, MRTF-A
predominantly resides in the cytoplasm, where it interact with G-actin via its N-terminal RPEL
domain (Guettler et al., 2008;Miralles et al., 2003). Activation of RhoA signalling, by stimulation
with serum for example, results in increased actin polymerization and decreased G-actin level,
respectively. Sensing depletion of the G-actin pool, MRTF-A dissociates from G-actin and
rapidly accumulates in nucleus. In the nucleus, MRTF-As physically associate with SRF,
facilitating the binding of SRF to CArG box to activate the transcription of target genes (Du et
al., 2004;Vartiainen et al., 2007;Zhou and Herring, 2005). MRTF-A contains an unusually long
bipartite NLS located within the RPEL domain. Pawlowski and colleagues demonstrated that
importin / heterodimer competitively binds to the RPEL domain with G-actin via
interaction with NLS. Importantly, this binding was shown to mediate the nuclear import of
MATF-A (Pawlowski et al., 2010). MRTF-A also binds G-actin in the nucleus and this
association is required for export of MRTF-A from the nucleus (Guettler et al., 2008;Vartiainen
et al., 2007). Furthermore, actin binding to MRTF-A in the nucleus inhibits the activity of the
latter, and subsequently SRF-mediated transcription. Therefore, actin regulates SRF activity
through modulating the sublocalization of MRTF-A and its activity within the nucleus
(Vartiainen et al., 2007). (Figure 2).
Striated muscle activator of Rho signalling (STARS), a muscle-specific ABP, is capable of
stimulating the transcription activity of SRF through a mechanism involving RhoA
activation and actin polymerization. MRTFs, including MRTF-A and MRTF-B, were shown
to serve as a linker between STARS stimulation and SRF activity (Arai et al., 2002). Studies
have demonstrated that STARS can substitute for serum signalling and promote the nuclear
traslocation of MRTF-A and MRTF-B, and subsequently activate the SRF-dependent
transcription (Kuwahara et al., 2005). The STARS protein contains a conserved actin-binding

196

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

domain within the 142 residues of C-terminus (Arai et al., 2002). The C-terminal mutant of
STARS, N233, which cannot bind actin, was unable to induce the nuclear translocation of
MATF-A and MATF-B and to enhance the MRTF-mediated activation of SRF- dependent
transcription. In contrast, the C-terminal 142 amino acids of STARS, which can bind actin ,
was shown to induce the nuclear accumulation of MRTFs and to synergistically enhance the
MRTF-mediated transcription activation as efficiently as full-length STARS (Kuwahara et
al., 2005). In addition, stimulation of nuclear translocation of MRTFs by STARS can be
inhibited by Latrunculin B. Similarly, inhibition of Rho A activity by treatment with C3
transferase or by the expression of dominant-negative Rho A prevents nuclear accumulation
of MRTFs and subsequently MRTF-mediated SRF activation (Kuwahara et al., 2005).
Although Rho A activity is required in this process, it seems not to act as a downstream
effector of STARS, since Rho A activity in STARS-transfected cells does not appear to be
different from that observed in untransfected cells. However, it has been well documented
that STARS requires Rho-actin signalling to evoke its stimulatory effects. As STARS binds to
actin and induces actin polymerization (Arai et al., 2002;Kuwahara et al., 2005), it has been
suggested that STARS stimulates the MRTF activity by inducing the dissociation of MRTF
from actin and subsequently promoting its nuclear accumulation (Figure 2).

Fig. 2. Model for actin dynamics regulating SRF activity. Rho signalling (non-muscle cells) or
STARS signalling (muscle cells) promote the assembly of F-actin from monomeric G-actin.
Sensing depletion of G-actin, MAL dissociates from G-actin and is imported into nucleus
through binding to heterodimer importin /. In the nucleus, MAL binds and activates SRF
activity. G- actin also binds MAL in the nucleus and mediates the nuclear export of MAL.
STARS, striated muscle activator of Rho signalling; MAL, also known as MRTF-A, myocardinrelated transcription factor A; IMP/, importin /; SRF, serum response factor.

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

197

Interestingly, SRF activity is regulated by actin/MRTF interaction and in turn, SRF controls
the transcription of many genes encoding actin isoforms and ABPs (Posern and Treisman,
2006;Sun et al., 2006). SRF-regulated genes can encode structural components of actin
microfilament (for example, actin), effectors of actin turnover (for example, cofilin 1) as well
as regulator of actin dynamics (for example, filamin A)(Olson and Nordheim, 2010).

6. Roles of actin in genome organization

It is well known that the eukaryotic nucleus is highly organized into morphologically and
functionally distinct subnuclear compartments, which spatially separate different
physiological processes. These compartments include chromatin territories, proteinaceous
nuclear bodies (e.g. nucleolus, Cajal body, speckle and PML body), compartmentalized
multiprotein complexes such as transcription factories, and nuclear pore complexes that
regulate nucleocytoplasmic transport of certain molecules. Within the interphase nuclei,
chromosomes are non-randomly organized, but occupy discrete regions, known as
chromosome territories (CTs). This was first suggested by Rabel in 1885, but until almost
one hundred years later, Cremer and his group carried out experiments to indirectly
demonstrate the existence of CTs (Cremer et al., 1982). By using non-radioactive in situ
hybridization, several groups unequivocally confirmed that the chromosomes are not
distributed throughout the nucleus during the interphase, but confined to subnuclear
domains (Borden and Manuelidis, 1988;Lichter et al., 1988;Schardin et al., 1985). Initial
reports, based mainly on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated that these
CTs are non-overlapping. However, Branco and co-workers (Branco and Pombo, 2006),
using a high resolution cryo-FISH technique, revealed a significant intermingling of CTs in
interphase, suggesting CTs interact more than previous thought. Interestingly, gene-rich
CTs tend to occupy the interior of the nucleus, whereas many of the gene-poor
chromosomes are associated with the nuclear periphery (Cremer et al., 2001;Croft et al.,
1999). The gene-density-correlated radial organization of CTs was confirmed by analyses
comprising all human chromosomes (Boyle et al., 2001).
This non-random radial
distribution of CTs was also observed in rodents (Neusser et al., 2007), cattle (Koehler et al.,
2009) and birds (Habermann et al., 2001), suggesting that it has been evolutionary conserved.
In addition, chromosome size-correlated radial arrangements have also been described (Sun
et al., 2000) and such organization seems to occur in flat nuclei (Bolzer et al., 2005). However,
the genome organization of eukaryotic cells is dynamic and chromosome arrangement can
change in response to cellular signals.
An association of actin with various chromatin states has been shown by a number of
studies (Milankov and De, 1993;Sauman and Berry, 1994). Bacterial actin was shown to be
involved in plasmid and chromosome segregation (Becker et al., 2006;Moller-Jensen et al.,
2007). In eukaryotic cell, chromosome segregation is generally driven by microtubules,
however, in the oocyte of starfish, chromosome congression requires actin polymerization
(Lenart et al., 2005). Mehta and colleagues have recently demonstrated that CTs relocate in
quiescent human fibroblasts (Mehta et al., 2010). In the absence of serum stimulation, a
number of chromosomes were observed to change position in the interphase nuclei;
however, this kind of chromosome movement can be prevented by the inhibition of actin
and myosin polymerization or knockdown of nuclear myosin 1 by RNA interference
experiments. Inhibition of ATPase and/or GTPase also blocked the chromosome movement

198

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

upon serum withdrawal, suggesting that this kind of chromosome movement is an energydependent active process. In an earlier study, using a novel tool to visualize chromatin
movement in living cells, Chuang and co-workers (Chuang et al., 2006) reported long-range
vectorial movements of chromatin exceeding 1m. Furthermore, the authors found that
repositioning of a chromatin locus was completely abolished in cells transfected with a
nonpolymerizable actin mutant, whereas a mutant stabilizing filamentous actin accelerated
locus redistribution. Transfection with a myosin mutant significantly delayed locus
reposition. Dundr and colleagues (Dundr et al., 2007) analyzed the dynamic association
between Cajal bodies and U2 snRNA gene. Upon transcriptional activation, the
chromosome region containing U2 snRNA genes moved toward the Cajal bodies which are
relatively stably positioned. Inactivated U2 snRNA genes do not associate with the Cajal
bodies. Similarly, this process was also found to be actin-dependent.
Actin and NM1 are also required for estrogen-induced interchromosomal interactions. Two
estrogen-regulated loci, TFF1 and GREB1, located in different chromosomes colocalize after
stimulation with 17-estradiol (Hu et al., 2008). This interaction was blocked by treatment of
the cells with Latrunculin or jasplakinolide, which inhibit actin polymerization and
depolymerisation, respectively. Depletion of actin or NM1 by siRNAs or nuclear
microinjection of specific antibodies against NM1 also blocked the interaction. Furthermore,
the inhibitory effect of anti-NM1 antibodies could be rescued by the expression of wild-type
NM1, but not by the expression of NM1 mutant deficient in ATPase or actin-binding
activity. The results demonstrate that the dynamics of nuclear actin affect the chromatin
movement and gene positioning. How actin and NM1 cooperate to organize genome and
facilitate the regulation of gene expression still needs to be studied in more detail.

7. Conclusion
The past decade has seen great advances in discovering the versatile functions of actin in the
nucleus. Actin participates not only in the basal transcription mediated by all three RNA
polymerases, as a component of RNA polymerase complex or pre-mRNP particles, but also
in the transcriptional regulation as a component of chromosome remodelling complex.
Actin also plays a role in movement, organization, and regulation of chromatin and
activated genes in the nucleus. In addition, actin acts as a multifunctional brick in the
nuclear architecture to help maintain nuclear shape, spatial order and nuclear functions.
The challenge now is to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the many
functions of actin in these nuclear processes.
In recent years, studies have shown that nuclear actin can exist as a polymeric form and that
actin polymerization is implicated in transcription (Wu et al., 2006;Ye et al., 2008;Yoo et al.,
2007). However, the form of actin in various complexes associated with transcription seem
to be monomeric and its functions in theses complexes do not appear to require
polymerization/depolymerisation dynamics. There are two possible explanations for why
this is so. First, actin polymerization may maintain a proper G-actin pool for transcription.
Second, the polymeric state affects the movement of gene loci (Hu et al., 2008), therefore,
may affect the transcription. From this view point, it is important to address the dynamic
behaviour of nuclear actin in order to understand how actin regulates transcription, for
example, how actin polymerization is regulated inside the nucleus. What are the roles of

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

199

ABPs in the nucleus? It seems that many APBs have specific nuclear functions that are not
related to the regulation of actin dynamics. Therefore, identifying novel ABPs is expected to
be an important way to understand the regulation of actin polymerization. In addition, there
is evidence to show the existence of a communication between cytoplasmic actin and
nuclear actin pool (Vartiainen et al., 2007). But what are the signalling pathways that link
cytoplasmic actin dynamics and nuclear actin behaviour? What are the mechanisms that
controlling the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of the actin? Although actin has functional
NESs, it is always found to be exported in a complex with other cargo, for example with
profilin and with MRTF-A.
Recently, studies have well documented that both nuclear actin and NM1 are implicated
in the movement of CTs and chromosomal loci. The interactions of chromosomal loci with
functional subnuclear domains, such as Cajal bodies, as well as interactions between
distinct chromosomal loci are important for transcriptional regulation and genome-based
nuclear processes. It is most likely that actin cooperates with NM1 as a motor to drive
and direct the movement of chromosomal loci. Nevertheless, actin may also acts as a
component of chromatin remodelling complex to relax the chromatin structure. New
technologies need to be developed to investigate exact mechanisms of involvement of
actin and NM1 in movement of chromosomal loci. In summary, there is still a long way to
fully understanding the complexity of actin in the structural and functional networks of
the nucleus.

8. References
Abrams, E., Neigeborn, L., and Carlson, M. (1986). Molecular analysis of SNF2 and SNF5,
genes required for expression of glucose-repressible genes in Saccharomyces
cerevisiae. Mol. Cell Biol. 6, 3643-3651.
Andersen, J.S., Lam, Y.W., Leung, A.K., Ong, S.E., Lyon, C.E., Lamond, A.I., and Mann, M.
(2005). Nucleolar proteome dynamics. Nature. 433, 77-83.
Andres, V. and Gonzalez, J.M. (2009). Role of A-type lamins in signaling, transcription, and
chromatin organization. J. Cell Biol. 187, 945-957.
Arai, A., Spencer, J.A., and Olson, E.N. (2002). STARS, a striated muscle activator of Rho
signaling and serum response factor-dependent transcription. J. Biol. Chem. 277,
24453-24459.
Archer, S.K., Claudianos, C., and Campbell, H.D. (2005). Evolution of the gelsolin family of
actin-binding proteins as novel transcriptional coactivators. Bioessays. 27, 388-396.
Aroian, R.V., Field, C., Pruliere, G., Kenyon, C., and Alberts, B.M. (1997). Isolation of actinassociated proteins from Caenorhabditis elegans oocytes and their localization in
the early embryo. EMBO J. 16, 1541-1549.
Ascough, K.R. (2004). Endocytosis: Actin in the driving seat. Curr. Biol. 14, R124-R126.
Becker, E., Herrera, N.C., Gunderson, F.Q., Derman, A.I., Dance, A.L., Sims, J., Larsen, R.A.,
and Pogliano, J. (2006). DNA segregation by the bacterial actin AlfA during Bacillus
subtilis growth and development. EMBO J. 25, 5919-5931.
Bednarek, R., Boncela, J., Smolarczyk, K., Cierniewska-Cieslak, A., Wyroba, E., and
Cierniewski, C.S. (2008). Ku80 as a novel receptor for thymosin beta4 that mediates

200

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

its intracellular activity different from G-actin sequestering. J. Biol. Chem. 283,
1534-1544.
Berezney, R. (2002). Regulating the mammalian genome: the role of nuclear architecture.
Adv. Enzyme Regul. 42:39-52., 39-52.
Berezney, R., Mortillaro, M., Ma, H., Meng, C., Samarabandu, J., Wei, X., Somanathan, S.,
Liou, W.S., Pan, S.J., and Cheng, P.C. (1996). Connecting nuclear architecture and
genomic function. J. Cell Biochem. 62, 223-226.
Blessing, C.A., Ugrinova, G.T., and Goodson, H.V. (2004). Actin and ARPs: action in the
nucleus. Trends Cell Biol. 14, 435-442.
Bohnsack, M.T., Stuven, T., Kuhn, C., Cordes, V.C., and Gorlich, D. (2006). A selective block
of nuclear actin export stabilizes the giant nuclei of Xenopus oocytes. Nat. Cell Biol.
8, 257-263.
Bolzer, A. et al. (2005). Three-dimensional maps of all chromosomes in human male
fibroblast nuclei and prometaphase rosettes. PLoS. Biol. 3, e157.
Borden, J. and Manuelidis, L. (1988). Movement of the X chromosome in epilepsy. Science.
242, 1687-1691.
Boyle, S., Gilchrist, S., Bridger, J.M., Mahy, N.L., Ellis, J.A., and Bickmore, W.A. (2001). The
spatial organization of human chromosomes within the nuclei of normal and
emerin-mutant cells. Hum. Mol. Genet. 10, 211-219.
Brakebusch, C. and Fassler, R. (2003). The integrin-actin connection, an eternal love affair.
EMBO J. 22, 2324-2333.
Branco, M.R. and Pombo, A. (2006). Intermingling of chromosome territories in interphase
suggests role in translocations and transcription-dependent associations. PLoS.
Biol. 4, e138.
Brieger, A., Plotz, G., Zeuzem, S., and Trojan, J. (2007). Thymosin beta 4 expression and
nuclear transport are regulated by hMLH1. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 364,
731-736.
Burtnick, L.D., Urosev, D., Irobi, E., Narayan, K., and Robinson, R.C. (2004). Structure of the
N-terminal half of gelsolin bound to actin: roles in severing, apoptosis and FAF.
EMBO J. 23, 2713-2722.
Capco, D.G., Wan, K.M., and Penman, S. (1982). The nuclear matrix: three-dimensional
architecture and protein composition. Cell. 29, 847-858.
Carlson, M., Osmond, B.C., and Botstein, D. (1981). Mutants of yeast defective in sucrose
utilization. Genetics. 98, 25-40.
Carrion, A.M., Link, W.A., Ledo, F., Mellstrom, B., and Naranjo, J.R. (1999). DREAM is a
Ca2+-regulated transcriptional repressor. Nature. 398, 80-84.
Cen, B., Selvaraj, A., and Prywes, R. (2004). Myocardin/MKL family of SRF coactivators: key
regulators of immediate early and muscle specific gene expression. J. Cell Biochem.
93, 74-82.
Charlton, C.A. and Volkman, L.E. (1991). Sequential rearrangement and nuclear
polymerization of actin in baculovirus-infected Spodoptera frugiperda cells. J.
Virol. 65, 1219-1227.
Chawla, S., Hardingham, G.E., Quinn, D.R., and Bading, H. (1998). CBP: a signal-regulated
transcriptional coactivator controlled by nuclear calcium and CaM kinase IV.
Science. 281, 1505-1509.

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

201

Chen, M. and Shen, X. (2007). Nuclear actin and actin-related proteins in chromatin
dynamics. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 19, 326-330.
Chhabra, D. and dos Remedios, C.G. (2005). Cofilin, actin and their complex observed in
vivo using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Biophys. J. 89, 1902-1908.
Choe, H., Burtnick, L.D., Mejillano, M., Yin, H.L., Robinson, R.C., and Choe, S. (2002). The
calcium activation of gelsolin: insights from the 3A structure of the G4-G6/actin
complex. J. Mol. Biol. 324, 691-702.
Chuang, C.H., Carpenter, A.E., Fuchsova, B., Johnson, T., de, L.P., and Belmont, A.S. (2006).
Long-range directional movement of an interphase chromosome site. Curr. Biol. 16,
825-831.
Clark, T.G. and Rosenbaum, J.L. (1979). An actin filament matrix in hand-isolated nuclei of
X. laevis oocytes. Cell. 18, 1101-1108.
Courgeon, A.M., Maingourd, M., Maisonhaute, C., Montmory, C., Rollet, E., Tanguay, R.M.,
and Best-Belpomme, M. (1993). Effect of hydrogen peroxide on cytoskeletal
proteins of Drosophila cells: comparison with heat shock and other stresses. Exp.
Cell Res. 204, 30-37.
Cremer, M., von, H.J., Volm, T., Brero, A., Kreth, G., Walter, J., Fischer, C., Solovei, I.,
Cremer, C., and Cremer, T. (2001). Non-random radial higher-order chromatin
arrangements in nuclei of diploid human cells. Chromosome. Res. 9, 541-567.
Cremer, T., Cremer, C., Baumann, H., Luedtke, E.K., Sperling, K., Teuber, V., and Zorn, C.
(1982). Rabl's model of the interphase chromosome arrangement tested in Chinese
hamster cells by premature chromosome condensation and laser-UV-microbeam
experiments. Hum. Genet. 60, 46-56.
Crisp, M., Liu, Q., Roux, K., Rattner, J.B., Shanahan, C., Burke, B., Stahl, P.D., and Hodzic, D.
(2006). Coupling of the nucleus and cytoplasm: role of the LINC complex. J. Cell
Biol. 172, 41-53.
Croft, J.A., Bridger, J.M., Boyle, S., Perry, P., Teague, P., and Bickmore, W.A. (1999).
Differences in the localization and morphology of chromosomes in the human
nucleus. J. Cell Biol. 145, 1119-1131.
Dayel, M.J. and Mullins, R.D. (2004). Activation of Arp2/3 complex: addition of the first
subunit of the new filament by a WASP protein triggers rapid ATP hydrolysis on
Arp2. PLoS. Biol. 2, E91.
De, C., V, Van, I.K., Bruyneel, E., Boucherie, C., Mareel, M., Vandekerckhove, J., and
Gettemans, J. (2004). Increased importin-beta-dependent nuclear import of the actin
modulating protein CapG promotes cell invasion. J. Cell Sci. 117, 5283-5292.
Deeks, M.J. and Hussey, P.J. (2005). Arp2/3 and SCAR: plants move to the fore. Nat. Rev.
Mol. Cell Biol. 6, 954-964.
dos Remedios, C.G., Chhabra, D., Kekic, M., Dedova, I.V., Tsubakihara, M., Berry, D.A., and
Nosworthy, N.J. (2003). Actin binding proteins: regulation of cytoskeletal
microfilaments. Physiol Rev. 83, 433-473.
Dong, J.M., Lau, L.S., Ng, Y.W., Lim, L., and Manser, E. (2009). Paxillin nuclear-cytoplasmic
localization is regulated by phosphorylation of the LD4 motif: evidence that
nuclear paxillin promotes cell proliferation. Biochem. J. 418, 173-184.
Du, K.L., Chen, M., Li, J., Lepore, J.J., Mericko, P., and Parmacek, M.S. (2004).
Megakaryoblastic leukemia factor-1 transduces cytoskeletal signals and induces

202

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

smooth muscle cell differentiation from undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. J.

Biol. Chem. 279, 17578-17586.
Dundr, M., Ospina, J.K., Sung, M.H., John, S., Upender, M., Ried, T., Hager, G.L., and
Matera, A.G. (2007). Actin-dependent intranuclear repositioning of an active gene
locus in vivo. J. Cell Biol. 179, 1095-1103.
Egly, J.M., Miyamoto, N.G., Moncollin, V., and Chambon, P. (1984). Is actin a transcription
initiation factor for RNA polymerase B? EMBO J. 3, 2363-2371.
Fairley, E.A., Kendrick-Jones, J., and Ellis, J.A. (1999). The Emery-Dreifuss muscular
dystrophy phenotype arises from aberrant targeting and binding of emerin at the
inner nuclear membrane. J. Cell Sci. 112, 2571-2582.
Farrants, A.K. (2008). Chromatin remodelling and actin organisation. FEBS Lett. 582, 20412050.
Feierbach, B., Piccinotti, S., Bisher, M., Denk, W., and Enquist, L.W. (2006). Alphaherpesvirus infection induces the formation of nuclear actin filaments. PLoS.
Pathog. 2, e85.
Ferrai, C., Naum-Ongania, G., Longobardi, E., Palazzolo, M., Disanza, A., Diaz, V.M.,
Crippa, M.P., Scita, G., and Blasi, F. (2009). Induction of HoxB transcription by
retinoic acid requires actin polymerization. Mol. Biol. Cell. 20, 3543-3551.
Fomproix, N. and Percipalle, P. (2004). An actin-myosin complex on actively transcribing
genes. Exp. Cell Res. 294, 140-148.
Forest, T., Barnard, S., and Baines, J.D. (2005). Active intranuclear movement of herpesvirus
capsids. Nat. Cell Biol. 7, 429-431.
Gangaraju, V.K. and Bartholomew, B. (2007). Mechanisms of ATP dependent chromatin
remodeling. Mutat. Res. 618, 3-17.
Gedge, L.J., Morrison, E.E., Blair, G.E., and Walker, J.H. (2005). Nuclear actin is partially
associated with Cajal bodies in human cells in culture and relocates to the nuclear
periphery after infection of cells by adenovirus 5. Exp. Cell Res. 303, 229-239.
Gettemans, J., Van, I.K., Delanote, V., Hubert, T., Vandekerckhove, J., and De, C., V (2005).
Nuclear actin-binding proteins as modulators of gene transcription. Traffic. 6, 847857.
Gieni, R.S. and Hendzel, M.J. (2009). Actin dynamics and functions in the interphase
nucleus: moving toward an understanding of nuclear polymeric actin. Biochem.
Cell Biol. 87, 283-306.
Goley, E.D., Ohkawa, T., Mancuso, J., Woodruff, J.B., D'Alessio, J.A., Cande, W.Z., Volkman,
L.E., and Welch, M.D. (2006). Dynamic nuclear actin assembly by Arp2/3 complex
and a baculovirus WASP-like protein. Science. %20;314, 464-467.
Grummt, I. (2003). Life on a planet of its own: regulation of RNA polymerase I transcription
in the nucleolus. Genes Dev. 17, 1691-1702.
Grummt, I. (2006). Actin and myosin as transcription factors. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 16,
191-196.
Guettler, S., Vartiainen, M.K., Miralles, F., Larijani, B., and Treisman, R. (2008). RPEL motifs
link the serum response factor cofactor MAL but not myocardin to Rho signaling
via actin binding. Mol. Cell Biol. 28, 732-742.
Habermann, F.A., Cremer, M., Walter, J., Kreth, G., von, H.J., Bauer, K., Wienberg, J.,
Cremer, C., Cremer, T., and Solovei, I. (2001). Arrangements of macro- and
microchromosomes in chicken cells. Chromosome. Res. 9, 569-584.

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

203

Hancock, R. (2000). A new look at the nuclear matrix. Chromosoma. 109, 219-225.
Hannappel, E. (2007). beta-Thymosins. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1112:21-37. Epub;%2007 Apr 27.,
21-37.
Hargreaves, D.C. and Crabtree, G.R. (2011). ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling:
genetics, genomics and mechanisms. Cell Res. 21, 396-420.
Higgs, H.N. and Pollard, T.D. (2001). Regulation of actin filament network formation
through ARP2/3 complex: activation by a diverse array of proteins. Annu. Rev.
Biochem. 70:649-76., 649-676.
Hilpela, P., Vartiainen, M.K., and Lappalainen, P. (2004). Regulation of the actin
cytoskeleton by PI(4, 5)P2 and PI(3, 4, 5)P3. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol.
282:117-63., 117-163.
Hofmann, W. et al. (2001). Cofactor requirements for nuclear export of Rev response element
(RRE)- and constitutive transport element (CTE)-containing retroviral RNAs. An
unexpected role for actin. J. Cell Biol. 152, 895-910.
Hofmann, W.A. et al. (2004). Actin is part of pre-initiation complexes and is necessary for
transcription by RNA polymerase II. Nat. Cell Biol. 6, 1094-1101.
Holaska, J.M. and Wilson, K.L. (2007). An emerin "proteome": purification of distinct
emerin-containing complexes from HeLa cells suggests molecular basis for diverse
roles including gene regulation, mRNA splicing, signaling, mechanosensing, and
nuclear architecture. Biochemistry. 46, 8897-8908.
Hu, P., Wu, S., and Hernandez, N. (2003). A minimal RNA polymerase III transcription
system from human cells reveals positive and negative regulatory roles for CK2.
Mol. Cell. 12, 699-709.
Hu, P., Wu, S., and Hernandez, N. (2004). A role for beta-actin in RNA polymerase III
transcription. Genes Dev. 18, 3010-3015.
Hu, Q. et al. (2008). Enhancing nuclear receptor-induced transcription requires nuclear
motor and LSD1-dependent gene networking in interchromatin granules. Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 105, 19199-19204.
Huff, T., Rosorius, O., Otto, A.M., Muller, C.S., Ballweber, E., Hannappel, E., and Mannherz,
H.G. (2004). Nuclear localisation of the G-actin sequestering peptide thymosin
beta4. J. Cell Sci. 117, 5333-5341.
Iida, K., Iida, H., and Yahara, I. (1986). Heat shock induction of intranuclear actin rods in
cultured mammalian cells. Exp. Cell Res. 165, 207-215.
Jockusch, B.M., Schoenenberger, C.A., Stetefeld, J., and Aebi, U. (2006). Tracking down the
different forms of nuclear actin. Trends Cell Biol. 16, 391-396.
Khurana, S., Chakraborty, S., Cheng, X., Su, Y.T., and Kao, H.Y. (2011). The actin-binding
protein, actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4), is a nuclear receptor coactivator that promotes
proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. J. Biol. Chem. 286, 1850-1859.
Kim, A.S., Kakalis, L.T., Abdul-Manan, N., Liu, G.A., and Rosen, M.K. (2000). Autoinhibition
and activation mechanisms of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein. Nature. 404,
151-158.
Kim, K., McCully, M.E., Bhattacharya, N., Butler, B., Sept, D., and Cooper, J.A. (2007).
Structure/function analysis of the interaction of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5bisphosphate with actin-capping protein: implications for how capping protein
binds the actin filament. J. Biol. Chem. 282, 5871-5879.

204

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Kim, M.K. and Nikodem, V.M. (1999). hnRNP U inhibits carboxy-terminal domain
phosphorylation by TFIIH and represses RNA polymerase II elongation. Mol. Cell
Biol. 19, 6833-6844.
Kiseleva, E., Drummond, S.P., Goldberg, M.W., Rutherford, S.A., Allen, T.D., and Wilson,
K.L. (2004). Actin- and protein-4.1-containing filaments link nuclear pore
complexes to subnuclear organelles in Xenopus oocyte nuclei. J. Cell Sci. 117, 24812490.
Koehler, D., Zakhartchenko, V., Froenicke, L., Stone, G., Stanyon, R., Wolf, E., Cremer, T.,
and Brero, A. (2009). Changes of higher order chromatin arrangements during
major genome activation in bovine preimplantation embryos. Exp. Cell Res. 315,
2053-2063.
Kong, K.Y. and Kedes, L. (2004). Cytoplasmic nuclear transfer of the actin-capping protein
tropomodulin. J. Biol. Chem. 279, 30856-30864.
Krauss, S.W., Chen, C., Penman, S., and Heald, R. (2003). Nuclear actin and protein 4.1:
essential interactions during nuclear assembly in vitro. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S.
A. 100, 10752-10757.
Krauss, S.W., Heald, R., Lee, G., Nunomura, W., Gimm, J.A., Mohandas, N., and Chasis, J.A.
(2002). Two distinct domains of protein 4.1 critical for assembly of functional nuclei
in vitro. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 44339-44346.
Kukalev, A., Nord, Y., Palmberg, C., Bergman, T., and Percipalle, P. (2005). Actin and
hnRNP U cooperate for productive transcription by RNA polymerase II. Nat.
Struct. Mol. Biol. 12, 238-244.
Kuwahara, K., Barrientos, T., Pipes, G.C., Li, S., and Olson, E.N. (2005). Muscle-specific
signaling mechanism that links actin dynamics to serum response factor. Mol. Cell
Biol. 25, 3173-3181.
Lattanzi, G., Cenni, V., Marmiroli, S., Capanni, C., Mattioli, E., Merlini, L., Squarzoni, S., and
Maraldi, N.M. (2003). Association of emerin with nuclear and cytoplasmic actin is
regulated in differentiating myoblasts. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 303, 764770.
Lee, Y.H., Campbell, H.D., and Stallcup, M.R. (2004). Developmentally essential protein
flightless I is a nuclear receptor coactivator with actin binding activity. Mol. Cell
Biol. 24, 2103-2117.
Lenart, P., Bacher, C.P., Daigle, N., Hand, A.R., Eils, R., Terasaki, M., and Ellenberg, J. (2005).
A contractile nuclear actin network drives chromosome congression in oocytes.
Nature. 436, 812-818.
Lichter, P., Cremer, T., Borden, J., Manuelidis, L., and Ward, D.C. (1988). Delineation of
individual human chromosomes in metaphase and interphase cells by in situ
suppression hybridization using recombinant DNA libraries. Hum. Genet. 80, 224234.
Liu, Q.Y., Lei, J.X., LeBlanc, J., Sodja, C., Ly, D., Charlebois, C., Walker, P.R., Yamada, T.,
Hirohashi, S., and Sikorska, M. (2004). Regulation of DNaseY activity by actininalpha4 during apoptosis. Cell Death. Differ. 11, 645-654.
Machesky, L.M. and Insall, R.H. (1998). Scar1 and the related Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
protein, WASP, regulate the actin cytoskeleton through the Arp2/3 complex. Curr.
Biol. 8, 1347-1356.

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

205

Maciver, S.K. and Hussey, P.J. (2002). The ADF/cofilin family: actin-remodeling proteins.
Genome Biol. 3, reviews3007.
Mao, Y.S. and Yin, H.L. (2007). Regulation of the actin cytoskeleton by phosphatidylinositol
4-phosphate 5 kinases. Pflugers Arch. 455, 5-18.
McDonald, D., Carrero, G., Andrin, C., de, V.G., and Hendzel, M.J. (2006). Nucleoplasmic
beta-actin exists in a dynamic equilibrium between low-mobility polymeric species
and rapidly diffusing populations. J. Cell Biol. 172, 541-552.
Mehta, I.S., Amira, M., Harvey, A.J., and Bridger, J.M. (2010). Rapid chromosome territory
relocation by nuclear motor activity in response to serum removal in primary
human fibroblasts. Genome Biol. 11, R5.
Miano, J.M. (2003). Serum response factor: toggling between disparate programs of gene
expression. J. Mol. Cell Cardiol. 35, 577-593.
Milankov, K. and De, B.U. (1993). Cytochemical localization of actin and myosin aggregates
in interphase nuclei in situ. Exp. Cell Res. 209, 189-199.
Miralles, F., Posern, G., Zaromytidou, A.I., and Treisman, R. (2003). Actin dynamics control
SRF activity by regulation of its coactivator MAL. Cell. 113, 329-342.
Moller-Jensen, J., Ringgaard, S., Mercogliano, C.P., Gerdes, K., and Lowe, J. (2007).
Structural analysis of the ParR/parC plasmid partition complex. EMBO J. 26, 44134422.
Nasmyth, K. and Shore, D. (1987). Transcriptional regulation in the yeast life cycle. Science.
237, 1162-1170.
Neigeborn, L. and Carlson, M. (1984). Genes affecting the regulation of SUC2 gene
expression by glucose repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics. 108, 845858.
Neigeborn, L. and Carlson, M. (1987). Mutations causing constitutive invertase synthesis in
yeast: genetic interactions with snf mutations. Genetics. 115, 247-253.
Neusser, M., Schubel, V., Koch, A., Cremer, T., and Muller, S. (2007). Evolutionarily
conserved, cell type and species-specific higher order chromatin arrangements in
interphase nuclei of primates. Chromosoma. 116, 307-320.
Nishida, E., Iida, K., Yonezawa, N., Koyasu, S., Yahara, I., and Sakai, H. (1987). Cofilin is a
component of intranuclear and cytoplasmic actin rods induced in cultured cells.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 84, 5262-5266.
Nishimura, K. et al. (2003). Modulation of androgen receptor transactivation by gelsolin: a
newly identified androgen receptor coregulator. Cancer Res. 63, 4888-4894.
Obrdlik, A., Kukalev, A., Louvet, E., Farrants, A.K., Caputo, L., and Percipalle, P. (2008). The
histone acetyltransferase PCAF associates with actin and hnRNP U for RNA
polymerase II transcription. Mol. Cell Biol. 28, 6342-6357.
Ocampo, J., Mondragon, R., Roa-Espitia, A.L., Chiquete-Felix, N., Salgado, Z.O., and Mujica,
A. (2005). Actin, myosin, cytokeratins and spectrin are components of the guinea
pig sperm nuclear matrix. Tissue Cell. 37, 293-308.
Okorokov, A.L., Rubbi, C.P., Metcalfe, S., and Milner, J. (2002). The interaction of p53 with
the nuclear matrix is mediated by F-actin and modulated by DNA damage.
Oncogene. 21, 356-367.
Olave, I.A., Reck-Peterson, S.L., and Crabtree, G.R. (2002). Nuclear actin and actin-related
proteins in chromatin remodeling. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 71:755-81.

206

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Olson, E.N. and Nordheim, A. (2010). Linking actin dynamics and gene transcription to
drive cellular motile functions. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 11, 353-365.
Onoda, K., Yu, F.X., and Yin, H.L. (1993). gCap39 is a nuclear and cytoplasmic protein. Cell
Motil. Cytoskeleton. 26, 227-238.
Ostlund, C., Folker, E.S., Choi, J.C., Gomes, E.R., Gundersen, G.G., and Worman, H.J. (2009).
Dynamics and molecular interactions of linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton
(LINC) complex proteins. J. Cell Sci. 122, 4099-4108.
Ou, H., Shen, Y.H., Utama, B., Wang, J., Wang, X., Coselli, J., and Wang, X.L. (2005). Effect of
nuclear actin on endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. Arterioscler. Thromb.
Vasc. Biol. 25, 2509-2514.
Ozanne, D.M., Brady, M.E., Cook, S., Gaughan, L., Neal, D.E., and Robson, C.N. (2000).
Androgen receptor nuclear translocation is facilitated by the f-actin cross-linking
protein filamin. Mol. Endocrinol. 14, 1618-1626.
Parmacek, M.S. (2007). Myocardin-related transcription factors: critical coactivators
regulating cardiovascular development and adaptation. Circ. Res. 100, 633-644.
Pawlowski, R., Rajakyla, E.K., Vartiainen, M.K., and Treisman, R. (2010). An actin-regulated
importin alpha/beta-dependent extended bipartite NLS directs nuclear import of
MRTF-A. EMBO J. 29, 3448-3458.
Peche, V. et al. (2007). CAP2, cyclase-associated protein 2, is a dual compartment protein.
Cell Mol. Life Sci. 64, 2702-2715.
Pederson, T. and Aebi, U. (2002). Actin in the nucleus: what form and what for? J. Struct.
Biol. 140, 3-9.
Pederson, T. and Aebi, U. (2005). Nuclear actin extends, with no contraction in sight. Mol.
Biol. Cell. 16, 5055-5060.
Pendleton, A., Pope, B., Weeds, A., and Koffer, A. (2003). Latrunculin B or ATP depletion
induces cofilin-dependent translocation of actin into nuclei of mast cells. J. Biol.
Chem. 278, 14394-14400.
Percipalle, P. (2009). The long journey of actin and actin-associated proteins from genes to
polysomes. Cell Mol. Life Sci. 66, 2151-2165.
Percipalle, P., Fomproix, N., Cavellan, E., Voit, R., Reimer, G., Kruger, T., Thyberg, J., Scheer,
U., Grummt, I., and Farrants, A.K. (2006). The chromatin remodelling complex
WSTF-SNF2h interacts with nuclear myosin 1 and has a role in RNA polymerase I
transcription. EMBO Rep. 7, 525-530.
Percipalle, P., Fomproix, N., Kylberg, K., Miralles, F., Bjorkroth, B., Daneholt, B., and Visa,
N. (2003). An actin-ribonucleoprotein interaction is involved in transcription by
RNA polymerase II. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 100, 6475-6480.
Percipalle, P., Jonsson, A., Nashchekin, D., Karlsson, C., Bergman, T., Guialis, A., and
Daneholt, B. (2002). Nuclear actin is associated with a specific subset of hnRNP
A/B-type proteins. Nucleic Acids Res. 30, 1725-1734.
Percipalle, P. and Visa, N. (2006). Molecular functions of nuclear actin in transcription. J.
Cell Biol. 172, 967-971.
Percipalle, P., Zhao, J., Pope, B., Weeds, A., Lindberg, U., and Daneholt, B. (2001). Actin
bound to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein hrp36 is associated with
Balbiani ring mRNA from the gene to polysomes. J. Cell Biol. 153, 229-236.
Philimonenko, V.V. et al. (2004). Nuclear actin and myosin I are required for RNA
polymerase I transcription. Nat. Cell Biol. 6, 1165-1172.

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

207

Pollard, T.D. and Borisy, G.G. (2003). Cellular motility driven by assembly and disassembly
of actin filaments. Cell. 112, 453-465.
Posern, G. and Treisman, R. (2006). Actin' together: serum response factor, its cofactors and
the link to signal transduction. Trends Cell Biol. 16, 588-596.
Prehoda, K.E., Scott, J.A., Mullins, R.D., and Lim, W.A. (2000). Integration of multiple
signals through cooperative regulation of the N-WASP-Arp2/3 complex. Science.
290, 801-806.
Prendergast, G.C. and Ziff, E.B. (1991). Mbh 1: a novel gelsolin/severin-related protein
which binds actin in vitro and exhibits nuclear localization in vivo. EMBO J. 10,
757-766.
Rando, O.J., Zhao, K., Janmey, P., and Crabtree, G.R. (2002). Phosphatidylinositol-dependent
actin filament binding by the SWI/SNF-like BAF chromatin remodeling complex.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 99, 2824-2829.
Ruegg, J., Holsboer, F., Turck, C., and Rein, T. (2004). Cofilin 1 is revealed as an inhibitor of
glucocorticoid receptor by analysis of hormone-resistant cells. Mol. Cell Biol. 24,
9371-9382.
Roeder, A.D. and Gard, D.L. (1994). Confocal microscopy of F-actin distribution in Xenopus
oocytes. Zygote. 2, 111-124.
Rohatgi, R., Ma, L., Miki, H., Lopez, M., Kirchhausen, T., Takenawa, T., and Kirschner, M.W.
(1999). The interaction between N-WASP and the Arp2/3 complex links Cdc42dependent signals to actin assembly. Cell. 97, 221-231.
Rungger, D., Rungger-Brandle, E., Chaponnier, C., and Gabbiani, G. (1979). Intranuclear
injection of anti-actin antibodies into Xenopus oocytes blocks chromosome
condensation. Nature. 282, 320-321.
Saitoh, N., Spahr, C.S., Patterson, S.D., Bubulya, P., Neuwald, A.F., and Spector, D.L. (2004).
Proteomic analysis of interchromatin granule clusters. Mol. Biol. Cell. 15, 3876-3890.
Salazar, R., Bell, S.E., and Davis, G.E. (1999). Coordinate induction of the actin cytoskeletal
regulatory proteins gelsolin, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, and profilin
during capillary morphogenesis in vitro. Exp. Cell Res. 249, 22-32.
Sanger, J.W., Gwinn, J., and Sanger, J.M. (1980a). Dissolution of cytoplasmic actin bundles
and the induction of nuclear actin bundles by dimethyl sulfoxide. J. Exp. Zool. 213,
227-230.
Sanger, J.W., Sanger, J.M., Kreis, T.E., and Jockusch, B.M. (1980b). Reversible translocation of
cytoplasmic actin into the nucleus caused by dimethyl sulfoxide. Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. U. S. A. 77, 5268-5272.
Sasseville, A.M. and Langelier, Y. (1998). In vitro interaction of the carboxy-terminal domain
of lamin A with actin. FEBS Lett. 425, 485-489.
Sauman, I. and Berry, S.J. (1994). An actin infrastructure is associated with eukaryotic
chromosomes: structural and functional significance. Eur. J. Cell Biol. 64, 348-356.
Schardin, M., Cremer, T., Hager, H.D., and Lang, M. (1985). Specific staining of human
chromosomes in Chinese hamster x man hybrid cell lines demonstrates interphase
chromosome territories. Hum. Genet. 71, 281-287.
Scheer, U., Hinssen, H., Franke, W.W., and Jockusch, B.M. (1984). Microinjection of actinbinding proteins and actin antibodies demonstrates involvement of nuclear actin in
transcription of lampbrush chromosomes. Cell. 39, 111-122.

208

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Shumaker, D.K., Kuczmarski, E.R., and Goldman, R.D. (2003). The nucleoskeleton: lamins
and actin are major players in essential nuclear functions. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 15,
358-366.
Sjolinder, M., Bjork, P., Soderberg, E., Sabri, N., Farrants, A.K., and Visa, N. (2005). The
growing pre-mRNA recruits actin and chromatin-modifying factors to
transcriptionally active genes. Genes Dev. 19, 1871-1884.
Skare, P., Kreivi, J.P., Bergstrom, A., and Karlsson, R. (2003). Profilin I colocalizes with
speckles and Cajal bodies: a possible role in pre-mRNA splicing. Exp. Cell Res. 286,
12-21.
Smith, S.S., Kelly, K.H., and Jockusch, B.M. (1979). Actin co-purifies with RNA polymerase
II. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 86, 161-166.
Song, Z., Wang, M., Wang, X., Pan, X., Liu, W., Hao, S., and Zeng, X. (2007). Nuclear actin is
involved in the regulation of CSF1 gene transcription in a chromatin required,
BRG1 independent manner. J. Cell Biochem. 102, 403-411.
Spector, I., Shochet, N.R., Blasberger, D., and Kashman, Y. (1989). Latrunculins--novel
marine macrolides that disrupt microfilament organization and affect cell growth:
I. Comparison with cytochalasin D. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton. 13, 127-144.
Sridharan, D., Brown, M., Lambert, W.C., McMahon, L.W., and Lambert, M.W. (2003).
Nonerythroid alphaII spectrin is required for recruitment of FANCA and XPF to
nuclear foci induced by DNA interstrand cross-links. J. Cell Sci. 116, 823-835.
Starr, D.A. (2009). A nuclear-envelope bridge positions nuclei and moves chromosomes. J.
Cell Sci. 122, 577-586.
Stern, M., Jensen, R., and Herskowitz, I. (1984). Five SWI genes are required for expression
of the HO gene in yeast. J. Mol. Biol. 178, 853-868.
Sterner, D.E. and Berger, S.L. (2000). Acetylation of histones and transcription-related
factors. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 64, 435-459.
Stewart, C.L., Roux, K.J., and Burke, B. (2007). Blurring the boundary: the nuclear envelope
extends its reach. Science. 318, 1408-1412.
Stuven, T., Hartmann, E., and Gorlich, D. (2003). Exportin 6: a novel nuclear export receptor
that is specific for profilin.actin complexes. EMBO J. 22, 5928-5940.
Suetsugu, S., Miki, H., Yamaguchi, H., Obinata, T., and Takenawa, T. (2001). Enhancement
of branching efficiency by the actin filament-binding activity of N-WASP/WAVE2.
J. Cell Sci. 114, 4533-4542.
Suetsugu, S. and Takenawa, T. (2003). Regulation of cortical actin networks in cell migration.
Int. Rev. Cytol. 229:245-86., 245-286.
Sun, H.B., Shen, J., and Yokota, H. (2000). Size-dependent positioning of human
chromosomes in interphase nuclei. Biophys. J. 79, 184-190.
Sun, Q., Chen, G., Streb, J.W., Long, X., Yang, Y., Stoeckert, C.J., Jr., and Miano, J.M. (2006).
Defining the mammalian CArGome. Genome Res. 16, 197-207.
Szerlong, H., Hinata, K., Viswanathan, R., Erdjument-Bromage, H., Tempst, P., and Cairns,
B.R. (2008). The HSA domain binds nuclear actin-related proteins to regulate
chromatin-remodeling ATPases. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 15, 469-476.
Ting, H.J., Yeh, S., Nishimura, K., and Chang, C. (2002). Supervillin associates with
androgen receptor and modulates its transcriptional activity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
U. S. A. 99, 661-666.

Exploring Secrets of Nuclear Actin Involvement in

the Regulation of Gene Transcription and Genome Organization

209

Tzur, Y.B., Wilson, K.L., and Gruenbaum, Y. (2006). SUN-domain proteins: 'Velcro' that links
the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 7, 782-788.
Valkov, N.I., Ivanova, M.I., Uscheva, A.A., and Krachmarov, C.P. (1989). Association of actin
with DNA and nuclear matrix from Guerin ascites tumour cells. Mol. Cell Biochem.
87, 47-56.
Vartiainen, M.K., Guettler, S., Larijani, B., and Treisman, R. (2007). Nuclear actin regulates
dynamic subcellular localization and activity of the SRF cofactor MAL. Science. 316,
1749-1752.
Verheijen, R., Kuijpers, H., Vooijs, P., van, V.W., and Ramaekers, F. (1986). Protein
composition of nuclear matrix preparations from HeLa cells: an immunochemical
approach. J. Cell Sci. 80:103-22., 103-122.
Vignali, M., Hassan, A.H., Neely, K.E., and Workman, J.L. (2000). ATP-dependent
chromatin-remodeling complexes. Mol. Cell Biol. 20, 1899-1910.
Vlcek, S. and Foisner, R. (2007). Lamins and lamin-associated proteins in aging and disease.
Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 19, 298-304.
Volkmann, N., Amann, K.J., Stoilova-McPhie, S., Egile, C., Winter, D.C., Hazelwood, L.,
Heuser, J.E., Li, R., Pollard, T.D., and Hanein, D. (2001). Structure of Arp2/3
complex in its activated state and in actin filament branch junctions. Science. 293,
2456-2459.
Wada, A., Fukuda, M., Mishima, M., and Nishida, E. (1998). Nuclear export of actin: a novel
mechanism regulating the subcellular localization of a major cytoskeletal protein.
EMBO J. 17, 1635-1641.
Wang, G.G., Allis, C.D., and Chi, P. (2007). Chromatin remodeling and cancer, Part I:
Covalent histone modifications. Trends Mol. Med. 13, 363-372.
Wang, J., Dudley, D., and Wang, X.L. (2002). Haplotype-specific effects on endothelial NO
synthase promoter efficiency: modifiable by cigarette smoking. Arterioscler.
Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 22, e1-e4.
Wasser, M. and Chia, W. (2000). The EAST protein of drosophila controls an expandable
nuclear endoskeleton. Nat. Cell Biol. 2, 268-275.
Welch, M.D., DePace, A.H., Verma, S., Iwamatsu, A., and Mitchison, T.J. (1997). The human
Arp2/3 complex is composed of evolutionarily conserved subunits and is localized
to cellular regions of dynamic actin filament assembly. J. Cell Biol. 138, 375-384.
Welch, W.J. and Suhan, J.P. (1985). Morphological study of the mammalian stress response:
characterization of changes in cytoplasmic organelles, cytoskeleton, and nucleoli,
and appearance of intranuclear actin filaments in rat fibroblasts after heat-shock
treatment. J. Cell Biol. 101, 1198-1211.
Wiesel, N., Mattout, A., Melcer, S., Melamed-Book, N., Herrmann, H., Medalia, O., Aebi, U.,
and Gruenbaum, Y. (2008). Laminopathic mutations interfere with the assembly,
localization, and dynamics of nuclear lamins. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 105,
180-185.
Williams, C.L. (2003). The polybasic region of Ras and Rho family small GTPases: a
regulator of protein interactions and membrane association and a site of nuclear
localization signal sequences. Cell Signal. 15, 1071-1080.
Witke, W., Sharpe, A.H., Hartwig, J.H., Azuma, T., Stossel, T.P., and Kwiatkowski, D.J.
(1995). Hemostatic, inflammatory, and fibroblast responses are blunted in mice
lacking gelsolin. Cell. 81, 41-51.

210

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Worman, H.J. and Gundersen, G.G. (2006). Here come the SUNs: a nucleocytoskeletal
missing link. Trends Cell Biol. 16, 67-69.
Wu, X., Yoo, Y., Okuhama, N.N., Tucker, P.W., Liu, G., and Guan, J.L. (2006). Regulation of
RNA-polymerase-II-dependent transcription by N-WASP and its nuclear-binding
partners. Nat. Cell Biol. 8, 756-763.
Wulfkuhle, J.D., Donina, I.E., Stark, N.H., Pope, R.K., Pestonjamasp, K.N., Niswonger, M.L.,
and Luna, E.J. (1999). Domain analysis of supervillin, an F-actin bundling plasma
membrane protein with functional nuclear localization signals. J. Cell Sci. 112, 21252136.
Xu, Y.Z., Thuraisingam, T., Marino, R., and Radzioch, D. (2011). Recruitment of SWI/SNF
complex is required for transcriptional activation of the SLC11A1 gene during
macrophage differentiation of HL-60 cells. J. Biol. Chem. 286, 12839-12849.
Xu, Y.Z., Thuraisingam, T., Morais, D.A., Rola-Pleszczynski, M., and Radzioch, D. (2010).
Nuclear translocation of beta-actin is involved in transcriptional regulation during
macrophage differentiation of HL-60 cells. Mol. Biol. Cell. 21, 811-820.
Ye, J., Zhao, J., Hoffmann-Rohrer, U., and Grummt, I. (2008). Nuclear myosin I acts in
concert with polymeric actin to drive RNA polymerase I transcription. Genes Dev.
22, 322-330.
Yoo, Y., Wu, X., and Guan, J.L. (2007). A novel role of the actin-nucleating Arp2/3 complex
in the regulation of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription. J. Biol. Chem. 282,
7616-7623.
Zalevsky, J., Lempert, L., Kranitz, H., and Mullins, R.D. (2001). Different WASP family
proteins stimulate different Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin-nucleating activities.
Curr. Biol. 11, 1903-1913.
Zechel, K. (1980). Isolation of polymerization-competent cytoplasmic actin by affinity
chromatography on immobilized DNAse I using formamide as eluant. Eur. J.
Biochem. 110, 343-348.
Zhang, Q., Ragnauth, C., Greener, M.J., Shanahan, C.M., and Roberts, R.G. (2002a). The
nesprins are giant actin-binding proteins, orthologous to Drosophila melanogaster
muscle protein MSP-300. Genomics. 80, 473-481.
Zhang, S., Buder, K., Burkhardt, C., Schlott, B., Gorlach, M., and Grosse, F. (2002b). Nuclear
DNA helicase II/RNA helicase A binds to filamentous actin. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 843853.
Zhao, K., Wang, W., Rando, O.J., Xue, Y., Swiderek, K., Kuo, A., and Crabtree, G.R. (1998).
Rapid and phosphoinositol-dependent binding of the SWI/SNF-like BAF complex
to chromatin after T lymphocyte receptor signaling. Cell. 95, 625-636.
Zhou, J. and Herring, B.P. (2005). Mechanisms responsible for the promoter-specific effects
of myocardin. J. Biol. Chem. 280, 10861-10869.

10
Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine
Kinases in the Nucleus
Sally-Anne Stephenson, Inga Mertens-Walker and Adrian Herington
Queensland University of Technology,
Australia

1. Introduction
Since the discovery of the first receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) proteins in the late 1970s and
early 1980s, many scientists have explored the functions of these important cell signaling
molecules. The finding that these proteins are often deregulated or mutated in diseases such
as cancers and diabetes, together with their potential as clinical therapeutic targets, has
further highlighted the necessity for understanding the signaling functions of these
important proteins. The mechanisms of RTK regulation and function have been recently
reviewed by Lemmon & Schlessinger (2010) but in this review we instead focus on the
results of several recent studies that show receptor tyrosine kinases can function from subcellular localisations, including in particular the nucleus, in addition to their classical plasma
membrane location. Nuclear localisation of receptor tyrosine kinases has been demonstrated
to be important for normal cell function but is also believed to contribute to the
pathogenesis of several human diseases.

2. Classical signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases

The ability of a cell to receive signals from the outside, and deliver these inside so it can
respond appropriately and in co-ordination with other cells, is required for the correct
functioning of a multicellular organism as a whole. Cells communicate in two key ways
direct physical interaction or by way of communication molecules. These communication
molecules, collectively called ligands, include those (eg steroid hormones, vitamins) that can
pass directly through the lipid bilayer of the cell and interact with intracellular proteins and
those such as protein hormones and peptide growth factors which cannot enter the cell
directly. These latter ligands interact with plasma membrane-associated proteins called
receptors to activate cascades of interactions between intracellular proteins that can result in
a diverse range of responses and ultimately determine cell behaviour (Figure 1).
One large family of membrane receptors, the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), is
characterised by their intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity, an enzymatic function which
catalyses the transfer of the phosphate of ATP to hydroxyl groups on tyrosine residues on
target proteins (Hunter, 1998). Binding of the ligand stabilises dimers of the receptors to
allow autophosphorylation via activation of the receptors intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity
that then initiates a network of sequentially acting components such as those of the

212

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Ras/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway, or single component systems, such

as the STAT pathway. The combination of the activated signal transduction pathways
constitute the mechanism by which this intracellular transfer of biochemical information is
mediated and can determine the biological responses of cells to growth factors. Members of
the RTK family play important roles in the control of most fundamental cellular processes
including cell proliferation and differentiation, cell cycle, cell migration, cell metabolism and
cell survival.

Fig. 1. Classical receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Ligand binding stablilises dimers of the
receptors within the plasma membrane. Autophosphorylation of one intracellular kinase
domain by the other activates a signal transduction cascade into the cell so the cell can
respond appropriately.

3. Protein structures of receptor tyrosine kinases

The general structure of RTK proteins is similar and all members of the RTK family have an
intracellular kinase domain through which signaling is mediated by phosphorylation of
tyrosine residues. In addition to the kinase domain, all RTKs have an extracellular domain,
usually glycosylated, separated from the cytoplasmic part, containing the kinase domain, by
a single hydrophobic transmembrane helix. With the exception of the insulin (IR) and
insulin-like growth factor (IGFR) receptor families, which are disulfide linked dimers of two
polypeptide chains ( and ) that form a heterodimer (22), RTKs are normally present as
monomers in the cell membrane. Ligand binding induces receptor dimerisation resulting in
autophosphorylation (the kinase domain of one RTK monomer cross-phosphorylates the
other and vice versa). Receptor dimerisation is further stabilised by receptor:receptor
interactions and the clustering of many receptors into lipid rich domains on the cell
membrane (Pike, 2003). Further division of the 58 human RTKs into 20 different classes is
based on similarities in primary structure, and the combinations of further functional
domains in both extracellular and intracellular parts of the proteins (Figure 2).

4. Trafficking of receptor tyrosine kinases

Ligand activation of receptor tyrosine kinases present on the plasma membrane of cells
promotes numerous downstream signal transduction pathways that result in cell responses
including proliferation, migration and differentiation. Following ligand activation, virtually
all receptor tyrosine kinases are rapidly endocytosed. This would allow the cell to

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

213

discriminate new signals from old ones but it has been suggested that, because trafficking is
a complex and highly regulated process, it is likely that endocytosis provides more than just
a mechanism for removal of receptor-ligand complexes from the cell surface. Endocytosed
receptors can be either recycled back to the membrane after disengagement of the ligand, or
targeted for lysosomal degradation. Most receptor tyrosine kinases are internalised via
clathrin-coated pits which then shed the clathrin and deliver the internalised receptor-ligand
complexes to early endosomes. Bifurcation of receptor trafficking occurs in the early
endosomes, allowing either recycling back to the plasma membrane or degradation through
lysosomes. In some cases continued signaling from the endosomes has also been
demonstrated (Ceresa & Schmid, 2000; Di Fiore & De Camilli, 2001; Wang et al., 2004a).

Fig. 2. Domain structures of 58 human receptor tyrosine kinases determines their subclassification into 20 different families. The name of each family is shown above with the
members listed below. A key indicates the various motifs common to individuals within
that family.
Recent data also suggest that endocytosis controls sub-cellular localisation of activated
receptors and their signaling complexes (Beguinot et al., 1984; Sorkin & Waters, 1993). For
example, the prototypical receptor tyrosine kinase, the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
(EGFR), has been found in caveoli, Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome-like structures
and nuclear envelopes (Carpentier et al., 1986; Lin et al., 2001). Given the continuity of the
endomembrane system, linking endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi membranes, the plasma

214

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

membrane, vesicles of both the endosomal and lysosomal systems and even the nuclear
membrane, it is probably not surprising that receptors would be found within the
membranes of these structures.
It also appears that endocytosis and trafficking of vesicles is involved in localisation of
receptor tyrosine kinases to the nucleus. Nuclear localisation of receptor tyrosine kinases has
emerged as a highly significant occurrence in the last decade, with reports indicating that
the EGFR (ErbB-1 and -2), FGFR1 and IGF-IR can all translocate to the nucleus as full-length
receptors or protein fragments devoid of the extracellular domain. In some cases this has
been found to be ligand-dependent, within as early as 2 minutes of ligand stimulation,
although there are also cases in which nuclear translocation appears to be ligandindependent. Nuclear localisation of several receptor tyrosine kinases has been identified in
cells of normal tissues, including EGFR in the nucleus of regenerating liver cells (Marti and
Wells, 2000) and ErbB-4 in the nuclei of secretory epithelium in the lactating breast (Long et
al., 2003; Tidcombe et al., 2003). For many receptor tyrosine kinases, also including EGFR
and ErbB-4, nuclear localisation has been linked to diseases including cancer, diabetes and
inflammation (Citri & Yarden, 2006; Lo & Hung, 2006; Massie & Mills, 2006; Bublil &
Yarden, 2007; Wang & Hung, 2009; Wang et al., 2010). For example, the nuclear presence of
EGFR is associated with high grade breast and ovarian cancers and is associated with the
development of resistance to some radio-, chemo- and monoclonal antibody-therapies (Lo et
al., 2005a; Xia et al., 2009).

5. Mechanisms of receptor tyrosine kinase translocation to the nucleus

It has been hypothesised that in order for a receptor tyrosine kinase to translocate to the
nucleus it must somehow escape from the lipid bilayer of the cell surface and/or the
trafficking of the endomembrane system. Exactly how this happens is only just being
explored experimentally, but Wells & Marti (2002) have proposed three potential escape
mechanisms using EGFR as a model receptor tyrosine kinase. In the first, a mutant EGFR
protein, lacking the transmembrane domain, forms a dimer with a wild-type receptor on the
cell surface. Binding of EGF causes internalisation of the mutant-wild-type dimer via a
clathrin-coated pit into an early endosome. The mutant EGFR is disassociated from the wildtype protein in the endosome and released into the cytosol, and from there it is transported
into the nucleus. In the second scenario, full-length wild-type EGFR is trafficked from the
plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum, where it interacts with an accessory
protein that removes it from the membrane for translocation into the nucleus. In the third,
EGFR is targeted by proteases at the plasma membrane and an intracellular fragment
translocates to the nucleus again by interaction with nuclear transport proteins. Recently,
Liao & Carpenter (2007) provided support for the second scenario by showing that EGFR in
the endosome associates with an accessory protein Sec61, a component of the Sec61
translocon and is then retrotranslocated from the ER to the cytoplasm and from there
translocated to the nucleus by nuclear transport proteins.

6. Nuclear localisation sequences and importins

Transport of proteins into the nucleus through the nuclear-pore-complex can be facilitated
by the dedicated nuclear transport receptors of the -karyopherin family which includes the

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

215

importins (Gorlich and Kutay, 1999). Proteins translocated via importins contain nuclear
localisation signals (NLS), a short stretch of amino acids that mediates the transport of
proteins into the nucleus (Cokol et al., 2000). NLS motifs can be either monopartite,
characterised by a cluster of basic residues preceded by a helix-breaking residue, or
bipartite, where two clusters of basic residues are separated by 912 residues (Cokol et al.,
2000). In the classical process of NLS-mediated nuclear translocation, an importin- adaptor
protein binds to a lysine-rich NLS in the cargo protein. An importin- protein then binds to
this importin-/cargo complex through an NLS in the importin- protein itself and guides
the complex through the nuclear pore. Importin- proteins are the key import mediators
and can also bind non-classical NLS motifs, of which there are several types, to transport
proteins without requiring importin- interaction. In addition to basic NLSs, several other
small epitopes have been identified that, when phosphorylated, can promote nuclear import
(Nardozzi et al., 2010). These include the nuclear transport signal (NTS) of ERK1/2, which is
a Ser-Pro-Ser (SPS) motif that, upon stimulation, is phosphorylated and functionally active
as a binding site for the nuclear transport receptor importin-7 (Chuderland et al., 2008).

7. Receptor tyrosine kinases reported to translocate to the nucleus

7.1 Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)/ErbB family
The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, also
known as ErbB (named after the viral oncogene v-erb-B2) or Human Epidermal growth
factor Receptor (HER) receptors, contains four members: EGFR/ErbB-1/HER1, ErbB2/HER2/Neu, ErbB-3/HER3 and ErbB-4/HER4. These receptors are expressed in various
tissues of epithelial, mesenchymal and neuronal origin. Activation of ErbB receptors is
controlled by the spatial and temporal expression of their 11 different ligands, all encoded
by separate genes and all members of the EGF family of growth factors. These include EGF,
epigen, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-), and amphiregulin, which bind EGFR;
neuregulins (NRGs) 1,2,3,4, which bind ErbB-3 and/or ErbB-4, and betacellulin, heparinbinding EGF-like growth factor, and epiregulin, which bind EGFR and ErbB-4 (Riese &
Stern, 1998). Ligand binding induces receptor dimerisation, and both homodimers and
heterodimers with other ErbBs may be formed, and this then leads to the activation of a
diverse range of downstream signaling pathways depending on the dimers and crossactivation of other ErbBs on the cell surface (Stern et al., 1986; Riese et al., 1995; Riese &
Stern, 1998; Zaczek et al., 2005). Heterodimerisation is particularly important for signaling
through ErbB-2, which lacks a conventional growth factor ligand, and ErbB-3, which has an
inactive/impaired kinase domain.
Excessive EGFR, ErbB-2 and ErbB-3 signaling, as a result of receptor over-expression,
mutations or autocrine stimulation, is a well known hallmark of a wide variety of solid
tumours and leads to both increased cell proliferation and resistance to growth-inhibitory
cytokines (Hynes & Lane, 2005). In contrast, ErbB-4 appears to be associated with growth
suppression and improved patient prognosis in breast cancer (Jones, 2008; Muraoka-Cook et
al., 2008). In addition, all four members of the ErbB family have a sub-membrane importin
alpha-binding basic NLS that allows transport from the cytosol to the nucleus by the
importin / complex. Consequently, ErbB proteins have been detected in the nucleus of
both normal cells and cancer cells (Marti et al., 1991; Marti & Hug, 1995; Marti & Wells, 2000;
Citri &Yarden, 2006; Lo & Hung, 2006; Massie & Mills, 2006; Bublil & Yarden, 2007; Wang &

216

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Hung, 2009; Wang et al., 2010). In multiple cancer types, nuclear accumulation correlates
with poor patient survival, tumor grade, and pathologic stage (Lo et al., 2005a; Psyrri et al.,
2005; Junttila et al., 2005; Koumakpayi et al., 2006; Lo & Hung, 2006; Maatta et al., 2006;
Hoshino et al., 2007; Xia et al., 2009; Hadzisejdic et al., 2010).
7.1.1 Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR/ErbB-1/HER1)
Nuclear EGFR, and its ligands EGF and proTGF-, were first observed in hepatocytes
during liver regeneration (Raper et al., 1987; Marti et al., 1991; Marti & Hug, 1995; Marti &
Wells, 2000; Grasl-Kraupp et al., 2002). Translocation of EGFR to the nucleus is also induced
by DNA damage caused by irradiation (UV and ionizing) and cisplatin treatment but this
appears to be ligand-independent (Dittmann et al., 2005; Xu et al., 2009). Full length EGFR is
translocated into the nucleus through interactions with importin -1, the nucleoporin
protein Nup358 and proteins known to be involved in endocytotic internalisation of these
proteins from the plasma membrane. Once in the nucleus, EGFR has three different roles
depending on the initial signal, 1) as a direct regulator of gene transcription, 2) regulating
cell proliferation and DNA replication via its kinase function, and 3) DNA repair and
chemo- and radio-resistance through protein-protein interactions (Lin et al., 2001; Dittmann
et al., 2005; Wang et al., 2006; Das et al., 2007; Kim et al., 2007; Wanner et al., 2008; Hsu &
Hung, 2007). As a direct regulator of gene transcription, the C-terminal domain of EGFR
directly interacts with the genome through binding and activating AT-rich sequences in the
cyclin D1, nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS), Aurora-A and B-myb promoters (Liao and
Carpenter, 2007; Lo, 2010). Nuclear EGFR interacts with STAT5 or STAT3 to transactivate
the expression of the Aurora-A or iNOS genes respectively (Hung et al., 2008; Lo et al.,
2005b). Nuclear EGFR can regulate cell proliferation and DNA replication by direct tyrosine
phosphorylation of target proteins including chromatin bound proliferating cell nuclear
antigen (PCNA) (Wang et al., 2006). EGFR kinase activity phosphorylates PCNA on tyrosine
211, stabilising the PCNA protein and stimulating DNA replication. In its third role, nuclear
EGFR stimulates DNA repair by forming a direct protein-protein interaction with DNAdependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) (Dittmann et al., 2005).
In addition to localisation to the plasma membrane and the nucleus, EGFR has also been
found in the Golgi Apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria (Carpentier et
al., 1986; Lin et al., 2001; Boerner et al., 2004). EGFR was first reported in the mitochondria
by Boerner et al., (2004) who found that in the presence of EGF, Src mediated the
phosphorylation of EGFR residue Y845. EGFR phosphorylated at Y845 was found in the
mitochondria and interacted with cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (CoxII) to possibly
regulate cell survival. The method by which EGFR is translocated to the mitochondria is
unknown, but was not related to endocytotsis of the EGFR protein and did not involve the
function of Shc adaptor proteins (Yao et al., 2010). Furthermore, deletion studies showed
that a putative mitochondrial-targeting signal between amino acids 646 and 660 was only
partially responsible for migration (Boerner et al., 2004).
7.1.2 ErbB-2/HER2/Neu
Although ErbB-2 is catalytically active, it cannot bind the heregulin (HRG) ligand directly,
but instead dimerises with either HRG-bound ErbB-3 or ErbB-4 to form a complex that is

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

217

capable of signaling through either ErbB-2 or ErbB-4 (ErbB-3 is catalytically

inactive/impaired) (Carraway et al., 1994). Upon HRG stimulation, cell-membrane
embedded ErbB-2 migrates from the cell surface via early endosomes and is then either
targeted to lysosomes for degradation, or recycled back to the surface. By an as yet
undefined mechanism, ErbB-2 can also be removed from the lipid bilayer to form a complex
with both importin 1 and EEA1 (Giri et al., 2005). This complex then moves through the
nuclear pore complex into the nucleus. Once in the nucleus, ErbB-2 can form a complex with
-actin and RNA polymerase-1, enhancing binding of RNA pol 1 to rDNA, and progressing
the early and elongation steps of transcription to expedite rRNA synthesis and protein
translation (Li et al., 2011). The nuclear function of ErbB-2 would appear to be unrelated to
its normal signaling role transduced through PI3-K and MEK/ERK because inhibitors to
these kinases (LY294002 and U0126, respectively) did not affect the levels of 45S pre-rRNA
in these cells. In addition to this role in expediting overall rRNA synthesis and protein
translation, nuclear ErbB-2 has also been shown to bind to the promoter of the
cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX-2) and up-regulate its expression. COX-2 catalyzes the
conversion of lipids to inflammatory prostaglandin and contributes to increased antiapoptotic, pro-angiogenic, and metastatic potential in cancer cells (Vadlamudi et al., 1999;
Howe et al., 2001; Gupta & DuBois, 2001; Half et al., 2002; Subbaramaiah et al., 2002; Turini
& DuBois, 2002). The promoters of PRPK, MMP16 and DDX10 have also been identified as
direct targets of nuclear ErbB-2 (Wang et al., 2004b).
7.1.3 ErbB-3/HER3
The kinase domain of ErbB-3 has been described as either catalytically inactive or
impaired. Despite this ErbB-3 forms dimers with other ErbB receptors, and can recruit
novel proteins to activate diverse signaling pathways (Guy et al., 1994; Zaczek et al.,
2005). Intact ErbB-3 was detected in nuclei of prostate cancer cells in metastatic specimens
(Koumakpayi et al., 2006; Cheng et al., 2007). Nuclear localisation was then studied in a
model of prostate cancer using the MDA-PC 2b cells and this demonstrated that both the
tumour microenvironment and androgen status influenced nuclear localisation of ErbB-3
in these cells (Cheng et al., 2007). Metastasis of prostate cancer cells to the bone and
depletion of androgens from subcutaneous tumours both increased the nuclear
translocation of ErbB-3. This also correlated with a decrease in cell proliferation. Once the
tumours resumed aggressive growth, ErbB-3 then relocalised from the nucleus to the
membrane and cytoplasm of the prostate cancer cells. This suggests that nuclear ErbB-3
may be involved in the progression of prostate cancer in bone after androgen-ablation
therapy. ErbB-3 has also been identified in the nucleus, and possibly within the nucleolus,
of both normal and malignant human mammary epithelial cells (Offterdinger et al., 2002).
The role of nuclear ErbB-3 in these cells has not been determined but yeast two-hybrid
approaches have been used to identify several transcription factors that associate with
ErbB-3 including p23/p198 (Yoo & Hamburger, 1999), early growth response-1 (Thaminy
et al., 2003) and the zinc finger protein ZNF207 (Thaminy et al., 2003) suggesting a gene
regulation function. Finally, alternative transcription initiation of the ErbB-3 gene in
Schwann cells leads to the production of a nuclear targeted variant of ErbB-3 that binds to
chromatin and regulates the transcriptional activity of the ezrin and HMGB1 genes
(Adilakshmi et al., 2011).

218

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

7.1.4 ErbB-4/HER4
ErbB-4 has multiple functions during embryogenesis (Gassmann et al., 1995) and expression
has recently been shown to be essential during breast development and lactation. In the
lactating breast, ErbB-4 localizes to the nuclei of secretory epithelium (Long et al., 2003;
Tidcombe et al., 2003). A unique proteolytic cleavage mechanism leads to the nuclear
translocation of an intracellular fragment of ErbB-4. Cell membrane expressed ErbB-4 is
successively cleaved by TACE/ADAM17, to release the ectodomain, and then -secretase to
release an 80 kDa soluble intracellular fragment (s80) (Ni et al., 2001). This active kinase
fragment binds to YAP (Yes-associated protein) which facilitates its translocation to the
nucleus (Komuro et al., 2003). ErbB-4 also has three potential polycationic NLSs in its
carboxy-terminal part which may provide an alternative route for nuclear translocation
(Williams et al., 2004). The ErbB-4 s80 fragment functions as a nuclear chaperone for the
STAT5A, co-translocating this transcription factor and regulating the expression of target
genes including -casein by binding with STAT5 to the -casein promoter (Long et al., 2003;
Williams et al., 2004). ErbB-4 also contains a nuclear export signal (NES) recognised by
exportin proteins allowing transport of the protein out of the nucleus as well.
7.2 Fibroblast growth factor receptor family
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family consists of 18 secreted polypeptidic growth factors
that bind to four high-affinity receptors (FGFR1-4) and assist in the regulation of cell
proliferation, survival, migration and differentiation during development and in adult
tissue homeostasis (Wesche et al., 2011). FGFs also bind to low-affinity heparan sulfate
proteoglycans (HSPGs) present on most cells, which assist in the formation of the FGF-FGFR
complex and protect the ligands from degradation. Overactivity of FGFR signaling is
associated with several developmental disorders and cancer (Wesche et al., 2011).
7.2.1 FGFR1 (Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1)
Nuclear localisation of full length FGFR1 has been reported in astrocytes, glioma cells,
neurons, fibroblasts and retinal cells and has been shown to be important for neuronal
differentiation in the central nervous system (Stachowiak et al., 2003a; Stachowiak et al.,
2003b). Nuclear accumulation is induced by many different stimuli including activation of
acetylcholine receptors, stimulation of angiotensin II receptors, activation of adenylate
cyclase or protein kinase C. Biotinylation of cell surface proteins showed that nuclear FGFR1
was unlikely to have been derived from the cell surface (Stachowiak et al., 1997; Peng et al.,
2002). Because nuclear FGFR1 is glycosylated the suggestion is that the protein is at least
partially processed through the ER-Golgi but that it is not stable in the endomembrane
system and is released into the cytosol (Myers et al., 2003). It is also not clear how FGFR1 is
then translocated to the nucleus as it lacks a typical NLS. However, several members of the
fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, including FGF-1 and FGF-2, lack signal peptide
sequences and are therefore found in trace amounts, if at all, outside of cells. Some of these,
for example FGF-2, have nuclear localisation sequences and are highly concentrated in the
cell nucleus and it is believed that these FGF ligands act as chaperones for the translocation
of receptors like FGFR1 into the nucleus (Myers et al., 2003). Although FGFR1 in the nucleus
has been demonstrated to have FGF-regulated kinase activity and is phosphorylated, there

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

219

appears to be limited co-localisation of FGF-2 and FGFR1 in the nucleus (Peng et al., 2002).
Nuclear FGFR1 physically interacts with Ribosomal S6 Kinase isoform 1 (RSK1) and
regulates its transcriptional activity (Hu et al., 2004). Target genes include FGF-2, c-jun,
cyclin D1 and MAP2, genes that are involved in cell growth and differentiation (Reilly &
Maher, 2001). FGFR1 has also been shown to be involved in the activation of the tyrosine
hydroxylase promoter that is mediated through a cAMP responsive element (CRE) (Fang et
al., 2005).
7.2.2 FGFR2
FGFR2 has been identified in the nuclei of quiescent Sertoli cells in the testes (Schmahl et al.,
2004). In this study of FGF-9 knock-out mice, FGFR2 nuclear localisation was shown to
correlate with male sex determination in the early gonads. The presence of FGFR2 in the
nucleus coincides with the expression of the sex-determination gene Sry and the
differentiation of progenitor cells in the gonads into Sertoli cells.
7.2.3 FGFR3
FGFR3 is a major negative regulator of linear bone growth and gain of function mutations
cause the most common forms of dwarfism in humans as these are anti-proliferative (Colvin
et al., 1996; Deng et al., 1996). Somatic mutations have been detected in several cancers
where, by contrast, they are believed to drive proliferation and inhibit apoptosis (Trudel et
al., 2004). Binding of FGF-1 to FGFR3 induces endocytosis via a dynamin/clathrin-mediated
process to an endosomal compartment. Here the ectodomain is proteolytically cleaved
possibly by an endosomal cathepsin although this has not yet been confirmed. The
membrane anchored intracellular fragment is then cleaved in a second event by -secretase
to generate a soluble intracellular domain that is released into the cytosol and can
translocate to the nucleus. This requirement for endocytosis distinguishes FGFR3 proteolysis
from that of most other RTKs.
7.3 VEGFR (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor)
Cellular responses to the ligand vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are activated
through two structurally related receptors, VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (KDR) and are
critically important in the regulation of endothelial cell growth and function (Cross et al.,
2003). Stimulation of endothelial cells with VEGF induced the translocation of VEGFR-2,
eNOS and caveolin-1 into the nucleus (Feng et al., 1999). The consequences of nuclear
localisation of these three proteins have yet to be clarified. Non-endothelial expression of
VEGFR-2 has also been reported (Stewart et al., 2003). A recent study by Susarla et al., (2011)
identified VEGFR-2 expression on normal thyroid follicular cells. The VEGFR-2 expressed
by these cells was phosphorylated and, although there was some staining in the cytoplasm,
the highest concentration of VEGFR-2 was seen in most nuclei. VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3
immunoreactivity was also seen predominantly in the nucleus with VEGFR-1 also localised
at points of cell to cell contact. The role that VEGF receptors play in the nucleus has not been
determined but the intranuclear staining was not co-incidental with chromatin and it is
therefore unlikely that VEGFR proteins act as transcription factors.

220

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

7.4 Insulin receptor

Insulin is secreted by pancreatic -cells in response to an increase in circulating glucose level to
trigger tissues to increase glucose uptake and suppress hepatic glucose release. This biological
action of insulin is initiated by binding to the insulin receptor InsR (Youngren, 2007). The
presence of InsR in the nucleus was first reported in 1987 by Podlecki et al., but more recently
this was further characterised by Rodrigues et al., (2008) who demonstrated that the insulin
receptor appears in the nucleus of hepatocytes within 2.5 min of stimulation with insulin. This
translocation event was associated with selective hydrolysis of nuclear PIP2 and formation of
InsP3-dependent Ca2+ signaling within the nucleus that regulates glucose metabolism, gene
expression and cell growth (Poenie et al., 1985; Hardingham et al., 1997; Nathanson et al., 1999;
Pusl et al., 2002; Rodrigues et al., 2007). Nelson et al., (2011) have identified two potential gene
targets for InsR in the nucleus, the early growth response 1 (egr-1) gene that is involved in the
mitogenic response, and the glucokinase (Gck) gene which encodes a key metabolic enzyme.
7.5 IGF-1R (Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor)
The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) plays crucial roles in development and is
often over-expressed in cancer. Stimulation with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) or 2
(IGF-II) promotes cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis, angiogenesis, differentiation and
development. Over-expression of IGF-1R is common in cancer but the mechanisms
underlying the role of IGF-1R are not fully understood. Recently, Sehat et al., (2010) showed
that IGF-I promotes the modification of IGF-1R by small ubiquitin-like modifier protein-1
(SUMO-1) and this then mediates translocation of IGF-1R to the nucleus. Nuclear import
was also enhanced by stimulation with IGF-II but only modestly by insulin, in keeping with
the affinity of IGF-1R for these ligands. Full length IGF-1R and IGF-1R chains which make
up the multi-subunit IGF-1R are found in the nucleus (Aleksic et al., 2010). Although it has
been reported that IGF-1R binds to chromatin and acts directly as a transcriptional enhancer,
direct transcriptional effects of nuclear IGF-1R are yet to be identified.
SUMOylation is initiated by a SUMO activating enzyme, such as SAE1 or SAE2, followed by
a transfer of the active SUMO to Ubc9, the only known SUMO-conjugating enzyme, which
then catalyses the transfer of SUMO to the target protein (Wilkinson and Henley, 2010).
Seventy-five percent of known SUMO targets are modified within the consensus motif
KxD/E where is a hydrophic amino acid and x is any residue (Xu et al., 2008). Four
SUMO isoforms have been identified in mammalian cells and SUMO-1 is the most widely
studied member. Modification by SUMO-1 can result in a variety of functional consequences
ranging from transcriptional repression (Garcia-Dominguez & Reyes, 2009) to DNA repair,
mainly through targeting of p53 and BRCA1 (Bartek & Hodny, 2010), protein stability (Cai
& Robertson, 2010) and cytoplasmic-nuclear shuttling (Salinas et al., 2004; Miranda et al.,
2010; Sehat et al., 2010). Currently, IGF-1R is the only receptor tyrosine kinase for which
nuclear translocation may be regulated by SUMOylation.
7.6 Eph receptors
Eph receptors are the largest group of transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases with 14
human members divided into 2 subclasses, EphA (EphA1EphA8, EphA10) and EphB
(EphB1EphB4, EphB6) (Pitulescu & Adams, 2010). Eph receptors are activated by their

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

221

ligands the ephrins, proteins that are anchored to the plasma membrane of a neighbouring
cell by either a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor (type A) or a transmembrane
amino acid sequence (type B). Eph-ephrin signaling plays important roles in neuronal and
vascular development and many are over-expressed in various cancers (Flanagan &
Vanderhaeghen, 1998; Adams & Klein, 2000; Stephenson et al., 2001; Lee et al., 2005;
Pasquale, 2005; Chen et al., 2008).
To date only a single member of the Eph family, EphA4, has been reported in the nucleus
(Kuroda et al., 2008). EphA4 is critically involved in development of neural tissue and more
recently has been identified in hypertrophic chondrocytes and osteoblasts in the growth
plate of developing mouse long bones (Kuroda et al., 2008). In the human osteoblastic cell
line SaOS-2, EphA4 was found on the plasma membrane as expected, but also in the
cytoplasm and in the nucleus. EphA4 accumulated in particular areas in the nucleus, but
these were distinct from the nucleolus. It is not clear whether the EphA4 in the nucleus is
full-length or a processed intracellular fragment and the role of EphA4 in the osteoblast
nucleus has not been explored to date.
7.7 Ryk (Related to Receptor Tyrosine Kinase)
Ryk is a Wnt receptor that plays an important role in neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, and
axon guidance. Although a catalytically inactive receptor tyrosine kinase, Ryk is believed to
signal via heterodimerisation with other receptor tyrosine kinases and has been shown to
bind two members of the Eph receptor family, EphB2 and EphB3 (Halford et al., 2000). In
neural progenitor cells, upon binding of Wnt3a, Ryk is cleaved at an intracellular site and
the C-terminal cleavage product, Ryk ICD, translocates to the nucleus. Recently it was
shown that Cdc37, a subunit of the molecular chaperone Hsp90 complex, binds to the Ryk
ICD, promoting stabilization of the ICD fragment and providing the mechanism for nuclear
translocation. Once in the nucleus, Ryk ICD regulates the expression of the key cell-fate
determinants Dlx2 (stimulated) and Olig2 (inhibited) to promote GABAergic neuronal
differentiation and inhibition of oligodendrocyte differentiation (Zhong et al., 2011).
7.8 Ror (RTK-like orphan receptor)
Ror1 and Ror2 receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in the development of mammalian
central neurons (Paganioni & Ferreira, 2003; Paganioni & Ferreira, 2005). Although the ligand
of Ror2 has been identified as Wnt-5A (Liu et al., 2008), Ror1 remains an orphan receptor
protein tyrosine kinase without an identified interacting ligand. Tseng et al., (2010) used an in
silico approach to predict receptor tyrosine kinases with likely nuclear localisation. Ror1 and
Ror2 were identified in a panel that included receptors with known nuclear localisation
including ErbB proteins, FGFR proteins and VEGFR proteins. The juxtamembrane domain of
Ror1, responsible for nuclear localisation of this protein, was identified using deletion reporter
constructs and the small GTPase Ran was identified as playing a key role in the nuclear
transport. The function of Ror1 in the nucleus remains to be determined.
7.9 Trk (Tropomyocin Receptor Kinase)
Neurotrophins are a family of protein nerve growth factors that are critical for the
development and functioning of the nervous system, regulating a wide range of biological

222

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

processes. The receptors for neurotrophins are the Trk receptors - TrkA (or NTRK1), TrkB
(or NTRK2), and TrkC (or NTRK3). Binding of neurotrophins to Trk receptors promotes
both neuronal cell survival and death by activating signal transduction cascades including
Ras/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway and the PI3K (phosphatidylinositol
3-kinase) pathway. TrkA accumulates in the nucleus and on the mitotic apparatus of the
human glioma cell line U251 after binding the neurotrophin ligand, nerve growth factor
(NGF) (Gong et al., 2007). Translocation of phosphorylated TrkA is via carrier vesicles which
sort and concentrate the receptors. These vesicles then interact with the nuclear envelope
but how the TrkA protein is then removed from the membrane to move into the
nucleoplasm is unclear. Once in the nucleus of the U251 glioma cells, TrkA co-localises with
-tubulin at the mitotic spindle. Interestingly, it has been shown that NGF co-localises with
-tubulin at the centrosomes or spindle poles. Zhang et al., (2005) suggest that NGF
concentrated to the centrosome can recruit its receptor TrkA from the nucleoplasm, activate
the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor to phosphorylate the tubulin and promote the
mitotic spindle assembly that modulates the mitosis of human glioma cells.
7.10 HGFR (Hepatocyte growth factor receptor)
The HGFR family includes three members, MET, RON and SEA, produced mainly by cells
of epithelial origin, which bind hepatocyte and hepatocyte-like growth factors secreted by
mesenchymal cells, to regulate cell growth, cell motility, and morphogenesis (Comoglio &
Boccaccio, 1996). Members of the HGFR family are described as oncoproteins because overexpression and/or abnormal activity correlates with the poor prognosis of many cancers
(Accornero et al., 2010).
7.10.1 MET
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secreted by stromal cells is a mitogenic factor and binds to
MET on hepatocytes to activate pathways involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and
related activities that aid tissue regeneration in the liver. Other cell targets of HGF include
epithelium, endothelium, myoblasts, spinal motor neurons, and hematopoietic cells. MET
over-expression and hyper-activation are reported to correlate with metastatic ability of the
tumor cells of several different tissue origins. Gomes et al., (2008) used the SkHep1 liver cell
line to show that stimulation of cells with HGF caused the rapid translocation of
phosphorylated MET from the plasma membrane to the nucleus, with peak levels detected
after only 4 min of HGF exposure. Translocation of MET to the nucleus was mediated by
binding of Gab1, an adaptor protein that contains a NLS for importin-driven translocation.
In the nucleus, MET was shown to initiate nuclear Ca2+ signaling that stimulates cell
proliferation (Rodrigues et al., 2007).
7.10.2 RON (Recepteur d'origine nantais)
RON is a receptor tyrosine kinase whose expression is highly restricted to cells of
epithelial origin (Wang et al., 2010). Its ligand is the HGF-like macrophage stimulating
protein (MSP) which stabilises two monomers of RON as a homodimer on the cell
membrane. RON has been shown to be aberrantly expressed or mutated in many cancers

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

223

including those from the bladder, breast, colon, lung, ovary, pancreas and prostate,
particularly in aggressive tumours associated with poor patient survival (reviewed in
Wang et al., 2010). Activated RON can promote c-Src activities that mediate cell-cycle
progression, angiogenesis and survival of tumor cells (Danilkovitch-Miagkov et al., 2000;
Feres et al., 2009). In bladder cancer cells, under conditions of serum starvation, RON has
been shown to migrate from the cell membrane to the nucleus in a complex with EGFR
with passage through the nuclear pore complex mediated by importins. In the nucleus,
RON and EGFR co-operate in the transcriptional regulation of at least 134 different target
genes known to participate in three stress-responsive networks: p53 (genes included
RBBP6, RB1, TP53BP2 and JUN), stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun N-terminal kinase
(JUN, MAPK8IP3, NFATC1 and TRADD) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (GHR,
PPP2R3B and PRKCZ) (Liu et al., 2010). Nuclear translocation of RON was therefore
suggested to be a response to physiological stress. Furthermore, because MSP stimulation,
homodimerisation and phosphorylation were not required for nuclear translocation, this
is a ligand-independent response in these cells. A consensus sequence for binding nuclear
RON was identified as GCA(G)GGGGCAGCG in genes that were both confirmed upregulated (FLJ46072, JUN, MLXIPL, NARG1 and SSTR1) and down-regulated (RBBP6 and
POLRMT) after serum starvation.

8. Conclusion
Although early reports of the presence of receptor tyrosine kinases in the nucleus of cells
was met with scepticism, a significant collection of data now supports a role for many of
these proteins in the nucleus of both normal and dysplastic cells. To date, 18 of the 58
human receptor tyrosine kinases have been found within nuclei and it is likely that more
will be found. In general, the result of nuclear translocation of receptors is alterations to
gene expression, but the full consequences of the presence of these proteins in the nucleus
have yet to be determined. Only through further exploration can the complexity that nuclear
localisation provides to receptor tyrosine kinase functions be determined.

9. References
Accornero, P, Pavone, LM, & Baratta, M. (2010) The scatter factor signaling pathways as
therapeutic associated target in cancer treatment. Current Medicinal Chemistry, Vol.
17, No.25 (September 2010), pp. 2699-712, ISSN 0929-9673
Adams, RH, & Klein, R. (2000) Eph receptors and ephrin ligands, essential mediators of
vascular development. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 5, (July 2000),
pp. 183-188, ISSN 1050-1738
Adilakshmi, T, Ness-Myers, J, Madrid-Aliste, C, Fiser, Andras, & Tapinos, N. (2011) A
nuclear variant of ErbB3 receptor tyrosine kinase regulates ezrin distribution and
schwann cell myelination. The Journal of Neuroscience, Vol.31, No. 13 (March 2011),
pp. 5106-5119, ISSN 0270-6474
Aleksic, T, Chitnis, MM, Perestenko, OV, Gao, S, Thomas, PH, Turner, GD, Protheroe, AS,
Howarth, M, Macaulay, VM. (2010) Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor

224

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

translocates to the nucleus of human tumor cells. Cancer Research, Vol. 70, No. 16,
(August 2010), pp. 64126419, ISSN 0008-5472
Bartek, J, & Hodny, Z. (2010) SUMO boosts the DNA damage response barrier against
cancer. Cancer Cell, Vol 17, No. 1, (January 2010), pp. 9-11, ISSN 1535-6108
Beguinot, L, Lyall, RM, Willingham, MC, & Pastan, I. (1984) Down-regulation of the
epidermal growth factor receptor in KB cells is due to receptor internalization and
subsequent degradation in lysosomes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
of the USA, Vol. 81, No. 8, (April 1984), pp. 2384-2388, ISSN 1091-6490
Boerner, JL, Demory, ML, Silva, C, & Parsons, SJ. (2004) Phosphorylation of Y845 on the
epidermal growth factor receptor mediates binding to the mitochondrial protein
cytochrome c oxidase subunit II. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Vol. 24, No. 16,
(August 2004), pp. 70597071, ISSN 0270-7306
Bublil, EM, & Yarden, Y. (2007) The EGF receptor family: spearheading a merger of
signaling and therapeutics. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, Vol. 19, No. 2, (April
2007), pp. 124134, ISSN 0955-0674
Cai, Q, & Robertson, ES. (2010) Ubiquitin/SUMO modification regulates VHL protein
stability and nucleocytoplasmic localization. PLoS One, Vol. 5, No. 9, (September
2010), pii. e12636, ISSN 1932-6203
Carpentier, JL, Rees, AR, Gregoriou, M, Kris, R, Schlessinger, J & Orci, L. (1986) Subcellular
distribution of the external and internal domains of the EGF receptor in A-431 cells.
Experimental Cell Research, Vol. 166, No. 2, (October 1986), pp. 312326, ISSN 00144827
Carraway, KL 3rd, Sliwkowski, MX, Akita, R, Platko, JV, Guy, PM, Nuijens, A, Diamonti,
AJ, Vandlen, RL, Cantley, LC, & Cerione, RA. (1994) The erbB3 gene product is a
receptor for heregulin. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 269, No. 19, (May 1994),
pp. 1430314306, ISSN 0021-9258
Ceresa, BP, & Schmid, SL. (2000) Regulation of signal transduction by endocytosis. Current
Opinion in Cell Biology, Vol. 12, No. 2, (April 2000), pp. 204 210, ISSN 0955-0674
Chen, J, Zhuang, G, Frieden, L, & Debinski, W. (2008) Eph receptors and Ephrins in cancer:
common themes and controversies. Cancer Research, Vol. 68, No. 24, (December
2008), pp.10031-10033, ISSN 1538-7445
Cheng, CJ, Ye, XC, Vakar-Lopez, F, Kim, J, Tu, SM, Chen, DT, Navone, NM, Yu-Lee, LY, Lin,
SH, & Hu, MC. (2007) Bone microenvironment and androgen status modulate
subcellular localization of ErbB3 in prostate cancer cells. Molecular Cancer Research,
Vol. 5, No. 7, (July 2007), pp. 675-684, ISSN 1541-7786
Chuderland, D, Konson, A, & Seger, R. (2008) Identification and characterization of a
general nuclear translocation signal in signaling proteins. Molecular Cell, Vol. 31,
No. 6 (September 2008), pp. 850-861, ISSN 10197-2765
Citri, A & Yarden, Y. (2006) EGF-ERBB signalling: towards the systems level. Nature Reviews
Molecular Cell Biology, Vol. 7, No. 7, (July 2006), pp. 505516, ISSN 1471-0072
Cokol, M, Nair, R, & Rost, B. (2000) Finding nuclear localization signals. EMBO Reports, Vol.
1, No. 5 (November 2000), pp. 411415, ISSN 1469-3178

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

225

Colvin, JS, Bohne, BA, Harding, GW, McEwen, DG, & Ornitz, DM. (1996) Skeletal
overgrowth and deafness in mice lacking fibroblast growth factor receptor 3. Nature
Genetics, Vol. 12, No. 4, (April 1996), pp. 390-397, ISSN 1061-4036
Comoglio, PM, & Boccaccio, C. (1996) The HGF receptor family: unconventional signal
transducers for invasive cell growth. Genes to Cells, Vol. 1, No. 4, (April 1996), pp.
347-354, ISSN 1365-2443
Cross, MJ, Dixelius, J, Matsumoto, T, & Claesson-Welsh, L. (2003) VEGF receptor signal
transduction. Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Vol. 23, No. 9, (September 2003), pp. 488
494. ISSN 0968-0004
Danilkovitch-Miagkova,A, Angeloni, D, Skeel, A, Donley, S, Lerman, M, & Leonard, EJ.
(2000) Integrin-mediated RON growth factor receptor phosphorylation requires
tyrosine kinase activity of both the receptor and c-Src. Journal of Biological Chemistry,
Vol. 275, No. 20, (May 2000), pp. 1478315147, ISSN 0021-9258
Das, AK, Chen, BP, Story, MD, Sato, M, Minna, JD, Chen, DJ, Nirodi, CS. (2007) Somatic
mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor
(EGFR) abrogate EGFR-mediated radioprotection in non-small cell lung carcinoma.
Cancer Research, Vol. 67, No. 11, (June 2007), pp. 5267-5274, ISSN 1538-7445
Deng, C, Wynshaw-Boris, A, Zhou, F, Kuo, A, & Leder, P. (1996) Fibroblast growth factor
receptor 3 is a negative regulator of bone growth. Cell, Vol. 84, No. 6, (March 1996),
pp. 911-921, ISSN 0092-8674
Dittmann, K, Mayer, C, Fehrenbacher, B, Schaller, M, Raju, U, Milas, L, Chen,DJ, Kehlbach,
R, & Rodemann, HP. (2005) Radiation-induced epidermal growth factor receptor
nuclear import is linked to activation of DNA-dependent protein kinase. Journal of
Biological Chemistry, Vol. 280, No. 35, (September 2005), pp. 31182-31189, ISSN 00219258
Di Fiore, PP, & De Camilli, P. (2001) Endocytosis and signalling: An inseparable partnership.
Cell, Vol. 106, No. 1, (July 2001), pp. 1 4, ISSN 0092-8674
Fang, X, Stachowiak, EK, Dunham-Ems, SM, Klejbor, I, Stachowiak, MK (2005) Control of
CREB-binding protein signaling by nuclear fibroblast growth factor receptor-1: a
novel mechanism of gene regulation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 280, No. 31,
(August 2005), pp. 28451-28462, ISSN 0092-8674
Feng, Y, Venema, VJ, Venema, RC, Tsai, N, & Caldwell, RB. (1999) VEGF induces nuclear
translocation of Flk-1/KDR, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and caveolin-1 in
vascular endothelial cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.
256, No. 1, (March 1999), pp. 192-197, ISSN 0006-291X
Feres, KJ, Ischenko, I, & Hayman, MJ. (2009) The RON receptor tyrosine kinase promotes
MSP-independent cell spreading and survival in breast epithelial cells. Oncogene,
Vol. 28, No. 2, (January 2009), pp. 279288, ISSN 0950-9232
Flanagan, JG, & Vanderhaeghen, P. (1998) The ephrins and Eph receptors in neural
development. Annual Review of Neuroscience, Vol. 21, (1998), pp. 309345, ISSN 15454126
Garcia-Dominguez, M, & Reyes, JC. (2009) SUMO association with repressor complexes,
emerging routes for transcriptional control. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta , Vol. 1789,
No. 6-8, (June-August 2009), pp. 451-459, ISSN 0006-3002

226

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Gassmann, M, Casagranda, F, Orioli, D, Simon, H, Lai, C, Klein, R, Lemke, G. (1995)

Aberrant neural and cardiac development in mice lacking the ErbB4 neuregulin
receptor. Nature, Vol. 378. No. 6555, (November 1995), pp. 390-394, ISSN 0028-0836
Giri, DK, Ali-Seyed, M, Li, LY, Lee, DF, Ling, P, Bartholomeusz, G, Wang, SC, & Hung, MC.
(2005) Endosomal transport of ErbB-2:mechanism for nuclear entry of the cell
surface receptor. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Vol. 25, No. 24, (December 2005),
pp. 1100511018, ISSN 1471-0072
Gomes, DA, Rodrigues, MA, Leite, MF, Gomez, MV, Varnai, P, Balla, T, Bennett, AM, &
Nathanson, MH. (2008) c-Met must translocate to the nucleus to initiate calcium
signals. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 283, No. 7, (February2008), pp. 43444351.
Gong, A, Zhang, Z, Xiao, D, Yang, Y, Wang, Y, & Chen Y. (2007) Localization of
phosphorylated TrkA in carrier vesicles involved in its nuclear translocation in
U251 cell line. Science in China. Series C, Life Science. Vol. 50, No. 2, (April 2007), pp.
141-146. ISSN 1674-7305
Gorlich, D, & Kutay, U. (1999) Transport between the cell nucleus and the cytoplasm.
Annual Review Cell and Developmental Biology, Vol.15, (1999), pp. 607660, ISSN 10810706
Grasl-Kraupp, B, Schausberger, E, Hufnagl, K, Gerner, C, Low-Baselli, A, Rossmanith, W,
Parzefall, W, & Schulte-Hermann, R. (2002) A novel mechanism for mitogenic
signaling via pro-transforming growth factor alpha within hepatocyte nuclei.
Hepatology Vol. 3, No. 6, (June 2002), pp. 1372-1380, ISSN 1527-3350
Gupta, RA, & DuBois, RN. (2001) Colorectal cancer prevention and treatment by inhibition
of cyclooxygenase-2. Nature Reviews Cancer, Vol. 1, No. 1, (October 2001), pp. 1121,
ISSN 1474-175X
Guy, PM, Platko, JV, Cantley, LC, Cerione, RA, & Carraway, KL III (1994). Insect cellexpressed p180erbB3 possesses an impaired tyrosine kinase activity. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, Vol. 91, No. 17, (August 1994), pp. 81328136. ISSN 1091-6490
Hadzisejdic, I, Mustac, E, Jonjic, N, Petkovic, M, & Grahovac, B. (2010) Nuclear EGFR in
ductal invasive breast cancer: correlation with cyclin-D1 and prognosis. Modern
Pathology, Vol. 23, No. 2, (March 2010), pp. 392403, ISSN 0893-3952
Half, E, Tang, X, Gwyn, K, Sahin, A, Wathen, K, & Sinicrope, FA. (2002) Cyclooxygenase-2
expression in human breast cancers and adjacent ductal carcinoma in situ. Cancer
Research, Vol. 62, No. 6, (March 2002), pp. 16761681, ISSN 1538-7445
Halford, MM, Armes, J, Buchert, M, Meskenaite, V, Grail, D, Hibbs, ML, Wilks, AF, Farlie,
PG, Newgreen, DF, Hovens, CM, & Stacker, SA (2000) Ryk-deficient mice exhibit
craniofacial defects associated with perturbed Eph receptor crosstalk. Nature
Genetics, Vol. 25, No. 4, (August 2000), pp. 414418, ISSN 1061-4036
Hardingham, GE, Chawla, S, Johnson, CM, & Bading, H. (1997) Distinct functions of nuclear
and cytoplasmic calcium in the control of gene expression. Nature, Vol. 385, No.
6613, (January 1997), pp. 260265, ISSN 0028-0836
Hoshino, M, Fukui, H, Ono, Y, Sekikawa, A, Ichikawa, K, Tomita, S, Imai, Y, Imura, J,
Hiraishi, H, Fujimori, T. (2007) Nuclear expression of phosphorylated EGFR is

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

227

associated with poor prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell

carcinoma. Pathobiology, Vol. 74, No. 1, (January 2007), pp. 1521, ISSN 1015-2008
Howe, LR, Subbaramaiah, K, Brown, AM, & Dannenberg, AJ. (2001) Cyclooxygenase-2: a
target for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Endocrine Related Cancer,
Vol. 8, No. 2, (June 2001), pp. 97114, ISSN 1351-0088
Hsu, SC, & Hung, MC (2007) Characterization of a novel tripartite nuclear localization
sequence in the EGFR family. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 282, No. 14, (May
2007), pp. 10432-10440, ISSN 0021-9258
Hu, Y, Fang, X, Dunham, SM, Prada, C, Stachowiak, EK, & Stachowiak, MK (2004) 90-kDa
ribosomal S6 kinase is a direct target for the nuclear fibroblast growth factor
receptor 1 (FGFR1): role in FGFR1 signaling. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 279,
No. 28, (July 2004), pp. 29325-29335, ISSN 0021-9258
Hung, LY, Tseng, JT, Lee, YC, Xia, W, Wang, YN, Wu, ML, Chuang, YH, Lai, CH, Chang,
WC. (2008) Nuclear epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) interacts with signal
transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) in activating Aurora-A gene
expression. Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 36, Np. 13, (August 2008), pp. 4337-4351,
ISSN 1362-4962
Hunter T. (1998) The Croonian lecture, 1997. The phosphorylation of proteins on tyrosine: its
role in cell growth and disease. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London.
Series B, Biological Sciences, Vol. 353, No. 1368, (April 1998), pp. 583605, ISSN 14712970
Hynes, NE & Lane, HA. (2005) ERBB receptors and cancer: the complexity of targeted
inhibitors. Nature Reviews Cancer, Vol. 5, No. 5 (May 2005), pp. 341-354, ISSN 1474175X
Jones, FE. (2008) HER4 intracellular domain (4ICD) activity in the developing mammary
gland and breast cancer. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, Vol. 13,
No. 2, (June 2008), pp. 247-258, ISSN 1573-7039
Junttila, TT, Sundvall, M, Lundin, M, Lundin, J, Tanner, M, Harkonen, P, Joensuu H, Isola, J,
Elenius, K. (2005) Cleavable ErbB4 isoform in estrogen receptor-regulated growth
of breast cancer cells. Cancer Research, Vol. 65, No. 4, (February 2005), pp. 1384
1393, ISSN 1538-7445
Kim, J, Jahng, WJ, Di Vizio, D, Lee, JS, Jhaveri, R, Rubin, MA, Shisheva, A, & Freeman, MR.
(2007) The phosphoinositide kinase PIKfyve mediates epidermal growth factor
receptor trafficking to the nucleus. Cancer Research, Vol. 67, No. 19, (October 2007),
pp. 9229-9237, ISSN 1538-7445
Komuro, A, Nagai, M, Navin, NE, & Sudol, M. (2003) WW domain-containing protein YAP
associates with ErbB-4 and acts as a co-transcriptional activator for the carboxylterminal fragment of ErbB-4 that translocates to the nucleus. Journal of Biological
Chemistry, Vol. 278, No. 35, (August 2003), pp. 33334-33341, ISSN 0021-9258
Koumakpayi, IH, Diallo, JS, Le Page, C, Lessard, L, Gleave, M, Bgin, LR, Mes-Masson, AM,
Saad, F. (2006) Expression and nuclear localization of ErbB3 in prostate cancer.
Clinical Cancer Research, Vol. 12, No. 9, (May 2006), pp. 2730-2737, ISSN 1557-3265
Kuroda, C, Kubota, S, Kawata, K, Aoyama, E, Sumiyoshi, K, Oka, M, Inoue, M, Minagi, S, &
Takigawa, M. (2008) Distribution, gene expression, and functional role of EPHA4

228

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

during ossification. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 374,

No. 1, (September 2008), pp. 22-27, ISSN 0006-291X
Lee, YC, Perren JR, Douglas, EL, Raynor, MP, Bartley, MA, Bardy, PG, & Stephenson, SA.
(2005) Investigation of the expression of the EphB4 receptor tyrosine kinase in
prostate carcinoma. BMC Cancer, Vol 5, (September 2005), pp. 119, ISSN 1471-2407
Lemmon, MA & Schlessinger, J. (2010) Cell signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases. Cell, Vol.
141, No. 7 (June 2010), pp. 1117 1134, ISSN 0092-8674
Li, LY, Chen, H, Hsieh, YH, Wang, YN, Chu, HJ, Chen, YH, Chen, HY, Chien, PJ, Ma, HT,
Tsai, HC, Lai, CC, Sher, YP, Lien, HC, Tsai, CH, & Hung, MC. (2011) Nuclear ErbB2
enhances translation and cell growth by activating transcription of ribosomal RNA
genes. Cancer Research, Vol. 71, No. 12, (June 2011), pp. 4269-4279, ISSN 0008-5472
Liao, HJ, Carpenter, G. (2007) Role of the Sec61 translocon in EGF receptor trafficking to the
nucleus and gene expression. Molecular Biology of the Cell, Vol. 18, No. 3, (March
2007), pp. 1064-1072, ISSN 1059-1524
Lin, SY, Makino, K, Xia, W, Matin, A, Wen, Y, Kwong, KY, Bourguignon, L, & Hung, MC.
(2001) Nuclear localization of EGF receptor and its potential new role as a
transcription factor. Nature Cell Biology, Vol. 3, No. 9, (September 2001), pp. 802
808, ISSN 1465-7392
Liu, HS, Hsu, PY, Lai, MD, Chang, HY, Ho, CL, Cheng, HL, Chen, HT, Lin, YJ, Wu, TJ, Tzai,
TS, & Chow, NH. (2010) An unusual function of RON receptor tyrosine kinase as a
transcriptional regulator in cooperation with EGFR in human cancer cells.
Carcinogenesis, Vol. 31, No. 8, (August 2010), pp. 1456-1464, ISSN 0143-3334
Liu, Y, Rubin, B, Bodine, PV, & Billiard, J. (2008) Wnt5a induces homodimerization and
activation of Ror2 receptor tyrosine kinase. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Vol. 105,
No. 2, (October 2008), pp. 497-502, ISSN 0730-2312
Lo, HW. (2010) Nuclear mode of the EGFR signaling network: biology, prognostic value,
and therapeutic implications. Discovery Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 50, (July 2010), pp. 4451, ISSN 1539-6509
Lo, HW, Xia, W, Wei, Y, Ali-Seyed, M, Huang, SF, & Hung, MC. (2005a) Novel prognostic
value of nuclear epidermal growth factor receptor in breast cancer. Cancer Research,
Vol. 65, No. 1, (January 2005), pp. 338348, ISSN 1538-7445
Lo, HW, Hsu, SC, Ali-Seyed, M, Gunduz, M, Xia, W, Wei, Y, Bartholomeusz, G, Shih, JY, &
Hung, MC. (2005b) Nuclear interaction of EGFR and STAT3 in the activation of the
iNOS/NO pathway. Cancer Cell, Vol. 7, No. 6, (June 2005), pp. 575-589, ISSN 15356108
Lo, HW, & Hung, MC. (2006) Nuclear EGFR signalling network in cancers: linking EGFR
pathway to cell cycle progression, nitric oxide pathway and patient survival. British
Journal of Cancer, Vol. 94, No. 2, (January 2006), pp. 184188, ISSN 0007-0920
Long, W, Wagner, K-U, Lloyd, KCK, Binart, N, Shillingford, JM, Hennighausen, L, & Jones,
FE. (2003) Impaired differentiation and lactational failure in ErbB4-deficient
mammary glands identify ERBB4 as an obligate mediator of Stat5. Development,
Vol. 130, No. 21, (November 2003), pp. 52575268, ISSN 1011-6370
Maatta, JA, Sundvall, M, Junttila,TT, Peri, L, Laine, VJ, Isola, J, Egeblad, M, & Elenius, K.
(2006) Proteolytic cleavage and phosphorylation of a tumor-associated ErbB4

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

229

isoform promote ligand-independent survival and cancer cell growth. Molecular

Biology of the Cell, Vol. 17, No. 1, (January 2006), pp. 6779, ISSN 1059-1524
Marti, U, Burwen, SJ, Well,s A, Barker ME, Huling S, Feren AM, Jones, AL (1991)
Localization of epidermal growth factor receptor in hepatocyte nuclei. Hepatology,
Vol.13, No. 1, (January 1991), pp. 15-20, ISSN 1527-3350
Marti, U, & Hug, M. (1995) Acinar and cellular distribution and mRNA expression of the
epidermal growth factor receptor are changed during liver regeneration. Journal of
Hepatology, Vol. 23, No. 3, (September 1995), pp. 318-327 ISSN 0168-8278
Marti, U, & Wells, A. (2000) The nuclear accumulation of a variant epidermal growth factor
receptor (EGFR) lacking the transmembrane domain requires coexpression of a
full-length EGFR. Molecular Cell Biology Research Communications, Vol. 3, No. 1
(January 2000), pp. 8-14, ISSN 1522-4724
Massie, C & Mills, IG. (2006) The developing role of receptors and adaptors. Nature Reviews
Cancer, Vol. 6, No. 5, (May 2006), pp. 403-409, ISSN 1474-175X
Miranda, KJ, Loeser, RF, & Yammani, RR. (2010) Sumoylation and nuclear translocation of
S100A4 regulate IL-1beta-mediated production of matrix metalloproteinase-13.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 285, No. 41, (October 2010), pp. 31517-31524.
Muraoka-Cook, RS, Feng, SM, Strunk, KE, Earp 3rd HS. (2008) ErbB4/HER4: role in
mammary gland development, differentiation and growth inhibition. Journal of
Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, Vol. 13, No. 2, (June 2008), pp. 235-246, ISSN
1083-3021
Myers, JM, Martins, GG, Ostrowski, J, & Stachowiak, MK. (2003) Nuclear trafficking of
FGFR1: a role for the transmembrane domain. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Vol.
88, No. 6, (April 2003), pp. 1273-1291, ISSN 0730-2312
Nardozzi, JD, Lott, K, & Cingolani, G. (2010) Phosphorylation meets nuclear import: a
review. Cell Communication and Signaling. Vol. 23, No. 8, (December 2010), pp. 32,
ISSN 1478-811X
Nathanson, MH, Rios-Velez, L, Burgstahler, AD, & Mennone, A. (1999) Communication via
gap junctions modulates bile secretion in the isolated perfused rat liver.
Gastroenterology, Vol. 116, No. 5, (May 1999), pp. 11761183, ISSN 0016-5085
Nelson, JD, LeBoeuf, RC & Bomsztyk, K. (2011) Direct recruitment of insulin receptor and
ERK signaling cascade to insulin-inducible gene loci. Diabetes, Vol. 60, No. 1,
(January 2011), pp. 127137, ISSN 0021-1797
Ni, CY, Murphy, MP, Golde, TE & Carpenter, G. (2001) -Secretase cleavage and nuclear
localization of ErbB-4 receptor tyrosine kinase. Science, Vol. 294, No. 5549, (October
2001), pp. 21792181, ISSN 0036-8075
Offterdinger, M, Schfer, C, Weipoltshammer, K, & Grunt, TW. (2002) c-erbB-3: a nuclear
protein in mammary epithelial cells. Journal of Cell Biology, Vol. 157, No. 6, (June
2002), pp. 929-939, ISSN 0021-9525
Paganoni, S, & Ferreira, A. (2003) Expression and subcellular localization of Ror tyrosine
kinase receptors are developmentally regulated in cultured hippocampal neurons.
Journal of Neuroscience Research, Vol. 73. No. 4, (August 2003), pp. 429-440, ISSN
0360-4012

230

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Paganoni, S, & Ferreira, A. (2005) Neurite extension in central neurons: a novel role for the
receptor tyrosine kinases Ror1 and Ror2. Journal of Cell Science, Vol. 118, No. 2,
(January 2005), pp. 433-446, ISSN 1477-9137
Pasquale, EB. Eph receptor signalling casts a wide net on cell behaviour. Nature Reviews
Molecular Cell Biology, Vol. 6, No. 6, (June 2005), pp. 462-475, ISSN 1471-0072
Peng, Hu, Myers, J, Fang, X, Stachowiak, EK, Maher, PA, Martins, GG, Popescu, G,
Berezney, R, & Stachowiak, MK. (2002) Integrative nuclear FGFR1 signaling (INFS)
pathway mediates activation of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene by angiotensin II,
depolarization, and protein kinase C. Journal of Neurochemistry, Vol. 81, No. 3, (May
2002), pp. 506524, ISSN 1471-4159
Pike, LJ. (2003) Lipid rafts: bringing order to chaos. Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 44, No. 4,
(April 2003), pp. 655-667, ISSN 0022-2275
Pitulescu, ME, & Adams, RH. (2010) Eph/ephrin molecules--a hub for signaling and
endocytosis. Genes and Development. Vol 24, No. 22, (November 2010), pp. 24802492, ISSN 0890-9369
Podlecki, DA, Smith, RM, Kao, M, Tsai, P, Huecksteadt, T, Brandenburg, D, Lasher, RS,
Jarett, L, & Olefsky, JM. (1987) Nuclear translocation of the insulin receptor. A
possible mediator of insulin's long term effects. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol.
262, No. 7. (March 1987), pp. 3362-3368, ISSN 0021-9258
Poenie, M, Alderton, J, Tsien, RY, & Steinhardt, RA. (1985) Changes of free calcium levels
with stages of the cell division cycle. Nature, Vol. 315, No. 6015, (May 1985), pp.
147149, ISSN 0028-0836
Psyrri, A, Yu, Z, Weinberger, PM, Sasaki, C, Haffty, B, Camp, R, Rimm, D & Burtness, BA
(2005) Quantitative determination of nuclear and cytoplasmic epidermal growth
factor receptor expression in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer by using
automated quantitative analysis. Clinical Cancer Research, Vol. 11, No. 16, (August
2005), pp. 58565862, ISSN 1557-3265
Pusl, T, Wu, JJ, Zimmerman, TL, Zhang, L, Ehrlich, BE, Berchtold, MW, Hoek, JB, Karpen,
SJ, Nathanson, MH, & Bennett, AM. (2002) Epidermal growth factor-mediated
activation of the ETS domain transcription factor Elk-1 requires nuclear calcium.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 277, No. 30, (July 2002), pp. 2751727527, ISSN
0021-9258
Raper, SE, Burwen, SJ, Barker, ME, & Jones, AL. (1987) Translocation of epidermal growth
factor to the hepatocyte nucleus during rat liver regeneration. Gastroenterology, Vol.
92, No. 5, (May 1987), pp. 1243-1250, ISSN 0016-5085
Reilly, JF & Maher PA. (2001) Importin -mediated nuclear import of fibroblast growth
factor receptor: role in cell proliferation. Journal of Cell Biology. Vol. 152, No. 6,
(March 2001), pp. 13071312, ISSN 0021-9525
Riese, II DJ, & Stern, DF. (1998) Specificity within the EGF/ErbB receptor family signaling
network. BioEssays, Vol. 20, No. 1, (January 1998), pp. 4148 ISSN 1521-1878
Riese, II DJ, van Raaij, TM, Plowman, GD, Andrews, GC, & Stern, DF. (1995) Cellular
response to neuregulins is governed by complex interactions of the ErbB receptor
family. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Vol. 15, No. 10, (October 1995), pp. 57705776,
ISSN 1098-5549

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

231

Rodrigues, MA, Gomes, DA, Leite, MF, Grant, W, Zhang, L, Lam, W, Cheng, YC, Bennett,
AM, & Nathanson, MH. (2007) Nucleoplasmic calcium is required for cell
proliferation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 282, No. 23 (June 2007), pp. 17061
17068, ISSN 0021-9258
Rodrigues, MA, Gomes, DA, Andrade, VA, Leite, MF, & Nathanson MH. (2008) Insulin
induces calcium signals in the nucleus of rat hepatocytes. Hepatology. Vol. 48, No. 5,
(November 2008), pp. 1621-1631, ISSN 1527-3350
Salinas, S, Brianon-Marjollet, A, Bossis, G, Lopez, MA, Piechaczyk, M, Jariel-Encontre, I,
Debant, A, & Hipskind, RA. (2004) SUMOylation regulates nucleo-cytoplasmic
shuttling of Elk-1. Journal of Cell Biology, Vol. 165, No. 6. (June 2004), pp. 767-773,
ISSN 0021-9525
Schmahl, J, Kim, Y, Colvin, JS, Ornitz, DM, & Capel B. (2004) Fgf9 induces proliferation and
nuclear localization of FGFR2 in Sertoli precursors during male sex determination.
Development 2004, 131(15):3627-3636. Cancer Research, Vol. 71, No. 12, (August
2004), pp. 4269-4279, ISSN 1538-7445
Sehat, B, Tofigh, A, Lin, Y, Trocm, E, Liljedahl, U, Lagergren, J, & Larsson, O. (2010)
SUMOylation mediates the nuclear translocation and signaling of the IGF-1
receptor. Science Signaling, Vol. 3, No. 108, (February 2010), pp. ra10, ISSN 19450877
Sorkin, A, & Waters, CM (1993) Endocytosis of growth factor receptors. Bioessays , Vol. 15,
No. 6, (June 1993), pp. 375-382, ISSN 1521-1878
Stachowiak, MK, Moffett, J, Maher, PA, Tucholski, J, & Stachowiak, EK. (1997) Growth
factor regulation of cell growth and proliferation in the nervous system. A new
intracrine nuclear mechanism. Molecular Neurobiology, Vol. 15, No. 3, (December
1997), pp. 127 ISSN 0893-7648
Stachowiak, MK, Fang, X, Myers, JM, Dunham, SM, Berezney, R, Maher, PA, & Stachowiak,
EK. (2003a) Integrative nuclear FGFR1 signaling (INFS) as a part of a universal
"feed-forward-and-gate" signaling module that controls cell growth and
differentiation. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Vol. 90, No. 4, (November 2003), pp.
662-691, ISSN 0730-2312
Stachowiak, EK, Fang, X, Myers, J, Dunham, S, Stachowiak, MK. (2003b) cAMP induced
differentiation of human neuronal progenitor cells is mediated by nuclear
fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1). Journal of Neurochemistry, Vol 84, No. 6,
(March 2003), pp. 1296-1312, ISSN 1471-4159
Stephenson, SA, Slomka, S, Douglas, EL, Hewett, PJ, & Hardingham, JE. (2001) Receptor
protein tyrosine kinase EphB4 is up-regulated in colon cancer. BMC Molecular
Biology, Vol. 2, (December 2001), pp. 15, ISSN 1471-2199
Stern, DF, Heffernan, PA, & Weinberg, RA. (1986) p185, a product of the neu protooncogene,
is a receptor-like protein associated with tyrosine kinase activity. Molecular and
Cellular Biology, Vol. 6, No. 5, (May 1986), pp. 17291740, ISSN 1098-5549
Stewart, M, Turley, H, Cook, N, Pezzella, F, Pillai, G, Ogilvie, D, Cartlidge, S, Paterson, D,
Copley, C, Kendrew, J, Barnes, C, Harris, AL, & Gatter, KC. (2003) The angiogenic
receptor KDR is widely distributed in human tissues and tumours and relocates

232

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

intracellularly on
phosphorylation. An immunohistochemical study.
Histopathology. Vol. 43, No. 1, (July 2003), pp. 33-39, ISSN 1365-2559
Subbaramaiah, K, Norton, L, Gerald, W, and Dannenberg, AJ. (2002) Cyclooxygenase-2 is
overexpressed in Her-2/neu-positive breast cancer: evidence for involvement of
AP-1 and PEA3. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 277, No. 21, (May 2002), pp.
1864918657, ISSN 1083-351X
Susarla, R, Gonzalez, AM, Watkinson, JC, & Eggo, MC. (2011) Expression of receptors for
VEGFS on normal human thyroid follicular cells and their role in follicle formation.
Journal of Cellular Physiology, (July 2011), DOI 10.1002/jcp.22930, ISSN 1097-4652
Thaminy, S, Auerbach, D, Arnoldo, A, & Stagljar, I. (2003) Identification of novel ErbB3interacting factors using the split-ubiquitin membrane yeast two-hybrid system.
Genome Research, Vol. 13, No. 7, (July 2003), pp. 1744-1753, ISSN 1549-5469
Tidcombe, H, Jackson-Fisher, A, Mathers, K, Stern, DF, Gassmann, M, & Golding, JP. (2003)
Neural and mammary gland defects in ErbB4 knockout mice genetically rescued
from embryonic lethality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA,
Vol. 100, No. 14, (July 2003), pp. 8281-8286, ISSN 1091-6490
Trudel, S, Ely, S, Farooqi, Y, Affer, M, Robbiani, DF, Chesi, M, Bergsagel, PL. (2004)
Inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 induces differentiation and
apoptosis in t(4;14) myeloma. Blood, Vol. 103, No. 9, (May 2004) pp. 3521-8, ISSN
0006-4971
Tseng, HC, Lyu, PC, Lin, WC. (2010) Nuclear localization of orphan receptor protein kinase
(Ror1) is mediated through the juxtamembrane domain. BMC Cell Biology, Vol. 11,
(June 2010), pp. 48, ISSN 1471-2121
Turini, ME, & DuBois, RN. (2002) Cyclooxygenase-2: a therapeutic target. Annual Review of
Medicine, Vol. 53, (2002), pp. 3557, ISSN 0066-4219
Vadlamudi, R, Mandal, M, Adam, L, Steinbach, G, Mendelsohn, J, & Kumar, R. (1999)
Regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 pathway by HER2 receptor. Oncogene, Vol. 18, No.
2, (January 1999), pp. 305-314, ISSN 0950-9232
Wang, MH, Padhye, SS, Guin, S, Ma, Q, & Zhou, YQ. (2010) Potential therapeutics specific to
c-MET/RON receptor tyrosine kinases for molecular targeting in cancer therapy.
Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, Vol. 31, No. 9, (September 2010), pp. 1181-1188, ISSN
1745-7254
Wang, SC, Nakajima, Y, Yu, YL, Xia, W, Chen, CT, Yang, CC, McIntush, EW, Li, LY, Hawke,
DH, Kobayashi, R, & Hung, MC. (2006) Tyrosine phosphorylation controls PCNA
function through protein stability. Nature Cell Biology, Vol. 8, No. 12, (December
2006), pp. 1359-1368, ISSN 1465-7392
Wang, Y, Pennock, SD, Chen, X, Kazlauskas, A, & Wang, Z. (2004a) Platelet-derived growth
factor receptor-mediated signal transduction from endosomes. Journal of Biological
Chemistry, Vol. 279, No.9, (February 2004), pp. 8038 8046, ISSN 0021-9258
Wang, SC, Lien, HC, Xia, W, Chen, IF, Lo, HW, Wang, Z, Ali-Seyed, M, Lee, DF,
Bartholomeusz, G, Ou-Yang, F, Giri, DK, & Hung MC (2004b) Binding at and
transactivation of the COX-2 promoter by nuclear tyrosine kinase receptor ErbB-2.
Cancer Cell. Vol. 6, No. 3, (September 2004), pp. 251-261, ISSN 1535-6108

Signaling of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in the Nucleus

233

Wang, SC, & Hung, MC. (2009) Nuclear translocation of the EGFR family membrane
tyrosine kinase receptors. Clinical Cancer Research, Vol. 15, No. 21, (November 2009),
pp. 64846489, ISSN 1078-0432
Wanner, G, Mayer, C, Kehlbach, R, Rodemann, HP, & Dittmann, K. (2008) Activation of
protein kinase C epsilon stimulates DNA-repair via epidermal growth factor
receptor nuclear accumulation. Radiotherapy and Oncology, Vol 86, No. 3, (March
2008), pp. 383-390, ISSN 0167-8140
Wells, A, & Marti, U. (2002) Signalling shortcuts: cell-surface receptors in the nucleus?
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, Vol. 3, No. 9, (September 2002), pp. 697-702,
ISSN 1471-0072
Wesche, J, Haglund, K, & Haugsten, EM. (2011) Fibroblast growth factors and their
receptors in cancer. Biochemical Journal, Vol. 437, No. 2, (July 2011), pp. 199213,
ISSN 0264-6021
Wilkinson, KA & Henley, JM. (2010) Mechanisms, regulation and consequences of protein
SUMOylation. Biochemistry Journal, Vol. 428, No. 2, (May 2010), pp. 133-145, ISSN
0264-6021
Williams, CC, Allison, JG, Vidal, GA, Burow, ME, Beckman, BS, Marrero, L, Jones, FE. (2004)
The ERBB4/HER4 receptor tyrosine kinase regulates gene expression by
functioning as a STAT5A nuclear chaperone. Journal Cell Biology, Vol. 167, No. 3,
(November 2004), pp. 469478, ISSN 0021-9258
Xia, W, Wei, Y, Du, Y, Liu, J, Chang, B, Yu, YL, et al.,. Nuclear expression of epidermal
growth factor receptor is a novel prognostic value in patients with ovarian cancer.
Molecular Carcinogenesis, Vol. 48, No. 7, (July 2009), pp. 610617, ISSN 1098-2744
Xu, J, He, Y, Qiang, B, Yuan, J, Peng, X, & Pan, XM. (2008) A novel method for high accuracy
sumoylation site prediction from protein sequences. BMC Bioinformatics, Vol. 9,
(January 2008), pp. 8, ISSN 1471-2105
Xu, Y, Shao, Y, Zhou, J, Voorhees, JJ, & Fisher, GJ. (2009) Ultraviolet irradiation-induces
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) nuclear translocation in human
keratinocytes. Journal of Cell Biochemistry, Vol. 107, No. 5, (August 2009), pp. 873880, ISSN 0021-9258
Yao, Y, Wang, G, Li, Z, Yan, B, Guo, Y, Jiang, X, & Xi, J. (2010) Mitochondrially localized
EGFR is independent of its endocytosis and associates with cell viability. Acta
Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica (Singapore), Vol. 42, No. 11, (November 2010), pp. 763770, ISSN 1672-9145
Yoo, JY, & Hamburger, AW. (1999) Interaction of the p23/p198 protein with ErbB-3. Gene,
Vol. 229, No. 1-2, (March 1999), pp. 215-221, ISSN 0378-1119
Youngren JF. (2007) Regulation of insulin receptor function. Cellular and Molecular Life
Sciences, Vol. 64, No. 7-8, (April 2007), pp. 873 891, ISSN 1420-682X
Zaczek, A, Brandt, B, & Bielawski, KP. (2005) The diverse signaling network of EGFR, HER2,
HER3 and HER4 tyrosine kinase receptors and the consequences for therapeutic
approaches. Histology and Histopathology, Vol. 20, No. 3, (July 2005), pp. 1005-1015,
ISSN 0213-3911
Zhang, Z, Yang, Y, Gong, A, Wang, C, Liang, Y, & Chen Y. (2005) Localization of NGF and
TrkA at mitotic apparatus in human glioma cell line U251. Biochemical and

234

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 337, No. 1, (November 2005), pp. 68-74,
ISSN 0006-291X
Zhong, J, Kim, H, Lyu, J, Yoshikawa, K, Nakafuku, M & Lu1, W (2011) The Wnt receptor
Ryk controls specification of GABAergic neurons versus oligodendrocytes during
telencephalon development. Development, Vol. 138, No. 3, (February 2011), pp. 409419, ISSN 1011-6370

11
G Protein-Coupled
Receptors-Induced Activation of
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase
(ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger
Type 1 (NHE1)
Maria N. Garnovskaya
Department of Medicine (Nephrology Division),
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston,
USA
1. Introduction
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise a large family of cell-surface molecules,
involved in signal transmission, accounting for >2% of the total genes encoded by the
human genome. GPCRs have been linked to key physiological functions, including immune
responses, cardiac- and smooth-muscle contraction and blood pressure regulation,
neurotransmission, hormone and enzyme release from endocrine and exocrine glands. Thus,
GPCRs contribute to embryogenesis, tissue remodelling and repair, inflammation,
angiogenesis and normal cell growth. Their dysfunction contributes to multiple human
diseases, and GPCRs represent the target of over 50% of all current therapeutic agents
(Reviewed by Pierce et al., 2002). In addition, recent studies indicate that many GPCRs are
overexpressed in various cancer types, and contribute to tumor cell growth when activated
by circulating or locally produced ligands, suggesting a crucial role of GPCRs in cancer
progression and metastasis. For example, many potent mitogens such as thrombin,
lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), endothelin and prostaglandins stimulate cell proliferation by
acting on their cognate GPCRs in various cell types. (Reviewed by Dorsam & Gutkind,
2007). The mechanisms that control cellular proliferation are important in normal
physiology and disease states. Multiple mitogens that activate GPCRs stimulate the
extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and lead to proliferation of mammalian
cells. Another extensively studied mitogenic effector pathway in addition to ERK that
ultimately leads to cell proliferation, is the ubiquitous plasma membrane sodium-proton
exchanger type 1 (NHE1). NHE1 and ERK have both been implicated as key mediators of
growth signals (Noel & Pouyssegur, 1995; Rozengurt, 1986; Kapus et al, 1994; Krump et al,
1997), therefore the regulatory relationships between NHE1 and ERK have been the subject
of a number of studies over the last decade. Because both proteins can serve mitogenic
functions, and because both are activated by similar stimuli, it has been hypothesized that

236

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

one may be a regulator for the other. Indeed, in some cell types ERK plays a clear role in
either the short or long term activation of NHE1 (Aharonovitz & Granot, 1996; Bianchini et
al., 1997; Wang et al., 1997; Sabri et al., 1998; Bouaboula et al., 1999; Gekle et al., 2001).
However, several groups were unable to demonstrate any role of ERK in regulation of
NHE1 in a number of cell types (Gillis et al., 2001; Kang et al., 1998; Pederson et al., 2002;
Garnovskaya et al., 1998; Di Sario et al., 2003). In addition, a number of recent studies
suggested that certain stimuli such as mechanical stretch, hypertrophy and inflammatory
mediators require NHE1 to regulate ERK (Takewaki et al., 1995; Nemeth et al., 2002;
Yamazaki et al., 1998; Javadov et al., 2006; Chen et al., 2007). At present, very little is known
about GPCR-induced NHE1-dependent ERK regulation. One report suggests that NHE1 is
not a regulator for LPA-induced ERK activation in C6 glioma cells (Cechin et al., 2005) and
another paper demonstrates the lack of role of NHE1 in angiotensin II (Ang II)- and
endothelin 1-induced ERK activation in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (Chen et al.,
2007). At the same time, our group showed that NHE1 activation plays a necessary role in
activation of ERK by AII AT1 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in vascular smooth muscle
cells (VSMC) (Mukhin et al., 2004), and in bradykinin B2 receptor-induced ERK activation in
renal carcinoma A498 cells (Garnovskaya et al., 2008) thus suggesting that the critical role of
NHE1 in GPCR-induced ERK activation is not restricted to one specific cell type and
receptor. Studies on the involvement of NHE1 in ERK regulation may also have
pathophysiological relevance. NHE1 is usually referred to as a housekeeping protein and
is normally inactive, but it gets activated in response to multiple specific stimuli, and
maintains homeostatic cell volume and pH through Na+/H+ transport. The role of NHE1
has been well established in the myocardial remodeling and heart failure process (reviewed
by Karmazyn et al., 2008). NHE1 may play a key role in the maintenance of blood pressure
because increased activity of NHE1 has been observed in cells and tissues from hypertensive
animals and humans (Rosskopf, et al., 1993; Lucchesi et al., 1994). Northern blot analysis
showed that cultured VSMC from Sprague-Dawley and Wistar-Kyoto rats express only the
NHE1 isoform, and that steady-state mRNA levels are similar for normal and spontaneously
hypertensive animals (Lucchesi et al., 1994; LaPointe et al., 1995). Because no mutations in
the NHE1 DNA sequence have been found in hypertensive animals, this suggests that
increased activity of the antiporter is caused by an alteration in the regulation of NHE1
(Lucchesi et al., 1994). In addition, NHE1-mediated intracellular alkalinization has been
proposed to play role in cancer cells growth, and over-expression of NHE1 contributes to
the transformed phenotype of multiple cancer cells (Cardone et al., 2005). The role of NHE1
in renal diseases is less known. Mice with a spontaneous point mutation that results in
truncation between the 11th and 12th NHE1 trans-membrane domains and causes loss of
NHE1 function (Cox et al., 1997) do not present visible renal phenotype, consistent with the
concept that NHE1 housekeeping activity under normal conditions is not required.
However, NHE1 activity was increased in cell lines derived from patients with diabetic
nephropathy (Ng et al., 1994), suggesting that NHE1 activity may be important in the
context of cellular stress. Further, it has been shown that genetic or pharmacological loss of
NHE1 function causes renal tubule epithelial cell apoptosis and renal dysfunction in several
models of kidney disease (ureteral obstruction, adriamycin-induced podocyte toxicity, and
streptozotocin-induced diabetes), suggesting that NHE1 activity may be beneficial for
chronic kidney disease (Schelling & Abu, 2008). Moreover both, ERK and NHE1, have been

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

237

proposed as key therapeutic targets for vascular illnesses, such as congestive heart failure (
Kusumoto et al., 2001), myocardial infraction and reperfusion injury (Avkiran & Marber,
2002), ventricular fibrillation (Gazmuri et al., 2001), and ventricular hypertrophy (Chen et
al., 2001). Therefore, studies devoted to the regulatory relationships between NHE1 and
ERK have a potential clinical relevance.
The purpose of this review is to describe the relationship between NHE1 and ERK when
both pathways are activated by GPCRs, with a particular emphasis on the situations when
NHE1 is regulating ERK activity leading to cell proliferation.

2. Mitogen-activated protein kinases and Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger-1 as

mediators of growth signals
2.1 Mitogen-activated protein kinases
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a family of highly conserved prolinedirected serine/threonine kinases that are activated by a large variety of extracellular
stimuli and play integral roles in controlling many cellular processes, from the cell surface to
the nucleus (Widmann et al, 1999). The MAPK family in mammals includes four distinctly
regulated groups of MAPKs: extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK), p38, c-Jun Nterminal kinases/stress-activated protein kinases (JNK/SAPKs), and ERK5/Big MAPK
(BMK1) (Chang & Karin, 2001; Bogoyevitch & Court, 2004; Johnson & Lapadat, 2002).
MAPK cascades typically consist of three levels of protein kinases that are consecutively
activated by phosphorylation events: MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK or MAP3K or MEKK)
activates MAPK kinase (MAPKK (MKK or MEK) or MAP2K), which in turn activates MAPK
(Figure 1). Even so, the different tiers are composed of many similar isoforms that can be
activated by more than one MAPK, increasing the complexity and diversity of MAPK
signaling. Regulation and function of different MAPKs as well as complexity of MAPK
signaling have been recently discribed in several review articles
(Pearson et al., 2001;
Chang & Karin 2001; Shaul & Seger, 2007; Bodart; 2010). MAPKs are involved in
transmitting signals from a wide variety of extracellular stimuli including those of growth
factor receptors and GPCRs, as well as physical or mechanical stimuli. In fact, MAPKs are
major components of signaling pathways regulating a large array of intracellular events,
such as proliferation, differentiation, acute signaling in response to hormones, stress
response, programmed cell death, and gene expression (Pearson et al., 2001; Chang & Karin
2001; Kim & Choi, 2010). ERK is one member of a family of kinases that participate in
mitogenic signaling through complex phosphorylation cascades that convert cell surface
signals into nuclear transcription programs. In the typical scenario, GTP-bound Ras, a small
G protein, activates Raf-1 kinase. In an alternative scenario, protein kinase C (PKC) or other
signaling molecules activate Raf-1. In either case, Raf-1 phosphorylates and activates
mitogen and extracellular signal-regulated kinases kinase (MEK), which in turn
phosphorylates and activates ERK (Cobb & Goldsmith, 1995). Activated ERK translocates to
the nucleus, where it activates a number of transcription factors such as Elk-1.
Recently a number of scaffolding proteins that play important role in ERK regulation have
been described. Examples of such proteins include the Kinase Suppressor of Ras (KSR), arrestins1/2, PEA15 (phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes), paxillin, and Raf-1 ( Kolch,

238

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2005). Paxillin, a multi adaptor protein in focal adhesion assembly, serves as a connector
between ERK and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) signaling pathways binding Raf-1 and ERK
in response to hepatocyte growth factor in epithelial cells (Ishibe et al., 2004).

Fig. 1. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascades.

2.1.1 Regulation of ERK by GPCRs
The ability of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to generate signals that control cellular
proliferation via activation of ERK pathways has been demonstrated in several studies
(reviewed by Kranenburg & Moolenaar, 2001;
and Luttrell, 2002). Although the
mechanisms by which GPCRs control the activity of ERK vary between receptor and cell
type, typically there are three categories of mechanisms: (1) signals that initiate classical G
protein effectors, e.g., protein kinase A or protein kinase C causing the production of second
messengers, (2) mechanisms that involve cross-talk between GPCRs and classical receptor
tyrosine kinases, e.g., "transactivation" of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, and (3)
signals initiated by direct interaction between beta-arrestins and components of the MAP
kinase cascade, e.g., beta-arrestin "scaffolds". Mitogenic pathways activated by different G
families including activation of adenylyl cyclase/cAMP and phospholipase C/protein
kinase C second messenger pathways have been described in detail (reviewed by New &
Wong, 2007). Angiotensin II promotes DNA synthesis and proliferation in many cell types
by activating the Gq-coupled AT1 receptor. AT1 receptor activity in human adrenal cells
induces Ras-dependent ERK activity, leading to increased levels of c-Fos and c-Jun
transcription factors and to proliferation of the cells (Watanabe et al., 1996). Other mitogenic

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

239

GPCRs, including M1 muscarinic and 1B-adrenergic and purinergic receptors, induce ERK
activity via the Ras-independent protein kinase C phosphorylation and activation of Raf-1
(Luttrell, 2002). Gs-coupled GPCRs utilize the adenylyl cyclase/ cAMP /Epac/Rap-1/B-Raf
pathway to activate MAPK cascades and proliferation. In bone cells parathyroid hormone
receptor promotes cAMP accumulation, which binds directly to the Rap-1 guanine
nucleotide exchange factor Epac. Epac in turn activates Rap-1, a Ras family GTPase, which
activates the kinase B-Raf, triggering ERK cascades (Fujita et al., 2002). Alternatively, PKA
may directly activate Rap-1 (Luttrell, 2002).
However, activation of classical second messenger cascades cannot fully explain roles of
GPCRs in stimulation of MAPK cascades. Additional signaling mechanisms including
transactivation of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) via the autocrine/paracrine release of
epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like ligands at the cell surface and scaffolding of MAPK
cascades, appear to contribute to GPCR-mediated MAPK activation. GPCR-mediated
proliferation via the G or G subunit transactivation of RTKs has been described in several
cell types (Ohtsu et al., 2006; Schafer et al., 2004). Thus, ligands for the LPA, endothelin-1 and
thrombin receptors all stimulate cell proliferation in Rat-1 fibroblasts by transactivation of the
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, an RTK). Such transactivation requires the activation
of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) to release EGF from its membrane bound form, which then
stimulates the EGFR and downstream ERK pathways (Schafer et al., 2004). Studies from our
group demonstrated that bradykinin B2 receptor activates ERK via EGFR transactivation in
kidney cells (Mukhin et al., 2003; Mukhin et al., 2006; Kramarenko et al., 2010). The similar
MMP/EGFR/ERK pathway have been also demonstrated in kidney cancer cells stimulated by
LPA and angiotensin II (Schafer et al., 2004). A significant advance in the understanding of
how GPCRs activate MAPK cascades is the discovery that beta-arrestin, a protein well known
for its roles in both receptor desensitization and internalization, serves as a scaffolding protein
for the GPCR-stimulated the extracellular signal regulated kinase ERK cascade. For example,
agonist stimulation of the proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) leads to the formation of a
large complex, which includes the receptor and beta-arrestin, MAPKKK, Raf-1, and activated
ERK. Similarly, activation of neurokinin-1 receptor with the substance P, results in the
formation of a complex, which includes the receptor, and beta-arrestin, c-Src and ERK.
(Reviewed by Pierce et al., 2001).
ERK activation occurring via EGF receptor transactivation or via pathways employing second
messengers (PKA- or PKC-dependent pathways) typically leads to sustained ERK activity and
nuclear translocation of the kinase, thus contributing to regulation of cell cycle progression
(Kranenburg & Moolenaar, 2001; Luttrell, 2002). In contrast, beta-arrestin/endocytotic
pathway usually results in the retention of ERK in the cytoplasm and transient ERK activity,
which is probably not sufficient to stimulate cell proliferation (Luttrell, 2002).
The intracellular pathways that mediate GPCR -induced ERK activation and regulation of
cellular proliferation were recently reviewed by New & Wong (New & Wong, 2007).
2.2 Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger-1 (NHE1)
The Na+/H+ exchange system was described in 1977 by Aickin and Thomas (Aickin &
Thomas, et al., 1977), and the first Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) gene was cloned in 1989 (Sarget
et al., 1989). To date nine mammalian isoforms (NHE 1-9) have been identified in the family
of Na+/H+ exchangers (Kemp et al, 2008). In this review we will focus only on the

240

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

ubiquitously expressed, amiloride-sensitive integral plasma membrane protein NHE1

known as the "housekeeping enzyme", which is activated by various stimuli including
growth factors, mitogens, and hyperosmolarity (Orlowski & Grinshtein, 2004; Wakabayashi
et al., 1997). NHE1 is highly conserved across vertebrate species and is a major membrane
transport mechanism, which plays an essential role in pH regulation, volume homeostasis,
cell growth and differentiation (Bertrand et al., 1994). NHE1 is a phosphoglycoprotein of 815
amino acids that contains two functional domains: an NH2-terminal transmembrane ion
translocation region with a proposed topology of 12 transmembrane domains, and a COOHterminal cytoplasmic regulatory domain (Figure 2). The ion translocation domain catalyzes
electroneutral exchange of extracellular sodium ion for intracellular hydrogen. Regulation of
NHE1 activity in response to multiple stimuli including growth factors, hormones, and
osmotic stress is mediated by a COOH-terminal cytoplasmic regulatory domain. The
regulatory domain controls transport activity probably by altering affinity of a proton site in
the transmembrane domain (Takahashi et al., 1999). This cytoplasmic domain includes a
number of distinct subdomains modified either by phosphorylation or by the binding of
regulatory proteins. The cytoplasmic domain contains high and low affinity
Ca2+/calmodulin-binding sites and several potential phosphorylation sites (Bertrand et al.,
1994; Yan et al., 2001). Bertrand et al. first identified two calmodulin-binding sites on the

Fig. 2. Topographical model of NHE1.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

241

cytoplasmic domain of NHE1 at amino acids 636-656 and 664-684, with high (Kd ~ 20 nM)
and low (Kd~ 350 nM) affinities, respectively (Bertrand et al., 1994). In quiescent cells, the
high-affinity calmodulin-binding domain may act as an autoinhibitory domain by
interacting with the transmembrane domain, thus inhibiting ion translocation. Upon
activation, NHE1 undergoes a conformational change that allows the Ca2+ -dependent
binding of calmodulin (Wakabayashi et al., 1997). A phosphorylation domain at the distal
COOH-terminus (amino acids 656-815 of human NHE1) contains a number of serine
residues constitutively phosphorylated in quiescent cells that have increased
phosphorylation levels in response to growth factors (Sarget et al., 1989). COOH-terminal
serine residues on NHE1 molecule can be phosphorylated by the ERK-regulated kinase
p90RSK (Tominaga et al., 1998) and by the Ste20-like Nck-interacting kinase (NIK) in
response to growth factor receptors (Putney et al., 2002) and by Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) in
response to activation by GPCRs for thrombin and lysophosphatidic acid (Tominaga et al.,
1998; Putney et al., 2002) and by integrin-induced cell adhesion (Tominaga & Barber, 1998).
Because the cytoplasmic regulatory domain associates with multiple binding partners
including the cytoskeleton-plasma membrane linker protein ezrin of the ezrin, moesin,
radixin, (EMR) family (Denker et al., 2000), the calcineurin homolog protein CHP1 (Pang et
al., 2001), calmodulin (CaM) (Yan et al., 2001), carbonic anhydrase II (Li et al., 2002), heat
shock protein (Silva et al., 1995), and 14-3-3 protein (Lehoux et al., 2001), a novel function of
NHE1 as a plasma membrane scaffold in the assembly of signaling complexes has been
suggested (Baumgartner et al., 2004).
2.2.1 Regulation of NHE1 by GPCRs
While the activation of NHE1 and the kinetic alterations to the exchanger have been widely
studied (Noel & Pouyssegur, 1995; Wakabayashi et al., 1997; Orlowski & Grinshtein, 1997)
the signaling pathways that regulate NHE1 have not been fully elucidated. Because G
protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)-mediated regulation of sarcolemmal NHE activity is
likely to play significant roles in modulating myocardial function in both physiological and
pathophysiological conditions, most of the studies devoted to GPCR-induced NHE1
regulation were performed in cardiac myocytes (reviewed by Avkiran & Haworth, 2003).
Sarcolemmal NHE activity is subject to exquisite regulation by a variety of extracellular
stimuli, most of which act through GPCRs. Intriguingly, although the majority of the GPCR
systems that have been studied to date have been shown to stimulate sarcolemmal NHE
activity, there is also evidence that some may inhibit NHE activity or its stimulation through
other pathways. A number of GPCRs, such as 1-adrenergic receptors , angiotensin II AT1
receptors, endothelin ETA receptor, thrombin receptor, muscarinic receptors have been
shown to increase sarcolemmal NHE activity through a change in the pHi sensitivity of the
exchanger. Interestingly, in contrast to the evidence that various Gq coupled receptors (e.g.
1A-ARs and angiotensin AT1) mediate an increase in sarcolemmal NHE activity, GPCRs
that signal through other G protein families (Gs and Gi) may attenuate NHE activity or its
stimulation. Thus, 1-AR stimulation inhibits sarcolemmal NHE activity, while adenosine A1
and angiotensin AT2 receptors attenuate stimulation of NHE1 by other ligands (Avkiran&
Haworth, 2003). The mechanisms of GPCR-induced NHE1 activation are not fully
understood. To date, several mechanisms of activation of NHE1 by G protein-coupled
receptors have been proposed although not fully characterized : 1A-adrenoceptor activates
NHE1 through protein kinase C (Snabaitis et al., 2000; Avkiran & Haworth, 2003);
lysophosphatidic acid stimulates NHE1 through RhoA and its effector ROCK (Tominaga et

242

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

al., 1998), and angiotensin II AT1 receptor regulates NHE1 activity through RSK (Takahashi
et al., 1999). In addition, Wallert et al provided evidence that the specific 1-adrenergic
agonist, phenylephrine and the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) activate NHE1 in CCL39 cells,
and demonstrated a direct involvement of ERK in the 1-adrenergic activation of NHE1 and
a significant role for both ERK and RhoA in LPA stimulation of NHE1 in CCL39 fibroblasts
(Wallert et al., 2004). Our group reported that a fibroblast NHE1 can be rapidly stimulated
through the transfected human serotonin 5-HT1A receptor via pertussis toxin-sensitive G
protein -subunits Gi2 and Gi3, in CHO cells (Garnovskaya et al., 1997), by endogenously
expressed Gq-coupled bradykinin B2 receptor in kidney cells (Mukhin et al., 2001), and by
endogenously expressed Gq-coupled angiotensin II AT1 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in
vascular smooth muscle cells (Garnovskaya et al., 2003). While studying the signaling
pathway of bradykinin B2 receptor-induced NHE1 activation in mIMCD-3 kidney cells, we
found a new mechanism for the GPCR-induced regulation of Na+/H+ exchange (Mukhin et
al., 2001). This novel pathway involved activation of phospholipase C, elevation of
intracellular Ca2+, activation of the non receptor tyrosine kinase, Janus kinase 2 (Jak2),
tyrosine phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM), and binding of CaM to NHE1.
Bradykinin rapidly stimulated the assembly of a signal transduction complex that includes
CaM, Jak2, and NHE1. We suggested that Janus kinase 2 is involved in the activation of
NHE1 by increasing the tyrosine phosphorylation of calmodulin, which appears to be a
direct substrate for phosphorylation by Janus kinase 2. Further the same pathway has been
demonstrated for the bradykinin B2 receptor-mediated activation of Na+/H+ exchange in
KNRK and CHO cells ( Lefler et al., 2003), and for the Gq-coupled angiotensin II AT1 and
serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, which stimulated NHE1 activation in vascular smooth muscle
cells (Garnovskaya et al., 2003), suggesting that this pathway represent a fundamental
mechanism for the rapid regulation of NHE1 by Gq-coupled receptors in multiple cell types.
Further we have shown that the Gi coupled serotonin 5-HT1A receptor also rapidly
stimulates NHE1 through a pathway that involves 1) activation of Janus kinase 2
downstream of the 5-HT1A receptor; 2) formation of a complex that includes NHE1, Jak2,
and CaM; 3) tyrosine phosphorylation of CaM through Jak2; and 4) increased binding of
CaM to the carboxyl terminus of NHE1 (Turner et al., 2007).
2.3 Relationships between NHE1 and ERK
2.3.1 MAPK regulates NHE1
Whereas it has been known for some time that mitogens typically activate both NHE1 and
ERK in concert (Noel & Pouyssegur, 1995; Rozengurt, 1986; Kapus et al., 1994; Krump et al.,
1997) the exact relationships between NHE1 and ERK have only recently been explored in
any great detail. Recent studies have shown that multiple stimuli that rapidly activate ERK
pathways also rapidly increase NHE activity in many cell types, particularly in fibroblasts.
Those stimuli include, but are not limited to: growth factors that modulate tyrosine
phosphorylation cycles, integrins, hyperosmotic stress or cell shrinkage, protein kinase C
(PKC), tyrosine phosphorylation cascades and heterotrimeric G proteins (Clark & Limbird,
1991; Barber, 1991; Rozengurt, 1986; Lowe et al., 1990). Those similarities provide evidence
to suggest that ERK may be a direct proximal component of an NHE regulatory pathway
(Noel & Pouyssegur, 1995; Aharonovitz & Granot, 1996). There is a growing awareness that
tyrosine phosphorylation cycles are critical in regulating NHE activities in a number of cell
types (Donowitz et al., 1994; Yamaji et al., 1995; Good, 1995; Fukushima et al., 1996) as has
also been shown for ERK (Blumer & Johnson, 1994). Other studies have demonstrated that

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

243

NHE and ERK activities are modulated by overlapping upstream enzymes, including
phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K), phospholipase C, and PKC (Levine et al., 1993; Kapus et
al., 1994; Voyno-Yasenetskaya et al., 1994; Bertrand et al., 1994; Ma et al., 1994;
Dhanasekaran et al., 1994; Inglese et al., 1995). In aggregate, those studies implicate G
proteins, lipid-recognizing enzymes, tyrosine kinases, and NHEs as playing interrelated
roles along with ERK in cell growth (Barber, 1991; Noel & Pouyssegur, 1995; Aharonovitz &
Granot, 1996; Blumer & Johnson, 1994; Lin et al., 1996). Relevant to the hypothesis that ERK
regulates NHE1, are studies showing that microinjection of activated Ras (Hagag et al.,
1987) or transfection of the Ha-Ras oncogene (Doppler et al., 1987; Maly et al., 1989; Kaplan
& Boron, 1994) stimulates NHE activity in fibroblasts. The classical effect of GTP-bound Ras
is the activation of the ERK1 and ERK2 (Blumer & Johnson, 1994). This is thought to occur
primarily through a linear signalling pathway that flows as follows: Ras-GTP Raf-1
kinase MEK (MAPK/ERK kinase) ERK. Thus, because Ras functions upstream of both
NHE and ERK activities, ERK has been proposed as a logical funnel for signals from
extracellular stimuli to the effector NHE. The effect of NHE activation due to the sustained
activation of ERK is most likely secondary to the activation of transcription cascades that
upregulate the NHE message/protein or modulate expression of key regulators of NHE
activity. However, several studies suggest that ERK might regulate NHE activity in the
short term, as well. The possibility that ERK rapidly regulates NHE activity was tested in
platelets by Aharonovitz and Granot (Aharonovitz & Granot, 1996) who showed that
arginine vasopressin (AVP) and PMA rapidly activated NHE by a pathway which was
sensitive to PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK1. Moreover, the signal initiated by AVP
was sensitive to genistein, a broad-spectrum inhibitor of tyrosine kinases (Aharonovitz &
Granot, 1996). Bianchini et al. (Bianchini et al., 1997) went further to characterize the role of
ERK in regulating NHE when cells were stimulated by combinations of growth factors or
serum. Specifically, they showed that expression of a dominant negative p44 ERK or of the
MAPK phosphatase MKP-1, or treatment with the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 reduced
activation of NHE-1 by mixtures of growth factors by about 50%. Further, it has been
shown that short-term activation of ERK leads to rapid stimulation of NHE1 in multiple cell
types (erythrocytes, fibroblasts, MDCK-11 cells, rabbit skeletal muscle, and cultured rat
neonatal and adult ventricular cardiomyocytes) when activated by diverse stimuli including
growth factors, angiotensin II, and aldosterone (Wang et al., 1997; Sabri et al., 1998;
Bouboula et al., 1999; Gekle et al., 2001; Wei et al., 2001; Moor et al., 2001; Snabaitis et al.,
2002). At least in some cases, the short term-stimulation of NHE1 by ERK is mediated by
phosphorylation of NHE1 either by ERK itself, or by p90RSK, an ERK-regulated kinase
(Takahashi et al., 1999). Cuello et al. demonstrated that ERK- dependent 90kDa ribosomal S6
kinase (RSK) is the principal regulator of cardiac sarcolemmal NHE1 phosphorylation and
NHE activity after 1-adrenergic stimulation in adult myocardium (Cuello et al., 2007).
Thus, there is clear evidence that ERK can increase the activity of NHE1 by increasing its
expression and/or by stimulating the activity of existing NHE1 molecules.
2.3.2 MAPK and NHE1 do not regulate each other
On the other hand, several groups have been unable to show any role for ERK in activating
NHE1 in multiple cell types, including Xenopus oocytes (Kang et al., 1998), Ehrlich Ascites
cells (Pederson et al., 2002), CHO cells (Garnovskaya et al., 1998), or hepatic stellate cells (Di
Sario et al., 2003). Moreover, there is one report in which ERK was shown to mediate
inhibition of NHE1 activity in MTAL cells (Watts & Good, 2002). Our group tested the
hypothesis that ERK could mediate rapid, short-term activation of NHE activity in

244

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

fibroblasts when both signals were initiated by a single G protein-coupled serotonin 5-HT1A
receptor (Garnovskaya et al., 1998). These studies revealed a number of similarities between
the regulation of ERK and NHE. Activation of the two processes shared similar
concentrationresponse and time-course characteristics. Receptor-activated NHE and ERK
also shared an overlapping sensitivity to some pharmacological inhibitors of tyrosine
kinases (staurosporine and genistein), PI-3K (wortmannin and LY294002), and PC-PLC
(D609), and neither pathway was sensitive inhibition of PKC. However, definitive studies
designed to block signaling molecules possessing well-defined roles in activating ERK
through the 5-HT1A receptor by transfecting cDNA constructs encoding inactive mutant PI3K, Grb2, Sos, Ras, and Raf molecules were successful in attenuating ERK, but had
essentially no effect upon NHE activation. Thus, our data do not support the hypothesis that
ERK is a proximal short-term regulator of NHE in CHO cells when the signal is initiated by
the Gi/o/z protein-coupled 5-HT1A receptor. Therefore, the ability of ERK to stimulate NHE1
activity has not been a universal finding.
2.3.3 NHE1 as a regulator of MAPK
Despite the increasing interest in potential roles for ERK in the activation of NHE1, much less
is known regarding the role of NHE1 in regulating ERK. There have been several reports that
suggest that NHE1 might play a role in regulating ERK activation (reviewed by Pedersen et al.,
2007). Mitsuka et al. had shown that specific inhibitors of NHE1 could reduce neointimal
proliferation in a rat model of carotid artery injury (Mitsuka et al., 1993). However, in C6
glioma cells although lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) - increased proliferation was sensitive to
NHE1 inhibitors, LPA-induced ERK activation was unaffected (Cechin et al., 2005). Takewaki
et al. presented some evidence that a potent antagonist of NHE1 could partially inhibit stretchinduced activation of ERK in the cultured cardiomyocytes (Takewaki et al., 1995). Later the
same group reported that in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes NHE1 inhibition blocked
the stretch-induced activation of Raf-1 and ERK, while angiotensin II (Ang II)- and endothelin
1-induced ERK activation remained unaffected (Yamazaki et al., 1998). On the other hand, our
work in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) demonstrated that activation of ERK by AII and
serotonin was strongly dependent of NHE1 activity, and the effect of NHE1 occurs at or above
the level of Ras (Mukhin et al., 2004). In human colon cancer epithelial cells, NHE1 inhibition
suppressed activation of ERK and NF-B and led to decreased production of interleukin-8 in
response to inflammatory signals (Nemeth et al., 2002). Recently it has been also demonstrated
that NHE1 inhibition prevented ERK activation during phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy
in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (Javadov et al., 2006), and prevented glucose-induced ERK
activation in a high glucose model of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (Chen et al., 2007). In Ehrlich
Lettre Ascites cells under osmotic cell shrinkage NHE1 regulates ERK acting at or above the
level of MEK (Pederson et al., 2002). Therefore, NHE1-dependent regulation of ERK in most
cases has been described in cells stimulated by mechanical stretch, osmotic shrinkage,
hypertrophy and inflammatory mediators (Takewaki et al., 1995; Nemeth et al., 2002;
Yamazaki et al., 1998; Javadov et al., 2006; Chen et al., 2007; Mitsuka et al., 1993; Pederson et
al., 2007). Very little is known about GPCR-induced NHE1-dependent ERK regulation. One
report suggests that NHE1 is not a regulator for LPA-induced ERK activation in C6 glioma
cells (Cechin et al., 2005) and another paper demonstrates the lack of role of NHE1 in AII- and
endothelin 1-induced ERK activation in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (Chen et al.,
2007).

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

245

2.3.3.1 NHE1 regulates ERK activity in GPCR-activated VSMC

Angiotensin II (Ang II), a potent hypertrophic factor for vascular smooth muscle cells,
mediates its effects via specific plasma membrane AT1 receptors that belong to GPCR family.
Ang II stimulates multiple signaling pathways (reviewed by Touyz & Schiffrin, 2000)
including MAPKs, Src family kinases, phospholipase D, and Janus kinase (Jak2). Ang II also
has been shown to stimulate NHE1 activity in VSMC (Berk et al., 1987) but does not appear
to increase the steady state levels of NHE1 mRNA. There also are reports on relationship
between Ang II-induced NHE1 and ERK activities in VSMC suggesting that activation of the
AT1 receptor first leads to activation of the MEK-ERK-p90RSK pathway, and that activated
p90RSK in turn directly phosphorylates and activates NHE1 in VSMC (Takewaki et al.,
1995). However, this suggestion was based mainly on in vitro experiments in which p90RSK
immunoprecipitated from Ang II-stimulated VSMC was able to phosphorylate recombinant
NHE1, and it is still not clear whether Ang II-induced phosphorylation of NHE1 takes place
in VSMC in vivo and if this phosphorylation is physiologically significant. Our group has
described a novel pathway of the regulation of NHE1 activity in VSMC by two mitogens,
Ang II and serotonin (5-HT) that involves the activation of Jak2, tyrosine phosphorylation of
Ca2+/calmodulin, and binding of calmodulin (CaM) to NHE-1 (Garnovskaya et al., 2003). In
the same study we were not able to support any role for ERK in Ang II-induced NHE1
activation in VSMC (Garnovskaya et al., 2003). Further, we specifically investigated the roles
of NHE and ERK (as stimulated by either 5-HT or Ang II) in the activation of each other in
VSMC (Mukhin et al., 2004), and we have found evidence to support a novel role for NHE in
the activation of ERK in VSMC. This evidence includes 1) dual stimulation of NHE and ERK
by Ang II and 5-HT, with the activation of NHE preceding that of ERK, 2) similar
concentration-response relationships for the stimulation of NHE and the phosphorylation of
ERK by 5-HT and Ang-II, 3) blockade of the activation of ERK induced by 5-HT and Ang II
by chemical inhibition of NHE, 4) blockade of the activation of ERK induced by 5-HT and
Ang II by removal of sodium from incubation buffers, and 5) phosphorylation of ERK
during recovery from an imposed acid load, a maneuver that induces receptor-independent
activation of NHE.
Moreover, in the case of receptor-induced activation of ERK, NHE appears to be located
upstream of MEK and ERK, and downstream of Ang II and 5-HT-mediated transactivation
of the EGF receptor. NHE intersects the classical pathway of activation of ERK at or above
the level of Ras. Figure 3 depicts one possible scheme that can account for our findings.
Because it has been described that Gq-coupled receptors such as Ang II AT1 and serotonin
5-HT2A receptors activate ERK in VSMC through transactivation and phosphorylation of the
epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (Eguchi et al., 1999), we wanted to establish
whether NHE regulates ERK activation upstream of the EGF receptor. It appeared that
inhibition of NHE activity by depriving the exchanger of extracellular sodium, or by
blockade with the specific inhibitors, amiloride analog, methylisobutylamiloride (MIA),
prevents activation of ERK by two GPCR ligands, Ang II and 5-HT. Those same maneuvers
have no effect on EGF-stimulated ERK, suggesting that there are some differences in the
pathways used by Ang II and 5-HT to activate ERK when compared with that used by EGF.
Interestingly, the close connection between NHE and ERK activation is further underscored
by the observation that receptor-independent activation of NHE also results in ERK
phosphorylation only when the exchanger is allowed to mediate recovery from an imposed

246

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

intracellular acid load. Thus, NHE activation is necessary for Ang II and 5-HT-induced
activation of ERK, and is sufficient to activate ERK under conditions of an imposed acid load.
In contrast, NHE activation is not necessary for EGF-mediated activation of ERK. The most
likely explanation is that 5-HT or Ang II requires the parallel activation of NHE and the
EGFR to activate ERK in VSMC. The two pathways intersect downstream of transphosphorylation of the EGFR, and upstream of ERK and MEK, most likely at or upstream of
Ras ( Figure 3). The precise mechanisms of NHE-dependent ERK activation by Ang II and 5HT remain to be defined. One possibility is that NHE plays an accessory role in Ang II and
5-HT induced activation of ERK by facilitating cytoskeletal reorganization or by altering Na+
or H+ concentrations in cellular microdomains, thereby affecting enzyme activity or proteinprotein interactions.

Fig. 3. Hypothetical scheme of NHE1-dependent ERK activation by GPCRs in VSMC.

The speculation regarding the cytoskeletal effects of NHE is particularly intriguing in light
of work by Barbers group showing important functional links between NHE activity and
the cytoskeleton (Denker et al., 2000). These findings have potential implications for the
regulation of vascular tone, as well as for vascular pathobiology because Ang II and 5-HT
are both potent vasoconstrictors, and Ang II has been shown to play major roles in various
cardiovascular diseases including left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension (Mitsuka et
al., 1993).

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

247

2.3.3.2 NHE1 regulates ERK activity in Bradykinin-activated renal carcinoma cells

Because we have been able to detect the critical role of NHE in GPCR-mediated activation
of ERK in cells of contractile phenotype, we thought that this relationship might be
restricted to specific cell types and receptors. The cellular specificity of the relationship
between NHE1 and ERK could be mediated by alternate accessory components of each
signaling pathway, or by cell-specific compartmentalization of scaffolded signal
transduction platforms (Luttrell & Lutrell, 2003). However, we have collected data that
support a role of NHE1 in bradykinin B2 receptor-induced ERK activation in renal
carcinoma A498 cells, thus suggesting that the critical role of NHE1 in GPCR-induced
ERK activation is not restricted to one specific cell type and receptor (Garnovskaya et al.,
2008). In this study we investigated the endogenous intrarenal kinin hormone bradykinin
(BK) that exerts its multiple pathophysiological functions via two known receptors, the
bradykinin B1 (BK B1) and bradykinin B2 (BK B2) which belong to the superfamily of G
protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) (Hess et al., 1992; Menke et al., 1994; Bagate et al.,
2001). BK plays a significant role as a modulator of renal function such as electrolyte and
water excretion (Mukai et al., 1996) as well as in renal cell growth and proliferation (ElDahr et al., 1998; Jaffa et al., 1997). We have previously reported that BK activates NHE1
in a kidney cell line derived from the inner medullary collecting duct of mice (mIMCD-3
cells) (Mukhin et. al., 2001) via the similar pathway that Ang II and serotonin employ to
activate NHE1 activity in VSMC, which involves the activation of Jak2, tyrosine
phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin, and binding of calmodulin (CaM) to NHE-1
(Garnovskaya et al., 2003). We have also described that BK is a potent mitogenic factor for
mIMCD-3 cells, and demonstrated that BK-induced cell proliferation was dependent on
activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase and subsequent
activation of mitogen- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) and
(Mukhin et al., 2003; Mukhin et al., 2006; Kramarenko et al., 2010). However, we were not
able to establish the relationship between NHE1 and ERK in mIMCD-3 cells. Our data did
not support either the hypothesis that ERK is a proximal short-term regulator of NHE or
the hypothesis that NHE1 is necessary for the BK-induced ERK activation in normal
kidney mIMCD-3 cells (Garnovskaya, unpublished data). Because there is evidence
linking BK to the cancerogenic process (Bhoola et al., 2001; Chan et al., 2002), and because
NHE1 has been proposed to play role in cancer cells growth (Cardone et al., 2005 ), we
wanted to explore the possibility that BK exerts its mitogenic effects via activation of NHE
in cancer cell lines. The expression of BK receptors has been demonstrated in clinical
speciments of adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma, lymphoma, hepatoma and
carcinoid, and in experimental mouse sarcoma 180 and colon adenocarcinoma 38 (Wu et
al., 2002), in small cell and non-small cell carcinomas of the lung (Chee et al., 2008), and in
oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Dlamini et al., 2005). The mitogenic effects of BK
have been reported in primary cultured epithelial breast cancer cells and in MCF-7 breast
cancer cell line, where BK stimulated cell proliferation through ERK activation (Greco et
al., 2005; Greco et al., 2006). Because there were limited studies on the role of BK in renal
cell carcinomas, we have chosen to use A498 cells, a transformed cell line derived from
primary undifferentiated kidney carcinoma (Giard et al., 1973), which represents a widely
used model for studying of renal carcinomas. Our results demonstrated that NHE1 is
involved in BK-induced ERK activation and proliferation of A498 cells, and that BK B2
receptor-induced ERK activation in A498 cells depends on NHE activity (Garnovskaya et

248

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

al., 2008), suggesting that the critical role of NHE1 in GPCR-induced ERK activation is not
restricted to one specific cell type and receptor. Previously, NHE1-mediated intracellular
alkalinization has been proposed to play role in cancer cells growth because it has been
shown that increased pHi of tumor cells is associated with increased in vivo tumor growth,
DNA synthesis, and cell-cycle progression, suggesting that over-expression of NHE1
contributes to the transformed phenotype of multiple cancer cells (reviewed by Cardone
et al., 2005 ). The cellular alkalinization of tumor cells induced by hyperactivation of
NHE1 has been shown to be directly related to increased protein synthesis and tumor cell
growth (Cardone et al., 2005; Harguindey et al., 2005). It has been suggested that the
mechanism of NHE1-mediated tumor cell growth and metastasis does not depend of its
ion-transporting activities but rather employs NHE1 as a scaffolding protein to directly
regulate cytoskeletal dynamics (Cardone et al., 2005). Further it has been shown that
NHE1 antisense gene suppresses cell growth, induces cell apoptosis, and partially
reverses the malignant phenotypes of human gastric carcinoma cells (Liu et al., 2008).
Similarly, silencing of NHE1 gene by siRNA interference and /or inhibition of NHE1
activity by amiloride analogs effectively blocked the invasiveness of human
hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Yang et al., 2011). Thus, inhibition of NHE1 might result in
an antiproliferative effect, and NHE1 may be a potential target for chemotherapeutics to
treatment of renal carcinoma.

3. Conclusion
The elucidation and understanding of the relationship between NHE1 and ERK cascade has
been one of the most active areas in biological research over the past few years. As discussed
above, experimental studies have strongly implicated a role for NHE1 in the regulation of
ERK activity, although the precise pathway, which leads from the activation of NHE1 to
ERK regulation still has to be defined. One possibility is that GPCR-induced NHE1dependent ERK activation depends on NHE1-mediated Na+/H+ exchange. In that sense,
Grinstein et al have demonstrated uneven distribution of NHE1 molecules throughout the
cell surface with the focal accumulation at or near terminal edges of fibroblasts and CHO
cells, and the areas of increased NHE1 density closely corresponded to sites of accumulation
of cytoskeletal proteins (Grinshtein et al., 1993). It is possible that NHE1 regulates ERK by
altering Na+ or H+ concentrations in cellular microdomains, thereby affecting enzyme
activity or protein-protein interactions. Another possibility is that NHE1 acts as a plasma
membrane scaffold (Baumgartner et al., 2004) in the assembly of signaling complexes
independent of its ion exchange activity bringing together GPCRs, and the members of
ERK-activation cascade. Regardless of the mechanisms, the critical role of NHE1 as an
upstream molecule in GPCR-induced ERK activation could have significant physiological
and pathophysiological relevance.
Because ERK-dependent cell proliferation is thought to be a critical component in many
pathologic conditions, and NHE is involved in a variety of complex physiological and
pathological events that include regulation of intracellular pH, cell movement, heart disease,
and cancer, improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate NHE and
ERK may allow alternative approaches to the therapeutic manipulation of ERK and NHE
activity to be developed.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

249

4. Acknowledgment
Studies from the author's laboratory were supported by grants from AHA (GIA 0655445U),
the National Institutes of Health (DK52448 and GM63909 ), and Merit Awards from the
Department of Veterans Affairs.

5. References
Aharonovitz, O. & Granot, Y. (1996). Stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and
Na+/H+ exchanger in human platelets. Differential effect of phorbol ester and
vasopressin. J. Biol. Chem. 271, pp. 16494-99.
Aickin, C. & Thomas, R. (1977). An investigation of the ionic mechanism of intracellular pH
regulation in mouse soleus muscle fibres. J Physiol. 273, pp. 295-316.
Avkiran, M. & Marber, M. (2002). Na+/H+ exchange inhibitors for cardioprotective therapy:
progress, problems and prospects. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., 39, pp.747-753.
Avkiran, M. & Haworth, R. (2003). Regulatory effects of G protein-coupled receptors on
cardiac sarcolemmal Na+/H+ exchanger activity: signalling and significance.
Cardiovascular Research, 57, pp. 942-952.
Bagate, K.; Grima, M.; Imbs, J.; Jong, W.; Helwig, J. & Barthelmebs, M. (2001). Signal
transduction pathways involved in kinin B(2) receptor-mediated vasodilation in the
rat isolated perfused kidney. Br J Pharmacol., 132, pp. 1735-1752.
Barber, D. (1991). Mechanisms of receptor-mediated regulation of Na-H exchange. Cellular
Signaling, 3, pp. 387397
Baumgartner, M.; Patel, H. & Barber, D. (2004). Na+/H+ exchanger NHE1 as plasma
membrane scaffold in the assembly of signaling complexes. Am. J. Physiol., 287, pp.
C844-C850.
Bertrand, B.; Wakabayashi, S.; Ikeda, T.; Pouyssegur, J. & Shigekawa, M. (1994). The
Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) is a novel member of the calmodulin-binding
proteins. J. Biol. Chem., 269, pp. 13703-13709.
Bhoola, K.; Ramsaroop, R.; Plendl, J.; Cassim, B.; Dlamini, Z. & Naicker, S. (2001). Kallikrein
and kinin receptor expression in inflammation and cancer. Biological Chemistry,
382, pp. 77-90.
Bianchini, L.; LAllemain, G. & Pouyssgur, J. (1997). The p42/p44 MAP kinase cascade is
determinant in medi-ating activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in response to
growth factors. J. Biol. Chem., 272, pp. 271-279.
Blumer, K. & Johnson, G. (1994). Diversity in function and regulation of MAP kinase
pathways. Trends Biochem. Sci. 19, pp. 236240.
Bodart, J. (2010). Extracellular-regulated kinase-mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade:
unsolved issues. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, vol. 109, no. 5, pp. 850857.
Bogoyevitch, M. & Court, N. (2004). Counting on mitogen-activated protein kinasesERKs
3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Cellular Signalling, vol. 16, no. 12, pp. 13451354.
Bouaboula, M.; Bianchini, L.; McKenzie, F.; Pouyssegur, J. & Casellas, P. (1999). Cannabinoid
receptor CB1 activates the Na+/H+ exchanger via Gi-mediated MAP kinase
signaling transduction pathways. FEBS Lett., 449, pp. 61-65.

250

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Cardone, R.; Casavola, V. & Reshkin, S. (2005). The role of disturbed pH dynamics and the
Na+/H+ exchanger in metastasis. Nat Rev Cancer, 5, pp. 786-795.
Cechin, S.; Dunkley, P. & Rodnight, R. (2005). Signal transduction mechanisms involved in
the proliferation of C6 glioma cells induced by lysophosphatidic acid. Neurochem.
Res., 30, pp. 603-611.
Chan. D.; Gera, L.; Stewart, J.; Helfrich, B.; Verella-Garcia, M.; Johnson, G.; Baron, A.; Yang,
J.; Puck, T. & Bunn, P. Jr. (2002). Bradykinin antagonist dimer, CU201, inhibits the
growth of human lung cancer cell lines by a "biased agonist" mechanism. Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A, 99, pp. 4608-4613.
Chang, L. & Karin, M. (2001). Mammalian MAP kinase signalling cascades. Nature, vol. 410,
no. 6824, pp. 3740, 2001.
Chee, J.; Naran, A.; Misso, N.; Thompson P. & Bhoola, K. (2008). Expression of tissue and
plasma kallikreins and kinin B1 and B2 receptors in lung cancer. Biological
Chemistry, 389, pp. 1225-1233.
Chen, L.; Gan, X.; Haist, J.; Feng, Q.; Lu, X.; Chakrabarti, S. & Karmazyn, M. (2001).
Attenuation of compensatory right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure
following monocrotaline-induced pulmonary vascular injury by the Na+-H+
exchange inhibitor cariporide. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 298, pp. 469-476.
Chen, S.; Khan, Z.; Karmazyn, M. & Chakrabarti, S. (2007). Role of endothelin-1, Na+-H+
exchanger-1 and MAPK activation in glucose-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
Diabetes Metab. Res. Rev., 23 pp.356-67.
Clark, J. & Limbird, L. (1991). Na+/H+ exchanger subtypes: A predictive Review. Am. J.
Physiol., 261, pp. C945C953.
Cobb, M. & Goldsmith, E. (1995). How MAP kinases are regulated. J. Biol. Chem., 270, pp.
14843-14846.
Cox, G.; Lutz, C.; Yang, C.; Biemesderfer, D.; Bronson, R.; Fu, A.; Aronson, P.; Noebels, J. &
Frankel , W. (1997). Sodium/hydrogen exchanger gene defect in slow-wave
epilepsy mutant mice. Cell, 91, pp. 139-148.
Cuello, A.; Snabaitis, A.; Cohen, M.; Taunton J. & Avkiran, M. (2007). Evidence for direct
regulation of myocardial Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 phosphorylation and
activity by 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK): effects of the novel and specific RSK
inhibitor fmk on responses to 1-adrenergic stimulation. Mol Pharmacol, 71 (2007),
pp. 799806.
Denker, S.; Huang, D.; Orlowski, J.; Furthmayr, H. & Barber, D. (2000). Direct binding of
Na+/H+ exchanger 1 to ERM proteins regulates the cortical cytoskeleton & cell
shape independently of H+ translocation. Mol. Cell., 6, pp. 1425-1436.
Dhanasekaran, N.; Vara Prasad, M.; Wadsworth, S.; Dermott, J. & van Rossum, G. (1994).
Protein kinase C-dependent and -independent activation of Na+/H+ exchanger by
Ga12 class of G proteins. J. Biol. Chem., 269, pp. 1180211806
Di Sario, A.; Bendia, E.; Taffetani, S.; Marzioni, M.; Candelaresi, C.; Pigini, P.; Schindler, U.;
Kleemann, H.; Trozzi, L.; Macarri, G. & Benedetti, A. (2003). Selective Na+/H+
exchange inhibition by cariporide reduces liver fibrosis in the rat. Hepatology, 37,
pp. 256-266.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

251

Dlamini, Z. & Bhoola, KD. (2005). Upregulation of tissue kallikrein, kinin B1 receptor, and
kinin B2 receptor in mast and giant cells infiltrating oesophageal squamous cell
carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Pathology, vol. 58, no. 9, pp. 915-922.
Donowitz, M.; Montgomery, J.; Walker, M. & Cohen, M. (1994). Brush-border tyrosine
phosphorylation stimulates ileal neutral NaCl absorption and brush-border Na+-H+
exchange. Am. J. Physiol., 266, pp. G647G656
Doppler, W.; Jaggi, R. & Groner, B. (1987). Induction of v-mos and activated Ha-ras
oncogene expression causes intracellular alkalinisation and cell cycle progression.
Gene, 54, pp. 145151.
Dorsam, R., & Gutkind, S. (2007). G-protein-coupled receptors and cancer. Nature Reviews
Cancer, 7, pp. 79-94.
Eguchi, S.; Iwasaki, H.; Inagami, T.; Numaguchi, K.; Yamakawa, T.; Motley, E.; Qwada, K.;
Marumo, F. & Hirata, Y. (1999). Activation of MAPKs by angiotensin II in vascular
smooth muscle cells: metalloproteinase-dependent EGF receptor activation is
required for activation of ERK and p38 MAP kinase, but not for JNK. J. Biol. Chem.,
276, pp. 7957-7962.
El-Dahr, S.; Dipp, S. & Baricos, W. (1998). Bradykinin stimulates the ERK Elk-1 Fos/AP-1
pathway in mesangial cells. Am J Physiol., 275, pp. F343-F352.
Fujita T, Meguro T, Fukuyama R, Nakamuta H, Koida M. (2002). New signaling pathway
for parathyroid hormone and cyclic AMP action on extracellular-regulated kinase
and cell proliferation in bone cells. Checkpoint of modulation by cyclic AMP. J Biol
Chem., 277, pp. 22191-22200.
Fukushima, T.; Waddell, T.; Grinstein, S.; Goss, G.; Orlowski, J. & Downey, G. (1996).
Na+/H+ exchange activity during phagocytosis in human neutrophils: role of Fc
receptors and tyrosine kinases. J. Cell Biol., 132, pp. 10371052.
Garnovskaya, M.; Gettys, T.; van Biesen, T.; Chuprin, J.; Prpic, V. & Raymond, J. (1997). Gprotein-coupled 5-HT1A receptor activates Na+/H+ exchange in CHO-K1 cells
through Gia2 and Gia3. J. Biol. Chem., 272, pp. 7770-7776.
Garnovskaya, M.; Mukhin, Y. & Raymond, J. (1998). Rapid activation of Na+/H+-exchange
and ERK in fibroblasts by G protein-coupled 5-HT1A receptor involves distinct
signaling cascades. Biochem. J., 330, pp. 489-495.
Garnovskaya, M.; Mukhin, Y.; Turner, J.; Vlasova, T.; Ullian, M & Raymond, J. (2003).
Mitogen-induced activation of Na+/H+ exchange in vascular smooth muscle cells
involves Jak 2 and Ca2+/calmodulin. Biochemistry, 42, pp. 7178-7187.
Garnovskaya, M.; Bunni, M.; Kramarenko, I.; Raymond, JR & Morinelli, T. (2008).
Bradykinin B2 Receptor Induces Multiple Cellular Responses Leading to
Proliferation of Renal Carcinoma Cells. FASEB J. 22 (Meeting Abstract Supplement
#297), San Diego, CA, April 2008.
Gazmuri, R.; Hoffner, E.; Kalcheim, J.; Ho, H.; Patel, M.; Ayoub, I.; Epstein, M.; Kingston,
S. & Han, Y. (2001). Myocardial protection in ventricular fibrillation by reduction
proton-driven sarcolemmal Na+ influx. J Lab Clin Med., 137, pp. 43-55.
Gekle, M.; Freudinger, R.; Mildenberger, S.; Schenk, K.; Marschitz, I. & Schramek H. (2001).
Rapid activation of Na+/H+-exchange in MDCK cells by aldosterone involves
ERK1/2. Pflugers Arch., 441, pp. 781-786.

252

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Giard, D.; Aaronson, S.; Todaro, G.; Arnstein, P.; Kersey, J.; Dosik, H.& Parks, W. (1973). In
vitro cultivation of human tumors: establishment of cell lines derived from a series
of solid tumors. J Natl Cancer Inst., 51, pp. 1417-1423.
Gillis, D.; Shrode, L.; Krump, E.; Howard, C.; Rubie, E.; Tibbles, L.; Woodgett, J. & Grinstein,
S. (2001). Osmotic stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger: relationship to activation
of three MAPK pathways. J. Membr. Biol 181, pp. 205-214.
Good, D.W. (1995). Hyperosmolality inhibits bicarbonate absorption in rat medullary thick
ascending limb via a protein-tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway. J. Biol. Chem 270,
pp. 98839889
Greco, S.; Elia, M.; Muscella, A.; Romano, S.; Storelli, C. & Marsigliante, S. (2005).
Bradykinin stimulates cell proliferation through an extracellular signal-regulated
protein kinase 1- and 2- dependent mechanism in breast cancer cells in primary
culture. J Endocrin 186, pp. 291-301.
Greco, S.; Storelli, C. & Marsigliante, S. (2006). Protein kinase C (PKC)-/- mediates the
PKC/Akt-dependent phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein
kinase 1 and 2 in MCF-7 cells stimulated by bradykinin. J Endocrin 188, pp. 79-89.
Grinstein, S.; Woodside, M.; Waddell, T.; Downey, G.; Pouyssegur, J.; Wong, D. & Foskett, J.
(1993). Focal localization of the NHE-1 isoform of the Na+/H+ antiport: assessment
of effects on intracellular pH. EMBO J., 12, pp.5209-5218.
Hagag, N.; Lacal, J.; Graber, N.; Aaronson, S. & Viola, M. (1987). Microinjection of ras p21
induces a rapid rise in intracellular pH. Mol. Cell. Biol 7, pp. 19841988
Harguindey, S.; Orive, G.; Luis Pedraz, J.; Paradiso A. & Reshkin SJ. (2005). The role of pH
dynamics and the Na+/H+ antiporter in the etiopathogenesis and treatment of
cancer. Two faces of the same coinone single nature. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1756,
pp. 124.
Hess, J.; Borowski, J.; Young, G.; Strader, C. & Ransom, R. (1992). Cloning and
pharmacological characterization of a human bradykinin (BK-2) receptor. Biochem
Biophys Res Commun., 184, pp. 260-268.
Huang, C.; Takenawa, T. & Ives, H. (1991). Platelet-derived growth factor-mediated Ca2+
entry is blocked by antibodies to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate but does
not involve heparin-sensitive inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. J. Biol. Chem
266, pp. 40454048
Inglese, J.; Koch, W.; Touhara, K. & Lefkowitz, R. (1995). Gbg interaction: factoring in
pleckstrin homology domains and Ras-MAP kinase signaling pathways. Trends
Biochem. Sci., 20, pp. 151156.
Ishibe, S.; Joly, D.; Liu, Z. & Cantley, L. (2004). Paxillin serves as an ERK-regulated scaffold
for coordinating FAK and Rac activation in epithelial morphogenesis. Mol. Cell 16,
pp. 257-267.
Jaffa, A.; Miller, B.; Rosenzweig, S.; Naidu, P.; Velarde, V. & Mayfield, R. (1997). Bradykinin
induces tubulin phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of MAP kinase in
mesangial cells. Am J Physiol 273, pp. F916-F924.
Javadov, S.; Baetz, D.; Rajapurohitam, V.; Zeidan, A.; Kirshenbaum, L. & Karmazyn, M.
(2006). Antihypertrophic effect of Na+/H+-exchanger-1 inhibition is mediated by
reduced MAPK activation secondary to improved mitochondrial integrity and

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

253

decreased generation of mitochondrial-derived ROS. J Pharmacol Expt Ther 317, pp.

1036 -1043.
Johnson, G. & Lapadat, R. (2002). Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways mediated by
ERK, JNK, and p38 protein kinases. Science, vol. 298, no. 5600, pp. 19111912.
Kang, M.; Kulisz, A. & Wasserman, W. (1998). Raf-1 kinase, a potential regulator of
intracellular pH in Xenopus oocytes. Biol. Cell, 90, pp. 477-485.
Kaplan, D. & Boron, W. (1994). Long-term expression of c-H-raps stimulates Na-H and Na+dependent Cl-HCO3 exchange in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. J. Biol. Chem 269, pp. 41164124.
Kapus, A.; Grinstein, S.; Wasan, S.; Kandasamy, R. & Orlowski, J. (1994). Functional
characterization of three isoforms of the Na+/H+ exchanger stably expressed in
CHO cells. J. Biol. Chem 269, pp. 23544-23552.
Karmazyn, M.; Kilic, A. & Javadov, S. (2008). The role of NHE-1 in myocardial hypertrophy
and remodeling. J Mol Cell Cardiol., 44, pp. 647-653.
Kemp, G.; Young, H. & Fliegel, L. (2008). Structure and function of the human Na+/H+
exchanger isoform 1. Channels, 2, pp. 329-336.
Kim, E. & Choi, E. (2010). Pathological roles of MAPK signaling pathways in human
diseases. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, vol. 1802, no. 4, pp. 396405.
Kolch, W. (2005). Coordinating MAPK signaling via scaffolds & inhibitors. Nat Rev Mol Cell
Biol 6, pp. 827-37
Kranenburg, O. & Moolenaar, W. (2001). Ras-MAP kinase signaling by lysophosphatidic
acid and other G protein-coupled receptor agonists. Oncogene, 20, pp. 1540-1546.
Krump, E.; Nikitas, K. & Grinstein, S. (1997). Induction of tyrosine phosphorylation and
Na+/H+ exchanger activation during shrinkage of human neutrophils. J. Biol. Chem
272, pp. 17303-17311.
Kramarenko, I.; Bunni, M.; Raymond, J. & Garnovskaya, M. (2010). Bradykinin B2 Receptor
Interacts with Integrin 5/1 to Transactivate Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
in Kidney Cells. Mol. Pharmacol 78, pp. 126-134.
Kusumoto, K.; Haist, J. & Karmazyn, M. (2001). Na+/H+ exchange inhibition reduces
hypertrophy and heart failure after myocardial infarction in rats. Am. J. Physiol.,
280, pp. H738-H745.
LaPointe, M.; Ye, M.; Moe, O.; Alpern, R. & Battle, D. (1995). Na+/H+ antiporter (NHE-1
isoform) in cultured vascular smooth muscle from the spontaneously hypertensive
rat. Kidney Int 47, pp. 78-87.
Lefler, D.; Mukhin, Y.; Pettus, T.; Leeb-Lundberd, L.M.F.; Garnovskaya, M. & Raymond, J.
(2003). Jak2 and Ca2+/calmodulin are key intermediates for bradykinin B2 receptormediated activation of Na+/H+ exchange in KNRK and CHO cells. ASSAY and
Drug Development Technologies, 1, pp. 281-289.
Lehoux, S.; Abe, J.; Florian, J. & Berk, B. (2001). 14-3-3 binding to Na+/H+ exchanger
isoform-1 is associated with serum-dependent activation of Na+/H+ exchange. J.
Biol. Chem., 276, pp. 15794-15800.
Levine, S.; Montrose, M.; Tse, M. & Donowitz, M. (1993). Kinetics and regulation of three
cloned mammalian Na+/H+ exchangers stably expressed in a fibroblast cell line. J.
Biol. Chem., 268, pp. 2552725535

254

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Li, X.; Alvares, B.; Casey, J.; Reithmeier R. & Fliegel, L. (2002). Carbonic anhydrase II binds
to and enhances activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger. J. Biol. Chem., 277, pp. 3608536091.
Lin, X.; Voyno-Yasanetskaya, T.; Hooley, R.; Lin, C.-Y.; Orlowski, J. & Barber, D. (1996) J.
Biol. Chem. 271, pp. 2260422610.
Liu, F. & Gesek, F. (2001). 1-Adrenergic receptors activate NHE1 and NHE3 through
distinct signaling pathways in epithelial cells. Am. J. Physiol., 280, pp. F415-F425.
Liu, H-F.; Teng, X-C.; Zheng, J-C.; Chen, G. & Wang, X-W. (2008). Effect of NHE1 antisense
gene transfection on the biological behavior of SGC-7901 human gastric carcinoma
cells. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 14, pp. 2162-2167.
Lowe, J.; Huang, C. & Ives, H. (1990). Sphingosine differentially inhibits activation of the
Na+/H+ exchanger by phorbol esters and growth factors. J. Biol. Chem., 265, pp.
71887194.
Lucchesi, P.; DeRoux, N. & Berk, B. (1994). Na+/H+ exchanger expression in vascular
smooth muscle of spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Hypertension,
24, pp. 734-738.
Luttrell, D. & Luttrell, L. (2004). Not so strange bedfellows: G-protein-coupled receptors
and Src family kinases. Oncogene, vol. 23, no 48, pp. 7969-7978.
Luttrell, L. (2002). Activation and targeting of mitogen-activated protein kinases by Gprotein-coupled receptors. Can J Physiol Pharmacol., 80, pp. 375-382.
Ma, Y.-H.; Reusch, P.; Wilson, E.; Escobedo, J.; Fantl, W.; Williams, L. & Ives, H. (1994).
Activation of Na+/H+ exchange by platelet-derived growth factor involves
phosphatidylinositol 3'- kinase and phospholipase C. J. Biol. Chem., 269, pp. 30734
30739
Maly, K.; Uberall, F.; Loferer, H.; Doppler, W.; Oberhuber, H.; Groner, B. & Grunicke, H.
(1989). Ha-ras activates the Na+/H+ antiporter by a protein kinase C-independent
mechanism. J. Biol. Chem 264, pp. 1183911842
Menke, J.; Borkowski, J.; Bierilo, K.; MacNeil, T.; Derrick, A.; Schneck, K. et al. (1994).
Expression cloning of a human B1 bradykinin receptor. J Biol Chem., 269, pp.
21583-21586.
Mitsuka, M.; Nagae, M. & Berk, B. (1993). Na+-H+ exchange inhibitors decrease neointimal
formation after rat carotid injury. Effects on smooth muscle cell migration and
proliferation. Circ. Res., 73, pp. 269-275.
Moor, A.; Gan, X.; Karmazyn, M. & Fliegel, L. (2001). Activation of Na+/H+ exchangerdirected protein kinases in the ischemic and ischemic-reperfused rat myocardium.
J. Biol. Chem., 276, pp. 16113-16122.
Mukai, H.; Fitzgibbon, W.; Bozeman, G.; Margolius, H. & Ploth, D. (1996). Bradykinin B2
receptor antagonist increases chloride and water absorption in rat medullary
collecting duct. Am J Physiol., 271, pp. R352-R360.
Mukhin, Y.; Vlasova, T.; Jaffa, A.; Collinsworth, G.; Bell, J.; Tholanikunnel, B.; Pettus, T.;
Fitzgibbon, W.; Ploth, D.; Raymond, J. & Garnovskaya, M. (2001). Bradykinin B2
receptors activate Na+/H+ exchange in mIMCD-3 cells via Janus kinase 2 and
Ca2+/calmodulin. J. Biol. Chem., 276, pp. 17339-17346.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

255

Mukhin, Y.; Garnovsky, E.; Ullian, M. & Garnovskaya, M. (2003). Bradykinin B2 receptor
activates extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase in mIMCD-3 cells via
epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation. J Pharmacol Expt Ther., 304, pp.
968-977.
Mukhin, Y.; Garnovskaya, M.; Ullian, M. & Raymond, J. (2004). ERK is regulated by
sodium-proton exchanger in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. J. Biol. Chem.,
279, pp. 1845-1852.
Mukhin, Y.; Gooz, M.; Raymond, J. & Garnovskaya, M. (2006). Collageneses 2 and 3
mediate epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation by Bradykinin B2
receptor in kidney cells. J Pharmacol Expt Ther., 318, pp. 1033-1043.
Nemeth, Z.; Deitch, E.; Szabo, C.; Mabley, J.; Pacher, P.; Fekete, Z.; Hauser, C. & Hasko, G.
(2002). Na+/H+ exchanger blockade inhibits enterocyte inflammatory response and
protects against colitis. Am. J. Physiol., 283, pp. G122-G132.
New, D. & Wong, Y. (2007). Molecular mechanisms mediating the G protein-coupled
receptor regulation of cell cycle progression. Journal of Molecular Signaling, vol. 2, 2 ,
doi:10.1186/1750-2187-2-2.
Ng, L.; Davies, J.; Sickowski, M.; Sweeney, F.; Quinn, P.; Krolewski, B. & Krolewski, A.
(1994). Abnormal Na+/H+ antiporter phenotype and turnover of immortalized
lymphoblasts from type 1 diabetic patients with nephrophathy. J Clil Invest., 93,
pp. 2750-2757.
Noel, J. & Pouyssgur, J. (1995). Hormonal regulation, pharmacology, and membrane
sorting of vertebrate Na+/H+ exchanger isoforms. Am. J. Physiol., 268, pp. C283C296.
Orlowski, J. & Grinstein, S. (1997). Na+/H+ exchangers in mammalian cells. J. Biol. Chem.,
272, pp. 22373-22376.
Orlowski, J. & Grinstein, S. (2004). Diversity of the mammalian NHE SLC9 gene family.
Pflugers Arch., 447, pp. 549-565.
Ohtsu, H.; Dempsey, P. & Eguchi, S. (2006). ADAMs as mediators of EGF receptor
transactivation by G protein-coupled receptors. Am J Physiol., 291, pp. C1-10.
Pang, T.; Su, X.; Wakabayashi, S. & Shigekawa, M. (2001). Calcineurin homologous
protein as an essential cofactor for Na+/H+ exchangers. J. Biol. Chem. 276, pp.
17367-17372.
Pearson, G.; Robinson, F.; Gibson, T.B et al. (2001). Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase
pathways: regulation and physiological functions. Endocrine Reviews, vol. 22, no. 2,
pp. 153183.
Pederson, S.; Varming, C.; Christensen, S. & Hoffmann, E. (2002). Mechanisms of activation
of NHE by cell shrinkage and by calyculin A in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. J.
Membr. Biol., 189, pp. 67-81.
Pedersen, S.; Darborg, B.; Rentsch, M. & Rasmussen, M. (2007). Regulation of mitogenactivated protein kinase pathways by plasma membrane Na+/H+ exchanger,
NHE1. Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 462, pp. 195-201.
Pedersen, S.; Darborg, B.; Rasmussen, M.; Nylandsted, J. & Hoffmann, E. (2007). The
Na+/H+ exchanger 1 differentially regulates MAPK subfamilies after osmotic
shrinkage in Elrlich Letter Ascites cells. Cell. Physiol. Biochem., 20, pp. 735-750.

256

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Pierce, K.; Luttrell, L. & Lefkowitz, R., (2001). New mechanisms in heptahelical receptor
signaling to mitogen activated protein kinase cascades Oncogene, 20, pp. 15321539.
Pierce, K.; Premont, R. & Lefkowitz, R. (2002). Seven-transmembrane receptors. Nature
Reviews. Mol. Cell Biol. 3, pp. 639650.
Putney, L.; Denker, S. & Barber, D. (2002). The changing face of the Na+/H+ exchanger,
NHE1: structure, regulation, and cellular actions. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 42,
pp. 527-552.
Rosskopf, D.; Dusing, R. & Siffert, W. (1993). Membrane Na+/H+ exchange & hypertension.
Hypertension, 21, pp. 607-617.
Rozengurt, E. (1986). Early signals in the mitogenic response. Science, 234: pp. 161-166.
Sabri, A.; Byron, K.; Samarel, A.; Bell J. & Lucchesi, P. (1998). Hydrogen peroxide activates
MAP kinases and Na+-H+ exchange in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Circ. Res., 82,
pp. 1053-1062
Sarget, C.; Franchi, A. & Pouyssegur, J. (1989). Molecular cloning, primary structure and
expression of the human growth f actor-activatable Na+/H+ antiporter. Cell, 56,
pp. 271-280.
Schafer, B.; Marg, B.; Gschwind, A. & Ullrich, A. (2004). Distinct ADAM metalloproteinases
regulate G protein-coupled receptor-induced cell proliferation and survival. J Biol
Chem., 279, pp. 47929-47938.
Schelling, J. & Abu Jawdeh, B. (2008). Regulation of cell survival by NHE-1. Am J Physiol.,
295, pp. F625-F632.
Shaul, Y. & Seger, R. (2007). The MEK/ERK cascade: from signaling specificity to diverse
functions. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, vol. 1773, no. 8, pp. 12131226.
Silva, N.; Haworth, R.; Singh, D. & Fligel, L. (1995). The carboxy-terminal region of the
Na+/H+ exchanger interacts with mammalian heat shock protein. Biochemistry, 34,
pp. 10412-10420.
Snabaitis, A.; Yokoyama, H. & Avkiran M. (2000). Roles of mitogen-activated protein
kinases and protein kinase C in (1A)-adrenoceptor-mediated stimulation of the
sarcolemmal Na+-H+ exchanger. Circ. Res., 86, 2, pp. 214220.
Snabaitis, A.; Hearse, D. & Avkiran, M. (2002). Regulation of sarcolemmal Na+/H+
exchanger by hydrogen peroxide in adult rat ventricular myocytes. Cardiovasc. Res.,
53, pp. 470-480.
Takahashi, E.; Abe, J.; Gallis, B.; Aebersold, R.; Spring, D.; Krebs, E. & Berk B. (1999).
p90(RSK) is a serum-stimulated Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 kinase. J. Biol. Chem.,
274, pp. 20206-20214.
Takewaki, S.; Kuro-o, M.; Hiroi, Y.; Yamazaki, T.; Noguchi, T.; Miyagishi, A.; Nakahara, K.;
Aikawa, M.; Manabe, I.; Yazaki Y, et al. (1995). Activation of Na+-H+ antiporter
(NHE-1) gene expression during growth, hypertrophy and proliferation of the
rabbit cardiovascular system. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol., 27, pp. 729-742.
Tominaga, T.; Ishizaki, T.; Narumiya, S. & Barber, D. (1998). p160ROCK mediates RhoA
activation of Na-H exchange. EMBO J. , 17, pp. 4712-4722.
Tominaga, T. & Barber, D. (1998). Na-H exchange acts downstream of RhoA to regulate
integrin-induced cell adhesion and spreading. Mol. Biol Cell., 9, pp. 2287-2303

G Protein-Coupled Receptors-Induced Activation of Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase (ERK) and Sodium-Proton Exchanger Type 1 (NHE1)

257

Touyz, R. & Schiffrin, E. (2000).

Signal transduction mechanisms mediating the
physiological and pathophysiological actions of Ang II in vascular smooth muscle
cells. Pharmacol Rev., 52, pp. 639-672.
Turner, J.; Garnovskaya, M.; Coaxum, S.; Vlasova, T.; Yakutovich, M.; Lefler, D. &
Raymond, J. Sr. (2007). Ca2+-calmodulin and Jak2 are Required for Activation of
Sodium-proton Exchange by the Gi-coupled 5-hydroxytryptamine1A Receptor. J
Pharmacol Expt Ther., 320, pp. 314-322.
Voyno-Yasenetskaya, T.; Conklin, B.; Gilbert, R.; Hooley, R.; Bourne, H. & Barber, D. (1994).
G alpha 13 stimulates Na-H exchange. J. Biol. Chem. 269, pp. 47214724.
Wakabayashi, S.; Shigekawa, M. & Pouyssegur, J. (1997). Molecular physiology of vertebrate
Na+/H+ exchangers. Physiol. Rev. 77, pp. 51-74.
Wallert, M.; Thronson, H.; Korpi, N.; Olmschenk, S.; McCoy, A.; Funfar, M. & Provost,
J. (2005). Two G protein-coupled receptors activate Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1
in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts through an ERK-dependent pathway. Cell
Signal. 17(2), pp. 231-242.
Wang, H.; Silva, N.; Lucchesi, P.; Haworth, R.; Wang, K.; Michalak, M.; Pelech, S. & Fliegel,
L. (1997). Phosphorylation and regulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger through
MAPK. Biochemistry, 36, pp. 9151-58.
Watanabe G, Lee RJ, Albanese C, Rainey WE, Batlle D, Pestell RG. (1996). Angiotensin II
activation of cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity. J Biol Chem 1996, 271:2257022577.
Watts, B. III & Good, D. (2002). ERK mediates inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange and
HCO3- absorption by nerve growth factor in MTAL. Am. J. Physiol. 282, pp. F10561063.
Wei, S.; Rothstein, E.; Fliegel, L.; DellItalia, L. & Lucchesi P. (2001). Differential MAPK
activation and Na+/H+ exchanger phosphorylation by H2O2 in rat cardiac
myocytes. Am. J.Physiol. 281, pp. C1542-C1550.
Widmann, C.; Gibson, S.; Jarpe, M. & Johnson, G. (1999). Mitogen-activated protein kinase:
conservation of a three-kinase module from yeast to human. Physiol. Rev. 79, pp.
143-180.
Wu, J.; Akaike, T.; Hayashida, K.; Miyamoto, Y.; Nakagawa, T.; Miyakawa, K.; MllerEsterl, W. & Maeda, H. (2002). Identification of bradykinin receptors in clinical
cancer specimens and murine tumor tissues. International Journal of Cancer, 98,
pp. 29-35.
Yamaji, Y.; Amemiya, M.; Cano, A.; Preisig, P.; Miller, R.; Moe, O. and Alpern, R. 1995).
Overexpression of csk inhibits acid-induced activation of NHE-3. Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. U.S.A., 92, pp. 62746278
Yamazaki, T.; Komuro, I.; Kudoh, S.; Zou, Y.; Nagai, R.; Aikawa, R.; Uozumi, H. & Yazaki,
Y. (1998). Role of ion channels and exchangers in mechanical stretchinduced
cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Circ. Res., 82, pp. 430-37.
Yan, W.; Nehrke, K.; Choi, J. & Barber, D. (2001). The Nck-interacting kinase (NIK)
phosphorylates the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE1 and regulates NHE1 activation by
PDGF. J. Biol. Chem., 276, pp. 31349-31356.

258

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Yang, X.; Wang, D.; Dong, W.; Song, Z. & Dou, K. (2011). Suppression of Na+/H+ exchanger
1 by RNA interference or amiloride inhibits human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721
cell invasion. Medical Oncology, 28, pp. 385-390.

12
The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on
the Regulation and Correction Mechanisms
of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments
1Centro

Rita M. Reis1 and Hassan Bousbaa1,2

de Investigao em Cincias da Sade (CICS),

Instituto Superior de Cincias da Sade Norte/CESPU,
2Centro de Qumica Medicinal da Universidade do Porto (CEQUIMED-UP),
Portugal
1. Introduction
During mitosis, accurate segregation of the chromosomes duplicated at the S phase of the
cell cycle relies on the successful of their proper attachment to microtubules of the mitotic
spindle and their alignment at the metaphase plate before the onset of anaphase.
Attachment errors or failure to align can lead to chromosome gains or losses, a condition
known as chromosome instability (CIN) which is a common feature amongst many cancers.
The kinetochore, a multiprotein structure assembled on the centromeres, plays a key role in
chromosome attachment and high fidelity of mitotic chromosome segregation between
daughter cells.
The kinetochore structure provides the attachment site of microtubule polymers to
chromosome. Each mitotic chromosome has a pair of kinetochores, positioned on opposite
sides of the centromere, that allow for its bipolar attachment to the spindle. Besides this role
in attachment, the kinetochore controls the metaphase-anaphase transition by inhibiting
chromatid separation until all chromosomes are properly attached and aligned at the
metaphase plate, thereby ensuring equitable sharing of chromosomes upon cell division.
During the last decade, considerable progress has been made in understanding the
molecular composition of the kinetochore, shedding light on the higher order organization
of the kinetochore and on it activity in mediating chromosome attachment to spindle
microtubules and in regulating the fidelity of the metaphase to anaphase transition. We
address these aspects, concentrating in particular on the role that the kinetochores have in
sensing and resolving aberrant kinetochore-microtubule attachments and in preventing
chromosome missegregation.

2. The events of Mitosis

In 1879, Walther Flemming was the first to describe in great detail cell division. The
Flemings great discovery was that during the cell division one longitudinal half of each

260

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

chromosome goes in each direction, so that each daughter nucleus is formed from a
complete set of longitudinal halves. In 1882 he termed this process Mitosis (from the Greek
mitos thread-metamorphosis) (Baker, 1949; Paweletz, 2001).
2.1 Mitotic phases
Nowadays, it is known that Mitosis is a complex and highly regulated process, used by
eukaryotes to generate two identical daughter cells from one original mother cell. This
particular phase of the cell cycle, ensures that the cell faithfully segregates the sister
chromatids, of the duplicated chromosomes, into the daughter cells, producing two cells
that are identical to one another and to the original parent cell. Conventionally, mitosis is
divided into five stages: Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase
(Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Mitotic stages and Cytokinesis of animal cells. Prophase: chromatin condenses into
chromosomes and centrosomes start to separate; Prometaphase: begins with nuclear
envelope breakdown, chromosomes are captured by microtubules that are growing from
opposite poles of the spindle; Metaphase: all chromosomes align at the equator of the cell;
Anaphase: sister chromatids move to opposite poles; Telophase: sister chromatids reach the
poles, decondense and nuclear membrane reforms around each identical daughter nuclei.
Simultaneously, the division of the cytoplasm generates two independent daughter cells by
a process called Cytokinesis.
Prophase, is marked by the appearance of condensed chromosomes that emerge as two
identical filaments (sister chromatids, produced in the S phase of the cell cycle) and the
centrosomes begin to separate to opposite sites initiating the mitotic spindle assembly. The
next stage, Prometaphase, starts with the nuclear envelope breakdown allowing that
microtubules, from the opposite centrosomes, occupy all the cytoplasmic space and fully

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

261

organize the mitotic spindle. These microtubules bind the chromosomes and help them to
reach and align at the equatorial cell region; at this stage the cell has achieved the
Metaphase. In Metaphase, chromosomes are aligned at the middle of the spindle forming
the metaphase plate, awaiting the signal to the next stage, Anaphase. This transition, from
Metaphase to Anaphase, is the most critical event of the cell cycle. This event occurs when
the cohesion between sister chromatids is dissolved and the separated sisters migrate to
opposite poles of the spindle. The last stage of mitosis is Telophase, during which the
spindle disassembles, the chromosomes decondense and the nuclear envelop reappears.
Simultaneously, the division of the cytoplasm generates two independent interphase
daughter cells by a process called Cytokinesis. If these events do not occur properly and in
the right sequence, the newly formed cells either die or carry on genetic damages that can
lead ultimately to cancer.
2.2 Regulation of Mitosis
The timing and coordination of Mitosis progression relies mostly on mechanisms of
protein Phosphorylation and Proteolysis (Nigg, 2001). While Phosphorylation is a
reversible protein modification, and thus ideal for the control of reversible mitotic
processes such as spindle assembly, Proteolysis, in contrast, by its chemical irreversibility,
is more appropriate for controlling events that must not be reversed such as sisterchromatid separation (King et al., 1996; Morgan, 2007). The Mitosis-Promoting Factor
(MPF), first called Maturation-Promoting Factor, was described as the entity whose
activity controls entry into Mitosis (Masui & Markert, 1971). Now, it is well-established
that the MPF is a heterodimer composed by one molecule of cyclin B and one of Cdc2 (cell
division cycle). Later, Cdc2 became known as Cdk1 since it was established, at the Cold
Spring Harbor Symposium on the Cell Cycle in 1991, that kinases that are associated with
cyclins should be called cyclin dependent kinases or Cdks (Doree & Hunt, 2002). Cyclin
B-Cdk1 (MPF) accumulates before entry into mitosis and its activation leads to
phosphorylation of several substrates responsible for the morphological changes that
occur in early stages of mitosis such as nuclear envelop breakdown, centrosome
separation, spindle assembly, chromosome condensation, and endoplasmic reticulum and
Golgi fragmentation. However, proteolysis-mediated disassembly of Cyclin-Cdk1
complexes is required for mitotic exit and cytokinesis (Nigg, 2001). Besides the direct role
in regulating Cdk activity by controlling cyclin levels, proteolysis also drives cell cycle
progression by directly triggering some key cell cycle events such as sister chromatids
separation at metaphase-anaphase transition, thus providing directionality of the cell
cycle (King et al., 1996). Therefore, these two mechanisms, phosphorylation and
proteolysis, are interdependent since proteolysis events are controlled by phosphorylation
and the mitotic kinases (M-Cdks) are inactivated by proteolytic destruction of cyclins
(King et al., 1996; Morgan, 2007; Nigg, 2001).
The major events of mitosis are sister-chromatid separation and segregation. If these
processes do not occur accurately the result would be the production of cells with extra or
missing chromosomes, a state known as aneuploidy, which is a common characteristic of
cancer cells (Holland & Cleveland, 2009; Schvartzman et al., 2010). To avoid the
occurrence of aneuploidy, cells have developed a control system called mitotic checkpoint

262

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

or Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC), which prevents the cell entry in anaphase until
all chromosomes are correctly aligned, forming the metaphase plate, with proper
attachment to the mitotic spindle (Rieder et al., 1995) and under a certain tension (Nicklas
et al., 1995). When these conditions are satisfied, SAC is turned off. This checkpoint
arrests cells in mitosis by blocking protein degradation. With its inactivation, the
Anaphase Promoting Complex or Cyclosome (APC/C), an ubiquitin protein ligase whose
activity depends on the activator protein Cdc20, targets Securin and Cyclin B for
ubiquitylation and posterior proteolysis through the 26S proteasome. Destruction of
Securin turns on Separase which cleaves the cohesion complex that holds sister
chromatids together; destruction of Cyclin B leads to anaphase onset (Zachariae &
Nasmyth, 1999).
2.3 The mitotic spindle
In order to congress and align at the center of the cell, and then segregate its sister
chromatids to opposite poles, chromosomes use the mitotic spindle. The mitotic spindle is
organized in a symmetric and fusiform structure composed of microtubules, polymers made
of - and -tubulin heterodimers that being all oriented in the same way create a polar
nature with -tubulin exposed at one end (plus-end) and -tubulin at the other end (minusend) (Desai & Mitchison, 1997). Depending on the position of the microtubule plus-ends,
spindle microtubules can be divided into three classes: astral-microtubules, interpolarmicrotubules and kinetochore-microtubules; all contribute to the bipolarity of the mitotic
spindle. Astral microtubules, emanate from the spindle poles and radiate out throughout
the cytoplasm with the plus-ends interacting with the cell cortex. Interpolar microtubules,
extend from the spindle poles to the spindle midzone where their plus-ends form an
interdigitating system that connects the two spindle poles. Kinetochore microtubules,
connect the spindle poles to chromosomes with the minus ends near the poles and the plus
ends binding laterally or end-on, specifically to the kinetochores (an intricate protein
complex raised on the centromeric DNA) (Hayden et al., 1990; Merdes & De Mey, 1990;
Rieder & Alexander, 1990). These kinetochore-microtubules form a morphologically distinct
bundle denominated K-fiber (kinetochore-fiber), made of up to 30 kinetochore-attached
microtubules in higher eukaryotes, which is directly involved in chromosome congression
and sister-chromatid segregation (Rieder & Salmon, 1998).
The ability of spindle microtubules to quickly assemble and disassemble (dynamic
instability) provides them the necessary behavior to capture chromosomes. This statement
becomes the basis of the first and favorite model for spindle assembly in systems with
centrosomes, and is known as "search and capture" (Kirschner & Mitchison, 1986;
Mitchison & Kirschner, 1984). This model postulates that, when nuclear envelop breaks
down, chromosomes become accessible to microtubules radiated from centrosomes ,
which, through their dynamic nature, randomly explore the cytoplasm until capture a
kinetochore, laterally or with the plus-end, forming an attachment that stabilizes the
microtubule (Mitchison et al., 1986; Nicklas & Kubai, 1985). Although the plus-ends of
microtubules can bind directly the kinetochore, the first contact usually occurs laterally.
After binding one of the unattached sister kinetochores, the chromosome is rapidly
transported along the side of the microtubule towards the spindle pole, in a mechanism

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

263

that is independent of microtubule depolymerization and involves the minus-end

directed motor protein Dynein (Rieder & Alexander, 1990; Yang et al., 2007). Since the
spindle pole has a high microtubule density, additional microtubules from the same pole
will attach to the kinetochore, and the plus-ends of laterally associated microtubules
shorten until reach the end-on binding, resulting in a stable K-fiber (Rieder, 2005). Since
this model is based on search and capture of astral microtubules that radiate from
centrosomes, it is not valid to cells lacking centrosomes, like higher plants and many
animal oocytes. An alternative model, called "spindle self organization", proposes that
microtubules are nucleated in the vicinity of chromatin, elongate and then, helped by
motor proteins, are sorted into a bipolar array and focused at the poles (Walczak et al.,
1998). Indeed, it was shown that cells with centrosomes, besides the search and capture
mechanism, also use this chromosome-driven K-fiber formation for spindle assembly
(Khodjakov et al., 2000; Maiato et al., 2004). In these "combined" system, the K-fibers
nucleated from chromosomes are integrated at the spindle assisted by astral microtubules
that search, capture and transport them toward the pole in a dynein-dependent manner
(Khodjakov et al., 2003; Maiato et al., 2004). Several studies, in Xenopus extracts and in
mammalian cells, show that the chromosome-driven microtubule formation relies in a
Ran-GTP concentration gradient around mitotic chromosomes, which in turn induces a
gradient of proteins that regulate microtubule nucleation/dynamics, by dissociating them
from importin- (Fuller, 2010; Kalab et al., 2002; Tulu et al., 2006). Furthermore, studies in
mammalian somatic cells support a model in which the kinetochores are the key players
in this chromosome-mediated spindle assembly (O'Connell et al., 2009). Another
mechanism that contributes to spindle formation is the "search and transport", in which
peripheral microtubules, similarly to K-fibers nucleated from chromosomes, are
transported through aster microtubules to the poles, where they are incorporated into the
spindle (O'Connell & Khodjakov, 2007; Tulu et al., 2003).
For a successful cell division, chromosomes must interact with spindle microtubules.
Through their dynamic behavior, microtubules allow that chromosomes congress to the
equatorial region of the spindle forming the metaphase plate and, are responsible for the
segregation of sister chromatids to opposite poles. There are three major forces acting on
chromosomes that drivethese movements: (1) The Polar ejection force or Polar wind
that is generated by non-kinetochore microtubules and pushes chromosomes away from the
spindle poles (anti-poleward movement) (Kapoor & Compton, 2002; Rieder et al., 1986); (2)
"Microtubule flux", which consists in a flow of tubulin subunits from the spindle equator to
the spindle poles as consequence of polymerization at the plus-ends, depolymerization at
minus-ends, and translocation of the entire microtubule toward the spindle pole
(Cassimeris, 2004; Mitchison, 1989); and (3) "Pacman" mechanism, in which the kinetochores
catalyze the depolymerization of kinetochore-microtubule plus-ends resulting in
chromosomal movement to the spindle poles by "chewing up" the microtubule track
(Gorbsky et al., 1987; Mitchison et al., 1986).

3. The kinetochore structure

In 1894, Metzner was the first investigator to describe the kinetic region, a specific
chromatin area, located at the primary constriction on each side of the chromosome, that

264

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

leads the way of sister chromatids during the poleward motion (Metzner, 1894; Rieder, 2005;
Schrader, 1944). Later, in 1934, Sharp coined these structures as "kinetochores", from the
Greek kineto- meaning 'move' and '-chore meaning 'means for distribution' (Rieder, 2005;
Schrader, 1936). In 1960, Bill Brinkley was the first to describe the mammalian kinetochore
structure as a trilaminar proteinaceous disc structure that flanked the centromere: an
electron-dense inner plate located on the surface of the centromeric heterochromatin,
separated from an electron dense outer plate by a lighter middle layer (Brinkley &
Stubblefield, 1966). However, using high-pressure frozen specimens, this electrontranslucent middle layer is not visible, suggesting that it is an artifact produced during the
classical EM fixation and/or dehydration procedures (McEwen et al., 1998). In 1967,
Jokelainen shows the existence of a corona of electron opaque substance that covers the
outer kinetochore layer, which after microtubule binding, becomes hard to detect by EM
(Cassimeris et al., 1990; Jokelainen, 1967)(Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Electron micrographs of kinetochores, from PTK1 cells, in absence and presence of
microtubules. The trilaminar structure of kinetochore (brackets) is well defined without
microtubules (wo/ MTs) and becomes distorted with microtubules (w/ MTs) embedded
within the outer kinetochore plate (arrowheads). Courtesy of Dr. Helder Maiato (Maiato et
al., 2006).
These mature kinetochores, with the trilaminar structure, occurs only in prometaphase after
nuclear envelop breakdown. The kinetochore is built on the centromeric region of each sister
chromatid by the assembly of multiprotein complexes (Fig. 3). In early G1 the typical layer
conformation disappears giving rise to a condensed structure that unfolds in late G1
forming a linear, bead-like conformation that persists until S-phase, where it transforms into
a loose fibrous bundle that duplicates at late S-phase. In late G2, pre-kinetochores refold into
two separated and condensed structures. During prophase, these duplicated prekinetochores differentiate at the primary constriction of the sister chromatids originating the
kinetochore layers at the time of nuclear envelop breakdown, completing the cycle (He &
Brinkley, 1996).

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

265

FIBROUS CORONA

SAC signalling:
Bub1/BubR1/Bub3/Mad1/Mad2/MPS1

Kinetochore attachment
and/or SAC silencing:
RZZ complex (Rod, Zw10, Zwilch)/
Spindly/Dynein/Dynactin/Lis1/CENP-E/Ska
complex: (Ska1, Ska2, Ska3)/CENP-F

MT +TIPs:
CLASPs/CLIP-170/ch-TOG/EB1/APC

SAC targets:
Cdc20 and APC/C

Unclear functions:
NPC/RanBP2/RanGAP/PP1/ CRM1

OUTER KINETOCHORE

kMTs

CENTROMERE
HETEROCHROMATIN

Correcting misattachments:
CPC (AuroraB, Borealin,
INCENP, Survivin)
MCAK

MT binding and recruitmente

of SAC proteins:
KMN network [KNL-1 complex (Knl1,
Zwint)/Mis12complex (Nnf1, Nsl1, Dsn1)/
Ndc80 complex (Nuf2, Spc24, Spc25,
Ndc80/Hec1)]

Bub1 and BubR1phosphorylating Kinase:

PLK1
INNER KINETOCHORE

Kinetochore assembly:
CENP-A nucleosomes/ CCAN(CENP-C,
CENP-T, CENP-N, CENP-H, CENP-M,
CENP-U50, CENP-S, CENP-R, CENP-I,
CENP-L, CENP-O, CENP-P, CENP-Q,
CENP-K, CENP-W, CENP-X)

Fig. 3. Overview of protein complexes that build the kinetochore in animal cells. The
kinetochore is built on the centromere as a trilaminar protein-rich structure: the inner
kinetochore, the outer kinetochore and the fibrous corona. The inner and outer kinetochore
layers are separated by the translucent interzone (not depicted). Proteins at centromere
heterochromatin and at each kinetochore layer are indicated; the list is not exhaustive as it is
continuously growing. Adapted from (Silva et al., 2011).
Kinetochores localize at the constriction region on each sister chromatid, assembling on the
centromere, from the Greek centro- (meaning central) and -mere (meaning part), a
specific chromatin region with distinct epigenetic marks (Cheeseman & Desai, 2008). In this
particular region, the nucleosomal histone H3 is replaced by the variant CENP-A
(CENtromere Protein A)(Vafa & Sullivan, 1997). Although it seems consensual that CENP-A is
essential for specifying the site for kinetochore formation, the role of CENP-A in kinetochore
assembly is still unclear (Bowers & Mellone, 2011). Some studied, using

266

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

overexpression/mistargeting of CENP-A show that CENP-A is not sufficient to originate

functional kinetochores (Gascoigne et al., 2011; Van Hooser et al., 2001). Other studies, using
ectopic targeting of HJURP (a CENP-A chromatin assembly factor) (Barnhart et al., 2011)
and using in vitro kinetochores (Guse et al., 2011), demonstrate that CENP-A is indeed
sufficient to form functional kinetochores. Besides CENP-A, several other proteins are
present at vertebrate centromeres throughout the cell cycle. They were named CCAN for
Constitutive Centromere Associated Network (Cheeseman & Desai, 2008). CCAN comprises
at least 16 proteins, CENP-C, CENP-H, CENP-I, CENP-K-U, CENP-W, and CENP-X,
grouped into several subcomplexes (Amano et al., 2009; Santaguida & Musacchio, 2009). It is
known that whereas CENP-C, CENP-N and CENP-K associate specifically with CENP-A
nucleosomes (Carroll et al., 2009; Guse et al., 2011), CENP-T/W complex are DNA-binding
proteins that associate with histone H3 nucleosomes in the centromeric region (Guse et al.,
2011; Hori et al., 2008). Although only few proteins are present at centromeres throughout
the cell cycle, during mitosis this number increases substantially, indicating the existence of
a complex assembly regulatory process. Gascoigne et al. have contributed with a piece of
this puzzle, by demonstrating that phosphorylation of CENP-T by CDK can control
kinetochore assembly in vertebrates. They saw that CENP-T becomes phosphorylated in G2,
has a maximum at metaphase and drops until anaphase, and show that preventing CENP-T
phosphorylation abolishes the recruitment of Ndc80 (Hec1 in mammals) (Gascoigne et al.,
2011). Ndc80 is part of the Ndc80 complex that in turns is part of the so called KMN
network, the microtubule-binding core of kinetochore, composed by the two-subunit Knl1
complex (containing Knl1/Blinkin and Zwint), the four-subunit complex Mis12 (containing
Mis12, Dsn1, Nnf1 and Nsl1) and the four-subunit Ndc80 complex (containing Ndc80, Nuf2,
Spc24 and Spc25). In the Ndc80 complex, Nuf2 and Ndc80 localize to the outer kinetochore
region and bind directly to microtubules, and Spc24 and Spc25 localize at the inner
kinetochore region and bind to the Mis12 and Knl1 complexes (Santaguida & Musacchio,
2009). A recent study, demonstrate that a conserved motif in the N-terminal region of CenpC binds directly to the Mis12 complex (Screpanti et al., 2011). In fact, several proteins from
the CCAN, such as CENP-C, CENP-H, CENP-K, CENP-I, CENP-T/W, and CENP-X have
been implicated in the recruitment of KMN proteins (Petrovic et al., 2010). These
connections between the CCAN network and the KMN network link the inner to the outer
kinetochore. KMN complex was considered as the essential core of the kinetochore. Besides
the direct binding of centromeres to microtubules, it interacts, directly or indirectly, with
proteins that are involved in crucial mitotic functions such as, regulation of the activity of
spindle assembly checkpoint and kinetochore-microtubule interactions (Cheeseman &
Desai, 2008; Przewloka & Glover, 2009). It allows, directly or indirectly, the
recruitment/interaction of regulatory proteins such as Microtubule associated proteins (like
CLASP, CLIP170, EB1, APC), motor proteins (like CENP-E, dynein/dynactin complex),
protein involved in spindle assembly checkpoint (like Mad1, Mad2, Bub1, Bub3, BubR1,
Bub1, RZZ complex, Mps1). It also interacts with the SKA (Spindle and Kinetochore
Associated) complex, thought to be involved in stable end-on kinetochore-microtubule
attachment; and with the CPC (Chromosome Passenger Complex- Aurora B, INCENP,
Borealin and Survivin) complex, among others (Fig. 3). Indeed, depletion of any protein
from the KMN network, in all eukaryotes, result in abnormal kinetochore structure or in a
lack of kinetochore-microtubule attachment (Lampert & Westermann, 2011; Przewloka &
Glover, 2009; Santaguida & Musacchio, 2009).

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

267

4. Kinetochore functions
The Kinetochores are dynamic structures with more than 100 proteins organized into
networks of several complexes of probably intertwined functions during cell division
(Cheeseman & Desai, 2008). They attach sister-chromatids to microtubules of the bipolar
mitotic spindle and position the chromosome at the spindle equator; they inhibit anaphase
onset until all chromosomes are properly attached and aligned at the metaphase plate; and
provide correction mechanism of erroneous attachments. Next, we address the overall
mechanisms and the molecular link between chromosome attachment to spindle
microtubules, correction of attachment errors, and the spindle assembly checkpoint.
4.1 Kinetochores mediate bipolar attachment to the spindle
High-fidelity chromosome segregation at the onset of anaphase relies on the success of sister
kinetochore bi-orientation on the mitotic spindle (Tanaka, 2010). Chromosome bi-orientation
is a step-wise process that sequentially involves initial interaction of a kinetochore with the
lateral surface of a microtubule; transport of the kinetochore to a spindle pole; conversion
from the lateral to the end-on attachment; and attachment of the sister kinetochore to
microtubules from the opposite spindle pole (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Steps towards chromosome bi-orientation. Upon nuclear envelope breakdown,

chromosome bi-orientation sequentially involves a) initial interaction of a kinetochore with
the lateral surface of a microtubule and transport of the kinetochore to a spindle pole; b)
conversion from the lateral to the end-on attachment; and c) attachment of the sister
kinetochore to microtubules from the opposite spindle pole to achieve bipolar attachment.

268

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

As stated above, initial encounter of spindle pole microtubules with the kinetochore is
mediated by the so-called search and capture process, guided by a Ran-GTP concentration
gradient around the chromosome (Clarke & Zhang, 2008; Wollman et al., 2005). Additionally,
and to avoid further delay in this initial encounter, kinetochore can nucleate microtubules
which, by interacting with spindle-pole nucleated microtubules along their length, facilitate
kinetochore loading onto centrosome-nucleated microtubules (Kitamura et al., 2010). The first
step of the search and capture process is the interaction of the kinetochore with the lateral
surface of a microtubule, called the lattice, followed by chromosome sliding along the
microtubule lattice towards a spindle pole. The poleward kinetochore transport, powered by
the minus end-directed dynein motor protein complex, brings chromosomes scattered
throughout the cytoplasm to the mitotic spindle area (Sharp et al., 2000; Yang et al., 2007).
Dynein binding to kinetochores requires the protein Spindly which in turn requires the RZZ
complex [made of the proteins Rough-deal (ROD), Zeste-white (ZW10), and Zwilch] to localize
to kinetochore (Chan et al., 2009; Griffis et al., 2007; Karess, 2005). The connection to the
essential microtubule-binding core of the kinetochore is mediated by the protein Zwint-1 that
links the RZZ complex to the KMN network (Wang et al., 2004).
During the association of the kinetochore with the microtubule lattice, shrinking of the
microtubule plus-end leads to kinetochore tethering at the microtubule plus-end (end-on
attachment) and to its further transport towards the spindle pole. End-on attachments are
more robust than lateral attachments and are critical for bi-orientation and for the
generation of load-bearing attachments (Joglekar et al., 2010). The mechanism of the
conversion from a lateral into an end-on attachment remains unclear. Proteins thought to be
required for this conversion include the C. elegans RZZ complex and Spindly/SPDL-1
(Gassmann et al., 2008), the vertebrate Ska1-3 (Gaitanos et al., 2009; Guimaraes & Deluca,
2009), and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ndc80 loop region (Tanaka, 2010).
The chromosome reaches the spindle pole with one kinetochore end-on attached to k-fiber
microtubules from that pole and its sister kinetochore unattached, a state known as
monotelic attachment. Aided by the back-to-back kinetochore geometry, the unattached
kinetochore becomes attached when captured by microtubule searching from the opposite
pole, thereby leading to chromosome bi-orientation (amphitelic attachment) (Fig. 4).
Subsequently, k-fiber microtubule shrinking and elongation promote congression of the
chromosomes towards the spindle equator in order to form the metaphase plate (Silva et al.,
2011). As an additional mechanism that leads to bi-orientation, chromosomes can be
transported towards the spindle equator by gliding alongside microtubules attached to
other already bi-oriented chromosomes, driven by kinetochore-bound CENP-E, a plus enddirected microtubule motor of the kinesin-7 family (Kapoor et al., 2006).
4.2 Correcting aberrant kinetochore-microtubule attachments
Although the back-to-back orientation of sister kinetochores imposes a geometric constraint
that favors chromosome bi-orientation, errors in kinetochore-microtubule attachments are
frequent due to the stochastic nature of the search and capture mechanism. Such errors include
monotelic (one kinetochore unattached while its sister attached to one spindle pole), syntelic
(two sister kinetochores bound to microtubules from the same pole), and merotelic (one sister
kinetochore bound to microtubules from both poles) attachments (Fig. 5) (Silva et al., 2011).
Most of these errors occur at the beginning of prometaphase and, if left uncorrected, would
lead to unequal chromosome segregation and aneuploidy (Kops et al., 2005).

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

269

Fig. 5. Possible attachment errors during chromosome bi-orientation event. Errors include a)
monotelic, with one kinetochore unattached while its sister attached to one spindle pole; b)
syntelic, with two sister kinetochores bound to microtubules from the same pole; and c)
merotelic, with one sister kinetochore bound to microtubules from both poles attachments.
These errors are generally converted to d) amphitelic attachments, the only correct
attachment configuration, by the error correction machinery.
Error correction is the result of biochemical changes induced by mechanical forces acting on
the kinetochore. Bi-oriented kinetochores (amphitelic attachment) are under tension that
results from the pulling forces of spindle microtubules in opposite directions. Cohesion
between sister centromeres is necessary to generate this tension (Tanaka et al., 1999).
Tension across the centromere stabilizes kinetochore-microtubule attachments, as evidenced
by Bruce Nicklas in his classical micromanipulation experiments with insect spermatocytes
(Nicklas & Koch, 1969; Nicklas & Ward, 1994). Tension artificially applied with a glass
microneedle on grasshopper spermatocyte chromosomes stabilizes unipolar attachments by
increasing the occupancy of microtubule attachment sites.
The first evidence of the translation of mechanical forces (tension) acting on the kinetochore
into biochemical changes was provided by the identification of the Ipl-1 kinase in the
budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Biggins et al., 1999). In Ipl-1 defective yeast cells,
kinetochores can interact with microtubules but sister-kinetochores often fail to bi-orient,
suggesting that Ipl-1 promotes bi-orientation. Interestingly, in the same mutant,
kinetochore-microtubule attachments are stabilized in the absence of tension, suggesting
that Ipl-1 promotes bi-orientation by destabilizing tensionless attachments (Dewar et al.,
2004; Tanaka et al., 2002). Defective Aurora B kinase (the mammalian functional homolog of
Ipl-1) induces an increase in syntelic attachments, suggesting a similar work in mammalian
cells (Hauf et al., 2003; Kallio et al., 2002). Aurora B localizes to the inner centromere, as the
catalytic component of the chromosome passenger complex (CPC), together with the
binding partners INCENP, Survivin, and Borealin (Ruchaud et al., 2007). While the
molecular mechanism of error detection and correction is not fully understood, a current
model proposes that Aurora B kinase promotes the turnover of erroneous kinetochoremicrotubule attachments through phosphorylation of its substrates at the outer kinetochore,
in a tension-dependent manner (Lampson & Cheeseman, 2011) . In this so-called spatial
model, the distance between Aurora B and its outer kinetochore substrates is a critical
determinant for their phosphorylation. When tension is low or absent, outer kinetochore
substrates are phosphorylated due to their proximity to an Aurora B kinase activity gradient
around the inner centromere (Wang et al., 2011), which destabilizes kinetochore-

270

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

microtubule attachments. For instance, in higher eukaryotes, Aurora B phosphorylation of

the Ndc80 complex was reported to weaken its affinity to microtubules, while
phosphorylation of the microtubule depolymerase kinesin MCAK activates its
depolymerase activity (Cheeseman et al., 2006; Lan et al., 2004). Both changes promote
destabilization of tensionless kinetochore-microtubule attachments, providing a further
opportunity for chromosome to bi-orient. Bi-orientation locates outer kinetochore substrates
away from the Aurora B activity gradient and close to the opposing and constitutively active
phosphatase. In this way, dephosphorylation of Ndc80 and MCAK stabilizes amphitelic
kinetochore-microtubule attachments. Therefore, tension provides the determinant for the
error correction machinery to distinguish syntelic and merotelic from amphitelic
attachments. Once all chromosomes become bi-oriented and aligned at the metaphase plate,
Aurora B leaves the inner centromere and become concentrated on the spindle midzone.
This presumably prevents turnover of kinetochore-microtubules attachments during
anaphase, in which tension is reduced.
4.3 The spindle assembly checkpoint
Cells must be maintained in mitosis, by preventing securin and cyclin B degradation, until
all chromosomes are properly bi-oriented and aligned at the metaphase plate. This is
achieved by the evolutionary conserved mechanism called The Spindle Assembly
Checkpoint (SAC) that prevents the E3 ubiquitin ligase APC/C (Anaphase Promoting
Complex/Cyclosome) from targeting securin and cyclin B for degradation by the 26S
proteasome, as long as unattached or improperly attached chromosomes are present (Silva
et al., 2011).
Components of the SAC are conserved from yeast to human and include the core SAC
proteins Mad1, Mad2, Bub1, Bub3, Mad3/BubR1, and the protein kinases Mps1 and Aurora
B (Musacchio & Salmon, 2007). It is widely accepted that the SAC inhibits the APC/C
through the Mad2 protein that sequesters Cdc20 an essential activator of the APC/C
individually or in an inhibitory complex with BubR1 and Bub3, forming the Mitotic
Checkpoint Complex (MCC) (Kallio et al., 2002; Sudakin et al., 2001). Unattached
kinetochore is believed to provide the platform for the generation of this diffusible wait
anaphase signal that inhibits mitosis. Indeed, checkpoint proteins dynamically associate
with unattached kinetochores, reflecting the catalytic assembly and then release and
diffusion of MCC. However this model is not universal as MCC formation does not require
a kinetochore in yeast (Fraschini et al., 2001).
SAC becomes satisfied once all chromosomes are correctly bi-oriented at the metaphase
plate. In order for cell to proceed to anaphase, the production of MCC must be halted and
existing MCC must be disassembled. This is referred to as SAC silencing, thought to be
mediated by several mechanisms at least in mammalian cells (Fuller & Stukenberg, 2009;
Vanoosthuyse & Hardwick, 2009). Kinetochore-mediated production of MCC is suggested
to be stopped by Dynein-driven transport of SAC proteins from attached kinetochores
towards spindle poles, along microtubules (Howell et al., 2001); and through dissociation of
Mad2/Cdc20 complex due to competition binding of the protein p31comet to the dimerization
interface of Mad2. Disassembly of existing MCC is promoted by p31comet- and UbcH10dependent Cdc20 autoubiquitination (Reddy et al., 2007; Stegmeier et al., 2007), and
proteasomal degradation (Ma & Poon, 2011). The coordination between these mechanisms

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

271

during SAC inactivation and mitotic exit remains unclear. Once SAC is turned off, APC/C
becomes activated and targets securin and cyclin B for degradation by the proteasome,
thereby promoting sister-chromatid separation and exit from mitosis, respectively.
4.4 Relationship between microtubule attachment, attachment error correction, and
SAC
The role of SAC in delaying anaphase onset, in the presence of unattached or improperly
attached kinetochores, foresees the existence of a dynamic relationship between microtubule
attachment, error correction machinery, and checkpoint signaling. This relationship could
efficiently assure that attachment errors are detected; checkpoint signals are produced; and
attachment errors are corrected only at the kinetochore platform, being all these activities in
the right place at the right time.
A molecular link between microtubule attachment machinery and SAC activity has been
suggested by the phenotype of yeasts with defective Ndc80 (Ndc80, Nuf2, Spc24, and Spc25)
complex, a component of the KMN supercomplex (the core microtubule-binding interface of
kinetochores). These mutants fail to attach chromosomes to the spindle and to activate SAC
(Burke & Stukenberg, 2008; McCleland et al., 2003). In metazoans, the relationship between
kinetochore-microtubule binding and SAC signaling is further suggested by the observation
that KMN, through the Ndc80 complex, is required for kinetochore assembly of SAC
proteins as well as for the generation of a SAC signal (Burke & Stukenberg, 2008). In
addition, Blinkin (the human homologue of yeast kinetochore protein Spc105) directs Bub1
and BubR1 to kinetochores through interaction with their TPR domains (Bolanos-Garcia et
al., 2011; Kiyomitsu et al., 2007). Preventing interaction between the Bubs and Blinkin, either
by siRNA or by point mutation of the TPR domain of Bubs, abolishes the generation of SAC
signals, suggesting that Blinkin has a role both in microtubule attachment and SAC
signaling (Kiyomitsu et al., 2007). The SAC proteins Bub1, BubR1, Bub3, and Mps1 were
themselves involved in the regulation of microtubule attachment, beside their role in SAC
signaling (Logarinho & Bousbaa, 2008).
The highly conserved serine/threonine Aurora B kinase provides the main link between the
error correction machinery and SAC. By destabilizing tensionless kinetochore-microtubule
attachments, Aurora B creates unattached kinetochores that can be filled with checkpoint
proteins to generate SAC signals (Burke & Stukenberg, 2008). This in turn allows time for
error correction and bi-orientation. The direct involvement of Aurora B activity in SAC
control is suggested by its requirement for SAC protein recruitment to unattached
kinetochores (tensionless) artificially created in cells treated with the microtubuledepolymerizing drug nocodazole (Kallio et al., 2002). Moreover, recent studies strongly
suggest that Aurora B directly contributes to SAC signaling independently of its error
correction activity (Santaguida et al., 2011).

5. Conclusion
Accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis relies on the activities of the kinetochore.
Here, we highlighted the event of mitosis and focused on the structure and functions of
kinetochore in chromosome attachment, chromosome movement, error correction, and the
generation of inhibitory signals that prevent anaphase in the presence of attachment errors.

272

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

The basic mechanisms of these kinetochore functions, their interplays, and regulatory
pathways remain under investigation. Elucidating these mechanisms is crucial for future
progress and is relevant to cancer aetiology and therapy. Indeed, failure in any of these
kinetochore functions can lead to chromosome missegregation, with chromosome losses and
gains, which may contributes to the aneuploidy phenotype that characterizes many cancers
(Kops et al., 2005; Thompson et al., 2010).

6. Acknowledgment
H.B. is supported by grant 02-GCQF-CICS-2011N, from Cooperativa de Ensino Superior
Politcnico e Universitrio (CESPU); through national funds from FCT Fundao para a
Cincia e a Tecnologia under the project CEQUIMED - PEst-OE/SAU/UI4040/2011 and
also by FEDER funds through the COMPETE program under the project FCOMP-01-0124FEDER-011057. We apologize to all the authors whose work could not be referred due to
space limitation.

7. References
Amano, M.; Suzuki, A.; Hori, T.; Backer, C.; Okawa, K.; Cheeseman, I.M. & Fukagawa, T.
(2009). The CENP-S complex is essential for the stable assembly of outer
kinetochore structure. J Cell Biol, Vol. 186, N 2, pp. (173-182)
Baker, J.R. (1949). The cell-theory; a restatement, history, and critique. Q J Microsc Sci, Vol.
90, N 1, pp. (87-108)
Barnhart, M.C.; Kuich, P.H.; Stellfox, M.E.; Ward, J.A.; Bassett, E.A.; Black, B.E. & Foltz, D.R.
(2011). HJURP is a CENP-A chromatin assembly factor sufficient to form a
functional de novo kinetochore. J Cell Biol, Vol. 194, N 2, pp. (229-243)
Biggins, S.; Severin, F.F.; Bhalla, N.; Sassoon, I.; Hyman, A.A. & Murray, A.W. (1999). The
conserved protein kinase Ipl1 regulates microtubule binding to kinetochores in
budding yeast. Genes Dev, Vol. 13, N 5, pp. (532-544)
Bolanos-Garcia, V.M.; Lischetti, T.; Matak-Vinkovic, D.; Cota, E.; Simpson, P.J.; Chirgadze,
D.Y.; Spring, D.R.; Robinson, C.V.; Nilsson, J. & Blundell, T.L. (2011). Structure of a
Blinkin-BUBR1 Complex Reveals an Interaction Crucial for Kinetochore-Mitotic
Checkpoint Regulation via an Unanticipated Binding Site. Structure, Vol., N
Bowers, S.R. & Mellone, B.G. (2011). Starting from scratch: de novo kinetochore assembly in
vertebrates. Embo J, Vol. 30, N 19, pp. (3882-3884)
Brinkley, B.R. & Stubblefield, E. (1966). The fine structure of the kinetochore of a
mammalian cell in vitro. Chromosoma, Vol. 19, N 1, pp. (28-43)
Burke, D.J. & Stukenberg, P.T. (2008). Linking kinetochore-microtubule binding to the
spindle checkpoint. Dev Cell, Vol. 14, N 4, pp. (474-479)
Carroll, C.W.; Silva, M.C.; Godek, K.M.; Jansen, L.E. & Straight, A.F. (2009). Centromere
assembly requires the direct recognition of CENP-A nucleosomes by CENP-N. Nat
Cell Biol, Vol. 11, N 7, pp. (896-902)
Cassimeris, L. (2004). Cell division: eg'ing on microtubule flux. Curr Biol, Vol. 14, N 23, pp.
(R1000-1002)
Cassimeris, L.; Rieder, C.L.; Rupp, G. & Salmon, E.D. (1990). Stability of microtubule
attachment to metaphase kinetochores in PtK1 cells. J Cell Sci, Vol. 96 ( Pt 1), N pp.
(9-15)

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

273

Chan, Y.W.; Fava, L.L.; Uldschmid, A.; Schmitz, M.H.; Gerlich, D.W.; Nigg, E.A. &
Santamaria, A. (2009). Mitotic control of kinetochore-associated dynein and spindle
orientation by human Spindly. J Cell Biol, Vol. 185, N 5, pp. (859-874)
Cheeseman, I.M.; Chappie, J.S.; Wilson-Kubalek, E.M. & Desai, A. (2006). The conserved
KMN network constitutes the core microtubule-binding site of the kinetochore.
Cell, Vol. 127, N 5, pp. (983-997)
Cheeseman, I.M. & Desai, A. (2008). Molecular architecture of the kinetochore-microtubule
interface. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 9, N 1, pp. (33-46)
Clarke, P.R. & Zhang, C. (2008). Spatial and temporal coordination of mitosis by Ran
GTPase. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 9, N 6, pp. (464-477)
Desai, A. & Mitchison, T.J. (1997). Microtubule polymerization dynamics. Annu Rev Cell Dev
Biol, Vol. 13, N pp. (83-117)
Dewar, H.; Tanaka, K.; Nasmyth, K. & Tanaka, T.U. (2004). Tension between two
kinetochores suffices for their bi-orientation on the mitotic spindle. Nature, Vol. 428,
N 6978, pp. (93-97)
Doree, M. & Hunt, T. (2002). From Cdc2 to Cdk1: when did the cell cycle kinase join its
cyclin partner? J Cell Sci, Vol. 115, N Pt 12, pp. (2461-2464)
Fraschini, R.; Beretta, A.; Sironi, L.; Musacchio, A.; Lucchini, G. & Piatti, S. (2001). Bub3
interaction with Mad2, Mad3 and Cdc20 is mediated by WD40 repeats and does
not require intact kinetochores. Embo J, Vol. 20, N 23, pp. (6648-6659)
Fuller, B.G. (2010). Self-organization of intracellular gradients during mitosis. Cell Div, Vol.
5, N 1, pp. (5)
Fuller, B.G. & Stukenberg, P.T. (2009). Cell division: righting the check. Curr Biol, Vol. 19, N
14, pp. (R550-553)
Gaitanos, T.N.; Santamaria, A.; Jeyaprakash, A.A.; Wang, B.; Conti, E. & Nigg, E.A. (2009).
Stable kinetochore-microtubule interactions depend on the Ska complex and its
new component Ska3/C13Orf3. Embo J, Vol. 28, N 10, pp. (1442-1452)
Gascoigne, K.E.; Takeuchi, K.; Suzuki, A.; Hori, T.; Fukagawa, T. & Cheeseman, I.M.
Induced ectopic kinetochore assembly bypasses the requirement for CENP-A
nucleosomes. Cell, Vol. 145, N 3, pp. (410-422)
Gascoigne, K.E.; Takeuchi, K.; Suzuki, A.; Hori, T.; Fukagawa, T. & Cheeseman, I.M. (2011).
Induced ectopic kinetochore assembly bypasses the requirement for CENP-A
nucleosomes. Cell, Vol. 145, N 3, pp. (410-422)
Gassmann, R.; Essex, A.; Hu, J.S.; Maddox, P.S.; Motegi, F.; Sugimoto, A.; O'Rourke, S.M.;
Bowerman, B.; McLeod, I.; Yates, J.R., 3rd; Oegema, K.; Cheeseman, I.M. & Desai,
A. (2008). A new mechanism controlling kinetochore-microtubule interactions
revealed by comparison of two dynein-targeting components: SPDL-1 and the
Rod/Zwilch/Zw10 complex. Genes Dev, Vol. 22, N 17, pp. (2385-2399)
Gorbsky, G.J.; Sammak, P.J. & Borisy, G.G. (1987). Chromosomes move poleward in
anaphase along stationary microtubules that coordinately disassemble from their
kinetochore ends. J Cell Biol, Vol. 104, N 1, pp. (9-18)
Griffis, E.R.; Stuurman, N. & Vale, R.D. (2007). Spindly, a novel protein essential for
silencing the spindle assembly checkpoint, recruits dynein to the kinetochore. J Cell
Biol, Vol. 177, N 6, pp. (1005-1015)
Guimaraes, G.J. & Deluca, J.G. (2009). Connecting with Ska, a key complex at the
kinetochore-microtubule interface. Embo J, Vol. 28, N 10, pp. (1375-1377)

274

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Guse, A.; Carroll, C.W.; Moree, B.; Fuller, C.J. & Straight, A.F. (2011). In vitro centromere
and kinetochore assembly on defined chromatin templates. Nature, Vol. 477, N
7364, pp. (354-358)
Hauf, S.; Cole, R.W.; LaTerra, S.; Zimmer, C.; Schnapp, G.; Walter, R.; Heckel, A.; van Meel,
J.; Rieder, C.L. & Peters, J.M. (2003). The small molecule Hesperadin reveals a role
for Aurora B in correcting kinetochore-microtubule attachment and in maintaining
the spindle assembly checkpoint. J Cell Biol, Vol. 161, N 2, pp. (281-294)
Hayden, J.H.; Bowser, S.S. & Rieder, C.L. (1990). Kinetochores capture astral microtubules
during chromosome attachment to the mitotic spindle: direct visualization in live
newt lung cells. J Cell Biol, Vol. 111, N 3, pp. (1039-1045)
He, D. &
Brinkley, B.R. (1996). Structure and dynamic organization of
centromeres/prekinetochores in the nucleus of mammalian cells. J Cell Sci, Vol. 109
( Pt 11), N pp. (2693-2704)
Holland, A.J. & Cleveland, D.W. (2009). Boveri revisited: chromosomal instability,
aneuploidy and tumorigenesis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 10, N 7, pp. (478-487)
Hori, T.; Amano, M.; Suzuki, A.; Backer, C.B.; Welburn, J.P.; Dong, Y.; McEwen, B.F.; Shang,
W.H.; Suzuki, E.; Okawa, K.; Cheeseman, I.M. & Fukagawa, T. (2008). CCAN
makes multiple contacts with centromeric DNA to provide distinct pathways to the
outer kinetochore. Cell, Vol. 135, N 6, pp. (1039-1052)
Howell, B.J.; McEwen, B.F.; Canman, J.C.; Hoffman, D.B.; Farrar, E.M.; Rieder, C.L. &
Salmon, E.D. (2001). Cytoplasmic dynein/dynactin drives kinetochore protein
transport to the spindle poles and has a role in mitotic spindle checkpoint
inactivation. J Cell Biol, Vol. 155, N 7, pp. (1159-1172)
Joglekar, A.P.; Bloom, K.S. & Salmon, E.D. (2010). Mechanisms of force generation by endon kinetochore-microtubule attachments. Curr Opin Cell Biol, Vol. 22, N 1, pp. (5767)
Jokelainen, P.T. (1967). The ultrastructure and spatial organization of the metaphase
kinetochore in mitotic rat cells. J Ultrastruct Res, Vol. 19, N 1, pp. (19-44)
Kalab, P.; Weis, K. & Heald, R. (2002). Visualization of a Ran-GTP gradient in interphase
and mitotic Xenopus egg extracts. Science, Vol. 295, N 5564, pp. (2452-2456)
Kallio, M.J.; McCleland, M.L.; Stukenberg, P.T. & Gorbsky, G.J. (2002). Inhibition of aurora
B kinase blocks chromosome segregation, overrides the spindle checkpoint, and
perturbs microtubule dynamics in mitosis. Curr Biol, Vol. 12, N 11, pp. (900-905)
Kapoor, T.M. & Compton, D.A. (2002). Searching for the middle ground: mechanisms of
chromosome alignment during mitosis. J Cell Biol, Vol. 157, N 4, pp. (551-556)
Kapoor, T.M.; Lampson, M.A.; Hergert, P.; Cameron, L.; Cimini, D.; Salmon, E.D.; McEwen,
B.F. & Khodjakov, A. (2006). Chromosomes can congress to the metaphase plate
before biorientation. Science, Vol. 311, N 5759, pp. (388-391)
Karess, R. (2005). Rod-Zw10-Zwilch: a key player in the spindle checkpoint. Trends Cell Biol,
Vol. 15, N 7, pp. (386-392)
Khodjakov, A.; Cole, R.W.; Oakley, B.R. & Rieder, C.L. (2000). Centrosome-independent
mitotic spindle formation in vertebrates. Curr Biol, Vol. 10, N 2, pp. (59-67)
Khodjakov, A.; Copenagle, L.; Gordon, M.B.; Compton, D.A. & Kapoor, T.M. (2003). Minusend capture of preformed kinetochore fibers contributes to spindle morphogenesis.
J Cell Biol, Vol. 160, N 5, pp. (671-683)

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

275

King, R.W.; Deshaies, R.J.; Peters, J.M. & Kirschner, M.W. (1996). How proteolysis drives
the cell cycle. Science, Vol. 274, N 5293, pp. (1652-1659)
Kirschner, M. & Mitchison, T. (1986). Beyond self-assembly: from microtubules to
morphogenesis. Cell, Vol. 45, N 3, pp. (329-342)
Kitamura, E.; Tanaka, K.; Komoto, S.; Kitamura, Y.; Antony, C. & Tanaka, T.U. (2010).
Kinetochores generate microtubules with distal plus ends: their roles and limited
lifetime in mitosis. Dev Cell, Vol. 18, N 2, pp. (248-259)
Kiyomitsu, T.; Obuse, C. & Yanagida, M. (2007). Human Blinkin/AF15q14 is required for
chromosome alignment and the mitotic checkpoint through direct interaction with
Bub1 and BubR1. Dev Cell, Vol. 13, N 5, pp. (663-676)
Kops, G.J.; Kim, Y.; Weaver, B.A.; Mao, Y.; McLeod, I.; Yates, J.R., 3rd; Tagaya, M. &
Cleveland, D.W. (2005). ZW10 links mitotic checkpoint signaling to the structural
kinetochore. J Cell Biol, Vol. 169, N 1, pp. (49-60)
Lampert, F. & Westermann, S. (2011). A blueprint for kinetochores - new insights into the
molecular mechanics of cell division. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 12, N 7, pp. (407412)
Lampson, M.A. & Cheeseman, I.M. (2011). Sensing centromere tension: Aurora B and the
regulation of kinetochore function. Trends Cell Biol, Vol. 21, N 3, pp. (133-140)
Lan, W.; Zhang, X.; Kline-Smith, S.L.; Rosasco, S.E.; Barrett-Wilt, G.A.; Shabanowitz, J.;
Hunt, D.F.; Walczak, C.E. & Stukenberg, P.T. (2004). Aurora B phosphorylates
centromeric MCAK and regulates its localization and microtubule
depolymerization activity. Curr Biol, Vol. 14, N 4, pp. (273-286)
Logarinho, E. & Bousbaa, H. (2008). Kinetochore-microtubule interactions "in check" by
Bub1, Bub3 and BubR1: The dual task of attaching and signalling. Cell Cycle, Vol. 7,
N 12, pp. (1763-1768)
Ma, H.T. & Poon, R.Y. (2011). Orderly inactivation of the key checkpoint protein mitotic
arrest deficient 2 (MAD2) during mitotic progression. J Biol Chem, Vol. 286, N 15,
pp. (13052-13059)
Maiato, H.; Hergert, P.J.; Moutinho-Pereira, S.; Dong, Y.; Vandenbeldt, K.J.; Rieder, C.L. &
McEwen, B.F. (2006). The ultrastructure of the kinetochore and kinetochore fiber in
Drosophila somatic cells. Chromosoma, Vol. 115, N 6, pp. (469-480)
Maiato, H.; Rieder, C.L. & Khodjakov, A. (2004). Kinetochore-driven formation of
kinetochore fibers contributes to spindle assembly during animal mitosis. J Cell Biol,
Vol. 167, N 5, pp. (831-840)
Masui, Y. & Markert, C.L. (1971). Cytoplasmic control of nuclear behavior during meiotic
maturation of frog oocytes. J Exp Zool, Vol. 177, N 2, pp. (129-145)
McCleland, M.L.; Gardner, R.D.; Kallio, M.J.; Daum, J.R.; Gorbsky, G.J.; Burke, D.J. &
Stukenberg, P.T. (2003). The highly conserved Ndc80 complex is required for
kinetochore assembly, chromosome congression, and spindle checkpoint activity.
Genes Dev, Vol. 17, N 1, pp. (101-114)
McEwen, B.F.; Hsieh, C.E.; Mattheyses, A.L. & Rieder, C.L. (1998). A new look at
kinetochore structure in vertebrate somatic cells using high-pressure freezing and
freeze substitution. Chromosoma, Vol. 107, N 6-7, pp. (366-375)
Merdes, A. & De Mey, J. (1990). The mechanism of kinetochore-spindle attachment and
polewards movement analyzed in PtK2 cells at the prophase-prometaphase
transition. Eur J Cell Biol, Vol. 53, N 2, pp. (313-325)

276

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Metzner, R. (1894). Beitrage zur granulalehre. I. Kern und kerntheilung. Arch Anat Physiol,
Vol., N pp. (309348)
Mitchison, T.; Evans, L.; Schulze, E. & Kirschner, M. (1986). Sites of microtubule assembly
and disassembly in the mitotic spindle. Cell, Vol. 45, N 4, pp. (515-527)
Mitchison, T. & Kirschner, M. (1984). Dynamic instability of microtubule growth. Nature,
Vol. 312, N 5991, pp. (237-242)
Mitchison, T.J. (1989). Polewards microtubule flux in the mitotic spindle: evidence from
photoactivation of fluorescence. J Cell Biol, Vol. 109, N 2, pp. (637-652)
Morgan, D.O. (2007). The cell cycle: principles of control (London, New Science Press Ltd).
Musacchio, A. & Salmon, E.D. (2007). The spindle-assembly checkpoint in space and time.
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 8, N 5, pp. (379-393)
Nicklas, R.B. & Koch, C.A. (1969). Chromosome micromanipulation. 3. Spindle fiber tension
and the reorientation of mal-oriented chromosomes. J Cell Biol, Vol. 43, N 1, pp.
(40-50)
Nicklas, R.B. & Kubai, D.F. (1985). Microtubules, chromosome movement, and reorientation
after chromosomes are detached from the spindle by micromanipulation.
Chromosoma, Vol. 92, N 4, pp. (313-324)
Nicklas, R.B. & Ward, S.C. (1994). Elements of error correction in mitosis: microtubule
capture, release, and tension. J Cell Biol, Vol. 126, N 5, pp. (1241-1253)
Nicklas, R.B.; Ward, S.C. & Gorbsky, G.J. (1995). Kinetochore chemistry is sensitive to
tension and may link mitotic forces to a cell cycle checkpoint. J Cell Biol, Vol. 130,
N 4, pp. (929-939)
Nigg, E.A. (2001). Mitotic kinases as regulators of cell division and its checkpoints. Nat Rev
Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 2, N 1, pp. (21-32)
O'Connell, C.B. & Khodjakov, A.L. (2007). Cooperative mechanisms of mitotic spindle
formation. J Cell Sci, Vol. 120, N Pt 10, pp. (1717-1722)
O'Connell, C.B.; Loncarek, J.; Kalab, P. & Khodjakov, A. (2009). Relative contributions of
chromatin and kinetochores to mitotic spindle assembly. J Cell Biol, Vol. 187, N 1,
pp. (43-51)
Paweletz, N. (2001). Walther Flemming: pioneer of mitosis research. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol,
Vol. 2, N 1, pp. (72-75)
Petrovic, A.; Pasqualato, S.; Dube, P.; Krenn, V.; Santaguida, S.; Cittaro, D.; Monzani, S.;
Massimiliano, L.; Keller, J.; Tarricone, A.; Maiolica, A.; Stark, H. & Musacchio, A.
(2010). The MIS12 complex is a protein interaction hub for outer kinetochore
assembly. J Cell Biol, Vol. 190, N 5, pp. (835-852)
Przewloka, M.R. & Glover, D.M. (2009). The kinetochore and the centromere: a working
long distance relationship. Annu Rev Genet, Vol. 43, N pp. (439-465)
Reddy, S.K.; Rape, M.; Margansky, W.A. & Kirschner, M.W. (2007). Ubiquitination by the
anaphase-promoting complex drives spindle checkpoint inactivation. Nature, Vol.
446, N 7138, pp. (921-925)
Rieder, C.L. (2005). Kinetochore fiber formation in animal somatic cells: dueling mechanisms
come to a draw. Chromosoma, Vol. 114, N 5, pp. (310-318)
Rieder, C.L. & Alexander, S.P. (1990). Kinetochores are transported poleward along a single
astral microtubule during chromosome attachment to the spindle in newt lung
cells. J Cell Biol, Vol. 110, N 1, pp. (81-95)

The Kinetochore and Mitosis: Focus on the Regulation

and Correction Mechanisms of Chromosome-to-Microtubule Attachments

277

Rieder, C.L.; Cole, R.W.; Khodjakov, A. & Sluder, G. (1995). The checkpoint delaying
anaphase in response to chromosome monoorientation is mediated by an inhibitory
signal produced by unattached kinetochores. J Cell Biol, Vol. 130, N 4, pp. (941-948)
Rieder, C.L.; Davison, E.A.; Jensen, L.C.; Cassimeris, L. & Salmon, E.D. (1986). Oscillatory
movements of monooriented chromosomes and their position relative to the
spindle pole result from the ejection properties of the aster and half-spindle. J Cell
Biol, Vol. 103, N 2, pp. (581-591)
Rieder, C.L. & Salmon, E.D. (1998). The vertebrate cell kinetochore and its roles during
mitosis. Trends Cell Biol, Vol. 8, N 8, pp. (310-318)
Ruchaud, S.; Carmena, M. & Earnshaw, W.C. (2007). Chromosomal passengers: conducting
cell division. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 8, N 10, pp. (798-812)
Santaguida, S. & Musacchio, A. (2009). The life and miracles of kinetochores. Embo J, Vol.
28, N 17, pp. (2511-2531)
Santaguida, S.; Vernieri, C.; Villa, F.; Ciliberto, A. & Musacchio, A. (2011). Evidence that
Aurora B is implicated in spindle checkpoint signalling independently of error
correction. Embo J, Vol. 30, N 8, pp. (1508-1519)
Schrader, F. (1936). Kinetochore or Spindle Fibre Locus in Amphiuma tridactylum. Biological
Bulletin Vol. 70, N pp. (484-498)
Schrader, F. (1944). Mitosis. The Movement of Chromosomes in Cell Division (New York,
Columbia University Press).
Schvartzman, J.M.; Sotillo, R. & Benezra, R. (2010). Mitotic chromosomal instability and
cancer: mouse modelling of the human disease. Nat Rev Cancer, Vol. 10, N 2, pp.
(102-115)
Screpanti, E.; De Antoni, A.; Alushin, G.M.; Petrovic, A.; Melis, T.; Nogales, E. & Musacchio,
A. (2011). Direct binding of Cenp-C to the Mis12 complex joins the inner and outer
kinetochore. Curr Biol, Vol. 21, N 5, pp. (391-398)
Sharp, D.J.; Rogers, G.C. & Scholey, J.M. (2000). Cytoplasmic dynein is required for
poleward chromosome movement during mitosis in Drosophila embryos. Nat Cell
Biol, Vol. 2, N 12, pp. (922-930)
Silva, P.; Barbosa, J.; Nascimento, A.V.; Faria, J.; Reis, R. & Bousbaa, H. (2011). Monitoring
the fidelity of mitotic chromosome segregation by the spindle assembly checkpoint.
Cell Prolif, Vol. 44, N 5, pp. (391-400)
Stegmeier, F.; Rape, M.; Draviam, V.M.; Nalepa, G.; Sowa, M.E.; Ang, X.L.; McDonald, E.R.,
3rd; Li, M.Z.; Hannon, G.J.; Sorger, P.K.; Kirschner, M.W.; Harper, J.W. & Elledge,
S.J. (2007). Anaphase initiation is regulated by antagonistic ubiquitination and
deubiquitination activities. Nature, Vol. 446, N 7138, pp. (876-881)
Sudakin, V.; Chan, G.K. & Yen, T.J. (2001). Checkpoint inhibition of the APC/C in HeLa
cells is mediated by a complex of BUBR1, BUB3, CDC20, and MAD2. J Cell Biol, Vol.
154, N 5, pp. (925-936)
Tanaka, T.; Cosma, M.P.; Wirth, K. & Nasmyth, K. (1999). Identification of cohesin
association sites at centromeres and along chromosome arms. Cell, Vol. 98, N 6, pp.
(847-858)
Tanaka, T.U. (2010). Kinetochore-microtubule interactions: steps towards bi-orientation.
Embo J, Vol. 29, N 24, pp. (4070-4082)
Tanaka, T.U.; Rachidi, N.; Janke, C.; Pereira, G.; Galova, M.; Schiebel, E.; Stark, M.J. &
Nasmyth, K. (2002). Evidence that the Ipl1-Sli15 (Aurora kinase-INCENP) complex

278

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

promotes chromosome bi-orientation by altering kinetochore-spindle pole

connections. Cell, Vol. 108, N 3, pp. (317-329)
Thompson, S.L.; Bakhoum, S.F. & Compton, D.A. (2010). Mechanisms of chromosomal
instability. Curr Biol, Vol. 20, N 6, pp. (R285-295)
Tulu, U.S.; Fagerstrom, C.; Ferenz, N.P. & Wadsworth, P. (2006). Molecular requirements
for kinetochore-associated microtubule formation in mammalian cells. Curr Biol,
Vol. 16, N 5, pp. (536-541)
Tulu, U.S.; Rusan, N.M. & Wadsworth, P. (2003). Peripheral, non-centrosome-associated
microtubules contribute to spindle formation in centrosome-containing cells. Curr
Biol, Vol. 13, N 21, pp. (1894-1899)
Vafa, O. & Sullivan, K.F. (1997). Chromatin containing CENP-A and alpha-satellite DNA is
a major component of the inner kinetochore plate. Curr Biol, Vol. 7, N 11, pp. (897900)
Van Hooser, A.A.; Ouspenski, II; Gregson, H.C.; Starr, D.A.; Yen, T.J.; Goldberg, M.L.;
Yokomori, K.; Earnshaw, W.C.; Sullivan, K.F. & Brinkley, B.R. (2001). Specification
of kinetochore-forming chromatin by the histone H3 variant CENP-A. J Cell Sci,
Vol. 114, N Pt 19, pp. (3529-3542)
Vanoosthuyse, V. & Hardwick, K.G. (2009). Overcoming inhibition in the spindle
checkpoint. Genes Dev, Vol. 23, N 24, pp. (2799-2805)
Walczak, C.E.; Vernos, I.; Mitchison, T.J.; Karsenti, E. & Heald, R. (1998). A model for the
proposed roles of different microtubule-based motor proteins in establishing
spindle bipolarity. Curr Biol, Vol. 8, N 16, pp. (903-913)
Wang, E.; Ballister, E.R. & Lampson, M.A. (2011). Aurora B dynamics at centromeres create
a diffusion-based phosphorylation gradient. J Cell Biol, Vol. 194, N 4, pp. (539-549)
Wang, H.; Hu, X.; Ding, X.; Dou, Z.; Yang, Z.; Shaw, A.W.; Teng, M.; Cleveland, D.W.;
Goldberg, M.L.; Niu, L. & Yao, X. (2004). Human Zwint-1 specifies localization of
Zeste White 10 to kinetochores and is essential for mitotic checkpoint signaling. J
Biol Chem, Vol. 279, N 52, pp. (54590-54598)
Wollman, R.; Cytrynbaum, E.N.; Jones, J.T.; Meyer, T.; Scholey, J.M. & Mogilner, A. (2005).
Efficient chromosome capture requires a bias in the 'search-and-capture' process
during mitotic-spindle assembly. Curr Biol, Vol. 15, N 9, pp. (828-832)
Yang, Z.; Tulu, U.S.; Wadsworth, P. & Rieder, C.L. (2007). Kinetochore dynein is required
for chromosome motion and congression independent of the spindle checkpoint.
Curr Biol, Vol. 17, N 11, pp. (973-980)
Zachariae, W. & Nasmyth, K. (1999). Whose end is destruction: cell division and the
anaphase-promoting complex. Genes Dev, Vol. 13, N 16, pp. (2039-2058)

13
Molecular and Sub-Cellular
Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and
Germline Cells Across Metazoa
Andrey I. Shukalyuk1 and Valeria V. Isaeva2

1Institute

of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering,

University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario,
2A. V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology of The Far Eastern Branch of
The Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok and A. N. Severtsov Institute of
Ecology and Evolution of The Russian Academy of Science, Moscow,
1Canada
2Russia
1. Introduction
Metazoan life cycle and development include two main types of stem cells: the germline
cells and the somatic stem cell lineages (Hogan, 2001; Rinkevich, 2009; Srouji & Extavour,
2011). In animals with asexual reproduction, the germ lineage is not segregated during
embryogenesis, and the line of pluripotent stem cells is maintained continuously
throughout the life of an individual or a colony, being predecessors of germ cells and a wide
spectrum of somatic cells (Buss, 1987; Isaeva, 2011; Rinkevich, 2009; Skld et al., 2009).
Examples of such pluripotent gametogenic stem cells include sponge archaeocytes,
cnidarian interstitial cells, planarian neoblasts, ascidian hemoblasts and stem cells of
colonial rhizocephalans (reviews: Isaeva et al., 2008, 2009; Rinkevich et al., 2009; Skld et al.,
2009; Srouji & Extavour, 2011). In addition to the germline segregation by preformation, or
mosaic developmental mode and epigenesis, or regulative mode (Extavour, 2008; Extavour
& Akam, 2003; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010), somatic embryogenesis was also recognized
(Buss, 1987; Blackstone & Jasker, 2003; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Rinckevich et al., 2009;
Rosner et al., 2009). Earlier, somatic embryogenesis as natural cloning in animals was
termed blastogenesis (Berrill, 1961; Ivanova-Kazas, 1996). In the life cycle of colonial
animals, one generation of oozooid (an individual that has developed from an egg)
alternates with numerous generations of blastozooids, with alternating morphogenetic
processes: embryogenesis and blastogenesis (Ivanova-Kazas, 1996). Many animals,
including placozoans, sponges, cnidarians, platyhelminths, nemerteans, entoproctans,
ectoproctans, annelids, hemichordates and urochordates are capable of somatic
embryogenesis (Buss 1987; Blackstone & Jasker, 2003; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Rosner et
al., 2009). Among arthropods, many parasitic rhizocephalan crustaceans (Rhizocephala:
Cirripedia: Crustacea) have asexual reproduction, somatic embryogenesis by budding
without separation of blastozooids resulting in the emergence of colonial organization

280

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

(Heg & Ltzen, 1993, 1995; Heg et al., 2005). We have found undifferentiated stem cells in
stolons, buds and ovary rudiments of the colonial rhizocephalans Polyascus polygenea (Isaeva
et al., 2001, 2004; Shukalyuk, 2002; Shukalyuk et al., 2005, 2007) and Peltogasterella gracilis
(Isaeva et al., 2003; Shukalyuk et al., 2001, 2005). The rhizocephalan stem cells take part in
the morphogenesis of the earliest buds, and later migrate to the developing ovary as
primary germ cells. So, pluripotent gametogenic stem cells are a cellular source in the
realization of reproductive strategy including both sexual and asexual reproduction in
colonial rhizocephalan.
All stem cells are characterized by two common properties that extend across diverse taxa:
first, the capacity for self-renewal, the ability to propagate without loss of stemness
property; second, the ability to give rise to numerous progeny that are fated for further
differentiation into specialized cells (Ali et al., 2011; Cox et al., 1998; Srouji & Extavour,
2011; Watanabe et al. 2009). Depending on the breadth of the potential range of cell
differentiation, totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, oligopotent, and unipotent stem cells
are distinguished, but this terminology is not unified (see Isaeva, 2010; 2011).
Female germline cells can be qualified as unipotent, since they produce only one type of
differentiated cells, and totipotent, taking into account their potential of developing into a
whole organism. There is no doubt that differentiated and deeply specialized gametes are
unipotent cells producing only oocytes or sperm under specific signaling control of their
niche. However, the progenitors of germline cells are multipotent or even pluripotent, also
capable of differentiating into somatic lineages in vitro or in vivo, causing various germlinebased embryonic tumorogenesis.
Stem cells of invertebrates with asexual reproduction are capable of differentiation into both
germline and all, most or many somatic cell types are traditionally referred to as totipotent,
pluripotent or multipotent. We consider here these cells as gametogenic pluripotent stem
cells. In asexually reproducing invertebrates no early segregation of the germ cell lineage is
observed. The lineage of pluripotent, traditionally referred to as totipotent, stem cells
ensures both sexual and asexual reproduction over the entire life span of an individual or a
colony. These pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into gametes and somatic cells in adult
organisms. We studied pluripotent gametogenic stem cells in asexually reproducing
representatives of five animal types: archaeocytes in the sponge (Porifera) Oscarella
malakhovi (Isaeva & Akhmadieva, 2011), interstitial cells in the colonial hydroids (Cnidaria)
Obelia longissima and Ectopleura crocea (Isaeva et al., 2011), neoblasts in the planarian
(Platyhelmintes) Girardia tigrina (Isaeva et al., 2005), stem cells in the colonial rhizocephalans
(Arthropoda) Peltogasterella gracilis and Polyascus polygenea (Isaeva et al., 2003, 2004;
Shukalyuk et al., 2005, 2007), hemoblasts, stem cells in the colonial ascidian (Chordata)
Botryllus tuberatus (Akhmadieva et al., 2007), and also embryonic stem cells as a benchmark
for pluripotency, using in vitro culture, electron microscopic, histological, histochemical and
molecular methods.
Mammalian embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are considered as a standard cell culture model for
studying pluripotency (Do & Schler, 2009). In our studies, as well as in the present review,
we compare our data on invertebrate pluripotent stem cells with the information on the
molecular signature of pluripotent stem cells of various animals, including mouse ESCs
(Isaeva et al., 2003; Shukalyuk, 2009; Shukalyuk et al., 2005, 2011; Shukalyuk & Stanford,

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

281

2008), taking into consideration that mammalian ESCs in vitro are in some sense artifacts of
tissue culture (Shostak, 2006; Zwaka & Thomson, 2005).
In this review, we reveal some common principles in the sub-cellular and molecular
machinery maintaining pluripotency and gametogenic potentiality. We hypothesize that
evolutionary conserved molecular mechanisms underlie pluripotency, including
gametogenic potentiality in germline, embryonic stem cells and other pluripotent stem cells
of different metazoans.

2. The molecular and sub-cellular machinery of stem cell specifications

In all multicellular organisms, a stem cell system serves as a crucial cellular source during
embryonic development building de novo the entire organism and during adulthood
regenerating all types of cells and tissues of the individual. In colonial organisms with asexual
reproduction in their life cycle, stem cells can be toti/pluripotent, producing not only all
somatic types but germline as well. One of the critical features of the stem cell is self-renewal.
Stem cells can divide indefinitely without losing their potent capacity and ability to
differentiate. Typical stem cell morphology is characterized by a relatively organelle-free
cytoplasm, large rounded nucleus and large prominent nucleolus (nucleoli) and diffuse
euchromatin, presumably capable of genome-wide active transcription. They have also a
significant proportion of inactive heterochromatin, which is silenced by histone methylation or
siRNAs and appear as a compact electron-dense material at the ultrastructural level. Also,
based on the chromatin organization state, stem cells commonly have the nuclear-tocytoplasmic ratio shifted toward the nucleus of the cell. These morphological characteristics of
stem cells are applicable for the germline cells as well. However, when germcells are specified
they will stop actively proliferating until they reach the rudiment of the gonads. It is belived
that germline cells will keep their toti-/pluripotent properties and self-renewal capacity while
continuing to migrate and differentiate to gametes. Remarkable properties of germline cells,
underlining their morpho-functional similarities and differences with other toti-/pluripotent
cells, are our main focus in this section.
2.1 Germline cells
Germline cells across Metazoa are specialized cells which are usually specified in very early
embryonic development, preserving their capacity to carry out important information about
the entire organism, passing it down to the next generation. During preformation,
maternally inherited factors of the egg cell, localized in specific areas of the cleaving zygote,
leave a specific imprint in the blastomeres, which specialize into germline progenitors. It is
believed that epigenesis gives an advantage for the multicellular organism in adaptation
and species survival because it does not rely on the quality of a few blastomeres. Instead,
during epiginesis, early blastomeres have equal developmental potential and have similar
capacity contributing to the developing organism and germline specification (Fig. 1).
Germline cells can be indentified by their specific morpho-genetic signature. According to
Extavour (Extavour, 2008; Extavour & Akam 2003), undifferentiated germ cells can be
distinguished from somatic cells by several criteria, in addition to typical stem cell
characteristics described above. The morphological features are mainly default
characteristics of the undifferentiated state (Ali et al., 2011). An exception is the key

282

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

organelles of germline cells referred to as germ (germinal) granules or nuage. They are
considered to be a germline hallmark across the animal kingdom (Brown& Swalla, 2007;
Eddy et al., 1975; Ikenishi, 1998; Lim & Kai, 2007; Mahowald, 2001; Matova & Cooley, 2001).
Evolutionary conserved germ-cell-specific gene expression marks germline cells
distinguishing them from somatic cells in all studied metazoans (Ewen-Camden et al., 2010;
Extavour, 2008; Leatherman, Jongens, 2003; Matova & Cooley, 2001; Seydoux & Braun, 2006;
Sroji & Extavour, 2011).

Fig. 1. Germline specification in Metazoa: epigenesis in mouse; preformation in C. elegans

and Drosophila and blastogenesis in colonial Rhizocephala. Epigenesis and preformation:
oocyte (A) with distinguished germ granules/germ plasm (red) by the nucleus; specific
macromolecular complexes of cytoplasm (yellow), including proteins and transcripts of
germline marker genes; mature egg or zygote (B), the germline granules presumably
distribute evenly in the cell mass, in Drosophila the distinguished granules did not form yet;
cleaving zygote (CD), 2- to 16-cell blastomeres, maternal cytoplasm is distributing equally
in mice and not equally in C. elegans, where only one blastomere inherited germ granules
and the specific cytoplasmic factors, polarized cytoplasm in Drosophila, germ granules are
located at the posterior pole; (E) in mouse, the group of pluripotent cells form the inner cell
mass of the blastocyst, in Drosophila, germline cells specified by polarized germ granules; (F)
germline specification occurs inside epiblast during mesoderm formation. Blastogenesis: in
colonial Rhizocephala, gametogenic stem cells (SC, yellow) within stolon migrate to the
rudiment of the gonad of the developing blastozooid (A), forming a germline lineage (blue
colour, differentiating somatic tissues), totipotent SCs of the tubular-like stolon (B) forming
buds (C).

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

283

2.1.1 Morphological evidence of nuage/germ granules/chromatoid bodies

Germ plasm (Keimplasma), Weismanns famous term, originally denoted the nuclear
genetic material (Weismann, 1982, 1893) now is understood metaphorically as cytoplasmic
compartment containing specific ultrastructural marker and a key organelle of metazoan
germline cells (Amikura et al., 2001; Ikenishi, 1998; Lim & Kai, 2007; Matova & Cooley, 2001;
Seydoux & Braun, 2006). Perinuclear germinal granules are almost universal specific
organelles of germ cells. The ultrastructure of these organelles is similar, but they can be
represented in cells of different organisms as either granules (bodies) or as a cloud (nuage)
of fine-dispersed material. There are various terms for the specific electron-dense material:
germ plasm granules, nuage, germ cell granules, polar, perinuclear, chromatoid, germinal,
germ granules (bodies), dense bodies, etc. (Eddy, 1975; Flemr et al., 2010; Ikenishi, 1998;
Isaeva, 2010, 2011; Mahowald, 2001; Seydoux & Braun, 2006; Lim & Kai, 2007). Despite the
various terms for the germline granule in different model species, several common features
are found (Fig. 2). It seems that the morphological appearance of the structure is linked to
stage-specific function and macro-molecular composition, which will be discussed later in
this review.
Nuage/germ granules/chromatoid bodies are morphologically and ultrastructurally
identifiable and similar to each other. They are discrete, electron-dense organelles,
composed of fibrillar and granular material, not bounded by a limiting membrane, often
located in the perinuclear cytoplasm and usually associated with clusters of mitochondria.
These bodies are found in germ cells in many stages of development, ranging from
primordial germ cells in embryos to gametes in adult gonads. The observations suggest that
germ granules/nuage/ chromatoid bodies represent different forms of the same material
over time (Eddy, 1975; Ikenishi, 1998; Kloc et al., 2004; Mahowald, 2001; Parvinen, 2005).
Germ granules have been called by a variety of names reflecting their different morphology
at different developmental stages and in different organisms, for example, P granules in
Caenorhabditis elegans, polar granules in primordial germ cells and nuage during later
development in Drosophila and other insects, Balbiani body and germinal granules in
Xenopus, chromatoid body in mammalian male germ cells (Eddy, 1975; Extavour, 2008; Kloc
et al., 2004; Seydoux & Braun, 2006). Large complexes including other organelles as in
Xenopus oocytes were called Balbiani body, mitochondrial cloud, intermitochondrial cement,
yolk nucleus etc: the old nomenclature is confusing and chaotic (Kloc et al., 2004). The
Balbiani body was also observed in oocytes of mouse (Pepling et al., 2007). Seydoux & Braun
(2006) used the generic term germ granules to refer to all these structures considered as
hubs for posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. While the various names of these
structures correspond to differences in morphology, composition, and animals in which
they were first identified, it is believed that they are related entities (Eddy, 1975; Gustafson
& Wessel, 2009; Parvinen, 2005). The exact relationship between all of these differently
named structures has not been determined, but it is possible that they are all different
morphological manifestations of the same germ line-specific body (Extavour & Akam, 2003).
The chromatoid body of mammalian spermatocytes and spermatids is also suggested to be a
mammalian counterpart of nuage on the basis of its structural features and protein
composition (Parvinen, 2005; Pepling et al., 2007). Accumulating evidence indicates that the
chromatoid body is involved in RNA storing and metabolism, being related to the RNA
processing body (P-body: see below) of somatic cells (Kotaja et al., 2006; Nagamori et al.,
2011). Here we will refer to these structures as germ plasm related bodies (GPRBs).

284

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

It was proposed that the determination of primordial germ cell fate in mammals is
independent of germline-specific granules and occurs through an inductive process. Flemr
and colleagues (2010) described the dynamics of the maternal stable untranslated transcripts
(dormant maternal mRNAs) as components of P-bodies in mouse oocytes and reported that
oocyte growth is accompanied by loss of P-bodies and a subcortical accumulation of several
RNA-binding proteins, forming transient RNA-containing aggregates. The authors
proposed that the cortex of growing oocytes contains a novel type of RNA granule related to
P-bodies. Although early mouse oocytes contain granulo-fibrillar material reminiscent of
germ cell granules in association with transiently appearing Balbiani bodies, later oocytes
lack detectable germ granules (Flemr et al., 2010). Other authors argued that true P-bodies
were not observed until the blastocyst stage of embryogenesis, providing evidence that
mouse oocytes develop using molecular and developmental mechanisms widely conserved
throughout the animal kingdom (Pepling, 2010; Pepling et al., 2007). Hubbard and Pera
(2003) reasoned that basic germ-plasm machinery exists in mammalian germ cells as submicroscopic complexes. In many organisms, GPRBs associate with nuclear pores (Eddy,
1975; Seydoux & Braun, 2006; Snee & Macdonald, 2004). The nuage is visible traversing the
nuclear pores, so there is high probability that all or some of the nuage components
originate in the nucleus or shuttle between the nucleus and nuage (Kloc et al., 2004).
Continuity in electron-dense material between the nucleus and the chromatoid body
through nuclear pore complexes has also been observed in male germ cells (Parvinen, 2005;
Updike et al., 2011). Polysomes have been reported adjacent to nuage in Drosophila
(Mahowald, 2001), and chromatoid bodies in rats (Parvinen, 2005). Perinuclear nuage
clusters have remarkably dynamic composition, despite their relatively fixed positions
around the nucleus (Snee & Macdonald, 2004). In the Xenopus oocyte and cleaving embryo,
the germinal granules undergo constant transformation in size, number, and ultrastructure.
Although the structure and behavior of germ line-specific structures show extraordinary
variability, there are also striking similarities and common themes even among
evolutionarily distant organisms (Kloc et al., 2004).
Thus, the presence of GPRBs with their specific organization and localization in the cell is an
evolutionary conserved feature of metazoan germline cells. GPRBs have been found in more
than 80 species of 8 animal types (Eddy, 1975). At least one new additional metazoan type can
be added to Eddys list Porifera, because electron-dense bodies sometimes described as
nuclear extrusion or chromidia were observed in oogonia and oocytes of several sponge
species (see Harrison & De Vos, 1991; Isaeva & Akhmadieva, 2011). The germ granules, the
work horses of germ cells, are thought to function as a specific cytoplasmic regulatory center,
maintaining the genomic totipotency, preventing the expression of somatic differentiation
genes, and protecting germline cells from somatic fate (Chuma et al 2006; Cinalli et al 2008;
Extavour, 2008; Seydoux & Braun, 2006; Srouji & Extavour, 2011; Strome & Lehman, 2007),
preventing somatic fate by default (Leatherman & Jongens, 2003).
2.1.2 Molecular signature
Germ granules and nuage contain products of marker germline genes, which are recognized
as molecular signature of germline cells. GPRBs components include proteins, mRNAs, and
noncoding RNAs. RNA-binding proteins in germinal granules are involved in mRNA
localization, protection, and translation control. The molecular machinery and molecular

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

285

signature of germline cell specification includes a set of evolutionary conserved proteins

such as Vasa, Piwi/Aubergine, Nanos, Tudor, Pumilio, Staufen and some others whose
homologues have been identified in all metazoans studied (Extavour & Akam, 2003;
Leatherman & Jongens, 2003; Kloc et al., 2004; Parvinen, 2005; Chuma et al., 2006; Pepling et
al., 2007; Lim & Kai, 2007; Extavour, 2008; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Flemr et al., 2010;
Srouji & Extavour, 2011). It was shown that some proteins of the germinal granules
determine germ cell fate, and their genes are evolutionary conservative in all studied
metazoans (Ikenishi, 1998; Matova & Cooley, 2001; Mochizuki et al., 2001; Seydoux & Braun,
2006; Srouji & Extavour, 2011). Every known nuage component has a role in one or more
types of posttranscriptional control of gene expression; the presence of shared components
reinforces the notion that nuage and polar granules are closely related structures (Snee &
Macdonald, 2004). Genes related to vasa (vas) and other genes of the DEAD family (Raz,
2000; Shukalyuk et al., 2007) and to piwi/argonaute family (Funayama al., 2010) were found in
a diverse range of eukaryotes from yeast to plants and animals; molecular and functional
similarities of these genes were found across the kingdoms (Mochizuki et al., 2001;
Watanabe et al. 2009). Products of the vasa- and piwi-related genes are the most widely used
molecular germline markers for Metazoa (Extavour & Akam, 2003; Ewen-Camden et al.,
2010; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Ali et al., 2011)
2.1.2.1 Vasa, DEAD box family
vasa protein of the Drosophila (or its homologues), germline-specific RNA helicase is a key
determinant of the fate of germline cells found in GPRBs of germline cells across animal
kingdom (Ali et al., 2011; Cinalli et al., 2008; Extavour & Akam, 2003; Ewen-Camden et al.,
2010; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Shibata et al., 1999, 2010; Sroji & Extavour, 2011; Sunanaga
et al., 2006). Products of vasa-related genes are necessary for the formation and maintenance
of the structural organization of GPRBs and, presumably, for the maintenance of
pluri/totipotency of cells. Vasa and Pl10 are members of the DEAD-box family of RNA
helicases, proteins known to function in all eukaryotes, from yeast up to plants and animals,
in wide aspects of RNA metabolism, including unwinding double-stranded RNAs and
controlling their export, splicing, editing, stability, and degradation. They are involved in
ribosome biogenesis, translation initiation, and mediating both RNARNA and RNA
protein interactions, promoting expression of other germline genes (Cinalli et al., 2008;
Gustafson & Wessel, 2010).
The Vasa-like protein and a set of RNA-binding proteins, as well as other translational
regulators are common and invariable components of GPRBs in many organisms. The
presence of Vasa-like proteins in the germ plasm of different animals indicates the
conservation of molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of the
germ plasm across Metazoa (Extavour, 2008; Ewen-Campen et al. 2010; Gustafson & Wessel,
2010; Juliano et al., 2010; Kloc et al., 2004).
2.1.2.2 Piwi, Piwi/Argonaute family
Piwi/Argonaute family members serve as epigenetic regulators of stem cells in many
systems. Piwi/Ago proteins are an animal germline-specific subclass, highly conserved
across eukaryotes, specifically expressed in germ cells and playing a key role in germ cell
maintenance and self-renewal, transposon silencing, and RNA silencing. These proteins are

286

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

at the core of RNA-silencing machinery that uses small RNA molecules as guides to identify
homologous sequences in RNA or DNA. The small RNAs regulate genes at the
transcriptional or post transcriptional level affecting either chromatin structure or mRNA
stability and mediating transcriptional gene silencing in germline maintenance (see
Gustafson, Wessel, 2010; Peters, Meister, 2007; Thomson, Lin, 2009; Watanabe et al. 2009;
Sroji & Extavour, 2011). Particularly, chromatoid bodies in male germ cells seem to operate
as intracellular nerve centers of the microRNA pathway and function as subcellular
concentration sites for components of the miRNA pathway, centralizing the miRNA
posttranscriptional control system in the cytoplasm of haploid male germ cells (Kotaja et al.,
2006; Nagamori et al., 2011). There are important interactions between Piwi and Vasa in the
germline. PIWI-mediated microRNA pathways are evolutionarily conserved control
mechanisms, found in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes and are essential for stem cell
division in both animal and plant kingdoms (see Ewen-Camden et al., 2010; Funayama et al.,
2010; Watanabe et al., 2009).
2.1.2.3 Tudor-domain contained proteins
tudor (tud) gene products of D. melanogaster are key components of polar granules and nuage
(see Anne, 2010; Arkov et al., 2006; Chuma et al 2006). Tudor motifs are found in many
metazoan organisms and have been indentified to play a role in protein-protein interactions in
which methylated protein substrates bind to these domains. Tudor protein interacts in vitro
with Valois, which is a component of the methylosome in Drosophila (Mahowald, 2001; Anne,
2010). It also was shown to play a role in barrel-like folding, which creates the ability to bind
and to recognize methylated histone H3-K4 and H4-K20 for a double Tudor-domain protein in
human (Huang et al, 2006). The Tudor domain of the SMN (survival motor neuron) protein
binds directly to spliceosomal SM proteins during spliceosome assembly (Selenko et al., 2001).
Thus, germline cells are relatively transcriptionally quiescent during most of embryonic
development. Moreover, germ cells are typically mitotically quiescent from the time of their
specification during embryogenesis, until the time that gametogenesis begins, usually
during larval or adult life (Extavour, 2008). The transfer of most of the control of gene
expression to the cytoplasm is an important evolutionary conservative acquisition ensuring
plasticity for the germ cell genome (Seydoux & Braun, 2006).
2.2 Pluri/multipotent gametogenic stem cells of asexually reproducing animals
2.2.1 Germ granules/chromatoid bodies
In asexually reproducing invertebrates, stem cells capable of differentiating into germ and
somatic cells can be identified by the presence of specific electron-dense cytoplasmic
structures, morphologically similar or identical to germinal granules of germline cells
(referring to GPRBs). In stem cells of asexually reproducing invertebrates, the germinal
granules were revealed before our work in stem cells of cnidarians and flatworms. For
example, the electron-dense bodies similar or identical to GPRBs of germline cells were
found in interstitial cells of the hydra Pelmatohydra robusta. Bodies were associated with
nuclear pores and mitochondria. The number and size of such dense bodies increased
during early oogenesis and decreased during differentiation of somatic cells (cnidoblasts)
from interstitial cells (Noda & Kanai, 1977). Studying many species across Metazoa, we also
found significant similarity in the morphology of electron-dense bodies or granules (Fig. 2).

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

287

In planarians, electron-dense GPRBs were observed not only in germline cells but also in
neoblasts. The chromatoid bodies in planarian neoblasts and germ cells are found near the
nuclear envelope, in close proximity to mitochondria as well (Coward, 1974; Hori, 1982;
Isaeva et al., 2005; Shibata et al., 1999). Nuage-like structures morphologically different from
planarian chromatoid bodies were found in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano (Pfister et al.,
2008). The chromatoid bodies in planarian neoblasts decrease in number and size during
differentiation of somatic cells from neoblasts and disappear in completely differentiated
cells, while in oogenic cells the chromatoid bodies were found during the entire life cycle
(Hori, 1982; Shibata et al., 1999). These observations suggest that the chromatoid bodies are
concerned with the cell totipotency maintenance (Shibata et al., 1999).

Fig. 2. Common morphofunctional feature of stem cells across Metazoa: transmition electron
microscopic level of germ granules/nuage organization. Electron-dense granules (*) are
usually localized near nucleus (n) pore and surrounded by mitochondira (m) in sponge
Oscarella malakhovi (A, D and G), in planarian Girardia tigrina (E), in hydroids Ectopleura
crocea (B and C) and Obelia longissima (F), as well as in mouse embryonic stem cells in culture
(H, embryoid body, day 1) and in stem cells of inner cell mass of the mouse blastocyst (I). A,
D and G, after Isaeva & Akhmadieva, 2011; E, after Isaeva et al., 2005; F, after Isaeva et al.,
2011; H and I, Shukalyuk et al., unbubl. Scale bar is 0.1 m.
The morpho-functional organization of pluripotent gametogenic stem and gonial cells in
studied representatives of diverse metazoan phyla shares with germ and stem cells common
properties as described above. Particularly, in the cytoplasm of archaeocytes in the sponge
Oscarella malakhovi we have found germinal granules of a typical morphology located near
the nuclear envelope and surrounded with polysomes (Isaeva & Akhmadieva, 2011).
Electron-dense GPRBs were found earlier in the oogonia and oocytes of different sponges

288

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

but have not been previously described in the archaeocytes or any other cells of sponges.
We revealed electron-dense GPRBs in interstitial cells of the colonial hydroids Obelia
longissima and Ectopleura crocea (Isaeva et al., 2011), similar to "dense bodies" of interstitial
and germ cells in Pelmatohydra robusta (Noda & Kanai, 1977) and cnidarian oocytes. The
GPRBs surrounded by mitochondria and in contact with nuclear pores have been found
near the nuclear envelope in neoblasts and gonial cells of the planarian Girardia tigrina
(Isaeva et al., 2005). We revealed typical GPRBs in the cytoplasm of embryonic stem cells
and stem cells of the colonial rhizocephalans, Peltogasterella gracilis and Polyascus polygenea
(Shukalyuk et al., 2005, 2007, 2011). In the cytoplasm of some stem cells in the early buds
of colonial ascidian Botryllus tuberatus we have found small electron-dense bodies
(Akhmadieva et al., 2007), similar to disperse material of nuage, often found in
vertebrates. Perinuclear electron-dense germinal granules often associate with the nuclear
pore membrane and bear signs of mitochondrial origin, in particular, cristae of the inner
mitochondrial membrane.
Pluripotent or multipotent gametogenic stem cells in all studied asexually reproducing
animals belong to 5 animal types: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Arthropoda, and
Chordata. They all feature the presence of the germinal granules similarly to germline cells.
Evidently, the electron-dense germ granules are ultrastructural markers and key organelles
both of metazoan germline and potentially gametogenic pluripotent stem cells of asexually
reproducing invertebrates.
2.2.2 Molecular signature in pluripotent gametogenic stem cells
In asexually reproducing animals, both germ and pluripotent stem cells express
evolutionary conserved germ cell markers such as products of genes related to vasa/pl10,
piwi/argonaute, nanos, tudor as well as high activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP, Fig. 3) and
telomerase (Extavour, 2008; Ewen-Camden et al., 2010; Funayama et al., 2010; Gustafson &
Wessel, 2010; Isaeva, 2010, 2011; Mochizuki et al., 2001; Shukalyuk et al., 2005, 2007; Sroji,
Extavour, 2011). Specifically, vasa-related gene expression is characteristic not only of
germline cells, but also pluripotent gametogenic stem cells involved in their
determination and maintenance. Vasa expression as well as a high activity of AP and
telomerase became the classic selective markers of these stem cells (see Isaeva, 2011;
Mochizuki et al., 2001; Rinkevich et al., 2009; Shibata et al., 1999; Shukalyuk et al., 2007;
Skld et al., 2009; Sroji & Extavour, 20110). In many of the invertebrates, such as
cnidarians, acoels, planarians, annelids and colonial urochordates, expression of Piwi and
Vasa are not restricted to the germline but are expressed in multipotent stem cells (Ali et
al., 2011). Piwi is considered to be an omnipresent stemness flag for self-renewal and
maintenance of germ line and stem cells in diverse multicellular organisms (Rosner et al.,
2009). Several studies indicate a functional relationship between Vasa and both the small
interfering RNA and micro-RNA processing pathways (Gustafson & Wessel, 2010). In
sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, and colonial botryllid ascidians, germ cells derive from
adult pluripotent stem cells (Agata et al., 2006; Extavour, 2008; Isaeva, 2010; 2011;
Rinkevich et al., 2009; Skld et al., 2009; Srouji & Extavour, 2011). Gametogenic
potentiality was observed also for stem cells in colonial rhizocephalan crustaceans P.
polygenea and P. gracilis; the stem cells migrated into the developing ovary becoming
oogonial cells (Isaeva et al., 2004; Shukalyuk et al., 2005).

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

289

Fig. 3. Common histochemical feature of stem cells across Metazoa: selective expression of
alkaline phosphatase (AP): A, buds (b) within a colony of Peltogaster reticulatus
(Rhizocaphala); B, high AP-reaction in pluripotent Mus musculus ESCs and low expression
in their differentiated colonies (dc) or fibroblasts (fl); C, AP-positive stem cells inside stolon
(s) and buds (b) of Peltogasterella gracilis (Rhizocephala); D, AP reaction in neurosphere of
Mus musculus ESCs in culture; E and F (selected E), AP-positive hemoblasts of Botryllus
tuberatus inside zooid (z), bud (b), vessel (v) with AP-positive hemoblasts (enlarge in F), and
vascular ampulla (va) during vascular budding. A, B & D, Shulalyuk, unpubl.; C, after
Shukalyuk et al., 2005; D, after Akhmadieva et al., 2007. Scale bar is 20 m (B, DF) & 50
m (A, C).
In the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis (Porifera), expression of piwi orthologues was
found in sponge archaeocytes and choanocytes, sponge pluripotent gametogenic stem cells
(Funayama, 2008; Funayama et al., 2010). The expression of nanos-, vasa- and PL10-related
genes (Mochizuki et al., 2000, 2001) was demonstrated for the adult interstitial and germline
cells for the hydrozoan Hydra magnipapillata (Cnidaria); piwi-like expression was found in
germline and stem cells of the jellyfish Podocoryne carnea (Seipel et al., 2004). vasa-like gene
expresses in interstitial stem cells of Hydractinia echinata (Rebscher et al., 2008). Piwi/Ago,
Pumilio, PCNA were revealed in the hydrozoan Hydra magnipapillata and the anthozoan
Nematostella vectensis, whereas orthologues of Oct4 and Nanog were not found (Watanabe et
al., 2009). In the acoel Isodiametra pulchra (Acoelomorpha) expression of piwi orthologue was
shown in germ cells and neoblasts (De Mulder et al., 2009).

290

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Planarian (Plathyhelminthes) neoblasts can differentiate into germ and somatic cells and
express vasa, piwi, nanos, pumilio, bruno, tudor homologues (Agata et al., 2006; Pfister et al., 2008;
Reddien et al., 2005; Rossi et al., 2007; Shibata et al., 1999, 2010; Solana et al., 2009). In Dugesia
japonica two vasa homologues are expressed in the germ cells of the adult gonads. Only one of
these homologues was expressed in neoblasts (Shibata et al. 1999). Flatworm vasa homologue
of Macrostomum lignano was expressed in germ and stem cells (Pfister et al., 2008). Planarian
homologues of piwi and pumilio genes were found specifically expressed in a neoblasts (Rossi
et al., 2007) and the expression pattern of Piwi protein in planaria Schmidtea mediterranea
coincides with the neoblasts (Reddien et al., 2005). The Tudor protein is a component of
chromatoid bodies in germ cells and neoblasts in the planaria Schmidtea polychroa (Solana et al.,
2009). Co-localization and co-expression of Piwi- and Tudor-related proteins also was detected
in planarian neoblasts (see Shibata et al, 2010). In planarians, a high dose of irradiation
significantly down-regulates neoblasts RNA metabolism, chromatin remodelling and
transcription. However, a low dose of irradiation stimulates up-regulation of genes involved
in signal transduction, cytoarchitecture organization, protein degradation, apoptosis, cell
metabolism, intracellular trafficking and receptor/ligand activities (Rossi et al, 2007). Exposure
to -irradiation demonstrates the presence of at least two irradiation-sensitive sub-populations
of neoblasts in Schmidtea mediterranea (Eisenhoffer et al, 2008).

Fig. 4. Gene expression profile for neoblasts of planaria analyzed after irradiation at day 1
and day 7. Cluster analysis reveals set of genes which expression has changed slightly (right
column) or dramatically (left column) from the level in wild type (A) to one day (B) or 7
days (C) post-irradiated animals. Heat map was generated using MultiExperiment Viewer v
4.3, emphasising gene expression in scale between -1.0 (bright green) and +1.0 (bright red).

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

291

A significant decrease of expression was observed in genes involved in translation, RNA

processing, and chromatin transcription, synthesis and repair corresponding to the
population of cells affected after 1 day or 7 days post-irradiation. However, the second
neoblast population, presumably slower proliferating and more restricted, demonstrate
significant down regulation of a specific genes only on day 7 post-irradiation, corresponding
to the function of energy production, mitochondria maintenance, translation, metabolism
and others. piwi- (smedwl-1) and bruno-like (brunol-1) genes were down-regulated in both
days, marking a totipotent sub-population of neoblasts. Transcripts of mitochondrial carrier,
cytochrome p450, ribosomal L21 and L18 proteins were specific to the 7-day irradiated
neoblasts. We used publicly available MicroArray data (NCBI GEO #GSE11503; Eisenhoffer
et al, 2008) to look at the expression profile of known components of germ plasm and nuage.
In our analysis, we found it intriguing that as with Piwi1 and Brunol1 genes, expression of
the tudor-like Tdrd gene was also down-regulated in both days post-irradiation (Fig. 4), as
well as cytochrome C family, L-family and S-family genes. However, high wild type
expression of Ago2 up-regulated even more in both days post-irradiation, whereas Ddx42,
Ddx50, and pl10 almost did not change in their expression (Fig. 4). In our opinion,
mitochondrial cement might play an important role in gametogenic stem cell survival
during specification by absorbing and utilizing some apoptotic factors that are released by
mitochondria, such as cytochrome C, and typically found in the germline germ plasm
functioning as stress relief granules. It is conceivable that Tudor, Piwi, and Bruno
homologues form the core structure of the germ plasm and present all the time within the
dynamic structure, playing an important role in self-renewal and stem cell maintenance.
Pluripotent stem cells of colonial parasitic rhizocephalan barnacles (Rhizocephala:
Cirripedia: Crustacea: Arthropoda) are predecessors of somatic and germ cells, thereby
ensuring the reproductive strategy with alternation of asexual and sexual reproduction. The
earliest blastozooid primordia arise as epithelial buds of stolon-like structures filled with
migrating stem cells; there is a cluster of undifferentiated stem cells within each bud; later
stem cells migrate as germ cells into developing ovaries (Isaeva et al., 2001, 2003, 2004;
Shulalyuk et al., 2005). Earlier we revealed the evolutionarily conserved sites of vasa- and
pl10- related genes of the DEAD family, in DNA of the rhizocephalan crustaceans Polyascus
polygenea and Clistosaccus paguri (Shukalyuk et al., 2007). Selective expression of RNA of the
vasa- and pl10-related genes was observed in pluripotent stem cells, in oogenic and
spermatogenic cells (Shukalyuk et al., 2007). We also found selectively high activity of AP
histochemical marker in stem cells of P. gracilis along with expression of proliferating cell
nuclear antigen (PCNA) in interna (Isaeva et al., 2003; Shukalyuk et al., 2005). Recently, we
have shown for P. gracilis the presence of Piwi, Vasa and Nanog proteins in pluripotent stem
cells, early blastozooids and early rudiments of the trophic system (Sukalyuk et al, 2011;
Shukalyuk & Isaeva, unpubl. data).
Colonial ascidians (Chordata) can reproduce asexually, particularly, by palleal or vascular
budding. In vascular budding of botryllid ascidians, pluripotent hemoblasts form buds
generating a new individual. Hemoblasts are undifferentiated cells that can give rise to
differentiated blood cells, somatic tissue cells of blastozooids during asexual reproduction,
and evidently also to germline cells (see Rinkevich et al., 2009). Vasa-like gene expression
was demonstrated in primary germline cells morphologically indistinguishable from
hemoblasts in ascidian Botryllus primigenus (see Sunanaga et al., 2007). Brown and Swalla
(2007) compared vasa-related gene expression in the solitary ascidian Boltenia villosa and the
colonial ascidian Botrylloides violaceus. In B. villosa, mRNA of vasa-related gene was

292

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

expressed in germ cells whereas mRNA of vasa-related gene of the ascidian B. violaceus in
mature colonies was expressed in germ cells, in some circulating in the blood cells, in
differentiating buds and zooids. Gustafson & Wessel (2010) reported Vasa mRNA
expression in germ lines along with hemoblast aggregates in Botryllus primigenus and
Polyandrocarpa misakiensis. In the colonial Botryllus schlosseri, mRNA and the proteins of vasa, Pl10-, piwi- and Oct4- orthologues are not expressed exclusively in germ cell lineages, but
emerging de novo also in circulating hemoblasts, thus indicating somatic embryogenesis
(Rosner et al., 2009). The results strongly suggest that germline hemoblasts are recruited
from undifferentiated hemoblasts in budding tunicates (Rosner et al., 2009; Sunanaga et al.,
2007). Data on marker gene expression in gametogenic stem cells of colonial ascidians and
their interpretation are rather contradictory (see below).
Pluripotent stem cells in various invertebrates with asexual reproduction as well as cells of
the germ lineage display the expression of conserved genes related to vasa, piwi and others
which function in the specification and maintenance of both cell types across different
metazoan phyla (Agata et al., 2006; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Juliano & Wessel, 2010;
Rinkevich et al., 2009; Skld et al., 2009; Srouji & Extavour, 2011; Wu et al., 2011). Besides the
default characteristics of undifferentiated cells, these stem cells contain electron-dense
perinuclear germ granules and express germline marker genes demonstrating that
pluripotent stem cells display all of the morphological and functional features commonly
used to identify germ cells.
2.3 Mammalian embryonic stem cells via germline connection
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the developing
embryo. During their adaptation for culture conditions these cells or some population of the
originally extracted cells will gain some new properties and will become some sort of an
artificial system. First, this adaptation includes the cells ability to attach to the supporting
surface: tissue culture treated plastic, extracellular matrix or feeder layer. Second, highly
proliferating cells will be selected over time with self-renewing capacity. Third, cells that are
selected within the culture will be responsive to the cell culture medium signaling, for
example, from serum supplements and LIF (Leukemia Inhibitory Factor) for mouse ESCs or
basic FGF (Fibroblasts Growth Factor) for human ESCs. However, it is commonly accepted
that the ICM cells of the embryo are pluripotent cells equal in their properties to ESCs in
culture, and can recapitulate normal embryonic development in vitro when placed under
specific conditions.
2.3.1 Nuage/germ granules
The inner mass cells of mammalian embryos in vivo contain P-bodies (Pepling et al., 2007;
Pepling, 2010), but we do not know any data in the literature on P-bodies, nuage or germ
granules for embryonic stem cells cultured in vitro. As Clock and coauthors (2004) wrote, it
will be interesting to see whether the embryonic stem cells in mice contain chromatoid body
similar to that present in totipotent cells in planarians. We were the first to report
morphological evidence for electron-dense germinal granules and more dispersed nuage
material located near the nuclear membrane in the cytoplasm of mouse EMCs in vitro using
confocal and light microscopy, with localization of mouse vasa homologue DDX4/MVH in
perinuclear granules or nuage (Shukalyuk, 2009).

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

293

2.3.2 Molecular signature

In pluripotent mammalian ESCs, molecular signature and a core transcriptional regulatory
network dedicated to establishment and preservation of pluripotency include a set of
marker genes overlapping with gene signature of germline cells (Kim et al., 2008). The
transcription factors Nanog, Oct4 and Sox2 are considered to be the core of the
transcriptional network involved in pluripotency and commitment in human or mouse
ESCs and have been recognized to be essential in vivo and in vitro for early development and
coordinately regulating the epigenetic network supporting ES cell pluripotency (see
Chambers et al., 2003; Do & Schler, 2009; Jaenisch & Young, 2008; Kim et al., 2008; Rosner
et al., 2009; Seydoux, Braun, 2006; Stice et al., 2006; Walker et al., 2007). Moreover, Oct4, Sox2
and Nanog can also indirectly regulate gene transcription by affecting chromatin structure,
DNA methylation, microRNA and X chromosome inactivation, changes in local and higher
order conformation of DNA, and RNA interference; so, Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog are involved
in the cellular machinery, which has an important role in cell fate determination (Atkinson
& Armstrong, 2008; Do & Schler, 2009).
Nanog is a transcription factor, homeodomain protein found in mammalian pluripotent ES
and developing germ cells, essential for mammalian embryogenesis. Nanog is thought to be
a key factor underlying pluripotency in early development and ESCs, maintaining selfrenewal of ESCs and developing germ cells. Nanog is considered a core element of the
transcription network and regulatory circuits underlying pluripotency and reprogramming,
a hallmark of pluripotent cells in vivo and in vitro (Do & Schler, 2009; Stice et al., 2006;
Jaenisch & Young, 2008; Kim et al., 2008; Watanabe et al. 2009). Both Nanog and Oct4 are not
expressed in mammalian somatic stem cells and loss of Nanog is an early marker of
differentiation (Do & Schler, 2009).
Previously we reported (Shukalyuk & Stanford, 2008) as others have mentioned (LachamKaplan, 2006) that some germline related genes are spontaneously expressed in mouse ESCs
and reprogrammed mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) (Shukalyuk, 2009), even
when cultured under the pluripotent and self-renewing condition maintained with LIF. We
also found that the mouse homologues of Vasa (Ddx4), Stella, Dazl, Piwi (Miwi) and p68
(Ddx5) can be found in a surprisingly similar proportion of the cells in various ESC lines.
We also observed reorganization of proteins and their accumulation in granules visible
under confocal microscope after 72 hrs of initiating spontaneous differentiation by
withdrawing LIF. We showed the co-localization of DDX4 protein with mitochondrial
cytochrome C oxidase IV (COX IV) and single strand binding protein (SSPB1) in germ-like
perinuclear granules of mouse ESCs. We also demonstrated that among others, Stau1 and
Stau2, mRNA of staufen-related genes, were significantly enriched in ESCs RNA using
immune-precipitation with anti-mDDX4 antibody (Shukalyuk, 2009).
Using a publicly available on-line micro array data set (NCBI GEO #GSE7506, Walker et al,
2007) we focused on the expression profile of germ-plasm related genes in mouse ESCs
under pluripotent culture condition (LIF plus) and during spontaneous differentiation
without LIF (LIF minus) or direct differentiation under retinoic acid treatment (RA plus). It
is known that embryonic stem cells in culture are heterogeneous in their level of
pluripotency marker expression.

294

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 5. Gene expression profile for OCT4-high (H), -medium (M) and -low (L) sub-populations
of mouse ESCs differentiating over time under LIF- (5 days) or RA+ (2 days) conditions. Day0:
A, LIF+(H); F, LIF+(M). Day1: B, LIF(H); E, RA+(H); G, LIF-(M); J, RA+(M); L, LIF-(L); O,
RA+(L). Day2: K, RA+(M), P, RA+(L). Day3: C, LIF-(M); H, LIF-(M), M, LIF-(L). Day5: D, LIF(H); I, LIF-(M); N, LIF-(L). Heat map was generated using MultiExperiment Viewer v 4.3,
emphasising the scale between -1.0 (bright green) and +1.0 (bright red).
In this particular data set, mouse ESCs were sorted based on their high, medium and low
OCT4 (POU5F1) protein expression and each sub-population (high, medium and low) was
differentiated under LIF-minus or RA-plus condition. As expected (Fig. 5), expression of
Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog decreased overtime in each sub-population under both
differentiating conditions. Expression of the Ddx4 gene, as compared to other DEAD-box
contained genes (Ddx5, Ddx6, Ddx8, Ddx10, Ddx20, Ddx21, Ddx24, Ddx27), gradually
increased, peaking on day 3, and dramatically decreased in each population by day 5 under
LIFminus condition. An increase in Ddx4 expression was also observed for OCT4-low and
OCT4-medium sub-populations of ESCs by day 2 under RAplus treatment (Fig. 5). Upregulation of Ddx4 gene expression by day 3 during spontaneous differentiation is directly
correlated with the same trend of Stau2, Eif2c4 (Ago4), Eif2c2 (Ago2), Eif2c1 (Ago1), Lsm14a
and p68 (Ddx5) gene expression for all sub-populations but not for Stau1, Eif2c3 (Ago3) or
Lsm10. Remarkably, significant down-regulation of germ-plasm members such as Ddx4,
Stau2, Ago-family, p68 and Lsm14a oppositely correlates with Casp7 gene expression which
is down-regulated at day 3 but significantly up-regulated by day 5 in all ESC populations
(Fig. 5). A quick switch over time between levels of expression was indentified for
mictotubule affinity-regulating kinase Mark3, as well as for telomerase associated Tep1 gene

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

295

and Tktl1, a known catalytic metal ion binding gene. These data are in line with existing
Drosophila germ plasm composition studies revealing the presence, among transcriptional
control regulators (Bruno, Nanos and Orb), of zinc ion binding and Ca2+ signaling element
(Rangan et al., 2009). DDX4 is a DEAD-box family protein that, along with Oct4 and Nanog
gene products, can express in the ICM, primordial germ cells (PGS) and ESCs (Chambers et
al., 2003; Stice et al., 2006; Zwaka, Thomson, 2005). In undifferentiated mouse embryonic
and induced pluripotent stem cells, we found expression of Ddx4/Vasa, Miwi/Piwi, Nanog
and Oct4 (Shukalyuk, 2009). Futhermore, Oct4 expression appears to be crucial for the PGCs
function and survival. Loss of Oct4 leads to the PGCs apoptosis in mammalians, instead
promoting expected trophectodermal differentiation (Kehler et al., 2004).
Mammalian pluripoitent ESCs capable of differentiating into female and male germ cells in
vitro are potentially gametogenic cells (Clark et al., 2004; Eguizabal et al., 2009; Mathews et
al., 2009; Toyooka et al., 2003), along with invertebrate pluripotent stem cells. Because
mammalian ESCs are capable of differentiating into germ cells, this suggests that these cells
in mice contain all necessary components for the determination of germ cell fate and they
are totipotent, despite their lack of differentiating towards extra-embryonic tissue.
Observation of the common expression for protein and mRNA mammalian markers in both
PGCs and ESCs has led to the hypothesis that embryonic stem cells are closely related, or
even identical, to early germ cell precursors (Clark et al., 2004; Fox et al., 2007).
2.4 Evidence of de novo inducibility for germline markers
Generally, germline cells can be identified and retraced during development of an organism
due to the availability of molecular markers. However, the molecular signature of
pluripotent gametogenic stem cells becoming germline cells is not always and necessarily
continuous during development and germline specification.
De novo epigenetical specification of hemoblasts into female germ cells was described in the
colonial tunicates Botryllus primigenus and Polyandrocarpa misakiensis (Sunanaga et al., 2007;
Rosner et al., 2009). In B. primigenus, vasa homologue expressing cells within the loose cell
mass of the primary germline cells evidently arose from the vasa-negative cells at
postembryonic stages. These results show that germ cell specification is inducible de novo. It
has been suggested that germ cell formation in B. primigenus is a consequence of epigenetic
induction during zooid differentiation. Similarly, in another budding ascidian, P. misakiensis,
a vasa homolog was expressed strongly by loose cell aggregates and germ cells, indicating
that germ cells arise de novo in developing zooids and suggesting that the vasa homologue
plays a decisive role in switching the cell fate from coelomic stem cells to germ cells
(Sunanaga et al., 2007). In Botryllus schlosseri, Vasa detected from the larva and the oozooid
stages, repeatedly emerge de novo in the colony, independently of its sexual state (Rosner et
al., 2009). The expression of Pl10-, -piwi- and Oct4- orthologues both in germline cells and
also in circulating pluripotent stem cells, hemoblasts, in B. schlosseri in contrast to the
observations in B. primigenus and P. misakiensis might reflect different modes of germ lineage
sequestering between the species (Rosner et al., 2009). During development of the ascidian
Ciona intestinalis, primary germ cells are localized to the tail of the tadpole and during
metamorphosis migrate into the adult gonad rudiment. If the tail with primary germ cells is
removed, adults still form mature germ cells, suggesting a compensatory mechanism that
regulates ascidian germ line formation at a later ontogenetic stage (Takamura et al., 2002). In
embryogenesis of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, germ line determinants

296

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

accumulate in the small micromere lineage. Vasa protein is enriched in the 16-cell stage
micromeres and subsequent small micromeres. Experimental removal of Vasa-positive cells
induces Vasa expression de novo in adjacent blastomeres (Voronina et al., 2008).
2.5 Transient expression of germline marker genes during development and cell
differentiation
Among cnidarians, in Hydra magnipapillata, pl10 mRNA is expressed not only in
undifferentiated cells (multipotent interstitial stem cells and germline cells) but also in
differentiating somatic cells of the interstitial cell lineage. One of two vasa-related genes
appears to be expressed in all kinds of undifferentiated cells: multipotent stem cells,
germline cells and the ectodermal epithelial cells in the body column. However, none of the
vasa/PL10 genes were expressed in fully differentiated somatic cells in Hydra (Mochizuki et
al., 2001). Analyses of the piwi-related gene during embryogenesis and medusa formation in
the hydrozoan Podocoryne carnea have shown this gene expression in somatic stem cells as
well as the germ line cells (Seipel et al., 2004). In sea anemone Nematostella vectensis
(Cnidaria) members of the vasa and nanos families are expressed not only in presumptive
germline cells but also in broad somatic domains during early embryogenesis and later are
restricted to primary germ cells (Extavour et al., 2005).
During embryonic development of the planaria Schmidtea polychroa, Tudor-related protein is
expressed in differentiating cells rather than neoblasts (Solana et al., 2009).
In the larvae of polychaete annelid Platynereis dumerilii, piwi-, vasa-, PL10- and nanos-related
genes are expressed altogether at the mesodermal posterior growth zone in highly
proliferative stem cells providing the somatic mesoderm and the germ line. vasa-like gene
expression was revealed in the germ line as well as in multiple somatic tissues, including the
mesodermal bands, brain, foregut, and posterior growth zone (Rebscher et al., 2007). During
embryonic development of the oligochaete annelid Tubifex tubifex, transient vasa homologue
expression was observed in cells in nongenital segments (Oyama & Shimizu, 2007). In
polychaete Capitella sp. during embryonic, larval, and juveniles stages, vasa and nanos
orthologues are coexpressed in somatic and germ line tissue. Both these genes reveals
expression in multiple somatic tissues with largely overlapping but not identical expression
patterns; following gastrulation, expression is observed in the presumptive brain,
mesodermal bands, and developing foregut (Dill & Seaver, 2008).
In various sea urchin species, Vasa, Nanos, and Piwi are expressed in descendants of the
small micromeres and subsequently become restricted to the coelomic pouches, from which
the entire adult rudiment will form, suggesting that these conserved molecular factors are
involved in the formation of multipotent progenitor cells that contribute to the generation of
the entire adult body, including both somatic and germ cells (Juliano et al., 2010; Voronina et
al., 2008). In addition, echinoderm species lacking small micromeres, such as sea stars, also
have Vasa protein and/or transcripts enriched in the larval coelomic pouches, suggesting a
conserved mechanism for the formation of multipotent progenitor cells in the coelomic
pouch to produce an adult rudiment within the echinoderms (Juliano & Wessel, 2010; Wu et
al., 2011). In the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, Pl10, piwi and Oct4 orthologues are
highly expressed in differentiating soma cells (Rosner et al., 2009). In the cephalochordate
amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae (Chordata), Vasa and Nanos, in addition to the early
localization of their maternal transcripts in the primary germ cells, are also expressed

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

297

zygotically in the tail bud, which is the posterior growth zone of highly proliferating
somatic stem cells (Wu et al., 2011).
The data indicate a close relationship between presumptive germline cells and multipotent
somatic stem cells during development (Wu et al., 2011) and suggest a common origin of
germ cells and of somatic stem cells, which may constitute the ancestral mode of germ cell
specification in Metazoa (Rebscher et al., 2007). A two-step model of germ cell specification
was proposed as an ancestral mechanism involving co-specification of germ cells and stem
cells: setting aside a population of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, which is excluded
from somatic differentiation and has the potential to form both somatic and germ cells, from
which the primary stem cells are segregated later (Rebscher et al., 2007).
2.6 Germline marker features beyond gametogenic stem cells
2.6.1 Processing bodies and cytoplasmic RNA granules in somatic cells
In eukaryotic somatic cells, mRNA metabolism is regulated by ribonucleoprotein (RNP)
aggregates, RNP granules considered as possible equivalents of germ granules in germline
cells. Post-transcriptional processes have a central role in the regulation of eukaryotic gene
expression, and these processes are not only functionally linked, but are also physically
connected by cytoplasmic granules (Eulalio et al., 2007). Cytoplasmic RNP granules function
in determining mRNAs degradation, stabilization, intracellular localization, translational
repression and RNA-mediated gene silencing. All RNA granules harbor translationally
silenced mRNA. There are several classes of cytoplasmic granules in somatic cells named
processing bodies (P-bodies, or P bodies), RNA or RNP granules, RNP particles, stress and
neuronal granules (Anderson & Kedersha, 2006; Eulalio et al., 2007; Flemr et al., 2010;
Lachke et al., 2011; Kiebler & Bassell, 2006; Kotaja et al., 2006; Seydoux, Brown, 2006).
In mammalian cells, P-bodies are the most common type of RNA granules and contain
products of gene orthologues in germ cell granules (Flemr et al., 2010; Pepling, 2010).
Processing bodies contain components of mRNA decay processes and microRNA-mediated
silencing, serving as sites where mRNAs can be either stored or degraded (Kiebler & Bassell,
2006; Lachke et al., 2006). Argonaute proteins, and also miRNAs and miRNA-repressed
mRNAs, were demonstrated to localize in P bodies in mammalian cells.
Unlike P bodies, stress and neuronal granules contain ribosomal subunits. Stress granules
are dense aggregates accumulated in cells in response to environmental stress and regulated
translational repression and mRNA recruitment to preserve cell integrity. Neuronal
granules deliver mRNAs and inactive ribosomes to specific translation sites in dendrites
(Anderson & Kedersha, 2006; Seydoux & Brown, 2006; Flemr et al., 2010). In mammalian
neuronal cells, three classes of RNA granules were described: transport RNP particles, stress
granules, and P bodies with potential functions in RNA localization, microRNA-mediated
translational regulation, mRNA degradation, and localized translation of mRNAs involved
in synapse formation or motility (Anderson & Kedersha, 2006; Kiebler et al., 2006). Electron
dense perinuclear chromatoid body-like structures surrounding the nuclei of neurons were
observed in the planaria Dugesia japonica (see Shibata et al., 2010).
Cytoplasmic RNP granules function in the posttranscriptional control of gene expression, but
the extent of their involvement in developmental morphogenesis is unknown. Recently, a

298

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Tudor domain-containing RNA binding protein (TDRD7) was identified as a component of a

unique class of RNP granules with a conserved pattern of developmental expression in ocular
lens fiber cells (Lachke et al., 2011). Furthermore, human TDRD7 mutations result in cataract
formation via the misregulation of specific, developmentally critical lens transcripts. TDRD7
perturbation causes cataracts in chickens and mice. TDRD1, TDRD6, and TDRD7 have been
associated with chromatoid bodies in mammalian male germ cells. Tdrd7 null mutant mice
develop cataract and glaucoma; an arrest in spermatogenesis also was observed. Staining with
the antibody of STAU1, a mammalian homologue of the Drosophila RNA-binding protein
Staufen, revealed the presence of numerous STAU1-positive RNP particles in lens fiber cells
co-localized to a high degree with TDRD7. The authors hypothesized that TDRD7 granules,
either alone or through their interaction with STAU1- RNP granules and P bodies, might
regulate the expression levels of specific lens transcripts (Lachke et al., 2011).
Several P body markers are highly concentrated in chromatoid bodies (Kotaja et al., 2006).
These data suggest that the chromatoid bodies of male germ cells and P-bodies in somatic
cells are functionally related, both acting as a site for mRNA decay and mRNA translational
repression by the miRNA pathway (Anderson & Kedersha, 2006; Kotaja et al., 2006). Pbodies contain components of the RNA-dependent silencing machinery (Seydoux & Braun,
2006). P-body components are also present in two other classes of somatic RNP particles:
stress granules and neuronal granules (Anderson & Kedersha, 2006). P-body components
represent an ever-growing list of proteins involved in RNA metabolism, and the
composition of P-bodies, stress granules in somatic cells and germ cell granules overlaps to
some extent (Flemr et al., 2010). The data provide evidence of diversity of mammalian RNA
granules. Although, they exhibit overlapping composition but different structures and
functions (Flemr et al., 2010) sharing components and evolutionary conserved mechanism of
post-transcriptional regulation with germ granules which function is distinguishably unique
(Seydoux & Braun, 2006).
2.6.2 Germline marker gene expression in somatic stem pools and neurons
Among asexually reproducing animals, vasa- and PL10-related genes are expressed in
somatic ectodermal epithelial cells (unipotent stem cells) in the hydrozoan Hydra
magnipapillata (Mochizuki et al., 2001). In the colonial ascidians Botryllus schlosseri, vasarelated gene products are not exclusively expressed in germ lineages but also are strongly
expressed in many embryonic and bud somatic cells. Expression of vasa and piwi
orthologues were detected in somatic tissues and Oct4-related gene was also expressed in
the somatic cells of the endostyle (Rosner et al., 2009).
Among animals without asexual reproduction, piwi, vasa, and pl10 are expressed in somatic
stem cells at the base of the tentacle bulb, giving rise to tentacle nematocytes in the
hydromedusa (Cnidaria) Clytia hemisphaerica (Denker et al., 2008). Their expression, along
with bruno orthologue, was found in germline cells in pluri/multipotent somatic stem cells
in the tentacle root in Pleurobrachia pileus (Ctenophora), a species which reproduces only
sexually (Ali et al., 2011). There is no experimental proof that ctenophore somatic stem cells
are incapable of producing germ stem cells, but under normal conditions, this seems highly
unlikely (Ali et al., 2011). There are also some other examples of canonic germline marker
expression in somatic cells and tissues in bilaterian animals including vertebrates (see Ali et
al., 2011; Gustafson & Wessels, 2010; Wu et al., 2011).

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

299

These data suggest two alternative hypotheses (see Ali et al., 2011). First, these genes are
fundamentally associated with germinal potential, and when they are expressed in
pluri/multipotent stem cells, they have the potential to generate germ cells. Second, these
genes are components of an ancestral molecular toolkit of animal stem cells, whatever the
fate of their progeny. Presumably, piwi, vasa and pl10 belong to a gene network ancestrally
acting in two contexts: germline and pluri/multipotent stem cells. Since the progeny of
these multipotent stem cells includes both somatic and germinal derivatives, it remains
unclear whether vasa, piwi, and pl10 were ancestrally linked to stemness, or to germinal
potential. Probably, total or partial restriction of these genes to the germline in some
bilaterian groups (e.g., vertebrates and insects) is a derived, evolutionary secondary
condition, and it is not appropriate to use these genes, including vasa, as germline markers
(Ali et al., 2011). The fundamental reason why these genes are ancestrally linked to
stemness, in addition to the germline, is probably the main function of the PiwipiRNA
pathway, i.e., genome protection through silencing. Genome protection is a crucial
requirement not only for germ cells but also for somatic stem cells, and ancestral
involvement of the same gene set in both the germline and somatic stem cells does not
particularly imply their common origin in a genealogical sense, but the requirement of the
same silencing pathway in two different contexts (Ali et al., 2011). Several conserved
molecules are expressed in both germ cells and all types of stem cells (Sroji & Extavour,
2011).Tthe piwi gene family may represent the first class of genes with a common molecular
mechanism shared by diverse stem cell types in diverse organisms (Cox et al., 1998).
There are some data on relationship of pluripotent stem cells and neuroblasts. Some
proteins classically related to germ line development have been recently found to be
involved in neuronal function and development. In the planaria Schmidtea polychroa, Tudorrelated protein is expressed, beyond germline cells and neoblasts, in the central nervous
system (Solana et al., 2009). pumilio and bruno planarian homologues are expressed similarly
in neoblasts and in the central neural system, in perinuclear particles surrounding the nuclei
of neurons (Salvetti et al., 2005; Guo et al., 2006). nanos and pumilio are involved in neuronal
excitability, dendrite morphogenesis, and long-term memory in D. melanogaster (see Muraro
et al., 2008; Solana et al., 2009). When mouse ESCs were cultured in serum- and feederdeprived conditions colony-forming primitive neural stem cell populatiuons could be
obtained (Stice et al., 2006). Tropepe and coauthors (2001) proposed neural fate specification
from ESCs by a default choise.
All the data suggest that primordial germ cells can be segregated at almost any point during
embryogenesis: before blastoderm formation; after embryonic rudiment formation but
before germ layer separation; after germ layer separation but before gonadogenesis; or after
gonadogenesis and continuously throughout adult life (Extavour & Akam, 2003).
2.7 Regulatory gene networks underlying gametogenic potential and pluripotency
The metazoan development program may be imagined as translation regulatory cascades.
The regulatory transcriptional network to maintain stem cell function has been conserved
during metazoan evolution (Watanabe et al., 2009). Genes vasa/pl10, piwi/auberdine, nanos,
tudor, pumilio, and staufen, representing the core of the germline program, show striking
evolutionary conservation (Ali et al., 2011; Chuma et al., 2006; Ewen-Camden et al., 2010;
Extavour, 2008; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Leatherman & Jongens, 2003; Parvinen, 2005;

300

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Sroji & Extavour, 2011). This gene network consists of gene modules whose interactions are
highly stable and highly evolutionary conserved operating in similar ways both in different
organisms, and in different places and/or times during the development of an animal
organism. Interactions between vasa and other germ line genes have suggested a complex
network of positive and negative regulation at multiple levels, including transcription,
translation, and post-translational modification, epigenetic control of chromatin architecture
mediated gene regulation crucial for the role in development (Cinalli et al., 2008; EwenCamden et al., 2010). Conserved germ cell-specific RNA networks repress transcriptional
programs for somatic differentiation and promote germ cell maintenance (Cinalli et al.,
2008). Maelstrom was identified as a nuage component that interacts with both mouse
DDX4 and MIWI. It is required for spermatogenesis and also is involved in silencing
transposable elements. Although still not definitive, the consistent association in multiple
animals of Vasa and members of the RNAi pathway provides a strong argument that they
have a functional relationship (Gustafson & Wessel, 2010).
We took adventage of the bioinformatic tool STRiNG (Snel at al, 2000) to construct and
analyze germ plasm protein network. Using Drosophila known germ plasm components (Fig.
6A) and their homologues in mouse (Fig. 6B), we predicted interactions and indentified
several pathways based on the protein functional domains, structure and sequence
similarity (Fig. 6D). Similar to Drosophila, known germ plasm proteins (Ddx4, Tdrd1, Tdrd7,
Tdrd9, Pum2, Nanos1, Nanos2, Nanos3 and others) formed a network (Fig. 6D) responsible
for germline differentiation (module 3) upon RNA processing via sequence-specific RNAbinding, translation and mRNA-stabilisation (1, 4: Pum1, Nanos2, Pum2) as well as normal
mRNA turnover and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (15: Dcp1a, Dcp2, Edc3, Edc4). Some
other important germline related functions are revealed: transposable element repression
by piRNA machinery during spermatogenesis (5: Piwi-family, Mael, Tdrd6 and etc), RNAmediated gene silencing (RNAi) by a RISC complex (2: Dicer1, Eif2-family/Ago2),
translational activation of mRNA in the oocyte and early embryo (16, 17: Ddx3y, Ddx3x),
and X-chromosome inactivation (8: Xiap). Several functions were related to molecular
metabolism catalyzing the transsulfuration pathway from methionine to cysteine (20:
Tdrd5, Cbs, Cth, Mthr-family), ribosomal protein complex (18: Mrps12, Mrps7, Mrpl11,
Mrpl12, Rps20), proteasomal degradation and inhibition of the caspases (7, 8: Apaf1, Xiap,
Casp7, Casp8ap2), mediation in activation of the stress-responsive elements upon DNA
damage and also regulation of growth and apoptosis (9: Gadd-family, Casp7). A significant
portion of the network is occupied by cell cycle pathways (10: Pcna, Cdk1) requiring the
G2/M (mitosis) transition (7: Cyclin B1, Cdc20, Ccnb1, Ccnb2, Ccna1), DNA replication and
polymerase function (11, 13: Fen1, Pold-family, Bub1b), progression from G1 to S phases (7:
Lsm10, Lsm11) as well as the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome regulation (12:
Ube2c, Cdc-family, Mad-family). Presence of the cyclin B1 in the germ plasm of Drosophila
was previously described by Dadly and Glover (1992). Other sub-sequential parts of the
network are responsible for tissue-specific regulation, including alternative pre-RNA
splicing (16: Ddx3y, Cugbp2, Usp9x, Ddx3x), endothelial cell motility and neurotrophic
signalling for spinal and sensory neurons (19: Gpi1, Tkt-family), ventral cell fate in the
neural tube and normal development of the vertebral column (14: Pax1, Pax9, Msx1, Shh),
survival of motor neurons via spliceosomal Sm proteins function (6: Wdr77, Prmt5, Piwifamily, Lsm10, Lsm11) along with methylation of Piwi proteins required for interaction with
Tudor-domain contained proteins.

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

301

Fig. 6. Protein networks of Drosophila melanogaster germ-plasm (A, confidence mode),

homologues (B, evidence mode) and expanded neighbouring interactions (D, confidence
mode; 120 functional modules, see in the text) of Mus musculus germ-plasm; and
interactions for Mus musculus BMP4 (C, action mode).
It was previously found that BMP-family proteins play an important role in primordial
germline specification during normal mammalian development and are also required
during germline differentiation of mouse and human ESCs in vitro (see Ying et al, 2001;
Toyooka et al, 2003; Kee et al, 2006). The BMP4 protein, along with some nuage/germ
granules components, is involved in a complicated network of transcriptional factors
regulating early embryo development, stem cell fate and differentiation. Repression of the
Shh gene, for example, prevents activation of the transcription for genes involved in ventral
cell fate in the neural tube and also disrupts the polarizing signal for patterning of the
anterior-posterior axis of the developing limb bud. It is not surprising that network control
is looping from one gene to another (Wnt5a, Otx2, Shh, Bmp4, Runx2, Nog, and Fgf8)
forming a switch-off/switch-on dynamic machinery in the cell cytoplasm (Fig. 6C). It is
evident that the germ plasm or nuage complex is the sub-cellular localized organelle
controling this on and off loop depending on the cell fate. Indeed, the sub-cellular
organization and localization of the nuclear pore would serve as a major station processing
specific mRNA. Such a station can sort and degrade specific mRNA upon cell fate and

302

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

differentiation via traditional nonsense-mediated mRNA decaying or by non-traditional

Stau-based degeneration. Staufen is known to bind double-stranded RNA, along with other
members of germ plasm (DEAD-box helicases), but Stau1 also binds tubulin cross-linking
RNA macromolecular complexes (MMCs) to the cytoskeleton of the cell. Such organelle
organization and function can quickly and reversibly mobilize MMCs to a specific
compartment, preceding their post-transcriptional modification, and activate site-specific
protein translation and localization. Furthermore, nuage can suppress or even put to silence
transposable elements, preventing their mobilization via piRNA-based machinery. This can
be done without significant structural changes in genome organization and without
transcriptional de-activation of the crucial developmental loci and transcriptional factors
that are involved in stem cell pluripotency (Pou5f1 and Sox2).
Besides the function in the germline, the germ plasm components control, or assist in the
control, of tissue-specific pathways defining the pattern and fate in stem cell progenitors.
They are also responsible for a wide range of gene transcription and translation regulation,
as well as the cell cycle. It seems that the germ plasm acts as a switch between mesoderm
and ectoderm fate. It stimulates endothelial cell motility, and possibly specifies or regulates
the differentiation of cartilage and bone of notochord in chordates. Notochord induces
neural plate formation and, by secreting SHH protein, signals differentiation of
motoneurons in the neural tube.
The extensive molecular signatures and functional potential of germ cells and pluripotent
stem cells suggest a shared evolutionary origin for these cell types and an ancestral
pluripotency network including members of Vasa-like and Piwi-like class proteins, which
are conserved components of both germ and stem cells across the metazoans (Ali et al.,
2011; Ewen-Campen et al. 2010; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Sroji & Extavour, 2011). Based on
the literature and our own data analysis, we support the idea that this regulatory gene
network is not restricted to the germline cells but is expressed in stem cells that are capable
of producing both somatic and germinal derivatives.

3. Conclusion
The data we have reviewed here suggest the existence of an evolutionary conserved basis of
pluripotency and stemness of germ and gametogenic pluripotent stem cells. This
mechanism is common for all studied metazoan representatives, from sponges to chordates,
and operates at cellular, sub-cellular and molecular levels. In the studied asexually
reproducing representatives of Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Arthropoda and
Chordata, stem cells serve as the predecessors of germ and somatic cells and are similar to
cells of the germ lineage, displaying evolutionarily conserved features of the
morphofunctional organization typical also of cells of the germ line (Ewen-Campen et al.
2010; Extavour, 2008; Funayama et al., 2010; Gustafson & Wessel, 2010; Isaeva et al., 2003,
2008, 2009; Rinkevich et al., 2009; Skld et al., 2009; Shukalyuk et al., 2005, 2007, 2011; Sroji &
Extavour, 2011). The reaction revealing the activity of alkaline phosphatase, earlier used for
the identification of primary germ cells and embryonic stem cells in vertebrates, was
successfully applied as a cytochemical marker of invertebrate stem cells (see Agata et al.,
2006; Akhmadieva et al., 2007; Isaeva, 2011; Isaeva et al., 2003; Rinkevich et al., 2009;
Shukalyuk et al., 2005; Skld et al., 2009).
Since pluri/multipotent stem cells produce germline cells, they might be considered part of
the germline (Mochizuki et al., 2001); such primary stem cells may be immortal

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

303

contributing to the germ line, in contrast to somatic tissues (Weismann, 1893; Skld et al
2009). It is gametogenesis that gives us an afterlife, propelling our genome into future
generations (Seydoux & Braun, 2006). Pluripotent stem cells of animals with asexual
reproduction are predecessors of primary germ cells. Pluripotent gametogenic stem cells
and germline cells share many morphological features and rely on the activity of related
genes; their evolutionary and ontogenetic relationship has been proposed (Extavour, 2008;
Extavour & Akam, 2003; Skld et al., 2009; Strouji & Extavour, 2011).
Adult pluripotent stem cell systems are not restricted to primitive animals and probably
evolved as components of asexual reproduction (Agata et al., 2006). The data on the asexual
reproduction in some arthropods and chordates contradicts the dogma that asexual
reproduction is common exclusively among the lower animals (Isaeva, 2010, 2011).
The term somatic embryogenesis (Buss, 1987; Blackstone & Jasker, 2003) suggests that
stem cells, which ensure the asexual reproduction, are recognized as somatic ones;
pluripotent stem cells in animals with asexual reproduction are often referred as somatic
(Blackstone & Jasker, 2003; Extavour & Akam, 2003; Extavour, 2008; Rinkevich, 2009; Skld
et al., 2009; Funayama et al., 2010). However, pluriponent gametogenic stem cells of
asexually reproducing invertebrates, like primary germ cells, do not belong to any germ
layer, differentiated tissue, and population of specialized somatic cells or their somatic stem
cells (Isaeva, 2010, 2011). Such pluripotent stem cells are dispersed in the organism, do not
display contact inhibition of cell reproduction and movement and are similar to primary
germ cells in their ability to perform amoeboid movements and large-scale migrations
within the organism, directed to the localities of asexual reproduction and regeneration or to
the gonads, respectively (Isaeva et al., 2008, 2009; Rinkevich et al., 2009; Skld et al., 2009).
We believe that the evolutionarily and ontogenetically related cells of early embryos,
pluripotent gametogenic stem cells and germline cells belonging to cell populations capable
of realizing the entire developmental program, including gametogenesis (and, potentially,
subsequent embryogenesis) are not identical to somatic cells.
Pluripotent cells in invertebrates with asexual reproduction are similar in their potential and
their molecular signature to mammalian embryonic stem cells, although the latter are
artificial cell systems cultured in vitro. Thus, published and original data indicate the
existence of evolutionary conserved, sub-cellular and molecular bases of toti/pluripotency
and immortality and similarity of studied morphofunctional features and molecular
signature of pluripotent stem cells in metazoans with asexual reproduction from sponges
and cnidarians to chordates, germline and embryonic stem cells (Fig. 7).
Recent data indicate the broad and partially overlapping spectrum of gene expression in
ECSs, germ, and pluri/multipotent potent stem cells, in particular, the possible inducibility
of germline cells de novo without continuous expression of molecular markers of the germ
line. The data also show a transient molecular signature typical of the germline in broad
somatic domains during embryogenesis and the expression of germline marker genes in
somatic stem pools. Embryonic stem, germ and pluripotent stem cells of various metazoans
share the expression piwi, vasa-related and other germline marker genes. It is possible a
functional diversification of paralogues of vasa, piwi and other marker germline genes
fulfilling different functions in germ and other stem cells. In the animal kingdom, vasa-like
genes are present in numbers from one to four (Shibata et al., 1999; Rebscher et al., 2007;
Extavour et al., 2005; Pfister et al., 2008). In mammals, four Argonaute subfamily members
have been shown to be involved in the miRNA pathway (Parvinen, 2005; Kotaja et al., 2006).

304

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Although, the canonic, classical germline molecular markers remain reliable for germ cell
identification within developing individual across Metazoa, more studies need to be done in
order to understand molecular and cellular events underlying pluri/totipotency, stem cell
self-renewal and self-preservation during germline specification.

Fig. 7. Germ-plasm material on the sub-cellular level in animals with sexual or both sexual
and asexual reproduction in their life span. In animals with epimorphosis, early blastomeres
after first few divisions are believed to be fully totipotent along with zygote and capable of
producing an entire organism. Macromolecular complexes (MMC, yellow) distributed in
cytoplasm and germ-plasm granules around nucleus (in red) are present in zygote and early
blastomers marking their totipotent ability. Through the embryonic development, the visual
manifestations of the granules are disappeared in the pluripotent cells of morula, inner cell
mass of blastocyst or embryonic stem cells in culture. However, specific MMCs are
distributed in cytoplasm (yellow) marking their potency. Morphogenesis followed after
specification of the three germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm) segregates true
somatic cells lacking their potency (grey color) and the germline. The germline lineage
expresses the specific MMCs and germ markers de novo during specification. The germplasm activates in granules (red) near nucleus pores. Germline specification occurs from the
mesoderm (in mammalians) as well as spontaneously in culture of embryonic stem cells,
and from the pool of the stem cells in asexually reproducing organisms. Presumably, reactivation of the germ-plasm in germline forms a unique sub-cellular niche for regulating
and manipulating cellular pluripotency. Finally, germline cells with their specific molecular
signature migrate and populate the rudiment of the developing gonad. A new signalling
niche will significantly restrict germline abilities (to unipotency) during further
gametogenesis. Eventually, cells will undergo dramatic morphological and molecular
changes (oogenesis and spermatogenesis) ensuring protection and passing of undamaged
information to the next generation.

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

305

Germ granules, chromatoid bodies, nuage, P-bodies and so on are the physical embodiment
of overlapping but not identical gene networks. The patterns arose ancestrally as a
gametogenic/stem program. Germ granules may be as diverse as P-granules of somatic
cells, with functions ranging from RNA localization and decay to translational activation
and repression (Anderson & Kedersha, 2006; Seydoux & Braun, 2006). It is also possible, that
in some cases, this machinery exists in mammals as submicroscopic complexes that are rich
in RNAs and RNA-binding proteins (Hubbard & Pera, 2003). The Oskar protein nucleates
the formation of polar granules de novo, from cytoplasmic pools of the components shared
with nuage. In this model, nuage could be an organelle that concentrates and thus
potentiates the activity factors normally present in all cells, but that must be especially active
in germline cells because of their intensive reliance on post-transcriptional controls of gene
expression (Snee & Macdonald, 2004). Basic germ-plasm machinery may exist as discrete
granules or bodies, large complexes as Balbiani bodies, dispersed nuage, small particles (for
example, P-bodies) or submicroscopic RNP aggregates. It seems to us that similar networks
in mammalians overlapped with the macromolecular frame of the germinal granules
emerging earlier in germline cell evolution. Given that the factors that are associated with
germ granules in non-mammalian species are also expressed in mammalian germ cells, we
speculate that all multicellular animals share basic germ-plasm machinery, a nuage-like subcellular frame, which operates in a similar manner across Metazoa and might recruit other
tissue-specific networks within.
Protection against apoptosis is very important for embryonic, germ and pluripotent stem
cells as well as for long living neural precursors and neurons. Differentiation of toti-/
pluripotent cells irrevocably drags their descendants into programmed death.
Undifferentiated cells have only two choices: stay undifferentiated and immortal or start to
differentiate and die. Breaking this rule leads cells to cancerogenesis. The germline cells and
neuronal precursors evolutionarily obtained unique machinery for circumventing this rule,
which allows them to continue their differentiation but keep their immortality over the lifespan of the individual. However, cell death does occur during neurogenesis, matching the
number of neurons to the number of target cells. It is also known that in zebrafish, loss of
piwi-related gene function results in a progressive loss of germ cells due to apoptosis during
larval development (Houwing et al., 2007). A mutation of mouse vasa homolog gene
(Mvh/Ddx4) leads to restricted expression. In homozygotes, premeiotic germ cells cease
differentiation and undergo apoptotic death (Tanaka et al., 2000). Studies of apoptosis have
revealed the key role of the apoptosis induction factor of mitochondrial origin and
apoptogenic functions of cytochrome C in this important, evolutionary conserved process
(Green & Reed, 1998; Martinou, 1999). Contact with mitochondria is a typical property of
germinal granules in diverse multicellular animals. The germinal granules in the cytoplasm
of germline cells of Drosophila contain ribosomal RNAs of mitochondrial origin (Amikura et
al., 2001). It is not coincidence that several cytochrome C oxidase and other mitochondrial
products were found within the germ plasm. Moreover, we propose mitochondrial
participation in biogenesis of germ granules (Isaeva et al., 2005; Isaeva, 2011). VASA protein
homologue has been found both in germ granules and in the mitochondrial matrices in
germ cells of Xenopus embryo (see Watanabe et al., 2009). Similarly, the protein encoded by
the tudor-related gene, is present not only in polar granules, but also inside the mitochondria
of early embryos of Drosophila (see Ding & Lipshitz, 1993). We also postulate the presence of
molecular defence against apopthosis localized in germinal granules and related

306

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

cytoplasmic structures in germline, embryonic, pluripotent stem and neural cells ensuring
self-preservation against cell aging and death.
The hypothesis has been advanced that the germline originally evolved from primary stem
cells (Skld et al., 2009). Extavour (2008) also proposed that germ cells have their
evolutionary origins in a pluripotent stem cell population. Taking a different position,
Zwaka & Thomson (2005) hypothesized that embryonic stem and embryonic germ cells
represent a family of related pluripotent cell lines, whose common properties reflect a
common origin from germ cells. Rebscher et al. (2007) proposed a model in which vasa, piwi,
and pl10 ancestrally carried out a first step in germline determination by specifying a
multipotent population of stem cells within which PGCs are sorted out later. An ancient
association of germline genes with stemness (Watanabe et al. 2009) and an ancestral gene
fingerprint of stemness (Ali et al. 2011) were proposed. The genes vasa and piwi are the
most extensively studied of the genes, known as germline markers, which appear to be
involved in the ancestral molecular signature of stemness and expressed in pluri-/
multipotent stem cells across animal phyla. According to the hypothesis put forward by Ali
et al. (2011), piwi and vasa-related genes belong to a gene network ancestrally associated
with stemness. These genes determine gametogenic potential, but the main function of these
genes is genome silencing. Agata et al. (2006) proposed that the pluripotent stem cell system
supporting both asexual and sexual reproduction in many adult animals represents one type
of origin of stem cell systems; the other system developed by separating multiple functions
of primitive pluripotent stem cells into specialized cell lineages.
We suppose mainly common and partially overlapping molecular signatures in pluri-/
multipotent stem cells of a wide range of animals from sponges to chordates. But we also
suspect a wide spatial and temporal ontogenetic context as a continuum of toti-, pluri-,
multipotent state within stem cells. Such a continuum ranges from pluripotent gametogenic
stem cells to germline cells and up to multipotent somatic stem cells lacking gametogenic
potential. All animals possess pluripotent gametogenic stem cells in different ontogenetic
periods: as a transient state in early cleavage until segregation of germ line (preformation),
as a longer state during embryogenesis (epigenesis), or as a continuous state during the
entire life of asexually reproducing organisms. Pluripotent stem cells have the capacity to
move away from pluripotency towards a special, restricted stem cell identity as germ cells
(Sroji & Extavour, 2011) or to restricted identities as somatic multipotent stem cells,
oligopotent stem cells and so on. A core regulatory gene network of pluripotent
gametogenic stem cells, germline cells and multipotent stem cells evidently overlap to a
large extent including also some specific distinctions and fluctuations of key gene
expression. Genes of the molecular machinery of stem cells appeared to be interconnected in
related pathways that are involved in post-transcriptional regulation and epigenetic
modification acting in a coordinated manner, as part of a complex network of signal
cascades that are known to regulate the balance between cell death and survival (Rossi et al.,
2007). Since all animals have a common ancestor in single cell organisms it is possible to
identify common principles in the regulatory mechanisms for the transcriptional and
epigenetic machinery but at present there is no clear picture to what extent the regulatory
transcriptional network to maintain stem cell function has been conserved during metazoan
evolution (Watanabe et al. 2009), in germline cells or beyond the germ line (Gustafson &
Wessel, 2010).

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

307

Taking into consideration our own data and the supporting literature, we see that there is
enough evidence to suggest the existence of an ancient molecular basis of toti-, pluri-, or
multipotency of germ and stem cells, common for all studied representatives of
multicellular animals. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms and overlapping
regulatory networks in different stem cell systems appeared to be more complex that was
viewed before. Interconnecting regulatory networks of stem cells and germ cells still remain
unclear in their capacity to decide cell fate transferring the control from the nuclear
transcriptional networks to the cytoplasmic post-transcriptional machinery. Further
comparative studies of stem cells in a wide variety of metazoans may provide significant
and crucial data for our understanding of the common, evolutionary conservative basis of
stemness, pluripotency and potential immortality of germ and stem cells across Metazoa.

4. Acknowledgment
This study was supported by a grant from the Russian Federation for Basic Research (no. 0904-00019). The authors are grateful to Mr. Brian P. Ettkin for his help and support in
manuscript preparation. This review was written in support of the Vladimir L. Kasyanov
Foundation promoting developmental biology, stem cell studies and marine life ecology.

5. References
Agata, K., Nakajima E., Funayama N., Shibata N., Saito Y. & Umesono sY. (2006). Two
different evolutionary origins of stem cell systems and their molecular basis,
Seminars in Cell & Devel. Biol. Vol. 17: 503509.
Akhmadieva, A.V., Shukalyuk, A.I., Aleksandrova, Y.N. & Isaeva, V.V. (2007). Stem cells in
asexual reproduction of colonial ascidian Botryllus tuberatus. Russian J. of Marine
Biol. Vol. 33 (No.2): 134137.
Ali, A., Leclre, L., Jager, M., Dauraud, C., Chang, P., Guyader, H., Quinnec, E., & Manuel,
M. (2011). Somatic stem cells express piwi and vasa genes in an adult ctenophore:
ancient association of germline genes with stemness. Devel. Biol. Vol. 350: 183197.
Amikura, R., Hanyu, K., Kashikawa, M. & Kobayashi, S. (2001). Tudor protein is essential
for the localization of mitochondrial RNAs in polar granules of Drosophila embryos.
Mechanisms of Development Vol. 107, No. 1-2: 97-104.
Anderson, P. & Kedersha, N. (2006). RNA granules. J. of Cell Biol. Vol. 172: 803-808.
Anne, J. (2010). Targeting and anchoring Tudor in the pole plasm of the Drosophila oocyte.
PLoS ONE Vol. 5(No. 12): e14362- e14362.
Arkov, A.L., Wang, J.Y.S., Ramos, A. & Lehmann, R. (2006). The role of Tudor domains in
germline development and polar granule architecture. Development Vol. 133: 40534062.
Atkinson, S. & Armstrong, L. (2008). Epigenetics in embryonic stem cells: regulation of
pluripotency and differentiation. Cell Tissue Research Vol. 331: 2329.
Berrill, N.J. (1961) Growth, Development, and Pattern, San Francisco, London: Freeman and
Company, 556 p.
Blackstone, N.W. & Jasker, B.D. (2003). Phylogenetic consideration of clonality, coloniality,
and mode of germline development in animals. J. of Experimental Zoology Vol. 287B:
35-47.

308

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Brown, F.D., & Swalla, B.J. (2007). Vasa expression in a colonial ascidian, Botrylloides
violaceus. Evolution & Development Vol. 9: 165177.
Buss, L.W. (1987). The Evolution of Individuality, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
Chambers, I., Colby, D., Robertson, M., Nichols, J., Lee, S., Tweedie, S. & Smith, A. (2003).
Functional expression cloning of Nanog, a pluripotency sustaining factor in
embryonic stem cells. Cell Vol. 113: 64355.
Chuma, S., Hosokawa, M., Kitamura, K., Kasai, S., Fujioka, M., Hiyoshi, M., Takamune, K.,
Noce, T., & Nakatsuji N. (2006). Tdrd1/Mtr-1, a tudor-related gene, is essential for
male germ-cell differentiation and nuage/germinal granule formation in mice.
PNAS USA Vol. 103: 1589415899.
Cinalli, R.M., Rangan, P. & Lehmann, R. (2008). Germ Cells Are Forever. Cell Vol. 132: 559562.
Clark, A.T., Bodnar, M.S., Fox, M., Rodriquez, R.T., Abeyta, M.J., Firpo, M.T. & Pera R.A.R.
(2004). Spontaneous Differentiation of Germ Cells from Human Embryonic Stem
Cells in vitro, Human Molecular Genetics, Vol. 13, pp. 727-739.
Cox, D.N., Chao, A., Baker, J., Chang, L., Qiao, D. & Lin, H. (1998). A novel class of
evolutionarily conserved genes defined by piwi are essential for stem cell selfrenewal. Genes & Devel. Vol. 12: 3715-3727.
Coward, S.J. (1974). Chromatoid bodies in somatic cells of the planarian: Observation on
their behavior during mitosis. Anatomical Records Vol. 180: 533-546.
De Mulder, K., Kuales, G., Pfister, D., Willems, M., Egger, B., Salvenmoser, W., Thaler, M.,
Gorny, A. K., Hrouda, M., Borgonie, G. & Ladurner P. (2009). Characterization of
the stem cell system of the acoel Isodiametra pulchra. BMC Dev. Biology Vol. 9: 69
Denker, E., Manuel, M., Leclre, L., Le Guyader, H. & Rabet, N. (2008). Ordered progression
of nematogenesis from stem cells through differentiation stages in the tentacle bulb
of Clytia hemisphaerica (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria). Developmental Biology Vol. 315: 99113.
Dill, K.K. & Seaver, E.C. (2008). Vasa and nanos are coexpressed in somatic and germ line
tissue from early embryonic cleavage stages through adulthood in the Polychaete
capitella sp. Genes Devel. & Evol. Vol. 218: 453463.
Ding, D. & Lipshitz, H.D. (1993). A Molecular Screen for Polar-localized Maternal RNAs in
the Early Embryo of Drosophila. Zygote Vol. 1: 257271.
Do, J.T. & Schler, H.R. (2009). Regulatory circuits underlying pluripotency and
reprogramming. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences Vol. 30: 296-302.
Eddy, E.M. (1975). Germ Plasm and the Differentiation of the Germ Cell Line, Int. Review of
Cytology Vol. 43: 229280.
Eguizabal, C., Shovlin, T.C., Durcova-Hills, G., Surani, A. & McLaren, A. (2009). Generation
of primordial germ cells from pluripotent stem cells. Differentiation Vol. 78: 116123
Eisenhoffer, G.T., Kang, H. & Alvarado, A.S. (2008). Molecular analysis of stem cells and
their descendants during cell turnover and regeneration in the planarian Schmidtea
mediterranea. Cell Stem Cell Vol. 3(No. 3): 327-39.
Eulalio. A., Behm-Ansmant, I. & Izaurralde, E. (2007). P bodies: at the crossroads of posttranscriptional pathways. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol Vol. 8: 9-22.
Extavour, C.G.M. (2008). Urbisexuality: the evolution of bilaterian germ cell specification
and reproductive systems. In: Evolving Pathways. Key Themes in Evolutionary
Developmental Biology, Eds. Minelli, A. & Fusco, G., Cambridge, New York,

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

309

Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore and Sn Paulo: Cambridge University

Press, pp. 321342.
Extavour, C.G. & Akam, M. (2003.) Mechanisms of Germ Cell Specification across the
Metazoans: Epigenesis and Preformation. Development Vol. 130: 5869-5884, ISSN
1011-6370
Extavour, C.G., Pang, K., Matus, D.Q. & Martindale, M.Q. (2005). vasa and nanos expression
patterns in a sea anemone and the evolution of bilaterian germ cell specification
mechanisms. Evol. & Devel. Vol. 7: 201215.
Ewen-Kampen, B., Schwager, E.E. & Extavour, C.G.M. (2010). The Molecular Machinery of
Germ Line Specification. Molecular Reproduction and Development Vol. 77: 3-18.
Flemr, M., Ma, J., Schultz, R.M. & Svoboda, P. (2010). P-Body loss is concomitant with
formation of a messenger RNA storage domain in mouse oocytes. Biology of
Reproduction Vol. 82: 1008-1017.
Funayama, N. (2008). Stem cells of sponge, In: Stem Cells. From Hydra to Man, Ed. Bosch
T.C.G., Springer, pp. 17-36.
Funayama, N., Nakatsukasa, M., Mohri, K., Masuda, Y., & Agata, K. (2010). Piwi expression
in archeocytes and choanocytes in demosponges: insights into the stem cell system
in Demosponges. Evol. & Devel. Vol. 12(No. 3): 275287.
Green, D.R. & Reed, J.C. (1998). Mitochondria and Apoptosis. Science Vol. 281 (No. 5381):
13091312.
Gustafson, E.A. & Wessel, G.M. (2010). Vasa genes: emerging roles in the germ line and in
multipotent cells. Bioessays Vol. 32: 626637.
Harrison F.W., De Vos L. Porifera. In: Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates. Vol. 2:
Placozoa, Porifera, Cnidaria, and Ctenophora. Eds. Harrison F.W., Westfall J.A.
Wiley-Liss: New York e a. 1991. P. 28-89.
Hogan, B. (2001). Primordial germ cells as stem cells. In: Stem cell biology, Eds. Marshak,
D.R., Gardner, R.L. & Gottlieb, D., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New
York, pp. 189-204.
Hori I. 1982. An ultrastructural study of the chromatoid body in planarian regenerative cells.
J. of Electron Microscopy Vol. 31: 63-72.
Heg, J.T. & Ltzen, J. (1993). Comparative morphology and phylogeny of the family
Thompsoniidae (Cirripedia, Rhizocephala, Akentrogonida), with descriptions of
three new genera and seven new species. Zoologica Scripta Vol. 22: 363386.
Heg, J.T. & Ltzen, J. (1995). Life cycle and reproduction in the Cirripedia Rhizocephala.
Oceanography and Marine Biology: Annual Review Vol. 33: 427-485.
Heg, J.T., Glenner, H. & Shields, J.D. (2005). Cirripedia, Thoracica and Rhizocephala
(barnacles). In: Marine Parasites, Eds. Rohde, K. & Wallingford, U.K., CABI, and
Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO, pp. 154165.
Huang, Y., Fang, J., Bedford, M.T., Zhang, Y. & Xu, R.M. (2006). Recognition of histone H3
lysine-4 methylation by the double tudor domain of JMJD2A. Science Vol. 5: 748751.
Hubbard, E.J.A. & Pera, R.R.A. (2003). Germ-cell odyssey: fate, survival, migration, stem
cells and differentiation. EMBO reports Vol 4: 352-357.
Ikenishi, K. (1998). Germ plasm in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila and Xenopus. Develop.
Growth Differ. Vol. 40: 1-10

310

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Isaeva, V.V. (2010). The diversity of ontogeny in animals with asexual reproduction, and
plasticity of early development. Russian J. of Dev. Biology Vol. 41(No. 5): 285295.
Isaeva, V.V. (2011). Pluripotent Gametogenic Stem Cells of Asexually Reproducing
Invertebrates. In: Embryonic Stem Cells, Vol. 2, InTech (in press).
Isaeva, V.V. & Akhmadieva, A.V. (2011). Germinal granules in archaeocytes of the sponge
Oscarella malakhovi Ereskovsky, 2006. Russian J. of Marine Biol. Vol. 37: 209-216.
Isaeva, V., Akhmadieva, A.V., Alexandrova, Y.N. & Shukalyuk, A.I. (2009).
Morphofunctional organization of reserve stem cells providing for asexual and
sexual reproduction of Invertebrates. Russian J. of Dev. Biology Vol. 40(No. 2): 5768.
Isaeva, V.V., Akhmadieva A., Aleksandrova, Y.N., Shukalyuk, A.I. & Chernyshev, A.V.
(2011). Germinal Granules in Interstitial Cells of the Colonial Hydroids Obelia
longissima Pallas, 1766 and Ectopleura crocea Agassiz, 1862. Russian J. of Marine Biol.
Vol. 37(No. 4): 303310.
Isaeva, V.V., Alexandrova, Y. & Reunov, A. (2005). Interaction between Chromatoid Bodies
and Mitochondria in Neoblasts and Gonial Cells of the Asexual and Spontaneously
Sexualized Planarian Girardia (Dugesia) tigrina. Invertebrate Reproduction and
Development Vol. 48(No. 1-3): 119-128.
Isaeva, V.V., Shukalyuk, A.I. & Akhmadieva, A.V. (2008). Stem cells in reproductive strategy
of asexually reproducing Invertebrates. Russian J. of Marine Biol. Vol. 34(No. 1): 18.
Isaeva, V.V., Shukalyuk, A.I. & Kizilova, E.A. (2003). Revealing of stem cells in colonial
interna of the Rhizocephalans Peltogasterella gracilis and Sacculina polygenea at
parasitic stage of their life cycle. Tsitologiya Vol. 45(No. 8): 758763.
Isaeva, V.V., Shukalyuk, A.I., Korn, O.M. & Rybakov, A.V. (2004). Development of
primordial externae in the colonial interna of Polyascus polygenea (Crustacea:
Cirripedia: Rhizocephala). Crustacean Research No. 33: 61-71.
Isaeva, V.V., Shukalyuk, A.I., Trofimova, A.V., Korn, O.M. & Rybakov, A.V. (2001). The
structure of colonial interna in Sacculina polygenea (Crtustacea: Cirripedia:
Rhizocephala). Crustacean Research No. 30: 134-147.
Ivanova-Kazas, O.M. (1996). Blastogenesis, Cormogenesis, and Evolution. Russian J. of
Marine Biol. Vol. 22(No. 5): 285294.
Jaenisch, R. & Young, R. (2008). Stem cells, the molecular circuitry of pluripotency and
nuclear reprogramming. Cell Vol. 132: 567582.
Juliano, C.E., Yajima, M. & Wessel, G.M. (2010). Nanos functions to maintain the fate of the
small micromere lineage in the sea urchin embryo. Dev. Biol. Vol. 337: 220232.
Juliano, C. & Wessel, G. (2010). Versatile germline genes. Science Vol. 329: 640641.
Kee, K., Gonsalves, J.M., Clark, A.M. & Pera R.R.A. (2006). Bone morphogenetic proteins
induce germ cell differentiation from human embryonic stem cells. Stem cells and
Development Vol. 15: 831837.
Kiebler, M.A. & Bassell, G.J. (2006). Neuronal RNA Granules: Movers and Makers. Neuron
Vol. 51: 685.
Kim, J., Chu, J., Shen, X., Wang, J. & Orkin, S.H. (2008). An extended transcriptional network
for pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Cell Vol. 132: 10491061.
Kloc, M., Bilinski, S. & Etkin, L.D. (2004). The Balbiani body and germ cell determinants: 150
Years Later. Current Topics in Dev. Biol. Vol. 59: 1-36.
Kotaja, N., Bhattacharyya, S.N., Jaskiewicz, L., Kimmins, S., Parvinen, M., Filipowicz, W. &
Sassone-Corsi, P. (2006). The chromatoid body of male germ cells: Similarity with

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

311

processing bodies and presence of Dicer and microRNA pathway components.

PNAS Vol. 103: 26472652.
Lacham-Kaplan, O., Chy, H., Trounson, A. (2006). Testicular cell conditioned medium
supports differentiation of embryonic stem cells into ovarian structures containing
oocytes. Stem Cells Vol. 24: 266273.
Lachke, S.A., Alkuraya, F.S., Kneeland, S.C., Ohn, T., Aboukhalil, A., Howell, G.R., Saadi, I.,
Cavallesco, R., Yue, Y., Tsai, A.C.-H., Nair, K.S., Cosma, M.I., Smith, R.S., Hodges,
E., AlFadhli, S.M., Al-Hajeri, A., Shamseldin, H.E., Behbehani, A.M., Hannon, G.J.,
Bulyk, M.L., Drack, A.V., Anderson, P.J., John, S.W.M. & Maas, R.L. (2011).
Mutations in the RNA granule component TDRD7 cause cataract and glaucoma.
Science Vol. 331: 1571-1576.
Leatherman, J.L., & Jongens, T.A. (2003). Transcriptional silencing and translational control:
key features of early germline development. Bioessays Vol. 25: 326-335.
Lim, A.K. & Kai, T. (2007). Unique germ-line organelle, nuage, functions to repress selfish
genetic elements in Drosophila melanogaster. PNAS USA Vol. 104: 6714-6719.
Mahowald, A.P. (2001). Assembly of the Drosophila germ plasm. Int. Review of Cytology Vol.
203: 187-213.
Martinou, J.C. (1999). Key to the mitochondrial gate. Nature Vol. 399(No. 6735): 411412.
Matova, N. & Cooley, L. (2001). Comparative aspects of animal oogenesis. Dev. Biol. Vol. 16:
1-30.
Mochizuki, K., Sano, H., Kobayashi, S., Nishimiya-Fujisawa, C. & Fujisawa, T. (2000).
Expression and evolutionary conservation of nanos-related genes in Hydra.
Development, Genes and Evolution Vol. 210: 591602.
Mochizuki, K., Nishimiya-Fujisawa, C. & Fujisawa, T. (2001). Universal occurrence of the
vasa-related genes among Metazoans and their germline expression in Hydra.
Development, Genes and Evolution Vol. 211: 299-308.
Muraro, N.I., Weston, A.J., Gerber, A.P., Luschnig, S., Moffat, K.G. & Baines, R.A. (2008).
Pumilio binds para mRNA and requires Nanos and Brat to regulate sodium current
in Drosophila motoneurons. J. Neurosci. Vol. 28: 20992109.
Nagamori, I., Cruickhank, A. & Sassone-Corsi, P. (2011). The chromatoid body: a specialized
RNA granule of male germ cells. Epigenetics and Human Health Vol. 4: 311-328.
Noda, K. & Kanai, C. (1977). An ultrastructural observation of Pelmatohydra robusta at sexual
and asexual stages, with a special reference to germinal plasm. J. Ultrastructural
Research Vol. 61: 284-294.
Oyama, A. & Shimizu, T. (2007). Transient occurrence of vasa-expressing cells in nongenital
segments during embryonic development in the oligochaete annelid Tubifex tubifex.
Development, Genes and Evolution Vol. 217: 675690.
Parvinen, M. (2005). The chromatoid body in spermatogenesis. Int. J. Androl. Vol. 28: 189
201.
Pepling, M.E., Wilhelm, J.E., OHara, A.L., Gephardt, G.W. & Spradling, A.C. (2007). Mouse
oocytes within germ cell cysts and primordial follicles contain a Balbiani body.
PNAS Vol. 104: 187192.
Pepling, M.E. (2010). A novel maternal mRNA storage compartment in mouse oocytes.
Biology of Reproduction Vol. 82(No. 5): 807-808.
Peters, L. & Meister, G. (2007). Argonaute proteins: mediators of RNA silencing. Mol. Cell
Vol. 26: 611623.

312

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Pfister, D., De Mulder, K., Hartenstein, V., Kuales, G., Borgonie, G., Marx, F., Morris, J. &
Ladurner, P. (2008). Flatworm stem cells and the germ line: developmental and
evolutionary implications of macvasa expression in Macrostomum lignano. Dev. Biol.
Vol. 319: 146159.
Rangan, P., DeGennaro, M., Jaime-Bustamante, K., Coux, R.X., Martinho, R.G. & Lehmann,
R. (2009). Temporal and Spatial Control of Germ-Plasm RNAs. Current Biology Vol.
19: 7277.
Reddien, P.W., Oviedo, N.J., Jennings, J.R., Jenkin, J.C. & Alvarado, S.A. (2005). SMEDWI-2
is a PIWI-like protein that regulates planarian stem cells. Science Vol. 310: 13271330.
Rebscher, N., Zelada-Gonzlez, F., Banish, T., Raible, F. & Arendt, D. (2007). Vasa Unveils a
Common Origin of Germ Cells and of Somatic Stem Cells from the Posterior
Embryonic Stem Cells Growth Zone in the Polychaete Platynereis dumerlii. Dev. Biol.
Vol. 306: 599-611.
Rebscher, N., Volk, C., Teo, R., & Plickert, G. (2008). The Germ Plasm Component vasa
Allows Tracing of the Interstitial Stem Cells in the Cnidarian Hydractinia echinata.
Dev. Dyn. Vol. 237: 17361745.
Rinkevich, B. (2009). Stem Cells: Autonomy Interactors that Emerge as Causal Agents and
Legitimate Units of Selection, In: Stem Cells in Marine Organisms, Eds. Rinkevich, B.
& Matranga, V., Springer: Dordrecht, Heidelberg, London, New York, pp. 1-20.
Rinkevich, Y., Matranga, V., Rinkevich, B. (2009). Stem cells in aquatic invertebrates:
common premises and emerging unique themes. In: Stem Cells in Marine Organisms,
Eds. Rinkevich, B., Matranga, V., Springer: Dordrecht, Heidelberg, London, New
York, pp. 61-104.
Rosner, A., Moiseeva, E., Rinkevich, Y., Lapidot, Z. & Rinkevich, B. (2009). Vasa and the
germ line lineage in a colonial urochordate. Developmental Biology Vol. 331: 113128.
Rossi, L., Salvetti, A., Marincola, F.M., Lena, A., Deri, P., Mannini, L., Batistoni, R., Wang, E.
& Gremigni, V. (2007). Deciphering the molecular machinery of stem cells: a look at
the neoblast gene expression profile. Genome Biology Vol.8: R62.
Salvetti, A., Rossi, L., Lena, A., Batistoni, R., Deri, P., Rainaldi, G., Locci, M.T., Evangelista,
M. & Gremigni, V. (2005). DjPum, a homologue of Drosophila Pumilio, is essential to
planarian stem cell maintenance. Development Vol. 132: 18631874.
Seipel, K., Yanze, N., & Schmid, V. (2004). The germ line and somatic stem cell gene Cniwi
in the jellyfish Podocoryne carnea. Int. J. Dev. Biol. Vol. 48: 17.
Selenko, P., Sprangers, R., Stier, G., Bhler, D., Fischer, U. & Sattler, M. (2001). SMN Tudor
domain structure and its interaction with the Sm proteins. Nature Structural Biology
Vol. 8(No. 1): 27-31.
Seydoux, G. & Braun, R.E. (2006). Pathway to totipotency: lessons from germ cells. Cell Vol.
127: 891-904.
Shibata, N., Rauhana, L. & Agata, K. (2010). Cellular and molecular dissection of pluripotent
adult somatic stem cells in planarians. Development, Growth and Diff. Vol. 52: 2741.
Shibata, N., Umesono, Y., Orii, H., Sakurai, T., Watanabe, K. & Agata, K. (1999). Expression
of vasa (vas)-related genes in germline cells and totipotent somatic stem cells of
planarians. Develop. Biol. V. 206: 7387.
Shostak, S. (2006). (Re)defining stem cells. BioEssays Vol. 28: 301308.

Molecular and Sub-Cellular Gametogenic Machinery of Stem and Germline Cells Across Metazoa

313

Shukalyuk, A.I., (2002). Organization of interna in Sacculina polygenea (Crustacea:

Rhizocephala). Russian Journal of Marine Biology Vol. 28: 329335.
Shukalyuk, A.I. (2009). Germline commitment in embryonic and induced pluripotent stem
cells. Proceeding of The American Society of Cell Biology: 49th Annual Meeting,
December 5-9, Regular Abstracts, pp. 585.
Shukalyuk, A.I., Baiborodin, S.I. & Isaeva, V.V. (2001). Organization of interna in the
rhizocephalan barnacle Peltogasterella gracilis. Russian J. of Marine Biol. Vol. 27: 113
116.
Shukalyuk, A.I., Golovnina, K., Baiborodin, S., Gunbin, K., Blinov, A. & Isaeva, V. (2007).
vasa-related genes and their expression in stem cells of colonial parasitic
rhizocephalan barnacle Polyascus polygenea (Arthropoda: Crustacea: Cirripedia:
Rhizocephala). Cell Biology International Vol. 31(No. 2): 97-108.
Shukalyuk, A.I., Isaeva, V.V., Akhmadieva, A.V., & Alexandrova, Y.N. (2011). Stem cells in
asexually reproducing invertebrates, embryonic stem cells and germline cells share
common, evolutionary conserved features. Proceeding of the International Society for
Stem Cell Research, 9th Annual Meeting, June 15-18, Friday Abstracts, Toronto, p. 77.
Shukalyuk, A.I., Isaeva, V.V., Golovnina, K.A., Baiborodin, S.I. & Blinov, A.G. (2005). vasarelated genes and their expression in stem cells of colonial Polyascus polygenea
(Crustacea: Cirripedia: Rhizocephala). Proceeding of the International Society for Stem
Cell Research: 3rd Annual Meeting, San Francisco. Abstracts. p. 215.
Shukalyuk, A.I., Isaeva, V.V., Kizilova, E. & Baiborodin, S. (2005). Stem cells in reproductive
strategy of colonial rhizocephalan crustaceans (Crustacea: Cirripedia:
Rhizocephala). Invertebrate Reproduction and Development Vol. 48: 41-53.
Shukalyuk, A.I. & Stanford, W.L. (2008). Germ plasm signature in embryonic stem cells.
Proceeding of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, 6th Annual Meeting, June
11-14, Philadelphia, USA, p. 353 N 238.
Skld, H.N., Obst, M., Skld, M. & kesson, B. (2009). Stem cells in asexual reproduction of
marine invertebrates. In: Stem Cells in Marine Organisms. Eds. Rinkevich, B. &
Matranga, V., Springer: Dordrecht, Heidelberg, London, New York, pp.105-137.
Snee, M.J. & Macdonald, P.M. (2004). Live imaging of nuage and polar granules: evidence
against a precursor-product relationship and a novel role for Oskar in stabilization
of polar granule components. Journal of Cell Science Vol. 117: 2109-2120.
Snel, B., Lehmann, G., Bork, P. & Huynen, M.A. (2000). STRING: a web-server to retrieve
and display the repeatedly occurring neighbourhood of a gene. Nucleic Acids Res.
Vol. 28(No. 18): 3442-3444.
Solana, J., Lasko, P. & Romero, R. (2009). Spoltud-1 is a chromatoid body component
required for planarian long-term stem cell self-renewal. Dev. Biol. Vol. 328(No. 2):
410421.
Srouji, J. & Extavour, C. (2011). Redefining stem cells and assembling germ plasm: key
transition in the evolution of the germ plasm. In: Key transition in animal evolution,
Eds. DeSalle, R. & Schierwater, B., Science Publishers New York, USA Abingdon,
UK, pp. 360-397.
Stice, S.L., Boyd, N.L., Dhara, S.K., Gerwe, B.A., Machacek, D.W. & Shin, S. (2006). Human
embryonic stem cells: challenges and opportunities. Reproduction, Fertility &
Development Vol. 18: 839846.

314

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Sunanaga, T., Watanabe, A. & Kawamura, K. (2007). Involvement of vasa homolog in

germline recruitment from coelomic stem cells in budding tunicates. Dev. Genes
Evol. Vol. 217: 111.
Takamura, K., Fujimura, M. & Yamaguchi, Y. (2002). Primordial germ cells originate from
the endodermal strand cells in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Dev. Genes Evol. Vol.
212: 1118.
Tanaka, S.S., Toyooka, Y., Akasu, R., Katoh-Fukui, Y., Nakahara, Y., Suzuki, R., Yokoyama,
M. & Noce, T. (2000). The mouse homolog of Drosophila Vasa is required for the
development of male germ cells Genes & Dev. Vol. 14: 841-853.
Thomson, T. & Lin, H. (2009). The biogenesis and function of PIWI proteins and piRNAs:
progress and prospect. Annual Review of Cell & Dev. Biology Vol. 25: 355-376.
Toyooka, Y., Tsunekawa, N., Akasu, R., & Noce, N. (2003). Embryonic stem cells can form
germ gells in vitro. PNAS USA Vol. 100: 1145711462.
Tropere, V., Hitoshi, S., Sigard, C., Mak, T.W., Rossant, J., & van der Kooy, D. (2001). Direct
neural fate specification from embryonic stem cells: a primitive mammalian neural
stem cell stage acquired through a default mechanism. Neuron Vol. 30: 65-78.
Updike, D.L., Hachey, S.J., Kreher, J. & Strome, S. (2011). P granules extend the nuclear pore
complex environment in the C. elegans germ line. J. Cell Biol. Vol. 192: 939-948.
Voronina, E., Lopez, M., Juliano, C.E., Gustafson, E., Song, J.L., Extavour, C., George, S.,
Oliveri, P., McClay, D. & Wessel, G. (2008). Vasa protein expression is restricted to
the small micromeres of the sea urchin, but is inducible in other lineages early in
development. Dev. Biol. Vol. 314: 276286.
Walker, E., Ohishi, M., Davey, R.E., Zhang, W., Cassar, P.A., Tanaka, T.S., Der, S.D., Morris,
Q., Hughes, T.R., Zandstra, P.W. & Stanford W.L. (2007). Prediction and testing of
novel transcriptional networks regulating embryonic stem cell self-renewal and
commitment. Cell Stem Cell Vol. 1: 7186.
Watanabe, H., Hoang, V.T., Mttner, R. & Holstein, T.W. (2009). Immortality and the base of
multicellular life: Lessons from chidarian stem cells. Semin. Cell Devel. Biol. Vol. 20:
1114-1125.
Weismann, A. (1892). Das Keimplasma. Eine Theorie der Vererbung, Jena: Verlag von Gustav
Fisher, 682 S.
Weismann. A. (1893). The Germ Plasm. A Theory of Heredity, New York: Charles Scribers
Sons, 468 p.
Wu, H.-R., Chen, Y.-T., Su, Y.-H., Luo, Y.J., Holland, L.Z. & Yu, K. (2011). Asymmetric
localization of germline markers Vasa and Nanos during early development in the
amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae. Develop. Biol. Vol. 353: 147159.
Ying, Y., Qi, X. & Zhao, G.Q. (2001). Induction of primordial germ cells from murine
epiblasts by synergistic action of BMP4 and BMP8B signaling pathways. PNAS
USA Vol. 98: 78587862.
Zwaka, T.P. & Thomson, J.A. (2005). A germ cell origin of embryonic stem cells? Development
Vol. 132: 227-233.

14
Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo
Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity
Andrea Leibfried1 and Yohanns Bellache2
1EMBL

2Institut

Heidelberg,
Curie Paris,
1Germany
2France

1. Introduction
Epithelia are specialized tissues that emerged early in evolution to subdivide the body into
distinct parts and to form barriers by lining both the outside (skin) and the inside cavities
and lumen of bodies. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, absorption, protection,
transcellular transport, sensation detection and selective permeability. To achieve these
different tasks, several types of epithelial tissues emerged during evolution, all of them
having one feature in common that is indispensable for their function: the cells are attached
to each other in order to form a layer that works as a barrier. Epithelial cells thus show a
ordered morphology, they are polarized. Disruption of polarity is an important feature of
epithelial cancers that accounts for more than 90% of fatal malignancies in adults, rendering
the understanding of the fundamental processes needed for polarity an ongoing subject of
high interest.
Epithelial cells are highly polarized and the cells are oriented so that their external, so-called
apical, surfaces face the outside or a central lumen and the internal, or basolateral, surfaces
are in contact with other cells and the basement membrane. These characteristics were
discovered using histological and thus descriptive analyses. With the advent of molecular
genetics, biochemistry and molecular cell biology our knowledge about polarization
processes increased dramatically, allowing for a better understanding of the mechanisms
used by epithelial cells to fulfill their specialized tasks and to act as barriers. Thus, the
polarization is not only reflected in the morphology of the cells, but also in the positioning
of their organelles and in the apico-basal (AB) localization of polarity protein complexes at
the plasma membrane. The plasma membrane can be divided into an apical, a junctional
and a basolateral domain, each domain comprising its own set of polarity proteins that are
widely conserved in eukaryotes. This AB polarity is required for formation of functional
epithelial tissues. The asymmetrical deployment of proteins is mediated through subcellular
trafficking and the polarized localization of transcripts. Genetic studies have revealed that
the polarity protein complexes function in a sequential but interdependent manner to
regulate the establishment and maintenance of cellular polarity.
The proteins involved in epithelial cell polarization are largely conserved between species,
as mentioned above, even between vertebrates and invertebrates. Much of our hitherto

316

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

knowledge stems from studies performed in model organisms and until now it is impossible
to culture whole epithelia for a long time. Existing in vitro cell culture systems give
important insights into epithelial cell function, but mechanisms following biological input
from the living and developing organism are obviously missed in these systems. Therefore,
the fruit fly, Drosophila, provides an excellent model system for studying columnar epithelial
cells (Fig. 1), allowing their static and especially dynamic analysis in the context of a whole
living organism. Furthermore, state of the art microscopy imaging techniques can be easily
coupled to the extensive genetic tools available in the Drosophila system, allowing for in vivo
analysis and the concomitant dissection of pathways needed for epithelial cell polarity.
In this chapter we would like to introduce Drosophila as a model system to study epithelial
cell function, establishment and maintenance. First, we will show the similarities and
differences between invertebrate and vertebrate columnar epithelial cells. Second, we will
depict the current knowledge of polarity protein complex regulation, highlighting the
achievements derived from work in Drosophila. Finally, we will provide examples that nicely
show how easy in vivo studies on epithelial cells can be performed using Drosophila.
This chapter will not only give a background on epithelial cell polarity regulation, but it will
highlight the importance of whole organismal studies for the understanding of epithelial
tissues. Furthermore it will reveal the value of a model system like the fruit fly when
deciphering mechanisms underlying biological processes.

Fig. 1. Dorsal thorax of Drosophila melanogaster.

The dorsal thorax serves as a model system for epithelial maintenance and can easily be
analyzed by immunostaining or non-invasive live imaging, using for example the dorsal
thorax of the immobile, developing pupa.

2. Establishment of epithelial cell polarization in metazoans

Epithelial cells have an adhesive belt that encircles the cells apically, the zonula adherens
(ZA). It assembles from the aggregation of spot adherens junctions. Basally, integrin-based
focal contacts connect the epithelial cells to the basement membrane. Vertebrate epithelial
cells develop a tight junction (TJ) apical to the ZA, which impedes intercellular diffusion
and forms a region of close membrane contacts. In Drosophila, the functional equivalent to
TJs is the septate junction (SJ) that lies basal to the ZA. A domain with similar protein
composition as found in TJs is located apically of the ZA in the subapical region (SAR). Only
a single junction, the C. elegans apical junction (CeAJ), has been identified in C. elegans,
which resembles the ZA of Drosophila and vertebrates (Knust & Bossinger, 2002; Tepass et
al., 2001) (Fig. 2). Thus, the overall structure of epithelial cells is highly conserved between
species. The polarity protein complex located close to the ZA, the junctional Par complex,
has been shown to play an essential role in the establishment of epithelial polarity.

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

317

Fig. 2. (adapted from Knust & Bossinger, 2002). Epithelial cell characteristics and typical
polarity protein composition for Drosophila, vertebrate and C. elegans epithelial cells.
The transmembrane (TM) and scaffolding proteins are color-coded depending on their
localization. SAR: subapical region; ZA: zonula adherens; TJ: tight junction; CeAJ: C. elegans
apical junction.
2.1 The junctional Par complex
About 20 years ago, Kemphues and colleagues identified six Par (partitioning defective)
proteins, Par-1 to Par-6, and an atypical protein kinase C (aPKC, known as PKC-3 in C. elegans
and homolog to human PKC) in a screen for partition defective cell division in the one cell
stage embryo in C. elegans, resulting all in loss of the anterior-posterior axis of the embryo
when mutated (Cheng et al., 1995; Kemphues et al., 1988; Kirby et al., 1990). Five of the Par
proteins - all but Par-2 - as well as aPKC are highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom
and are needed for cell polarization. Par-1, Par-4 (also known as LKB1) and aPKC are kinases,
Par-3 and Par-6 are PDZ (PSD95, DlgA, ZO-1)-domain containing proteins and Par-5 is a 14-33 protein. Par-3, Par-6 and aPKC form a complex localized at the anterior cell cortex of the one
cell stage C. elegans embryo, while Par-1 and Par-2 remain at the posterior cortex and Par-4 and
Par-5 localize uniformly at the cortex. The polarized localization of these proteins is triggered
upon fertilization by sperm entry, which enriches the RacGAP CYK-4 (Cytokinesis defect-4) at
the posterior pole to give a spatial cue for polarity. CYK-4 functions as a GTPase activating
protein (GAP) for small GTPases like Rho, Cdc42 or Rac. Thus its localized activity leads to a
gradient of acto-myosin via the inactivation of small GTPases, which distributes the Par
proteins in a polarized manner (Jenkins et al., 2006) (Fig. 3). One of the essential functions of
the Par complex comprised of Par-3, Par-6 and aPKC, is to set-up epithelial polarity in
metazoans in response to the formation of initial cell-cell contact or discrete membrane
domains, whereas the basolateral Par complex (Par-1) functions to promote the expansion of
the lateral membrane. In general, Par proteins have been found to regulate cell polarization in
many different contexts in diverse animals: in epithelia, in directed cell migration, in polarized

318

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

cells like neurons or in self-renewing cells; suggesting that they form part of an ancient and
fundamental mechanism of cell polarization.

Fig. 3. Par protein distribution in the one cell stage C. elegans embryo.
Sperm entry marks the posterior pole and leads to an enrichment in CYK-4 protein, which
functions as a GAP for Cdc42, Rho and Rac, thus leading to a gradient of acto-myosin and to
the spatial restriction of the different Par complexes.
2.2 The apical Crumbs complex
The apical region of polarized epithelial cells harbors Crumbs (Crb), a transmembrane
protein with 30 EGF-like repeats in the extracellular domain that binds with its intracellular
domain to the MAGUK (membrane-associated guanylate kinase) protein Pals1 (protein
associated with Lin7; also known as Stardust in Drosophila). Crb also recruits PATJ (Pals1associated tight junction protein) into the most-apical complex (Tepass & Knust, 1993). Pals1
and PATJ are cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins with several protein-protein interaction
domains including L27 domains, SH3 (Src homology 3) domains, guanylate kinase (GUK)
domains and PDZ domain. Overexpression or siRNA-mediated down-regulation of any of
the three components in mammalian epithelial cells leads to defects in AB polarity
formation suggesting the requirement of the complex as a whole for the proper
development of cell polarity (Roh et al., 2003; Shin et al., 2005; Straight et al., 2004).
2.3 Basolateral domain: Lethal giant larvae, Discs large and Scribble
The basolaterally localized proteins Lethal giant larvae (Lgl), Discs large (Dlg) and Scribble
(Scrib) cooperatively regulate cell polarity, junction formation and cell growth in epithelial
cells. All three genes were identified as tumor suppressors in Drosophila. Lgl has at least four
WD40 repeats, forms homo-oligomers and associates with the cytoskeleton by binding to
non-muscle myosin II. Dlg contains three PDZ domains, a SH3 domain and a GUK domain.
Scrib is a LAP (leucine-rich repeats and PDZ domain) protein, containing 16 leucine-richrepeats (LRRs) and 4 PDZ domains (Yamanaka & Ohno, 2008).
2.4 Adherens junctions proteins
The adherens junctions harbor the E-Cadherin/-Catenin/-Catenin (E-Cad/-Cat/-Cat)
complex that is indispensable for establishing and maintaining cell-cell adhesion. Cadherins
are a large family of transmembrane glycoproteins that form homophilic, calciumdependent interactions with neighboring cells (Gumbiner et al., 1988). E-Cadherin is the
predominant epithelial isoform of cadherin. Its extracellular domain is composed of five

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

319

ectodomain modules (EC1-EC5), with the most membrane-distal module (EC1) mediating
binding with the E-Cad on the adjacent cell. Calcium ions bind between the EC domains to
promote a rod-like conformation required for trans-interactions (Fig. 4). The cytoplasmic tail
binds to -Cat (known as Armadillo, Arm in Drosophila) in order to link E-Cad to -Cat in
metazoans (Pacquelet & Rrth, 2005). Arm is furthermore linked to the Par complex in
Drosophila by binding to Bazooka (Baz), the Drosophila Par-3 homolog (Capaldo & Macara,
2007; Oda et al., 1994).
Stable epithelial adhesions require the F-actin network (Cavey et al., 2008) and the E-Cad/Cat/-Cat complex is linked to actin via -Cat, vinculin and -actinin. It is a matter of
debate whether the -Cat-actin interaction indeed stabilizes the AJ complex since it has been
shown in mammalian cells that -Cat binds only in its homodimeric state to actin, whereas
its binding to -Cat is restricted to the monomeric form. Thus, the interaction of the ECad/-Cat/-Cat complex with the actin cytoskeleton is dynamic by way of association and
dissociation of -Cat with the complex and with actin filaments. Homodimeric -Cat
directly regulates actin-filament organization by suppressing Arp2/3 mediated actin
polymerization, most likely by competing with the Arp2/3 complex for binding to actin
filaments (Drees et al., 2005; Yamada et al., 2005). The observations made by Drees, Yamada
and colleagues thus suggests a dynamic stabilization of the AJ complex through actin-Cat interactions. In the light of a developing epithelial tissue, where a modulation of the cellcell contacts needs to take place in order to allow for cell rearrangements and growth
without compromising epithelial integrity and barrier properties (Classen et al., 2005), such
a dynamic interaction between the stabilizing actin cytoskeleton and the AJ complex seems
to be indispensable. Thus, this suggests the existence of adjustable mechanisms stabilizing
the adherens junctions proteins at the junctions allowing for plasticity of the epithelial
tissue; mechanisms that needed to be further elucidated in vivo to completely understand
epithelial development and maintenance and associated E-Cad transport and turnover.

Fig. 4. E-Cadherin/-Catenin/-Catenin interaction.

320

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

-Catenin binds to the cytoplasmic tail of E-Cadherin. -Catenin binds to the N-terminal
region of -Catenin. E-Cadherin molecules can interact with each other in the extracellular
space in cis and in trans, both interactions need Ca2+. PM: plasma membrane.

3. Establishment of epithelial cell polarization in Drosophila

In Drosophila, the syncytial blastoderm gives rise to the first epithelium during
cellularization. Membrane invaginations form, the so-called furrow canals, which already
display discrete domains apical and lateral to the nuclei (Foe & Alberts, 1983; Mavrakis et
al., 2009; Schejter & Wieschaus, 1993). Baz localizes below aPKC and Par-6 as the
epithelium forms and its positioning is independent of aPKC and Par-6 but dependent on
cytoskeletal cues given by the apical scaffold and dynein-mediated basal-to-apical
transport as well as by cues that still need to be elucidated. Baz recruits Par-6 and aPKC,
and subsequently Baz and Par-6 recruit Crb and PATJ respectively. aPKC in turn
stabilizes apical Crb. Par-6 positioning is dependent on aPKC and on activated Cdc42
(Harris & Peifer, 2005). A transient basal adherens junction made up of ZA proteins ECad, Arm, -Cat and PATJ forms and its assembly is coupled to correct Baz positioning
(Hunter & Wieschaus, 2000). Once cellularization is complete, the lateral dispersed spotlike adherens junctions coalesce apically to form the belt-like ZA. In the SAR, Crb binds to
Stardust (Sdt, Pals1 homolog of Drosophila) via its C-terminus and recruits PATJ into the
complex. Crb also provides a link to the apical membrane cytoskeleton, which might
reinforce the ZA, by binding to Drosophila Moesin (membrane-organizing extension spike
protein) via its FERM (4.1, Ezrin, Radixin, Moesin) binding site and to spectrin (Mdina et
al., 2002). Spectrin is a tetrameric actin crosslinking protein. The spectrin cytoskeleton
composition differs in the apical and basolateral domain of epithelial cells, thus giving
spatial cues. The basolateral localization of the proteins Lgl, Dlg and Scrib depends on the
presence of each of the three proteins and a failure of localization leads to the expansion
of the apical Crb complex into more lateral domains. Consequently, the ZA does not form
correctly, leading to multilayering of cells. Dlg and Scrib localize to the basolateral
domain and the septate junctions just below the ZA, whereas Lgl co-localizes only
partially with them below the septate junctions. Lgl is also found in the cytoplasm (Bilder
& Perrimon, 2000; Bilder et al., 2000; Woods & Bryant, 1991).
Thus, epithelial polarity establishment has been extensively studied in Drosophila, which is
due to the fact that the syncytial blastoderm-to-epithelium transition can be easily studied in
wild-type and mutant conditions. Freshly laid eggs are collected from the flies and
subsequently staged to observe cellularization (defects) at different timepoints.

4. Establishment of epithelial cell polarization in vertebrates

The TJs of vertebrate epithelial cells separate apical and basolateral membrane domains and
harbor the transmembrane proteins occludin, claudin family members and junctional
adhesion molecules (JAMs) (Fig. 2). All TJ proteins interact directly with cytoplasmic, PDZdomain containing proteins like ZO-1, ZO-2, ZO-3 (Zonula occludens 1-3), Par-3 and Pals1.
These cytoplasmic proteins recruit other cytoskeletal (F-actin) or signaling molecules
(Mertens et al., 2005).

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

321

Many results explaining epithelial polarity establishment in vertebrates rely on a cell-based

system: In MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) cells, ZO-1 binds to the C-terminus of
claudins and JAM via two of its PDZ domains and Par-3 directly associates with the Cterminus of JAM. Subsequently, and similar to what has been shown in Drosophila, Par-6,
aPKC and Cdc42 are recruited to Par-3 and form a complex that is needed for the
development of normal tight junctions (Afonso & Henrique, 2006; Chen & Macara, 2005;
Joberty et al., 2000). Claudins play a central role in polarity establishment, since they also
interact with the Crb complex: PATJ, whose expression depends on Pals1, interacts with
claudin and ZO-3 via two of its PDZ domains and with Pals1 via its N-terminus. Pals1
interacts with its PDZ domain with the cytoplasmic tail of Crb, which reinforces the
association of Crb with the Par complex (Lemmers et al., 2003; Straight et al., 2004).

5. Regulation of cell polarity in the epithelium

5.1 Regulation of the junctional Par complex
As described above, Par-3/Baz recruits Par-6 and aPKC in vertebrates and Drosophila and
this has been confirmed by ectopic expression of Par-3, which leads to ectopic Par-6 and
aPKC recruitment in mammalian cells (Joberty et al., 2000), indicating a general
mechanism for this recruitment. Par-6 also plays an important role in Par complex
localization and activation since it interacts with Cdc42 via its PDZ and semi-CRIB
domain, with Par-3/Baz via its PDZ domain and with aPKC through its PB1 (Phox and
Bem1) domain. Concomitant binding to aPKC and Cdc42 causes a conformational change
in Cdc42-GTP, leading to aPKC activation (Hutterer et al., 2004; Joberty et al., 2000).
Activated aPKC in turn is needed for correct Par-3 localization in mammalian cells and
has been shown to spatially regulate the basolateral protein complex in Drosophila. aPKC
phosphorylates Par-3 which in turn dissociates from the Par complex, possibly allowing
the regulative interaction of aPKC with other proteins and thus leading to correct cell-cell
contact formation and epithelial polarization (Joberty et al., 2000; Nagai-Tamai et al.,
2002). At the basolateral side, Par-6 localization is excluded by Lgl in Drosophila, however
the exclusion of the Par complex in mammalian cells has been shown to be regulated by
Par-1 kinase activity: Par-1 phosphorylates Par-3, which leads to the binding of Par-5 (143-3) to Par-3 and thus inhibits the formation of the Par complex by blocking Par-3
oligomerization and binding to aPKC (Benton & St Johnston, 2003). Par-1 activation is
regulated by Par-4 through phosphorylation of the activation loop of the Par-1 kinase
domain (Suzuki & Ohno, 2006) and it is inactivated by phosphorylation by aPKC, which
causes binding to Par-5 (14-3-3) and inhibition of plasma membrane binding in the apical
domain (Hurov et al., 2004) (Fig. 5).
Proteins that have so far not been linked to epithelial polarity can of course also affect the
functionality of the junctional Par complex, and in the upcoming years new regulators will
for sure be identified. One example for such a regulation is protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A),
a heterotrimeric serine/threonine phosphatase with broad substrate specificity and diverse
cellular functions like cell growth and regulation of the cytoskeleton. PP2A inhibits aPKC
function and dephosphorylates TJ components thereby triggering junction disassembly in
mammalian cells (Nunbhakdi-Craig et al., 2002) (Fig. 5).

322

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 5. Regulation of the junctional Par complex in mammalian cells.

aPKC inhibits the function of Par-1, which inactivates Par-3 in the basolateral domain. Par-4
activates Par-1. Cdc42 binds to Par-6 and thereby activates the Par complex. aPKC
phosphorylates Par-3, which then dissociates from the Par complex. PP2A blocks aPKC
function and leads thus to TJ disassembly. TJ: tight junction; PP2A: protein phosphatase-2A.
5.2 Regulation of the junctional E-Cad/-Cat/-Cat complex
The junctional E-Cadherin/-Catenin/-Catenin complex is needed for cell-cell adhesion in
epithelial cells and its localization and maintenance must thus be strictly regulated. In
mammalian cells, disassembly of the apical junctional complex is driven by reorganization
of apical F-actin involving cofilin-1-dependent depolymerization and Arp2/3-assisted
repolymerization as well as myosin II mediated contraction (Ivanov et al., 2004). Actin
organization, myosin II phosphorylation and therefore localization and regulation of gene
transcription and E-Cad localization is affected by Rho, which counteracts Cdc42 and Rac
activity and thus inhibits AJ formation (Sturge et al., 2006). Cdc42, Rac and Rho are
indispensable for epithelial polarity regulation at the junctional domain. Cdc42 promotes
Par complex formation in vertebrates and Drosophila as depicted above and it promotes TJ
development by activation of Rac in mammalian cells. Rac is also activated at the junctional
domain through the GEF Tiam1 (T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis-1), which also
binds to Par-3, providing a link between Rac and the junctional polarity protein complex.
This activation is needed to counteract Rho activity, since Rho favors TJ disassembly
through Rho kinase (ROCK) mediated myosin II phosphorylation (van Leeuwen et al.,
1999). In Drosophila, Cdc42/Par-6/aPKC furthermore regulate E-Cad endocytosis, by
recruiting and interacting with the actin and dynamin machinery needed for vesicle scission
(Georgiou et al., 2008, Harris & Tepass, 2008, Leibfried et al., 2008) (Fig. 6).
Myosin II is a motor that converts chemical energy of ATP into mechanical forces, mediating
the contractility of the actin cytoskeleton. It is activated by phosphorylation of its light chain
through ROCK or MLCK (myosin light chain kinase). Rho activity is therefore downregulated at the AJs in polarized epithelial cells via the interaction of the GAP p190RhoGAP
and the catenin p120-Catenin. p190RhoGAP translocation to the AJs is mediated by Rac
activity, a process taking also place in Drosophila epithelial cells, thus suggesting a general
and not organism-specific down-regulation of Rho at the adherens junctions (Magie et al.,
2002; Wildenberg et al., 2006). In mammalian cells, Rac has been shown to recruit actin to
sites of cell-cell contacts, where it leads to the internalization of the E-Cad/Cat complex

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

323

(Akhtar & Hotchin, 2001). Therefore, Rac seems to have a dual role in E-Cad/Cat complex
maintenance by recruiting p190RhoGAP and at the same time leading to E-Cad/Cat
internalization at the junctions.
Echinoid (Ed) is a component of Drosophila AJs that stabilizes the adhesion complex through
cooperation with E-Cad and by linking the AJs to actin filaments. The C-terminal PDZ
domain of Ed furthermore binds to Baz, which leads to a strong linkage between the Par
complex and the AJs, since E-Cad is also bound to Baz via its interaction with Arm (Laplante
& Nilson, 2006; Wei et al., 2005). Moreover, actin filaments are organized by a pathway that
is regulated by Bitesize, a synaptogamin-like protein that binds to Moesin and PIP2 at the
apical domain, leading to stabilization of E-Cad at the AJs (Pilot et al., 2006). These results
show that the regulation of the adhesion complex depends strongly on small GTPases and
the underlying acto-myosin network as well as on protein-protein interactions between
adhesion and junctional polarity proteins. Thus they form part of an ancient and
fundamental mechanism of cell polarization.

Fig. 6. Regulation of E-Cad endocytosis at the AJs in Drosophila epithelial cells.

Cdc42 most likely recruits together with Par-6 and aPKC the actin regulators Cip4 and
WASp as well as dynamin, which is needed for endocytic vesicle scission, therefore allowing
for correct endocytosis of junctional material.
5.3 Regulation of the apical Crumbs complex
The correct localization of the Crb complex depends on the Crb/Pals1/PATJ proteins
themselves, on motor proteins, the Par complex and on regulation of the cytoskeleton. Most of
our current knowledge is based on studies conducted on Drosophila epithelial cells: The apical
localization of the Crb complex is highly dependent on its individual components. Crb
localization depends on PATJ and on the transport of Crb protein and transcript by a
cytoplasmic dynein complex. PATJ localization is in turn partially dependent on apical Crb
localization, possibly resulting in a positive feedback loop between Crb and PATJ targeting
(Horne-Badovinac & Bilder, 2008; Li et al., 2008; Michel et al., 2005; Tanentzapf et al., 2000).
This positive regulation might be antagonized during later stages of epithelial development by
the FERM protein Yurt in order to prevent an expansion of the apical domain. Yurt is localized
at the basolateral domain, also in mammalian epithelial cells, but Crb recruits it to the apical
membrane late during epithelial development where it counteracts Crb activity (Laprise et al.,

324

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2006). Crb also recruits Pals1 to the apical domain and the same dynein complex used for Crb
apical targeting can transport Pals1 transcript. The junctional Par complex regulates the Crb
complex by phosphorylation. aPKC can interact with Crb in presence of PATJ and Pals1. As a
consequence, Crb gets phosphorylated which is indispensable for correct membrane targeting
of Crb and PATJ and for Crb activity (Sotillos et al., 2004). PATJ localization and ZA formation
depend furthermore on Par-6 activity (Hutterer et al., 2004).
The apical and basolateral complex regulate each other and loss of the basolateral complex
leads to the expansion of the Crb complex and loss of polarity, which can be rescued by the
concomitant loss of the Crb complex (Bilder et al., 2003; Tanentzapf & Tepass, 2003). The
discrete membrane domains are interdependent not only during epithelial establishment
but also during its maintenance. For example loss of adherens junctions proteins E-Cad and
Arm leads to loss of Crb and apical polarity via the disruption of the lateral spectrin and
actin cytoskeleton (Tanentzapf et al., 2000), therefore resulting in a complete loss of polarity.
5.4 Regulation of the basolateral Lgl complex
Scrib stabilizes the AJ complex in the junctional domain, but Lgl localization is accurately
restricted to the basolateral domain by aPKC. Lgl, aPKC and Par-6 can interact, leading to
the phosphorylation of Lgl by aPKC at three conserved serine residues in mammalian cells
and Drosophila (Betschinger et al., 2003). Phosphorylation inactivates Lgl on the apical side
and inhibits its binding to the plasma membrane in both mammalian and Drosophila
epithelial cells by changing the conformation of the protein (Betschinger et al., 2005; Plant et
al., 2003). Lgl and aPKC seem to mutually regulate each other, since loss of Lgl (leading to
an overproliferation phenotype) can be suppressed by concomitant loss of aPKC in
Drosophila (Rolls et al., 2003) (Fig. 7). In mammalian cells, Lgl phosphorylation by aPKC is
furthermore facilitated by the concomitant interaction of Lgl with P32 (Bialucha et al., 2007).
Thus, the interplay between junctional and basolateral proteins maintains distinct
membrane domains in polarized epithelial cells.

Fig. 7. Regulation of basolateral Lgl and stabilization of E-Cad by Scrib in Drosophila

epithelial cells.
aPKC phosphorylates Lgl, which impedes the binding of Lgl to the cortex in the junctional
and apical domain. Scrib leads to the stabilization of E-Cad. Arm: Armadillo; Baz: Bazooka;
Lgl: Lethal giant larvae; Scrib: Scribble.

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

325

5.5 Regulation of epithelial polarity via TGF- and EGF signaling

TGF- and EGF signaling pathways are two out of several important signaling pathways
needed for the correct development of an organism. They have an influence on epithelial
polarity and can lead for example to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Therefore,
the inhibition of both pathways is important for epithelial polarity maintenance.
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-; Decapentaplegic, Dpp in Drosophila) controls
proliferation and cellular differentiation in most cells and TGF- signaling can lead to loss of
cell polarity: in mammalian cells, the TGF- downstream effector Rho controls EMT by
changing the actin cytoskeleton (Ozdamar et al., 2005), whereas the downstream
transcription factors of the Snail family concomitantly lead to down-regulation of claudins,
occludin, E-Cad and Crb (Xu et al., 2009). Therefore, to maintain epithelial polarity, Par-6
interacts with the TGF- receptor, which phosphorylates Par-6 so that it can recruit the E3
ubiquitin ligase Smurf1. Smurf1 leads to degradation of Rho and thus to a block of EMT.
Snail protein activation is blocked by Smad6 and Smad7, thereby preventing downregulation of TJ and apical proteins.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling also plays an important role in the regulation of
cell growth, proliferation and differentiation and it can modulate mammalian TJ formation,
which allows for concerted dissociation and re-establishment of cell-cell adhesion essential
for morphogenesis. Two different pathways achieve this modulation. EGF signaling
activates Src (sarcoma) family kinases that phosphorylate TJ proteins, including ZO-1, ZO-2,
occludin, E-Cad and Par-3, leading to positive and negative regulation of TJ formation in
mammalian cells (Chen et al., 2002; Shen et al., 2008). The down-regulation of E-Cad by Src
promotes EMT because it alters E-Cad trafficking by redirecting E-Cad from a recycling
pathway to a lysosomal pathway (Shen et al., 2008). In both mammalian and Drosophila cells,
EGF signaling also induces the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway which
leads to E-Cad and claudin expression and subsequent translocation of junctional proteins
from the cytoplasm to cell-cell contacts (OKeefe et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2006). E-Cad and
EGF receptor interact at cell-cell contacts to negatively regulate the MAPK pathway in
mammalian cells, suggesting a general negative feedback loop to regulate adhesion and
junctional integrity (Qian et al., 2004). These results suggest that EGF signaling needs to be
tightly controlled to promote either EMT or the stabilization of junctions and they
emphasize the need of a strict regulation of signaling pathways in the cell in order to
maintain epithelial integrity.
5.6 Regulation of epithelial polarity via phosphatidylinositol signaling
Recent studies integrate phosphatidylinositol-phosphate signaling to polarization in both
mammalian and Drosophila epithelial cells. Phosphatidylinositol-phosphate signaling was
mainly known to regulate cell size by interacting with the insulin receptor, but MartinBelmonte, von Stein and colleagues propose that it also enhances polarity establishment.
PDZ domains can bind to phosphatidylinositol lipid membranes and Drosophila Baz binds to
both, phosphatidylinositol lipid membranes and to the phosphatase PTEN (phosphatase
and tensin homolog), thereby possibly recruiting this protein to the apical domain (von Stein
et al., 2005). PTEN converts PIP3 (Phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-triphosphate) to PIP2
(Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate) and this leads to Cdc42 recruitment via Annexin-2
and subsequently to aPKC recruitment to the apical domain in mammalian cells (MartinBelmonte et al., 2007). PIP3 is produced by activation of PI3K (phosphatidylinositol-3

326

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

kinase) at the adherens junctions, as shown in Drosophila epithelial cells, which locally
activates Cdc42 and recruits more E-Cad to the junctions (von Stein et al., 2005). This
suggests a general model where the Par complex recruits PTEN by binding to
phosphatidylinositol lipid membranes, and where PTEN converts PI3K-produced PIP3 to
PIP2. This might mediate the establishment of epithelial polarity by the recruitment of
Cdc42, aPKC and E-Cad (Fig. 8).
PIP2 and PIP3 regulate furthermore the actin cytoskeleton: PIP2 binds to actin-associated
proteins that link the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane or to proteins that are
involved in the initiation of de novo actin polymerization, and PIP3 activates WASp family
proteins (like WASp, WAVE and WASH proteins) and the Arp2/3 complex via interaction
with Rho GTPases (Fig. 8). These results point toward a spatio-temporal fine-regulation of
Cdc42 recruitment during polarization and a coeval regulation of cell polarity establishment
and cytoskeleton controlled by the balance between PIP2 and PIP3, leading to an enhanced
effect for both Cdc42-mediated pathways.

Fig. 8. Regulation of epithelial polarity via phosphatidylinositol signaling.

Baz can bind to PI and to PTEN. PTEN mediates PIP3 to PIP2 conversion, which leads to the
recruitment of Cdc42 and E-Cad. PIP3, which is generated by PI3K activity in the apical
domain, and PIP2 lead to actin polymerization at the junctions. PI: phosphatidylinositol;
PIP3:
Phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-triphosphate;
PIP2:
Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)bisphosphate; PI3K: phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase; Baz: Bazooka.
5.7 Regulation of epithelial polarity via the acto-myosin cytoskeleton
Cell polarity also requires fine regulation of the cytoskeleton. Actin is needed for the
furrow-canal formation during cellularization in Drosophila and AJ proteins are linked to
the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, spectrin has a crucial role in anchoring Crb at the
apical domain (Tanentzapf et al., 2000). In general, the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton
is dependent on the activity of Rac and Cdc42, which both lead to actin nucleation upon
their activation. Downstream of Rac and Cdc42 are WASp family proteins, which are
activated through binding to the Cdc42 and Rac-binding domain (CRIB). WASp protein
activity leads to actin nucleation by activation of the Arp2/3 complex. In mammalian
cells, the binding of Cdc42-GTP and PIP2 to WASp synergistically enhances the activation
of the protein (Parsons et al., 2005) and WASp upregulates the GEF activity of the Cdc42-

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

327

specific GEF intersectin (Malacombe et al., 2006), suggesting a positive feedback loop
between Cdc42 and WASp activity. Cdc42 is also directly linked to epithelial polarity via
the junctional Par complex (see 5.2). Downstream of Cdc42 is furthermore PAK1, which
promotes microtubule formation, thus localizing actin nucleation and microtubule
formation to the same confined space (Parsons et al., 2005), possibly needed for correct
plasma membrane identity in polarized cells. Cell polarity is furthermore maintained by
the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which alters the acto-myosin cytoskeleton in
response to energetic stress situations. High AMP levels lead to a conformational change
of the protein and Par-4 phosphorylates AMPK to activate it as indicated by biochemical
data (Hawley et al., 2003). In Drosophila, Dystroglycan, which is localized at the basal
domain, where it interacts with the extra-cellular matrix protein Perlecan, transduces a
signal from the cellular energy sensor AMPK to myosin II, thus activating myosin II and
regulating AB polarity (Mirouse et al., 2009). To conclude, regulation of both the actin
cytoskeleton and myosin II by GTPases and polarity proteins seems to be indispensable
for maintaining AB polarity.

6. In vivo studies on epithelial cells using Drosophila

As depicted above, most of our hitherto knowledge of epithelial polarity stems from
genetic and biochemical studies performed in cell culture or on model systems. Though
extensive, these two approaches cannot reveal all mechanisms underlying the process of
polarization. Cell polarity is not only needed for the establishment and maintenance of
the single cell, but also for the correct development of the whole multicellular organism.
Some events, like spatio-temporal protein or organelle localization can only be captured
when analyzing a whole, developing, epithelium. Whole tissue analysis can be easily
performed using Drosophila: epithelia can be imaged in vivo by confocal microscopy (see
Fig. 1) while the animal develops. This imaging techniques and the vast genetic tools
available (e.g. gene knock-down or over-expression, expression of fluorescent tagged
proteins in the living fly) have allowed for the dissection of new mechanisms regulating
epithelial polarity.
6.1 Junction-cytoskeleton interaction dissected in vivo
The interaction of -Catenin with E-Cad and the cortical actin control both stability and
remodeling of adhesion. How this occurs is, as mentioned in section 2.4., not elucidated.
Live imaging of Drosophila embryos expressing fluorescent E-Cad and actin (F-actin)
revealed that E-Cad is not evenly distributed around the adhesion belt in epithelial cells as
previously expected. Stable microdomains intersperse with mobile domains. Laser nanoablation of actin and FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleach) and photoconversion experiments for E-Cad show that the stability and mobility of these
microdomains depend on two actin populations, a stable network and one that rapidly turns
over (Cavey et al., 2008).
Further in vivo studies using FRAP and nano-ablation show that the myosin-II forces needed
for actin remodeling at the junctions is not as previously assumed based on polarized
activity of junctional myosin-II, but by the polarized flow of medial actomyosin pulses
towards a specific junctional domain (Rauzi et al., 2010).

328

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

6.2 Planar cell polarity mechanisms dissected in vivo

The morphogenesis and function of an epithelial tissue relies on the precise arrangement of
its constituent cells. Tissue patterning and organization during development depends on the
establishment of concentration gradients of signaling molecules along the tissue that
furthermore can lead to the formation of polarized structures in the plane of the epithelium
(like hairs). This type of polarization of a field of cells is referred to as planar cell polarity
(PCP), where the spatial information that organizes planar polarity is transmitted locally
from one cell to the next (for review see Seifert & Mlodzik, 2007). Thus, epithelial tissues not
only show an apico-basal polarity, but also a positional oriented appearance in the plane in
order to generate polarized structures and to orient themselves in a directed fashion. An
evolutionary conserved set of genes control establishment of planar polarity in flies and
vertebrates, the core Frizzled/PCP (Fz/PCP) factors Flamingo (Fmi), Strabismus (Stbm),
Dishevelled (Dsh), Diego (Dgo), Fat, Dachsous (Ds) and Prickle (Pk) (Jenny et al., 2005). The
Fz/PCP factors polarize a field of cells along a specific axis. Local differences in Fz activity
between neighboring cells provide directional information required for planar polarity, in
other words a gradient of the morphogen is needed for correct PCP. As a result, wing hairs
point away from the site of highest Fz activity in Drosophila (Adler et al., 1997).
Drosophila wing epithelial cells are irregularly arranged throughout most of development,
but they become hexagonally packed shortly before hair formation. PCP proteins promote
hexagonal packing in the Drosophila wing by polarizing membrane trafficking (Classen et al.,
2005). Planar polarity arises during growth due to a cell flow that is triggered by tension
arising from the wing hinge contraction. In vivo imaging of Drosophila wing epithelial cells
expressing fluorescent polarity proteins Stbm and E-Cad led to these observations, that
would be very difficult to dissect in situ or ex vivo (Aigouy et al., 2010).
6.3 Asymmetric cell division of epithelial cells dissected in vivo
Planar cell polarity proteins, amongst others, are also needed to align the mitotic spindle
correctly in order to allow for oriented mitosis to occur. Live imaging of the spindle in the
Drosophila dorsal thorax using fluorescent microtubule components have revealed the
mechanism that keeps the spindle in the correct plane and correct apico-basal tilt. This
positioning controls the correct asymmetric cell division needed in the mechanosensory
organ precursor cell, which resides in the dorsal thorax. Mutations in either Fz/Dsh or the
NuMa homolog Mud as well as mutations in Ric-8, a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor for
heterotrimeric G proteins, result in the mis-orientation of the spindle during division and
the subsequent mal-formation of the sensory organ (David et al., 2005, Sgalen et al., 2010).
The alignment of the spindle during mitosis can only be captured using in vivo studies and
the underlying mechanism would have stayed unknown without the use of Drosophila for in
vivo imaging and the vast genetic techniques available for this model system.

7. Concluding remarks
Epithelial cell function relies in both vertebrates and invertebrates on the tight regulation of
the underlying polarity protein machinery, which is highly conserved (Leibfried, 2009). This
regulation has been analyzed in epithelial cells in cell culture, but an analysis in a whole
living organism, integrating all cellular and environmental cues that an epithelium is
exposed to, remains an interesting task, comprising the truth about epithelial function and

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

329

the regulatory networks needed for it. The use of Drosophila as a model system allows us to
better study epithelial establishment, maintenance and plasticity in the context of a whole
organism. Furthermore, green-fluorescent-protein (GFP) and its derivates give us the
opportunity to analyze epithelial cell function in a spatio-temporal manner by live imaging.
Thus, Drosophila will also in the future help to better understand epithelial establishment,
maintenance and plasticity thanks to todays microscopy imaging and manipulation
techniques, the extensive genetic tools available and the feasibility to study the epithelium
in the context of the whole organism.

8. References
Adler, P.N., Krasnow, R.E., & Liu, J. (1997). Tissue polarity points from cells that have
higher Frizzled levels towards cells that have lower Frizzled levels. Curr Biol, Vol.
7, No.12, pp. 940-949, ISSN 0960-9822
Afonso, C., & Henrique, D. (2006). PAR3 acts as a molecular organizer to define the apical
domain of chick neuroepithelial cells. J Cell Sci, Vol. 119, No.Pt 20, pp. 4293-4304,
ISSN 0021-9533
Aigouy, B., Farhadifar, R., Staple, D.B., Sagner, A., Rper, J.C., Jlicher, F., & Eaton, S. (2010).
Cell flow reorients the axis of planar polarity in the wing epithelium of Drosophila.
Cell, Vol. 142, No.5, pp. 773-786, ISSN 1097-4172
Akhtar, N., & Hotchin, N.A. (2001). RAC1 regulates adherens junctions through endocytosis
of E-cadherin. Mol Biol Cell, Vol. 12, No.4, pp. 847-862, ISSN 1059-1524
Benton, R., & St Johnston, D. (2003). Drosophila PAR-1 and 14-3-3 inhibit Bazooka/PAR-3 to
establish complementary cortical domains in polarized cells. Cell, Vol. 115, No.6,
pp. 691-704, ISSN 0092-8674
Betschinger, J., Mechtler, K., & Knoblich, J.A. (2003). The Par complex directs asymmetric
cell division by phosphorylating the cytoskeletal protein Lgl. Nature, Vol. 422,
No.6929, pp. 326-330, ISSN 0028-0836
Betschinger, J., Eisenhaber, F., & Knoblich, J.A. (2005). Phosphorylation-induced
autoinhibition regulates the cytoskeletal protein Lethal (2) giant larvae. Curr Biol,
Vol. 15, No.3, pp. 276-282, ISSN 0960-9822
Bialucha, C.U., Ferber, E.C., Pichaud, F., Peak-Chew, S.Y., & Fujita, Y. (2007). p32 is a novel
mammalian Lgl binding protein that enhances the activity of protein kinase Czeta
and regulates cell polarity. J Cell Biol, Vol. 178, No.4, pp. 575-581, ISSN 0021-9525
Bilder, D., & Perrimon, N. (2000). Localization of apical epithelial determinants by the
basolateral PDZ protein Scribble. Nature, Vol. 403, No.6770, pp. 676-680, ISSN 00280836
Bilder, D., Li, M., & Perrimon, N. (2000). Cooperative regulation of cell polarity and growth
by Drosophila tumor suppressors. Science, Vol. 289, No.5476, pp. 113-116, ISSN
0036-8075
Bilder, D., Schober, M., & Perrimon, N. (2003). Integrated activity of PDZ protein complexes
regulates epithelial polarity. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 5, No.1, pp. 53-58, ISSN 1465-7392
Capaldo, C.T., & Macara, I.G. (2007). Depletion of E-cadherin disrupts establishment but not
maintenance of cell junctions in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells. Mol
Biol Cell, Vol. 18, No.1, pp. 189-200, ISSN 1059-1524

330

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Cavey, M., Rauzi, M., Lenne, P.F., & Lecuit, T. (2008). A two-tiered mechanism for
stabilization and immobilization of E-cadherin. Nature, Vol. 453, No.7196, pp. 751756, ISSN 1476-4687
Chen, X., & Macara, I.G. (2005). Par-3 controls tight junction assembly through the Rac
exchange factor Tiam1. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 7, No.3, pp. 262-269, ISSN 1465-7392
Chen, Y.H., Lu, Q., Goodenough, D.A., & Jeansonne, B. (2002). Nonreceptor tyrosine kinase
c-Yes interacts with occludin during tight junction formation in canine kidney
epithelial cells. Mol Biol Cell, Vol. 13, No.4, pp. 1227-1237, ISSN 1059-1524
Cheng, N.N., Kirby, C.M., & Kemphues, K.J. (1995). Control of cleavage spindle orientation
in Caenorhabditis elegans: the role of the genes par-2 and par-3. Genetics, Vol. 139,
No.2, pp. 549-559, ISSN 0016-6731
Classen, A.K., Anderson, K.I., Marois, E., & Eaton, S. (2005). Hexagonal packing of
Drosophila wing epithelial cells by the planar cell polarity pathway. Dev Cell, Vol.
9, No.6, pp. 805-817, ISSN 1534-5807
David, N.B., Martin, C.A., Segalen, M., Rosenfeld, F., Schweisguth, F., & Bellaiche, Y. (2005).
Drosophila Ric-8 regulates Galphai cortical localization to promote Galphaidependent planar orientation of the mitotic spindle during asymmetric cell
division. Nature cell biology, Vol. 7, No.11, pp. 1083-1090,
Drees, F., Pokutta, S., Yamada, S., Nelson, W.J., & Weis, W.I. (2005). Alpha-catenin is a
molecular switch that binds E-cadherin-beta-catenin and regulates actin-filament
assembly. Cell, Vol. 123, No.5, pp. 903-915, ISSN 0092-8674
Foe, V.E., & Alberts, B.M. (1983). Studies of nuclear and cytoplasmic behaviour during the
five mitotic cycles that precede gastrulation in Drosophila embryogenesis. J Cell Sci,
Vol. 61, pp. 31-70, ISSN 0021-9533
Georgiou, M., Marinari, E., Burden, J., & Baum, B. (2008). Cdc42, Par6, and aPKC regulate
Arp2/3-mediated endocytosis to control local adherens junction stability. Curr Biol,
Vol. 18, No.21, pp. 1631-1638, ISSN 0960-9822
Gumbiner, B., Stevenson, B., & Grimaldi, A. (1988). The role of the cell adhesion molecule
uvomorulin in the formation and maintenance of the epithelial junctional complex.
J Cell Biol, Vol. 107, No.4, pp. 1575-1587, ISSN 0021-9525
Harris, K.P., & Tepass, U. (2008). Cdc42 and Par proteins stabilize dynamic adherens
junctions in the Drosophila neuroectoderm through regulation of apical
endocytosis. The Journal of cell biology, Vol. 183, No.6, pp. 1129-1143, ISSN 1540-8140
Harris, T.J., & Peifer, M. (2005). The positioning and segregation of apical cues during
epithelial polarity establishment in Drosophila. J Cell Biol, Vol. 170, No.5, pp. 813823, ISSN 0021-9525
Hawley, S.A., Boudeau, J., Reid, J.L., Mustard, K.J., Udd, L., Makela, T.P., Alessi, D.R., &
Hardie, D.G. (2003). Complexes between the LKB1 tumor suppressor, STRAD/and
MO25/are upstream kinases in the AMP-activated protein kinase cascade. J Biol,
Vol. 2, No.4, pp. 28-21,
Horne-Badovinac, S., & Bilder, D. (2008). Dynein regulates epithelial polarity and the apical
localization of stardust A mRNA. PLoS Genet, Vol. 4, No.1e8) ISSN 1553-7404
Hunter, C., & Wieschaus, E. (2000). Regulated expression of nullo is required for the
formation of distinct apical and basal adherens junctions in the Drosophila
blastoderm. J Cell Biol, Vol. 150, No.2, pp. 391-401, ISSN 0021-9525

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

331

Hurov, J.B., Watkins, J.L., & Piwnica-Worms, H. (2004). Atypical PKC phosphorylates PAR1 kinases to regulate localization and activity. Curr Biol, Vol. 14, No.8, pp. 736-741,
ISSN 0960-9822
Hutterer, A., Betschinger, J., Petronczki, M., & Knoblich, J.A. (2004). Sequential roles of
Cdc42, Par-6, aPKC, and Lgl in the establishment of epithelial polarity during
Drosophila embryogenesis. Dev Cell, Vol. 6, No.6, pp. 845-854, ISSN 1534-5807
Ivanov, A.I., McCall, I.C., Parkos, C.A., & Nusrat, A. (2004). Role for actin filament turnover
and a myosin II motor in cytoskeleton-driven disassembly of the epithelial apical
junctional complex. Mol Biol Cell, Vol. 15, No.6, pp. 2639-2651, ISSN 1059-1524
Jenkins, N., Saam, J.R., & Mango, S.E. (2006). CYK-4/GAP provides a localized cue to
initiate anteroposterior polarity upon fertilization. Science (New York, N.Y.), Vol.
313, No.5791, pp. 1298-1301, ISSN 1095-9203
Jenny, A., Reynolds-Kenneally, J., Das, G., Burnett, M., & Mlodzik, M. (2005). Diego and
Prickle regulate Frizzled planar cell polarity signalling by competing for
Dishevelled binding. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 7, No.7, pp. 691-697, ISSN 1465-7392
Joberty, G., Petersen, C., Gao, L., & Macara, I.G. (2000). The cell-polarity protein Par6 links
Par3 and atypical protein kinase C to Cdc42. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 2, No.8, pp. 531-539,
ISSN 1465-7392
Kemphues, K.J., Priess, J.R., Morton, D.G., & Cheng, N.S. (1988). Identification of genes
required for cytoplasmic localization in early C. elegans embryos. Cell, Vol. 52,
No.3311) ISSN 1097-4172
Kirby, C., Kusch, M., & Kemphues, K. (1990). Mutations in the par genes of Caenorhabditis
elegans affect cytoplasmic reorganization during the first cell cycle. Dev Biol, Vol.
142, No.1, pp. 203-215, ISSN 0012-1606
Knust, E., & Bossinger, O. (2002). Composition and formation of intercellular junctions in
epithelial cells. Science (New York, N.Y.), Vol. 298, No.5600, pp. 1955-1959,
Laplante, C., & Nilson, L.A. (2006). Differential expression of the adhesion molecule
Echinoid drives epithelial morphogenesis in Drosophila. Development, Vol. 133,
No.16, pp. 3255-3264, ISSN 0950-1991
Laprise, P., Beronja, S., Silva-Gagliardi, N.F., Pellikka, M., Jensen, A.M., McGlade, C.J., &
Tepass, U. (2006). The FERM protein Yurt is a negative regulatory component of
the Crumbs complex that controls epithelial polarity and apical membrane size.
Dev Cell, Vol. 11, No.3, pp. 363-374, ISSN 1534-5807
Leibfried, A., Fricke, R., Morgan, M.J., Bogdan, S., & Bellaiche, Y. (2008). Drosophila Cip4
and WASp define a branch of the Cdc42-Par6-aPKC pathway regulating E-cadherin
endocytosis. Curr Biol, Vol. 18, No.21, pp. 1639-1648, ISSN 0960-9822
Leibfried, A. (2009). Polarized transport of DE-Cadherin in Drosophila epithelial cells (doctoral
thesis, Universit Pierre et Marie Curie), Paris, France.
Lemmers, C., Michel, D., Lane-Guermonprez, L., Delgrossi, M.H., Mdina, E., Arsanto, J.P.,
& Le Bivic, A. (2004). CRB3 binds directly to Par6 and regulates the morphogenesis
of the tight junctions in mammalian epithelial cells. Mol Biol Cell, Vol. 15, No.3, pp.
1324-1333, ISSN 1059-1524
Li, F., Schiemann, A.H., & Scott, M.J. (2008). Incorporation of the noncoding roX RNAs alters
the chromatin-binding specificity of the Drosophila MSL1/MSL2 complex.
Molecular and cellular biology, Vol. 28, No.4, pp. 1252-1264, ISSN 1098-5549

332

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Magie, C.R., Pinto-Santini, D., & Parkhurst, S.M. (2002). Rho1 interacts with p120ctn and
alpha-catenin, and regulates cadherin-based adherens junction components in
Drosophila. Development, Vol. 129, No.16, pp. 3771-3782, ISSN 0950-1991
Malacombe, M., Ceridono, M., Calco, V., Chasserot-Golaz, S., McPherson, P.S., Bader, M.F.,
& Gasman, S. (2006). Intersectin-1L nucleotide exchange factor regulates secretory
granule exocytosis by activating Cdc42. EMBO J, Vol. 25, No.15, pp. 3494-3503,
ISSN 0261-4189
Martin-Belmonte, F., Gassama, A., Datta, A., Yu, W., Rescher, U., Gerke, V., & Mostov, K.
(2007). PTEN-mediated apical segregation of phosphoinositides controls epithelial
morphogenesis through Cdc42. Cell, Vol. 128, No.2, pp. 383-397, ISSN 0092-8674
Mavrakis, M., Rikhy, R., & Lippincott-Schwartz, J. (2009). Plasma membrane polarity and
compartmentalization are established before cellularization in the fly embryo. Dev
Cell, Vol. 16, No.1, pp. 93-104, ISSN 1534-5807
Mdina, E., Williams, J., Klipfell, E., Zarnescu, D., Thomas, G., & Le Bivic, A. (2002). Crumbs
interacts with moesin and beta(Heavy)-spectrin in the apical membrane skeleton of
Drosophila. J Cell Biol, Vol. 158, No.5, pp. 941-951, ISSN 0021-9525
Mertens, A.E., Rygiel, T.P., Olivo, C., van der Kammen, R., & Collard, J.G. (2005). The Rac
activator Tiam1 controls tight junction biogenesis in keratinocytes through binding
to and activation of the Par polarity complex. J Cell Biol, Vol. 170, No.7, pp. 10291037, ISSN 0021-9525
Michel, D., Arsanto, J.P., Massey-Harroche, D., Bclin, C., Wijnholds, J., & Le Bivic, A.
(2005). PATJ connects and stabilizes apical and lateral components of tight
junctions in human intestinal cells. J Cell Sci, Vol. 118, No.Pt 17, pp. 4049-4057, ISSN
0021-9533
Mirouse, V., Christoforou, C.P., Fritsch, C., St Johnston, D., & Ray, R.P. (2009). Dystroglycan
and perlecan provide a basal cue required for epithelial polarity during energetic
stress. Developmental cell, Vol. 16, No.1, pp. 83-92, ISSN 1878-1551
Nagai-Tamai, Y., Mizuno, K., Hirose, T., Suzuki, A., & Ohno, S. (2002). Regulated proteinprotein interaction between aPKC and PAR-3 plays an essential role in the
polarization of epithelial cells. Genes Cells, Vol. 7, No.11, pp. 1161-1171, ISSN 13569597
Nunbhakdi-Craig, V., Machleidt, T., Ogris, E., Bellotto, D., White, C.L., & Sontag, E. (2002).
Protein phosphatase 2A associates with and regulates atypical PKC and the
epithelial tight junction complex. J Cell Biol, Vol. 158, No.5, pp. 967-978, ISSN 00219525
O'Keefe, D.D., Prober, D.A., Moyle, P.S., Rickoll, W.L., & Edgar, B.A. (2007). Egfr/Ras
signaling regulates DE-cadherin/Shotgun localization to control vein
morphogenesis in the Drosophila wing. Developmental biology, Vol. 311, No.1, pp.
25-39, ISSN 1095-564X
Oda, H., Uemura, T., Harada, Y., Iwai, Y., & Takeichi, M. (1994). A Drosophila homolog of
cadherin associated with armadillo and essential for embryonic cell-cell adhesion.
Developmental biology, Vol. 165, No.2, pp. 716-726,
Ozdamar, B., Bose, R., Barrios-Rodiles, M., Wang, H.R., Zhang, Y., & Wrana, J.L. (2005).
Regulation of the polarity protein Par6 by TGFbeta receptors controls epithelial cell
plasticity. Science (New York, N.Y.), Vol. 307, No.5715, pp. 1603-1609, ISSN 1095-9203

Drosophila: A Model System That Allows in vivo Manipulation and Study of Epithelial Cell Polarity

333

Pacquelet, A., Lin, L., & Rorth, P. (2003). Binding site for p120/delta-catenin is not required
for Drosophila E-cadherin function in vivo. J Cell Biol, Vol. 160, No.3, pp. 313-319,
ISSN 0021-9525
Parsons, M., Monypenny, J., Ameer-Beg, S.M., Millard, T.H., Machesky, L.M., Peter, M.,
Keppler, M.D., Schiavo, G., Watson, R., Chernoff, J., Zicha, D., Vojnovic, B., & Ng,
T. (2005). Spatially distinct binding of Cdc42 to PAK1 and N-WASP in breast
carcinoma cells. Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 25, No.5, pp. 1680-1695, ISSN 0270-7306
Pilot, F., Philippe, J.M., Lemmers, C., & Lecuit, T. (2006). Spatial control of actin organization
at adherens junctions by a synaptotagmin-like protein Btsz. Nature, Vol. 442,
No.7102, pp. 580-584, ISSN 1476-4687
Plant, P.J., Fawcett, J.P., Lin, D.C., Holdorf, A.D., Binns, K., Kulkarni, S., & Pawson, T. (2003).
A polarity complex of mPar-6 and atypical PKC binds, phosphorylates and
regulates mammalian Lgl. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 5, No.4, pp. 301-308, ISSN 1465-7392
Qian, X., Karpova, T., Sheppard, A.M., McNally, J., & Lowy, D.R. (2004). E-cadherinmediated adhesion inhibits ligand-dependent activation of diverse receptor
tyrosine kinases. EMBO J, Vol. 23, No.8, pp. 1739-1748, ISSN 0261-4189
Rauzi, M., Lenne, P.F., & Lecuit, T. (2010). Planar polarized actomyosin contractile flows
control epithelial junction remodelling. Nature, Vol. 468, No.7327, pp. 1110-1114,
ISSN 1476-4687
Roh, M.H., Fan, S., Liu, C.J., & Margolis, B. (2003). The Crumbs3-Pals1 complex participates
in the establishment of polarity in mammalian epithelial cells. J Cell Sci, Vol. 116,
No.Pt 14, pp. 2895-2906, ISSN 0021-9533
Rolls, M.M., Albertson, R., Shih, H.P., Lee, C.Y., & Doe, C.Q. (2003). Drosophila aPKC
regulates cell polarity and cell proliferation in neuroblasts and epithelia. J Cell Biol,
Vol. 163, No.5, pp. 1089-1098, ISSN 0021-9525
Schejter, E.D., & Wieschaus, E. (1993). Functional elements of the cytoskeleton in the early
Drosophila embryo. Annual review of cell biology, Vol. 9, pp. 67-99, ISSN 0743-4634
Sgalen, M., Johnston, C.A., Martin, C.A., Dumortier, J.G., Prehoda, K.E., David, N.B., Doe,
C.Q., & Bellache, Y. (2010). The Fz-Dsh planar cell polarity pathway induces
oriented cell division via Mud/NuMA in Drosophila and zebrafish. Developmental
cell, Vol. 19, No.5, pp. 740-752, ISSN 1878-1551
Seifert, J.R., & Mlodzik, M. (2007). Frizzled/PCP signalling: a conserved mechanism
regulating cell polarity and directed motility. Nat Rev Genet, Vol. 8, No.2, pp. 126138, ISSN 1471-0056
Shen, Y., Hirsch, D.S., Sasiela, C.A., & Wu, W.J. (2008). Cdc42 Regulates E-cadherin
Ubiquitination and Degradation through an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor to
Src-mediated Pathway. J Biol Chem, Vol. 283, No.8, pp. 5127-5137, ISSN 0021-9258
Shin, K., Straight, S., & Margolis, B. (2005). PATJ regulates tight junction formation and
polarity in mammalian epithelial cells. J Cell Biol, Vol. 168, No.5, pp. 705-711, ISSN
0021-9525
Sotillos, S., Daz-Meco, M.T., Caminero, E., Moscat, J., & Campuzano, S. (2004). DaPKCdependent phosphorylation of Crumbs is required for epithelial cell polarity in
Drosophila. J Cell Biol, Vol. 166, No.4, pp. 549-557, ISSN 0021-9525
Straight, S.W., Shin, K., Fogg, V.C., Fan, S., Liu, C.J., Roh, M., & Margolis, B. (2004). Loss of
PALS1 expression leads to tight junction and polarity defects. Mol Biol Cell, Vol. 15,
No.4, pp. 1981-1990, ISSN 1059-1524

334

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Sturge, J., Wienke, D., & Isacke, C.M. (2006). Endosomes generate localized Rho-ROCKMLC2-based contractile signals via Endo180 to promote adhesion disassembly. J
Cell Biol, Vol. 175, No.2, pp. 337-347, ISSN 0021-9525
Suzuki, A., & Ohno, S. (2006). The PAR-aPKC system: lessons in polarity. J Cell Sci, Vol. 119,
No.Pt 6, pp. 979-987, ISSN 0021-9533
Tanentzapf, G., Smith, C., McGlade, J., & Tepass, U. (2000). Apical, lateral, and basal
polarization cues contribute to the development of the follicular epithelium during
Drosophila oogenesis. J Cell Biol, Vol. 151, No.4, pp. 891-904, ISSN 0021-9525
Tanentzapf, G., & Tepass, U. (2003). Interactions between the crumbs, lethal giant larvae and
bazooka pathways in epithelial polarization. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 5, No.1, pp. 46-52,
ISSN 1465-7392
Tepass, U., & Knust, E. (1993). Crumbs and stardust act in a genetic pathway that controls
the organization of epithelia in Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Biol, Vol. 159, No.1,
pp. 311-326, ISSN 0012-1606
Tepass, U., Tanentzapf, G., Ward, R., & Fehon, R. (2001). Epithelial cell polarity and cell
junctions in Drosophila. Annual review of genetics, Vol. 35, pp. 747-784, ISSN 00664197
van Leeuwen, F.N., van Delft, S., Kain, H.E., van der Kammen, R.A., & Collard, J.G. (1999).
Rac regulates phosphorylation of the myosin-II heavy chain, actinomyosin
disassembly and cell spreading. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 1, No.4, pp. 242-248, ISSN 14657392
von Stein, W., Ramrath, A., Grimm, A., Mller-Borg, M., & Wodarz, A. (2005). Direct
association of Bazooka/PAR-3 with the lipid phosphatase PTEN reveals a link
between the PAR/aPKC complex and phosphoinositide signaling. Development,
Vol. 132, No.7, pp. 1675-1686, ISSN 0950-1991
Wang, C.W., Hamamoto, S., Orci, L., & Schekman, R. (2006). Exomer: A coat complex for
transport of select membrane proteins from the trans-Golgi network to the plasma
membrane in yeast. J Cell Biol, Vol. 174, No.7, pp. 973-983, ISSN 0021-9525
Wei, S.Y., Escudero, L.M., Yu, F., Chang, L.H., Chen, L.Y., Ho, Y.H., Lin, C.M., Chou, C.S.,
Chia, W., Modolell, J., & Hsu, J.C. (2005). Echinoid is a component of adherens
junctions that cooperates with DE-Cadherin to mediate cell adhesion. Dev Cell, Vol.
8, No.4, pp. 493-504, ISSN 1534-5807
Wildenberg, G.A., Dohn, M.R., Carnahan, R.H., Davis, M.A., Lobdell, N.A., Settleman, J., &
Reynolds, A.B. (2006). p120-catenin and p190RhoGAP regulate cell-cell adhesion by
coordinating antagonism between Rac and Rho. Cell, Vol. 127, No.5, pp. 1027-1039,
ISSN 0092-8674
Woods, D.F., & Bryant, P.J. (1991). The discs-large tumor suppressor gene of Drosophila
encodes a guanylate kinase homolog localized at septate junctions. Cell, Vol. 66,
No.3, pp. 451-464, ISSN 0092-8674
Xu, J., Lamouille, S., & Derynck, R. (2009). TGF-beta-induced epithelial to mesenchymal
transition. Cell research, Vol. 19, No.2, pp. 156-172, ISSN 1748-7838
Yamada, S., Pokutta, S., Drees, F., Weis, W.I., & Nelson, W.J. (2005). Deconstructing the
cadherin-catenin-actin complex. Cell, Vol. 123, No.5, pp. 889-901, ISSN 0092-8674
Yamanaka, T., & Ohno, S. (2008). Role of Lgl/Dlg/Scribble in the regulation of epithelial
junction, polarity and growth. Frontiers in bioscience: a journal and virtual library, Vol.
13, pp. 6693-6707, ISSN 1093-4715

15
Development and Cell Polarity
of the C. elegans Intestine
Olaf Bossinger1 and Michael Hoffmann2

1Institute

of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy (MOCA),

RWTH Aachen University, Aachen,
2Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital,
Heinrich-Heine-University Dsseldorf, Dsseldorf,
Germany
1. Introduction
1.1 The nematode C. elegans as a model organism
Much of our knowledge on development of multicellular organisms and the underlying
cellular and molecular processes is derived from the studies of model organisms, like C.
elegans, Drosophila, Xenopus, zebrafish and mouse. These model organisms were selected
based on their amenability to experimental studies.
In 1963, Sydney Brenner realized that Part of the success of molecular genetics was due to the
use of extremely simple organisms which could be handled in large numbers: bacteria and
bacterial viruses. He further argued ..that the future of molecular biology lies in the
extension of research to other fields of biology, notably development and the nervous system.
Thus, he proposed to the Medical Research Council: we want a multicellular organism which
has a short life cycle, can be easily cultivated, and is small enough to be handled in large
numbers, like a micro-organism. It should have relatively few cells, so that exhaustive studies
of lineage and patterns can be made, and should be amenable to genetic analysis.
We think we have a good candidate in the form of a small nematode worm, Caenorhabditis.. (cited
after: Wood, 1988).
C. elegans genetics started in October 1967 with Sydney Brenners first mutant hunt, which
produced two mutants showing a dumpy and a variable abnormal phenotype (Brenner,
2009). In 1974, the article entitled The genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans (Brenner, 1974)
reported a study of 300 EMS-induced mutants and a map of about 100 genes on six linkage
groups, which provided an excellent starting point for future C. elegans research.
Since that time many key steps towards the total description of C. elegans have been
undertaken:
-

complete description of cellular development (cell lineage, Fig.2) from egg to adult
(Sulston and Horvitz, 1977; Sulston et al., 1983)
complete description of the nervous system: all branches and connections determined
(White et al., 1986)

336
-

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

first use of green fluorescent protein as a marker for gene expression in a multicellular
organism (Chalfie et al., 1994; Hunt-Newbury et al., 2007)
first draft genome sequence of a multicellular organism completed
(The_C_elegans_Sequencing_Consortium, 1998)
basic mechanism of double-stranded(ds) RNA-mediated interference worked out (Fire
et al., 1998)
nearly all predicted genes tested for function by RNAi (Fraser et al., 2000; Gnczy et al.,
2000; Kamath et al., 2003)
comprehensive databases on WormBase (http://www.wormbase.org) (Harris et al., 2010),
Wormatlas (http://www.wormatlas.org) and WormBook (http://www.wormbook.org).

In the 1990s, the popularity of C. elegans climbed sharply, as indicated by the increase in the
number of research publications per year. Thirteen and 744 research articles were published
in 1974 and 2009, respectively (Han, 2010). Over the past decade, research on the nematode
C. elegans was granted three Nobel prizes for groundbreaking discoveries such as
programmed cell death (apoptosis), dsRNA-mediated interference and the use of the green
fluorescent protein. The Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine went to H. Robert Horvitz,
John Sulston and Sydney Brenner in 2002 (Brenner, 2003; Horvitz, 2003; Sulston, 2003) and
to Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 2006 (Fire, 2007; Mello, 2007). The Nobel prize for
Chemistry went to Martin Chalfie (with Osamu Shimamura and Roger Tsien) in 2008
(Chalfie, 2009; Tsien, 2009).
Caenorhabditis elegans is a small, free-living nematode (Blaxter, 2011) that survives by
feeding primarily on bacteria. In the laboratory C. elegans normally grows at temperatures
between 12 C and 26 C on agar plates, which are seeded with E. coli bacteria as a food
source (Fig.1A). The animals can also be grown in liquid culture for biochemical analyses.
Starved worm cultures retain their viability for months and strains can be frozen and
stored at -80 C or lower (http://www.cbs.umn.edu/CGC/). Such frozen stocks are stable
for > 40 years. C. elegans is an important model system for biological research in many
fields
including
genomics,
cell
biology,
neuroscience
and
aging
(http://www.wormbook.org). Among its many advantages for study are its short life
cycle (Fig.1B), compact genome (100 x 106 base pairs, Fig.1C), invariance in cell number
and anatomy, ease of propagation and small size. The simplicity and invariance permit
complete and exhaustive descriptions. There are two C. elegans sexes: a self-fertilizing
hermaphrodite (Fig.1A) and a male. The adult body plan is anatomically simple with
about 1031 and 959 somatic cells in hermaphrodites and males, respectively. The C. elegans
hermaphrodite produces a large number of progeny per adult (> 200) and is amenable to
genetic crosses. C. elegans can be examined at the cellular level in vivo by Nomarski
differential interference contrast microscopy, because it is transparent throughout its life
cycle. The life cycle is temperature dependent and by a temperature shift from 16 C to
25 C the time needed for development can be accelarated about 100% (Fig.1B).
Since 1974, when Sydney Brenner published his pioneering genetic screen (Brenner, 1974),
researchers have developed increasingly powerful methods for identifying genes and
genetic pathways in C. elegans (Jorgensen and Mango, 2002). The long history of C. elegans as
a genetic model organism means that there are a large number of mutants available. The C.
elegans Genetics Center (CGC) houses the community collection of C. elegans mutant strains
and related nematode strains (http://www.cbs.umn.edu/CGC/). Due to the efforts of the
C. elegans Gene Knockout Consortium (http://www.celeganskoconsortium.omrf.org/) in

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

337

the United States and Canada and the National BioResource Project in Japan, deletion alleles
have been obtained for about 5,500 out of 20,000 predicted genes (Mitani, 2009; Moerman
and Barstead, 2008).
Working with existing mutants can be advantageous for several reasons: First, temperaturesensitive conditional alleles allow the analysis of otherwise lethal mutations. They may also
provide a way of analyzing gene function during a specific developmental process. Second,
genetic mutants avoid inconsistencies sometimes observed in RNAi phenotypes that may
arise from variability in the bacterial expression of dsRNA or from the amount of bacteria
ingested by the worm strain used. Third, genetic alleles may encode partially functional
proteins or gain-of-function gene products, thus providing additional information about the
structure-function features of the gene product.
To further analyze the function of a gene product, it is often helpful to have a complete lossof-function allele. If such a mutant is not available, there are three knock-out consortiums
(see above) that are generating large collections of deletion alleles for the C. elegans
community. If a knock-out of your gene-of-interest does not exist, one can request a new
screen through the websites. With new approaches to generate targeted deletion mutants
and to control gene expression the arsenal of methods to investigate gene functions in C.
elegans is growing (Boulin and Bessereau, 2007; Calixto et al., 2010b; Frokjaer-Jensen et al.,
2010; Robert and Bessereau, 2007).
Obtaining strains containing heritable null mutations in every gene (see above) is
complementary to RNAi, a so-called reverse genetics approach (Baylis and VazquezManrique, 2011). RNAi in C. elegans (Fig.3) was first described in the 1990s (Guo and
Kemphues, 1996) and quickly became an important laboratory tool for investigating gene
function. RNAi is easily achieved in the worm and the availability of the genome sequence
(The_C_elegans_Sequencing_Consortium, 1998) helped to make RNAi the reverse genetics
tool of choice, particularly for genome-wide studies of developmental processes (Fraser et
al., 2000; Gnczy et al., 2000; Kamath et al., 2003; Snnichsen et al., 2005). The effectiveness
of RNAi in C. elegans is even maintained during spaceflight (Etheridge et al., 2011). RNAi
seems to be an evolutionary conserved cellular response to dsRNA, and the mechanism is
thought to originate from an ancient endogenous defense mechanism against viral and other
heterologous dsRNAs (Lu et al., 2005; Schott et al., 2005; Wilkins et al., 2005). In mammalian
cells, introduction of dsRNAs longer than 30 bp activates antiviral pathways, leading to
nonspecific inhibition of translation and cytotoxic responses.
To inactivate gene expression in early C. elegans embryos and to analyze the resulting
phenotype, worms can e.g. be fed bacteria expressing dsRNA corresponding to the gene of
interest (Fig.3). Because the adult hermaphrodite continuously produces oocytes, preexisting mRNA is eliminated with each egg that is laid. Embryos born early after the
initiation of RNAi are only mildly depleted of the gene product whereas embryos born later
are usually highly depleted. The time required for efficient depletion varies among target
genes, but generally 24 - 30 hours after the initiation of feeding, mRNA levels are reduced
significantly, protein levels are almost undetectable and phenotypes are visible.
A problem often arises when looking for phenotypes by RNAi in later embryogenesis. If the
gene product of interest is involved in a developmental process prior to the one to be
observed or in multiple cell types, making specificity of the phenotype unclear. Worm

338

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

strains that are sensitive to RNAi only in a particular tissue have now been generated
(Calixto et al., 2010a; McGhee et al., 2009; Pilipiuk et al., 2009; Qadota et al., 2007). One
strategy relies on a genetic background that is resistant to RNAi due to a mutation in an
essential RNA processing protein, e.g. RDE-1 (Fig.3) and complementation in the tissue of
interest by tissue-specific promoter induction of wild-type protein. Tissue-specific RNAi
largely circumvents the problems mentioned but does rely on having promoters that turn on
early enough in the tissue to have sufficient depletion by the developmental stage of
interest. Nevertheless, RNAi has a few intrinsic limitations. First, RNAi efficiency is
sensitive to the experimental conditions, and the result can be variable. Second, residual
gene expression persists to an extent that is difficult to predict for a given gene. Third, some
tissues are partially resistant to RNAi (Zhuang and Hunter, 2011).
In summary, the discovery of RNAi has led to a much greater reliance on the reverse
genetics approach but with the advent of next-generation DNA sequencing technologies and
the ensuing ease of whole-genome sequencing are reviving the use of classical genetics to
investigate C. elegans development (Bowerman, 2011; Hobert, 2010).
1.2 Introduction to epithelial tissues
Epithelia are polarized tissues (Fig.4A) that outline the cavities (e.g. the digestive tract) and
surfaces (e.g. the epidermis, Fig.4B-C) of the body (de Santa Barbara et al., 2003; Fuchs, 2007;
Noah et al., 2011). They are specialized for secretion, absorption, protection or sensory
functions. Polarization of epithelial cells is manifested by distinct apical and basolateral
membrane domains, which are separated by cell junctions that form belt-like structures
around the apex of the cells (Fig.4A; Knust and Bossinger, 2002; Nelson, 2003; Nelson, 2009;
Weisz and Rodriguez-Boulan, 2009). Epithelial cell junctions serve the adhesion,
communication, vectorial transport, and morphogenetic properties of epithelia. Two of the
most important features for the functions of epithelia are to create a diffusion barrier
between two biological compartments and to build a cell adhesion system between their
cells. Cell-cell adhesion is regulated by cell-specific mechanical and biochemical constraints.
For instance, fibroblasts and neuronal cells are involved in more labile and plastic
interactions, whereas endothelial and epithelial cells require a strong adhesion.
During the process of epithelial polarization the organization and maintenance of the
boundary between apical and basolateral membranes must be regulated. In vertebrate
epithelia, this fence function is established by a specific intercellular junction, the tight
junction (TJ; Anderson and Van Itallie, 2009; Ebnet, 2008; Eckert and Fleming, 2008; Tsukita
et al., 2001). TJs are the most apical cell junction in vertebrate epithelia and lie adjacent to the
more basally localized zonula adherens (ZA; Harris and Tepass, 2010; Wang and Margolis,
2007). TJs provide a fence to lateral diffusion of membrane proteins and a barrier to the
diffusion of molecules in between the individual epithelial cells. In invertebrates, TJs have
not been found thus far. However, a region just apical to the ZA in Drosophila epithelia
harbors a probably larger protein complex, called the subapical region (SAR; Bulgakova and
Knust, 2009). It has been suggested that one of the functions of this protein complex is the
fence function of vertebrate TJs (Mller, 2000; Wodarz et al., 2000). In many invertebrate
epithelia the paracellular transport through the epithelium is controlled by a unique
invertebrate structure, the septate junction (SJ; Mller and Bossinger, 2003). In the nematode
C. elegans SJ (Lints and Hall, 2009) have thus far only been found in the spermatheca

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

339

epithelium (Pilipiuk et al., 2009), raising the interesting question as to how embryonic
epithelia in these animals maintain a diffusion barrier. Claudins with four transmembrane
domains are major cell adhesion molecules working at TJs in vertebrates. In C. elegans four
claudin-related proteins (CLC-1 to -4) exist and two of them, CLC-1 and CLC-2, seem to be
involved in the pharynx and epidermis barrier, respectively (Asano et al., 2003).

2. Development and differentiation of the C. elegans embryonic intestine

The C. elegans digestive tract is one of the most complex portions of the nematode anatomy
and is composed of a large variety of tissues and cell types (Altun and Hall, 2009c; Bird and
Bird, 1991; Kormish et al., 2010; White, 1988). It forms a separate epithelial tube running
inside the cylindrical body wall, separated from it by the pseudocoelomic body cavity, and
placed parallel to the gonad. The C. elegans digestive tract is divided into the foregut
(stomodeum; buccal cavity and the pharynx; Altun and Hall, 2009d; Mango, 2007), the
midgut (intestine; Altun and Hall, 2009b; McGhee, 2007), and the hindgut (proctodeum;
rectum and anus in hermaphrodites and cloaca in males; Altun and Hall, 2009a) and
contains a total of 127 cells (Schnabel et al., 1997; Sulston et al., 1983). In comparison to
human digestive tracts, it lacks both an intestine-sheathing innervated muscle layer and a
renewable/regenerating stem cell population. In C. elegans, ingested E. coli bacteria flow
through the digestive tract by the muscular pumping and peristalsis of the pharynx at the
anterior end, and the waste material is discarded through the opening of the anus at the
posterior end by the action of the enteric muscles. Developmentally, the intestine (midgut) is
endodermal in origin, deriving clonally from the E-lineage whereas the foregut and hindgut
have a mixed lineage from ectodermal and mesodermal origins (Fig.2).
The C. elegans intestine is a large organ (~ 1/3 of the somatic tissue) that carries out multiple
functions executed by distinct organs in higher eukaryotes (McGhee, 2007): digestion of
food, absorption of processed nutrients, synthesis and storage of macromolecules, nurturing
of oocytes by producing yolk, and initiation of an innate immune response to pathogens
(Kimble and Sharrock, 1983; Schulenburg et al., 2004). Remarkably, despite a large increase
in tissue volume during larval and adult development (Fig.1B), the intestine continues to
grow without further cell or nuclei divisions. Intestinal cells become binucleate and
polyploid during post-embryonic development. By the adult stage, the intestine is
composed of only 20 (Fig.5A-E) cells with a total of 30-34 nuclei, which have increased their
ploidy to 32C (Hedgecock and White, 1985; Sulston and Horvitz, 1977). Age-related changes
in the intestine include the loss of critical nuclei, the degradation of intestinal microvilli, and
changes in the size, shape, and cytoplasmic contents of the intestine (McGee et al., 2011).
The intestinal epithelium consists of 20 cells that are mostly positioned as bilaterally
symmetric pairs to form a long tube around a lumen. Each of these cell pairs forms an
intestinal ring (II-IX int rings). The anteriormost intestinal ring (int ring I) is an exception
and is comprised of four cells (Fig.5E Leung et al., 1999; Sulston et al., 1983). The intestine is
composed of large cells, with distinct apical, lateral and basal membrane domains. Each
intestinal cell forms part of the intestinal lumen at its apical pole (Fig.5E-E) and contains a
basal lamina at its basal pole (Kramer, 2005), whose constituents are either made by the
intestine itself (laminin and nidogen/entactin) or by the muscle and somatic gonad (type
IV collagen). Many microvilli extend into the lumen from the apical surface, forming a brush
border. The microvilli are anchored into a strong cytoskeletal network of intermediate

340

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

filaments at their base, called the terminal web. The core of each microvillus has a bundle of
actin filaments that connects to this web (Bossinger et al., 2004; Carberry et al., 2009; Hsken
et al., 2008; MacQueen et al., 2005). Each intestinal cell is sealed laterally to its neighbors by
large apical adherens junctions and connects to the neighboring intestinal cells via gap
junctions on the lateral sides (Altun et al., 2009; Bossinger and Schierenberg, 1992; Cox and
Hardin, 2004; Hardin and Lockwood, 2004; Labouesse, 2006; Michaux et al., 2001).
The molecular and cellular events that lead to the formation of the intestinal epithelial tube
have been described and reviewed in great detail elsewhere. In brief, these events include
the correct specification and asymmetric division of the intestinal founder cell EMS
(Bossinger and Schierenberg, 1996; Goldstein, 1992; Han, 1997; Kormish et al., 2010;
Schierenberg, 1987; see Fig.2 for further details), the ingression of the intestinal precusor cell
Ea and Ep during gastrulation (Fig.5B-C; Chisholm, 2006; Putzke and Rothman, 2003;
Rohrschneider and Nance, 2009; Sawyer et al., 2009; Schierenberg, 2005; Schierenberg, 2006),
the cytoplasmic polarization of intestinal primordial cells (Fig.5D; Achilleos et al., 2010;
Bossinger et al., 2001; Leung et al., 1999; Totong et al., 2007), the formation of apical
adherens junction and the generation of the future lumen within the primordium (Fig.5E'E''; Leung et al., 1999), the intercalation of specific sets of cells (Hoffmann et al., 2010; Leung
et al., 1999), the invariant twist in the anterior of the intestinal primordium (Hermann et al.,
2000), and finally the differentiation of the late embryonic, larval and adult intestine that has
been proposed to be under the control of the GATA-factor ELT-2 (McGhee et al., 2009;
McGhee et al., 2007; Pauli et al., 2006).

3. Apicobasal polarity complexes in the C. elegans intestine

From genetic studies on Drosophila ectoderm and mammalian culture cells, it appears that at
least four spatially restricted membrane associated protein-scaffolds are required for
regulating the maturation of the ZA in epithelial cells: the PAR-3PAR-6aPKC (PPC)
complex, the CrumbsStardustPatj complex, the ScribbleDlgLgl complex, and the Yurt
Coracle group (Betschinger et al., 2003; Bilder et al., 2003; Harris and Peifer, 2005; Harris and
Peifer, 2007; Krahn et al., 2010a; Krahn et al., 2010b; Laprise et al., 2009; Plant et al., 2003;
Tanentzapf and Tepass, 2003; Yamanaka et al., 2003).
In the C. elegans embryo, a single electron-dense structure, the C. elegans apical junction
(CeAJ, McMahon et al., 2001), is a prerequisite for correct epithelial cell functions (Cox and
Hardin, 2004; Labouesse, 2006; Lynch and Hardin, 2009; Michaux et al., 2001; Mller and
Bossinger, 2003). The CeAJ is a belt-like junctional structure that encircles the apex of
polarized epithelial cells and resembles the ZA in other systems. By immunohistochemistry,
the apicolateral membrane domain can be subdivided into four subdomains (Fig.6): the PPC
together with the Drosophila Crumbs homolog CRB-1 and the multi PDZ-domain containing
protein MAGI-1 (Achilleos et al., 2010; Aono et al., 2004; Bossinger et al., 2001; Stetak and
Hajnal, 2011; Totong et al., 2007), the catenincadherin complex (CCC; Costa et al., 1998;
Grana et al., 2010; Kwiatkowski et al., 2010), the DLG-1AJM-1 complex (DAC; Bossinger et
al., 2001; Firestein and Rongo, 2001; Kppen et al., 2001; Lockwood et al., 2008; McMahon et
al., 2001) and the LET-413 protein (Bossinger et al., 2004; Legouis et al., 2000; Legouis et al.,
2003; Lockwood et al., 2008; Pilipiuk et al., 2009; Segbert et al., 2004).
Epithelial polarization of the C. elegans intestine can be subdivided into three processes, first
the appearance of junctional complexes, i.e. the CCC and DAC (Kppen et al., 2001;

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

341

Kwiatkowski et al., 2010; Lockwood et al., 2008) at the future apical pole (Achilleos et al.,
2010), second the assembly of a junctional belt around the apex of epithelial cells (Totong et
al., 2007), third and fourth the maintenance of epithelial cell polarity (Bossinger et al., 2004;
Legouis et al., 2000) and cell-cell adhesion (Segbert et al., 2004; van Frden et al., 2004).

4. Targeting of junctional complexes

At the end of the C. elegans proliferation phase, when the intestinal primordium consists of
16, so-called E-cells (E16, Fig.5D), foci of the CCC and DAC accumulate at the apical surface
(Fig.7A-C) under the control of par-3 and let-413 gene functions, respectively (Fig.1C-E;
Achilleos et al., 2010; Legouis et al., 2000). In very elegant experiments, a targeted protein
degradation strategy was used to remove both maternal and zygotic PAR-3 (par-3M/Z) from
C. elegans embryos before epithelial polarization starts (Achilleos et al., 2010; Totong et al.,
2007).
While localization of the CCC is mainly PAR-3 regulated, the DAC is under control of PAR3 and LET-413. Interestingly, apical but not basolateral localization of LET-413 in intestinal
primordial cells seems to be PAR-3 dependent too (Achilleos et al., 2010), suggesting that
PAR-3 presumably acts via LET-413 to promote apical targeting of the DAC (Fig.7I).
Consistent with this idea in let-413(RNAi) embryos the DAC reaches its apical position less
efficiently (compare Figs.1E and 1F; Kppen et al., 2001; Legouis et al., 2000; McMahon et al.,
2001; Segbert et al., 2004), a phenotype reminescent of embryos depleted for maternal and
zygotic PAR-3 (Achilleos et al., 2010).
Using RNAi to deplete PAR-3 and LET-413 in developing larvae of C. elegans, Aono et al.
(2004) and Pilipiuk et al. (2009) only discovered a requirement for these proteins in
spermathecal development but not in other epithelia. Spermathecal precursor cells are born
during larval development and differentiate into an epithelial tube for the storage of sperm.
In PAR-3 and LET-413depleted worms, the distribution of the DAC and apical
microfilaments are severely affected in spermathecal cells, suggesting that the primary
defect is in the organization of the apical domain.
How PAR-3 and LET-413 become localized apically in intestinal primordial and
spermathecal cells is not known. In Drosophila membrane targeting of Bazooka/PAR-3 is
mediated by direct binding to phosphoinositide lipids (Krahn et al., 2010b). Recent deletion
and point mutation analyses of three LAP proteins, using C. elegans LET-413, human Erbin
and human Scribble demonstrate that their LRR domain is crucial for membrane targeting
(Legouis et al., 2003). Importantly, functional studies of LET-413 in C. elegans show that the
LRR domain but not the PDZ domain is necessary for LET-413 to function during
embryogenesis (Legouis et al., 2003).

5. Assembly of the junctional belt

During the early morphogenesis phase of C. elegans, the assembly of junctional complexes
into an adhesive belt encircling the apex of epithelial cells (Figs.5E,7F) depends on LET413, DLG-1 and PAR-6 gene functions (black arrows in Fig.7I). In mid-morphogenesis of let413(RNAi) embryos, long stretches of normal DAC localization form at the subapical cortex
of epithelial cells, which are separated intermittently by gaps completely lacking DAC
(Legouis et al., 2000). In contrast, the AJM-1 pattern in DLG-1 depleted embryos is

342

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

characterized by small aggregates separated by large regions in which AJM-1 is almost

completely missing (Bossinger et al., 2001; McMahon et al., 2001). In let-414;dlg-1(RNAi)
embryos AJM-1 localization is nearly completely abolished (Kppen et al., 2001).
The N-terminal leucine-rich repeats of LET-413, which mediate basolateral localization,
show good similarity with the Ras-interacting protein SUR-8 (Legouis et al., 2003). Among
the small GTPase families, the Rab proteins are well known for their role in vesicle
trafficking (Jordens et al., 2005) and it has been postulated that many charcteristics of LET413 qualify this protein for acting as a docking platform in a trafficking pathway, which is
controlled by small GTPases and ensures assembly of the CeAJ (Legouis et al., 2000).
For several reasons, and consistent with data from cell culture (see above), we do not favor
the F-actin network as a major player in early steps of CeAJ biogenesis. First, C. elegans
mutants defective in components of the CCC show severe defects in actin filament bundling
without interfering with the formation of an adhesive junctional belt (Costa et al., 1998).
Second, depletion of ERM-1, the only Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin homolog in C. elegans, almost
completely abolishes establishment of the F-actin network in the apical cortex. Nevertheless,
the CeAJ continuously forms around the apex of intestinal cells (van Frden et al., 2004).
Third, both described phenotypes are quite different from let-413/dlg-1 induced defects, in
which clustering of CeAJ proteins becomes the predominant phenotype (Bossinger et al.,
2001).
There are nine -tubulins (TBA-1-9) and six -tubulins (TBB-1-6) in the C. elegans genome.
Microtubules (MTs) are oriented circumferentially in dorsal and ventral epidermal cells, but
are less well-organized in lateral seam cells (Costa et al., 1998). During organogenesis of the
C. elegans intestine, MTs are concentrated near the apical cortex, where they appear to
emerge in a fountain-like array and extend along the lateral surfaces of the cells. Numerous
MTs are in the vicinity of the centrosomes, suggesting that there might be a MT organizing
center at the apical cortex (Leung et al., 1999). By contrast, in many other epithelial cells
most MTs are noncentrosomal and align along the apicobasal polarity axis. They create
asymmetry by orienting their minus- and plus-ends towards the apical and basal membrane
domains, respectively (Bacallao et al., 1989; Bre et al., 1990).
The polarized MT cytoskeleton in the C. elegans embryonic intestine is ideally suited to
transport vesicles from the basally located Golgi toward the apical surface (Leung et al.,
1999). During Drosophila cellularization, strong MT nucleation from apical centrosomes is
likely necessary for the assembly of lateral MTs that promote the apical transport of
lipids/proteins to form cell membranes and the initial apical positioning of AJs (Harris and
Peifer, 2005; Lecuit and Wieschaus, 2000; Papoulas et al., 2005). In the C. elegans intestine,
centrosomal MTs might also help direct the symmetric positioning of the CeAJ around the
subapical domain. MT motors have been previously implicated in AJ assembly. For
example, dynein interacts with -catenin and may tether MTs to AJs assembling between
cultured epithelial cells (Ligon et al., 2001). Kinesin transports AJs proteins to nascent AJs in
cell culture (Chen et al., 2003; Mary et al., 2002) and MKLP-1/ZEN-4 is required for apical
targeting of AJM-1 in the C. elegans pharynx epithelium (Portereiko et al., 2004). During
early epithelial development in Drosophila positioning of Bazooka/PAR-3 relies on
cytoskeletal cues, including an apical scaffold and dynein-mediated basal-to-apical transport
(Harris and Peifer, 2005).

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

343

The similarity of let-413 and dlg-1 phenotypes and the fact that many CeAJ proteins show
comparable phenotypes after depletion of LET-413 and DLG-1 is remarkable. These
observations suggest that both proteins might somehow control the release of vesicles from
MTs, either by providing a docking platform as discussed for LET-413 (see above) or by
directly interacting with motor proteins. In Drosophila neuroblasts, Discs large, kinesin Khc73, and astral MTs induce cortical polarization of Pins/Gi. Khc-73 localizes to astral MT
plus ends, and Dlg/Khc-73 and Dlg/Pins coimmunoprecipitate, suggesting that MTs induce
Pins/Gi cortical polarity through Dlg/Khc-73 interactions (Siegrist and Doe, 2005). In C.
elegans, the clustering of CeAJ proteins after interfering with let-413 and dlg-1 gene functions
would then indicate a jam in vesicular trafficking.

6. Maintenance of epithelial cell polarity

During late morphogenesis of let-413 mutant or RNAi embryos, apical membrane markers
in the epidermis as well as in the intestine progressively spread into the lateral membrane,
suggesting that LET-413 acts to maintain polarity (Bossinger et al., 2004; Kppen et al., 2001;
McMahon et al., 2001).
Surprisingly, worms treated with let-413(RNAi) during larval and adult life are sterile and
exhibit spermathecal defects but otherwise develop normally, suggesting that depletion of
LET-413 level does not restrict the function of major epithelia, like the pharynx, the
intestine, or the hypodermis (Pilipiuk et al., 2009). How this function is maintained during
post-embryonic development in C. elegans remains puzzling and might depend upon so
far unidentified proteins that either completely replace LET-413 function or act
redundantly.

7. Maintenance of cell-cell adhesion

During C. elegans morphogenesis, only double-knockdowns, e.g. HMR-1/E-cadherin + SAX7/L1CAM (Hoffmann et al., in preparation), HMP-1/-catenin + DLG-1 (Segbert et al.,
2004), or HMR-1/cadherin + ERM-1 (van Frden et al., 2004) give rise to intestinal cell-cell
adhesion defects. HMR-1/E-cadherin and SAX-7/L1CAM also function redundantly in
blastomere compaction and non-muscle myosin accumulation during C. elegans gastrulation
(Grana et al., 2010). Interestingly, early embryonic and epithelial cells lacking PAR-6 can
separate from one another inappropriately (Nance, 2003; Totong et al., 2007). Hence, PAR-6
seems to function reiteratively to control cell-cell adhesion in the C. elegans embryo. While
par-6 gene function clearly interferes with the correct localization of the CCC and DAC in
intestinal primordial cells (Totong et al., 2007) this relationship still has to be demonstrated
for early embryogenesis. The enhancement of hypodermal defects through functional loss of
the DAC in mutations of vab-9 (encoding a claudin homolog orthologous to human brain
cell membrane protein 1; Simske et al., 2003) is another example of functional redundancy
concerning cell-cell adhesion in the C. elegans embryo.
In summary, these genetic data suggest that cell-cell adhesion in the intestine is regulated by
at least two redundant systems, which both act at the level of cell adhesion molecules, linker
proteins and cytoskeletal organizers.

344

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 1. Caenorhabditis elegans development and genome

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

345

(A) Shows a DIC micrograph of a C. elegans larva (top) an adult hermaphrodite (middle) and
embryos (bottom) maintained on agar plates with E. coli as food source (scale bar: 100 m).
(B) The table summarizes the developmental time (in hours) of C. elegans at different
temperatures (C), starting with the eggs released from the mothers uterus (0 h), completing
embryogenesis (8-18 h), passing through four larval stages (L1-L4) and finally reaching
adulthood (47-90 h). The length of the egg, larva and adult at each stage is given in
micrometers (m). (C) provides a short summary of the C. elegans genome
(The_C_elegans_Sequencing_Consortium, 1998) that contains 100,267,633 base pairs and is
estimated to have 25244 coding sequences (CDS) from which 47.7% have been confirmed
(every base of every exon has transcription evidence). 44.3% CDS are partially confirmed
(some, but not all exon bases are covered) and 8.0% CDS show no transcriptional evidence
at all. Recent meta-analysis of results from four orthology prediction programs has yielded a
set of 7633 C. elegans genes (OrthoList) having human orthologs (Shaye and Greenwald,
2011).

Fig. 2. Early cell lineage of C. elegans

The C. elegans one-cell embryo, also called zgote or P0, is a widely studied model of cell
polarity (summarized in, Cowan and Hyman, 2004b; Gnczy, 2008; Nance and Zallen, 2011).
The unfertilized oocyte has no developmentally significant polarity. Polarity is established
shortly after fertilization in response to a signal contributed by the sperm (Cowan and
Hyman, 2004a). This signal leads to the establishment of two distinct cortical domains
defining the anterior-posterior axis of the embryo. The one-cell embryo divides
asymmetrically according to the axis such that one cell inherits the anterior cortical domain
and the other cell inherits the posterior domain. The division is also physically asymmetric:
the volume of the posterior P1-cell is approximately half that of the anterior AB-cell (see DIC
micrograph). The resulting cells are already functionally distinct. The anterior AB-cell

346

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

proceeds along a differentiation pathway producing ectoderm (hypodermis, pharynx, and

neurons). The posterior P1-cell re-establishes anterior-posterior polarity and again divides
asymmetrically (into P2 and EMS; see DIC micrograph) in a stem cell-like mode of division.
These stem cell-like divisions establish the founder cells for the somatic lineages of the
worm (AB, MS, E, C and D; see DIC micrographs) and maintaining a single stem cell (P4; see
DIC micrographs) for the germline, which finally produces sperms and oocytes in the adult
hermaphrodite.
The complete C. elegans digestive tract consists of three organs derived from four distinct
embryonic cell lineages (Sulston et al., 1983): pharynx (57 cells from ABa; 38 cells from MS),
intestine (20 cells from E; green), and rectum (11 cells from ABp; Sewell et al., 2003). Only
the intestine is a pure clone of 20 E-cells; the three other lineages produce cells both inside
and outside of the digestive tract. The intestine is one of the few cell lineages in the C. elegans
embryo where a plausible sequence of direct molecular interactions can be proposed
throughout the life cycle (Kormish et al., 2010; McGhee, 2007), beginning with maternallyderived factors in the cytoplasm of the early embryo (e.g. SKN-1 and SYS-1/POP-1),
progressing through a small number of zygotic transcription factors (e.g. END-1/3 and ELT2), and ending with the transcription of e.g. vitellogenin genes in the adult intestine. ELT-2
has been proposed to participate directly in the regulation of most intestinal genes
expressed from the E2 cell stage (Ea and Ep, see DIC micrograph) and later (McGhee et al.,
2009; McGhee et al., 2007). The molecular mechanisms that lead to the asymmetric division
of the EMS blastomere (green striated) into a larger MS- and a smaller E blastomere (see DIC
micrograph) and the correct specification of their cell fates, central to the formation of the
pharynx and intestine has been describe in great detail elsewhere (Maduro, 2010; Mango,
2007; Sugioka et al., 2011). Orientation (DIC micrographs): anterior, left, dorsal top; scale
bar: 10 m.

Fig. 3. RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) in C. elegans

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

347

Over the last decades, RNAi has been found not only be effective in C. elegans but also in other
organisms and cell culture. The cartoon depicts a very simplified scheme of the exogenous
RNAi-mechanism in C. elegans (for detailed reviews see: Ahringer, 2006; Fischer, 2010; Maine,
2008) that leads to targeted destabilization of endogenous, homologous mRNA molecules by
double stranded RNA (dsRNA; Fire et al., 1998). (A) In a cell, RNA is used as a "messenger"
(mRNA) to carry genetic information from the nucleus into the cytoplasm, where it is
translated into proteins. (B) In C. elegans, exogenous dsRNA can be either applied by injection,
feeding or soaking (Maeda et al., 2001; Mello et al., 1991; Timmons and Fire, 1998). dsRNA
is then cut into ~22 nt primary siRNAs by a protein complex containing the RNAse III enzyme
Dicer (DCR-1) and the dsRNA binding protein RDE-4 (Ketting et al., 2001; Tabara et al., 2002).
The Argonaute protein RDE-1 (Tabara et al., 1999) binds siRNAs and seems only required for
their stability (Parrish and Fire, 2001). Finally, RDE-1 slicer activity removes the passenger
strand from the guide strand in the siRNA duplex (Steiner et al., 2009), which is necessary to
allow guide-strand accessibility to the mRNA target. (C) RNAi in C. elegans includes an
amplification step (Alder et al., 2003; Fire et al., 1998). The mRNA that is targeted by siRNAs
serves as a template for the generation of secondary siRNAs mediated by RNA-dependent
RNA polymerases (RdRPs). Secondary siRNAs are always antisense and have 5 triphosphates
instead of the 5 monophosphate characteristic of Dicer cleavage. Secondary siRNAs are made
by unprimed RNA synthesis by RdRPs, which are recruited to the target mRNA bound to the
primary siRNA in complex with RDE-1 (Pak and Fire, 2007; Sijen et al., 2007). In vitro studies
suggest that secondary siRNA generation is Dicer-independent (Aoki et al., 2007). (D) siRNAs
present in the cell are associated with an effector complex called the RISC (RNA-induced
silencing complex). In C. elegans multiple such complexes exist (Caudy et al., 2003; Chan et al.,
2008; Gu et al., 2007), which finally drive mRNA destabilization.

Fig. 4. Epithelial cell polarity and junctions

348

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

(A) Epithelial cells in general show a pronounced apicobasal polarity that becomes
manifested by the establishment of apical (black) and basolateral (green) membrane
domains that differ in the compositions of proteins and lipids. A hallmark of epithelial
differentiation is the assembly of junctional complexes (red) along the lateral membrane
domain, which fulfill different functions during epithelial development. (B-B) Shows a DIC
micrograph of a C. elegans embryo during the elongation phase (B), focusing on two
epithelia (B), the epidermis (white arrow) and the intestine (black arrow). (C) Depicts an
immunofluorescence micrograph of an embryo in B stained against junctional protein DLG1 (red) and basolateral protein LET-413 (green). See text for further details. Orientation (BC): anterior, left, dorsal top (A-E); scale bar: 10 m.

Fig. 5. Development and differentiation of the C. elegans embryonic intestine

The C. elegans intestine, the whole endoderm of the animal, consists of only 20 cells, which
derive from a single somatic founder cell, the so-called E-cell (Deppe et al., 1978; Leung et
al., 1999; Sulston et al., 1983). (A-D) Shows a series of DIC micrographs with E-cell nuclei
colored in green. The E-cell is born at the 8-cell stage (A) and with the beginning of
gastrulation (24-cell stage), 2 E-cells (E2) ingress into the embryo (B) where they further
undergo cell divisions (C, 4 E-cells, E4). The ingression of Ea and Ep cells depends on correct
cell fate specification and polarization of the machinery that orchestrates cell shape changes
and cell migration (Lee and Goldstein, 2003; Sawyer et al., 2011). Among these, PAR-3 and

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

349

PAR-6 proteins regulate apical accumulation of myosin heavy chain, and a Wnt-Frizzled
signaling pathway modulates contraction of the actomyosin network that drives apical
constriction and finally leads to correct ingression of endodermal precursor cells (Cabello et
al., 2010; Grana et al., 2010; Lee et al., 2006). Gastrulation in C. elegans later continues with
the internalization of other cells including mesoderm and germline progenitors (Chisholm
and Hardin, 2005; Nance et al., 2005). During early morphogenesis, the intestinal precursor
cells (E16) start to polarize (D, 16 E-cells, E16, only 10 E-cells in focal plane) and finally an
intestinal tube of 20 E-cells forms during ongoing morphogenesis of C. elegans. (E-E) Shows
micrographs of a mid-morphogenesis stage (similar to D) stained against DNA (E, green,
YoYo), the intestinal-specific intermediate filament protein IFB-2 localized in the apical
cortex (E, blue, mabMH33), and the junctional protein DLG-1 (E, red, anti-DLG-1
antibodies). (F) The cartoon depicts the organization of the intestinal epithelial tube in nine
units (I-IX), which are connected by the CeAJ (red). Orientation (A-E): anterior, left, dorsal
top (A-E); scale bar: 10 m.

Fig. 6. Apical junctional complexes in the C. elegans intestine

Epithelia of the C. elegans embryo contain a single electron-dense apical junction (about 250
nm; Carberry et al., 2009; Mller and Bossinger, 2003), also referred to as C. elegans apical
junction (CeAJ; McMahon et al., 2001) that has been subdivided into distinct parts by
immunohistochemistry. In the basal part of the CeAJ, the DLG-1AJM-1 complex (DAC;
Kppen et al., 2001; Lockwood et al., 2008) is organized, while more apically the catenin
cadherin complex (CCC; Costa et al., 1998; Kwiatkowski et al., 2010), consisting of the
proteins HMR-1 (E-cadherin), HMP-1 (-catenin) and HMP-2 (-catenin) can be found. The
subapical region harbours the proteins MAGI-1 and probably CRB-1 (Bossinger et al., 2001;
Stetak and Hajnal, 2011). By immunofluorescence analysis all these proteins show a typical,
junctional staining pattern (e.g. DLG-1, Fig.5E) that reflects the correct formation of the
CeAJ within the embryonic intestine. Most apically, the PAR-3PAR-6PKC-3 complex
(PPC; Achilleos et al., 2010; Leung et al., 1999; Totong et al., 2007) is localized, showing a
more cortical staining pattern, comparable to that of intermediate filament proteins (e.g.
IFB-2, Fig.5E).

350

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 7. Establishment of cell polarity and assembly of junctional complexes during

development of the C. elegans intestine
(A-C) Early morphogenesis stages showing immunofluorescences (IF) of the catenin
cadherin complex (CCC, blue in A, anti-HMP-1/-catenin IF), the intestine-specific GATAfactor ELT-2 (green in A, anti-GFP IF; McGhee et al., 2009; McGhee et al., 2007), the DLG-1
AJM-1 complex (DAC, red in B and C, anti-DLG-1/Discs large IF and anti-AJM-1 IF), and
the LET-413/SCRIB protein (green in C, anti-CFP). (D-E) Mid morphogenesis stages after
RNAi (Fire et al., 1998) against let-413 gene function displaying anti-HMP-1 and anti-DLG-1
IFs. (F) During early morphogenesis stage, the C. elegans apical junction (CeAJ) forms
around the apex of intestinal primordial cells (anti-DLG-1 IF). (G-H) IF analysis shows that
the CCC (G) but not the DAC (H) moves away from the CeAJ (arrows in H) prior to the
onset of cell fusion in the dorsal hypodermis (Oren-Suissa and Podbilewicz, 2007; OrenSuissa and Podbilewicz, 2010). In contrast, both complexes clearly localize at the CeAJ in
lateral seam cells (asterisks in G,H). (I) Schematic drawing of key players involved in
epithelial polarization (colored arrows), formation of the junctional belt around the apex
(black arrows) and maintenance of cell polarity (yellow circle). PAR-3 is a PDZ domaincontaining protein orthologous to mammalian atypical PKC isotype-specific interacting
protein (ASIP) and Drosophila Bazooka. PAR-6 contains PB1, CRIB and PDZ domains and is
also conserved in Drosophila and mammals. LET-413 belongs to the LAP (LRR (for leucinerich repeats) and PDZ (for PSD-95/Discs-large/ZO-1)) protein family and contains one PDZ
domain and 16 LRR (Bilder et al., 2000; Legouis et al., 2000; Legouis et al., 2003). The DLG-1
AJM-1 complex (DAC; Kppen et al., 2001; Lockwood et al., 2008) is composed of DLG1/Discs large (a MAGUK with three PDZ, one SH3, and one GUK domain) and AJM-1
(apical junction molecule) a coiled-coil protein. See text for further explanations. Orientation

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

351

(A-H): anterior (left), dorsal (top); scale bar: 10 m. A-B, C and G-H: photo courtesy of
Tobias Wiesenfahrt, Jennifer Pilipiuk and Eva Horzowski, respectively.

8. References
Achilleos, A., Wehman, A. M. and Nance, J. (2010). PAR-3 mediates the initial clustering and
apical localization of junction and polarity proteins during C. elegans intestinal
epithelial cell polarization. Development 137, 1833-42.
Ahringer, J. (2006). Reverse genetics. In WormBook,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community): WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.47.1.
Alder, M. N., Dames, S., Gaudet, J. and Mango, S. E. (2003). Gene silencing in
Caenorhabditis elegans by transitive RNA interference. RNA 9, 25-32.
Altun, Z. F., Chen, B., Wang, Z. W. and Hall, D. H. (2009). High resolution map of
Caenorhabditis elegans gap junction proteins. Dev Dyn 238, 1936-50.
Altun, Z. F. and Hall, D. H. (2009a). Alilmentary system, rectum and anus. In WormAtlas,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community). WormAtlas
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.3908/wormatlas.1.5.
Altun, Z. F. and Hall, D. H. (2009b). Alimentary system, intestine. In WormAtlas,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community): WormAtlas
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.3908/wormatlas.1.4.
Altun, Z. F. and Hall, D. H. (2009c). Alimentary system, overview. In WormAtlas,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community): WormAtlas
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.3908/wormatlas.1.2.
Altun, Z. F. and Hall, D. H. (2009d). Alimentary system, pharynx. In WormAtlas,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community): WormAtlas
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.3908/wormatlas.1.3.
Anderson, J. M. and Van Itallie, C. M. (2009). Physiology and function of the tight junction.
Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology 1, a002584.
Aoki, K., Moriguchi, H., Yoshioka, T., Okawa, K. and Tabara, H. (2007). In vitro analyses of
the production and activity of secondary small interfering RNAs in C. elegans.
EMBO J 26, 5007-19.
Aono, S., Legouis, R., Hoose, W. A. and Kemphues, K. J. (2004). PAR-3 is required for
epithelial cell polarity in the distal spermatheca of C. elegans. Development 131,
2865-74.
Asano, A., Asano, K., Sasaki, H., Furuse, M. and Tsukita, S. (2003). Claudins in
Caenorhabditis elegans: their distribution and barrier function in the epithelium.
Curr Biol 13, 1042-6.
Bacallao, R. L., Antony, C., Dotti, C., Karsenti, E., Stelzer, E. and Simons, K. (1989). The
subcellular organization of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells during the formation
of a polarized epithelium. J Cell Biol 109, 2817-32.
Baylis, H. A. and Vazquez-Manrique, R. P. (2011). Reverse genetic strategies in
Caenorhabditis elegans: towards controlled manipulation of the genome.
ScientificWorldJournal 11, 1394-410.
Betschinger, J., Mechtler, K. and Knoblich, J. A. (2003). The Par complex directs asymmetric
cell division by phosphorylating the cytoskeletal protein Lgl. Nature 422, 326-30.

352

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Bilder, D., Birnbaum, D., Borg, J. P., Bryant, P., Huigbretse, J., Jansen, E., Kennedy, M. B.,
Labouesse, M., Legouis, R., Mechler, B. et al. (2000). Collective nomenclature for
LAP proteins. Nature cell biology 2, E114.
Bilder, D., Schober, M. and Perrimon, N. (2003). Integrated activity of PDZ protein
complexes regulates epithelial polarity. Nat Cell Biol 5, 53-58.
Bird, A. F. and Bird, J. (1991). The structure of nematodes. California: Academic Press.
Blaxter, M. (2011). Nematodes: the worm and its relatives. PLoS Biol 9, e1001050.
Bossinger, O., Fukushige, T., Claeys, M., Borgonie, G. and McGhee, J. D. (2004). The apical
disposition of the Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal terminal web is maintained by
LET-413. Dev Biol 268, 448-456.
Bossinger, O., Klebes, A., Segbert, C., Theres, C. and Knust, E. (2001). Zonula adherens
formation in Caenorhabditis elegans requires dlg-1, the homologue of the
Drosophila gene discs large. Dev Biol 230, 29-42.
Bossinger, O. and Schierenberg, E. (1992). Cell-cell communication in the embryo of
Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol 151, 401-9.
Bossinger, O. and Schierenberg, E. (1996). Early embryonic induction in C. elegans can be
inhibited with polysulfated hydrocarbon dyes. Dev Biol 176, 17-21.
Boulin, T. and Bessereau, J. (2007). Mos1-mediated insertional mutagenesis in
Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Protoc 2, 1276-87.
Bowerman, B. (2011). The near demise and subsequent revival of classical genetics for
investigating Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis: RNAi meets next-generation
DNA sequencing. Mol Biol Cell 22, 3556-8.
Bre, M. H., Pepperkok, R., Hill, A. M., Levilliers, N., Ansorge, W., Stelzer, E. H. and
Karsenti, E. (1990). Regulation of microtubule dynamics and nucleation during
polarization in MDCK II cells. J Cell Biol 111, 3013-21.
Brenner, S. (1974). The genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 77, 71-94.
Brenner, S. (2003). Nature's gift to science (Nobel lecture). Chembiochem 4, 683-7.
Brenner, S. (2009). In the beginning was the worm. Genetics 182, 413-5.
Bulgakova, N. A. and Knust, E. (2009). The Crumbs complex: from epithelial-cell polarity to
retinal degeneration. J Cell Sci 122, 2587-96.
Cabello, J., Neukomm, L. J., Gunesdogan, U., Burkart, K., Charette, S. J., Lochnit, G.,
Hengartner, M. O. and Schnabel, R. (2010). The Wnt pathway controls cell death
engulfment, spindle orientation, and migration through CED-10/Rac. PLoS Biol 8,
e1000297.
Calixto, A., Chelur, D., Topalidou, I., Chen, X. and Chalfie, M. (2010a). Enhanced neuronal
RNAi in C. elegans using SID-1. Nature methods 7, 554-9.
Calixto, A., Ma, C. and Chalfie, M. (2010b). Conditional gene expression and RNAi using
MEC-8-dependent splicing in C. elegans. Nat Methods 7, 407-11.
Carberry, K., Wiesenfahrt, T., Windoffer, R., Bossinger, O. and Leube, R. E. (2009).
Intermediate filaments in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 66, 852-64.
Caudy, A. A., Ketting, R. F., Hammond, S. M., Denli, A. M., Bathoorn, A. M., Tops, B. B.,
Silva, J. M., Myers, M. M., Hannon, G. J. and Plasterk, R. H. (2003). A micrococcal
nuclease homologue in RNAi effector complexes. Nature 425, 411-4.
Chalfie, M. (2009). GFP: lighting up life (Nobel Lecture). Angewandte Chemie 48, 5603-11.
Chalfie, M., Tu, Y., Euskirchen, G., Ward, W. and Prasher, D. (1994). Green
fluorescent protein as a marker for gene expression. Science 263, 802-5.

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

353

Chan, S. P., Ramaswamy, G., Choi, E. Y. and Slack, F. J. (2008). Identification of specific let-7
microRNA binding complexes in Caenorhabditis elegans. RNA 14, 2104-14.
Chen, X., Kojima, S., Borisy, G. G. and Green, K. J. (2003). p120 catenin associates with
kinesin and facilitates the transport of cadherin-catenin complexes to intercellular
junctions. J Cell Biol 163, 547-57.
Chisholm, A. D. (2006). Gastrulation: Wnts signal constriction. Curr Biol 16, R874-6.
Chisholm, A. D. and Hardin, J. (2005). Epidermal morphogenesis. In WormBook, (ed.
The_Celegans_Research_Community), pp. 1-22: WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.35.1.
Costa, M., Raich, W., Agbunag, C., Leung, B., Hardin, J. and Priess, J. (1998). A putative
catenin-cadherin system mediates morphogenesis of the Caenorhabditis elegans
embryo. J Cell Biol 141, 297-308.
Cowan, C. R. and Hyman, A. (2004a). Centrosomes direct cell polarity independently of
microtubule assembly in C. elegans embryos. Nature 431, 92-6.
Cowan, C. R. and Hyman, A. A. (2004b). Asymmetric cell division in C. elegans: cortical
polarity and spindle positioning. Annual review of cell and developmental biology 20,
427-53.
Cox, E. A. and Hardin, J. (2004). Sticky worms: adhesion complexes in C. elegans. J Cell Sci
117, 1885-97.
de Santa Barbara, P., van den Brink, G. R. and Roberts, D. J. (2003). Development and
differentiation of the intestinal epithelium. Cell Mol Life Sci 60, 1322-32.
Deppe, U., Schierenberg, E., Cole, T., Krieg, C., Schmitt, D., Yoder, B. K. and von Ehrenstein,
G. (1978). Cell lineages of the embryo of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A 75, 376-80.
Ebnet, K. (2008). Organization of multiprotein complexes at cell-cell junctions. Histochem Cell
Biol 130, 1-20.
Eckert, J. J. and Fleming, T. P. (2008). Tight junction biogenesis during early development.
Biochim Biophys Acta 1778, 717-728.
Etheridge, T., Nemoto, K., Hashizume, T., Mori, C., Sugimoto, T., Suzuki, H., Fukui, K.,
Yamazaki, T., Higashibata, A., Szewczyk, N. J. et al. (2011). The effectiveness of
RNAi in Caenorhabditis elegans is maintained during spaceflight. PLoS ONE 6,
e20459.
Fire, A., Xu, S., Montgomery, M., Kostas, S., Driver, S. and Mello, C. (1998). Potent and
specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Nature 391, 806-11.
Fire, A. Z. (2007). Gene silencing by double-stranded RNA (Nobel Lecture). Angewandte
Chemie 46, 6966-84.
Firestein, B. L. and Rongo, C. (2001). DLG-1 Is a MAGUK Similar to SAP97 and Is Required
for Adherens Junction Formation. Mol Biol Cell 12, 3465-75.
Fischer, S. E. (2010). Small RNA-mediated gene silencing pathways in C. elegans. The
international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 42, 1306-15.
Fraser, A. G., Kamath, R. S., Zipperlen, P., Martinez-Campos, M., Sohrmann, M. and
Ahringer, J. (2000). Functional genomic analysis of C. elegans chromosome I by
systematic RNA interference. Nature 408, 325-30.

354

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Frokjaer-Jensen, C., Davis, M. W., Hollopeter, G., Taylor, J., Harris, T. W., Nix, P., Lofgren,
R., Prestgard-Duke, M., Bastiani, M., Moerman, D. G. et al. (2010). Targeted gene
deletions in C. elegans using transposon excision. Nat Methods 7, 451-3.
Fuchs, E. (2007). Scratching the surface of skin development. Nature 445, 834-42.
Goldstein, B. (1992). Induction of gut in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Nature 357, 255-7.
Gnczy, P. (2008). Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division: flies and worms pave
the way. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 9, 355-66.
Gnczy, P., Echeverri, G., Oegema, K., Coulson, A., Jones, S. J., Copley, R. R., Duperon, J.,
Oegema, J., Brehm, M., Cassin, E. et al. (2000). Functional genomic analysis of cell
division in C. elegans using RNAi of genes on chromosome III. Nature 408, 331-6.
Grana, T. M., Cox, E. A., Lynch, A. M. and Hardin, J. (2010). SAX-7/L1CAM and HMR1/cadherin function redundantly in blastomere compaction and non-muscle
myosin accumulation during Caenorhabditis elegans gastrulation. Developmental
biology 344, 731-44.
Gu, S. G., Pak, J., Barberan-Soler, S., Ali, M., Fire, A. and Zahler, A. M. (2007). Distinct
ribonucleoprotein reservoirs for microRNA and siRNA populations in C. elegans.
RNA 13, 1492-504.
Guo, S. and Kemphues, K. J. (1996). A non-muscle myosin required for embryonic polarity
in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 382, 455-8.
Han, M. (1997). Gut reaction to Wnt signaling in worms. Cell 90, 581-4.
Han, M. (2010). Advancing biology with a growing worm field. Developmental dynamics : an
official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 239, 1263-4.
Hardin, J. and Lockwood, C. (2004). Skin tight: cell adhesion in the epidermis of
Caenorhabditis elegans. Curr Opin Cell Biol 16, 486-92.
Harris, T. J. and Peifer, M. (2005). The positioning and segregation of apical cues during
epithelial polarity establishment in Drosophila. J Cell Biol 170, 813-23.
Harris, T. J. and Peifer, M. (2007). aPKC controls microtubule organization to balance
adherens junction symmetry and planar polarity during development. Dev Cell 12,
727-38.
Harris, T. J. and Tepass, U. (2010). Adherens junctions: from molecules to morphogenesis.
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 11, 502-14.
Harris, T. W., Antoshechkin, I., Bieri, T., Blasiar, D., Chan, J., Chen, W. J., De La Cruz, N.,
Davis, P., Duesbury, M., Fang, R. et al. (2010). WormBase: a comprehensive
resource for nematode research. Nucleic Acids Res 38, D463-7.
Hedgecock, E. M. and White, J. G. (1985). Polyploid tissues in the nematode Caenorhabditis
elegans. Dev Biol 107, 128-33.
Hermann, G. J., Leung, B. and Priess, J. R. (2000). Left-right asymmetry in C. elegans
intestine organogenesis involves a LIN-12/Notch signaling pathway. Development
127, 3429-40.
Hobert, O. (2010). The impact of whole genome sequencing on model system genetics: get
ready for the ride. Genetics 184, 317-9.
Hoffmann, M., Segbert, C., Helbig, G. and Bossinger, O. (2010). Intestinal tube formation in
Caenorhabditis elegans requires vang-1 and egl-15 signaling. Dev Biol 339, 268-279.
Horvitz, H. R. (2003). Worms, life, and death (Nobel lecture). Chembiochem 4, 697-711.

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

355

Hunt-Newbury, R., Viveiros, R., Johnsen, R., Mah, A., Anastas, D., Fang, L., Halfnight, E.,
Lee, D., Lin, J., Lorch, A. et al. (2007). High-throughput in vivo analysis of gene
expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Biol 5, e237.
Hsken, K., Wiesenfahrt, T., Abraham, C., Windoffer, R., Bossinger, O. and Leube, R. (2008).
Maintenance of the intestinal tube in Caenorhabditis elegans: the role of the
intermediate filament protein IFC-2. Differentiation 76, 881-896.
Jordens, I., Marsman, M., Kuijl, C. and Neefjes, J. (2005). Rab proteins, connecting transport
and vesicle fusion. Traffic 6, 1070-7.
Jorgensen, E. M. and Mango, S. E. (2002). The art and design of genetic screens:
Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Rev Genet 3, 356-69.
Kamath, R. S., Fraser, A. G., Dong, Y., Poulin, G., Durbin, R., Gotta, M., Kanapin, A., Le Bot,
N., Moreno, S., Sohrmann, M. et al. (2003). Systematic functional analysis of the
Caenorhabditis elegans genome using RNAi. Nature 421, 231-7.
Ketting, R. F., Fischer, S. E., Bernstein, E., Sijen, T., Hannon, G. J. and Plasterk, R. H. (2001).
Dicer functions in RNA interference and in synthesis of small RNA involved in
developmental timing in C. elegans. Genes Dev 15, 2654-9.
Kimble, J. and Sharrock, W. J. (1983). Tissue-specific synthesis of yolk proteins in
Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol 96, 189-96.
Knust, E. and Bossinger, O. (2002). Composition and formation of intercellular junctions in
epithelial cells. Science 298, 1955-9.
Kppen, M., Simske, J. S., Sims, P. A., Firestein, B. L., Hall, D. H., Radice, A. D., Rongo, C.
and Hardin, J. D. (2001). Cooperative regulation of AJM-1 controls junctional
integrity in Caenorhabditis elegans epithelia. Nat Cell Biol 3, 983-91.
Kormish, J. D., Gaudet, J. and McGhee, J. D. (2010). Development of the C. elegans digestive
tract. Current opinion in genetics & development 20, 346-54.
Krahn, M. P., Buckers, J., Kastrup, L. and Wodarz, A. (2010a). Formation of a BazookaStardust complex is essential for plasma membrane polarity in epithelia. The Journal
of cell biology 190, 751-60.
Krahn, M. P., Klopfenstein, D. R., Fischer, N. and Wodarz, A. (2010b). Membrane targeting
of Bazooka/PAR-3 is mediated by direct binding to phosphoinositide lipids.
Current Biology 20, 636-42.
Kramer, J. M. (2005). Basement membranes. In WormBook,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community), pp. 1-15: WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.16.1.
Kwiatkowski, A. V., Maiden, S. L., Pokutta, S., Choi, H. J., Benjamin, J. M., Lynch, A. M.,
Nelson, W. J., Weis, W. I. and Hardin, J. (2010). In vitro and in vivo reconstitution
of the cadherin-catenin-actin complex from Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Natl Acad
Sci U S A 107, 14591-6.
Labouesse, M. (2006). Epithelial junctions and attachments. In WormBook,
(ed.
The_Celegans_Research_Community): WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.56.1.
Laprise, P., Lau, K. M., Harris, K. P., Silva-Gagliardi, N. F., Paul, S. M., Beronja, S., Beitel, G.
J., McGlade, C. J. and Tepass, U. (2009). Yurt, Coracle, Neurexin IV and the
Na(+),K(+)-ATPase form a novel group of epithelial polarity proteins. Nature 459,
1141-5.

356

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Lecuit, T. and Wieschaus, E. (2000). Polarized insertion of new membrane from a

cytoplasmic reservoir during cleavage of the Drosophila embryo. J Cell Biol 150,
849-60.
Lee, J. and Goldstein, B. (2003). Mechanisms of cell positioning during C. elegans
gastrulation. Development 130, 307-20.
Lee, J., Marston, D. J., Walston, T., Hardin, J., Halberstadt, A. and Goldstein, B. (2006).
Wnt/Frizzled signaling controls C. elegans gastrulation by activating actomyosin
contractility. Curr Biol 16, 1986-97.
Legouis, R., Gansmuller, A., Sookhareea, S., Bosher, J. M., Baillie, D. L. and Labouesse, M.
(2000). LET-413 is a basolateral protein required for the assembly of adherens
junctions in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Cell Biol 2, 415-422.
Legouis, R., Jaulin-Bastard, F., Schott, S., Navarro, C., Borg, J. P. and Labouesse, M. (2003).
Basolateral targeting by leucine-rich repeat domains in epithelial cells. EMBO Rep 4,
1096-1100.
Leung, B., Hermann, G. J. and Priess, J. R. (1999). Organogenesis of the Caenorhabditis
elegans intestine. Dev Biol 216, 114-34.
Ligon, L. A., Karki, S., Tokito, M. and Holzbaur, E. L. (2001). Dynein binds to beta-catenin
and may tether microtubules at adherens junctions. Nat Cell Biol 3, 913-7.
Lints, R. and Hall, D. H. (2009). Reproductive system, somatic gonad. In WormAtlas, (ed.
The_Celegans_Research_Community). WormAtlas
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.3908/wormatlas.1.22.
Lockwood, C. A., Lynch, A. M. and Hardin, J. (2008). Dynamic analysis identifies novel roles
for DLG-1 subdomains in AJM-1 recruitment and LET-413-dependent apical
focusing. J Cell Sci 121, 1477-87.
Lu, R., Maduro, M. F., Li, F., Li, H. L., Broitman-Maduro, G., Li, W. and Ding, S. W. (2005).
Animal virus replication and RNAi-mediated antiviral silencing in Caenorhabditis
elegans. Nature 436, 1040-3.
Lynch, A. M. and Hardin, J. (2009). The assembly and maintenance of epithelial junctions in
C. elegans. Front Biosci 14, 1414-32.
MacQueen, A. J., Baggett, J. J., Perumov, N., Bauer, R. A., Januszewski, T., Schriefer, L. and
Waddle, J. A. (2005). ACT-5 is an essential Caenorhabditis elegans actin required
for intestinal microvilli formation. Molecular biology of the cell 16, 3247-59.
Maduro, M. F. (2010). Cell fate specification in the C. elegans embryo. Dev Dyn 239, 1315-29.
Maeda, I., Kohara, Y., Yamamoto, M. and Sugimoto, A. (2001). Large-scale analysis of gene
function in Caenorhabditis elegans by high-throughput RNAi. Curr Biol 11, 171-6.
Maine, E. M. (2008). Studying gene function in Caenorhabditis elegans using RNA-mediated
interference. Brief Funct Genomic Proteomic 7, 184-94.
Mango, S. E. (2007). The C. elegans pharynx: a model for organogenesis. In WormBook, (ed.
The_Celegans_Research_Community): WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.129.1.
Mary, S., Charrasse, S., Meriane, M., Comunale, F., Travo, P., Blangy, A. and GauthierRouviere, C. (2002). Biogenesis of N-cadherin-dependent cell-cell contacts in living
fibroblasts is a microtubule-dependent kinesin-driven mechanism. Mol Biol Cell 13,
285-301.

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

357

McGee, M. D., Weber, D., Day, N., Vitelli, C., Crippen, D., Herndon, L. A., Hall, D. H. and
Melov, S. (2011). Loss of intestinal nuclei and intestinal integrity in aging C.
elegans. Aging Cell 10, 699-710.
McGhee, J. D. (2007). The C. elegans intestine. In WormBook,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community): WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.133.1.
McGhee, J. D., Fukushige, T., Krause, M. W., Minnema, S. E., Goszczynski, B., Gaudet, J.,
Kohara, Y., Bossinger, O., Zhao, Y., Khattra, J. et al. (2009). ELT-2 is the
predominant transcription factor controlling differentiation and function of the C.
elegans intestine, from embryo to adult. Dev Biol 327, 551-65.
McGhee, J. D., Sleumer, M. C., Bilenky, M., Wong, K., McKay, S. J., Goszczynski, B., Tian, H.,
Krich, N. D., Khattra, J., Holt, R. A. et al. (2007). The ELT-2 GATA-factor and the
global regulation of transcription in the C. elegans intestine. Dev Biol 302, 627-45.
McMahon, L., Legouis, R., Vonesch, J. L. and Labouesse, M. (2001). Assembly of C. elegans
apical junctions involves positioning and compaction by LET-413 and protein
aggregation by the MAGUK protein DLG-1. J Cell Sci 114, 2265-77.
Mello, C. C. (2007). Return to the RNAi world: rethinking gene expression and evolution
(Nobel Lecture). Angewandte Chemie 46, 6985-94.
Mello, C. C., Kramer, J. M., Stinchcomb, D. T. and Ambros, V. (1991). Efficient gene transfer
in C.elegans: extrachromosomal maintenance and integration of transforming
sequences. EMBO J 10, 3959-70.
Michaux, G., Legouis, R. and Labouesse, M. (2001). Epithelial biology: lessons from
Caenorhabditis elegans. Gene 277, 83-100.
Mitani, S. (2009). Nematode, an experimental animal in the national BioResource project.
Exp Anim 58, 351-6.
Moerman, D. G. and Barstead, R. J. (2008). Towards a mutation in every gene in
Caenorhabditis elegans. Brief Funct Genomic Proteomic 7, 195-204.
Mller, H. A. (2000). Genetic control of epithelial cell polarity: lessons from Drosophila. Dev
Dyn 218, 52-67.
Mller, H. A. and Bossinger, O. (2003). Molecular networks controlling epithelial cell
polarity in development. Mech Dev 120, 1231-56.
Nance, J. (2003). C. elegans PAR-3 and PAR-6 are required for apicobasal asymmetries
associated with cell adhesion and gastrulation. Development 130, 5339-5350.
Nance, J., Lee, J. Y. and Goldstein, B. (2005). Gastrulation in C. elegans. In WormBook, (ed.
The_Celegans_Research_Community), pp. 1-13: WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook. 1.23.1
Nance, J. and Zallen, J. A. (2011). Elaborating polarity: PAR proteins and the cytoskeleton.
Development 138, 799-809.
Nelson, W. J. (2003). Adaptation of core mechanisms to generate cell polarity. Nature 422,
766-74.
Nelson, W. J. (2009). Remodeling epithelial cell organization: transitions between front-rear
and apical-basal polarity. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology 1, a000513.
Noah, T. K., Donahue, B. and Shroyer, N. F. (2011). Intestinal development and
differentiation. Exp Cell Res 317, 2702-10.
Oren-Suissa, M. and Podbilewicz, B. (2007). Cell fusion during development. Trends Cell Biol
17, 537-46.

358

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Oren-Suissa, M. and Podbilewicz, B. (2010). Evolution of programmed cell fusion: common

mechanisms and distinct functions. Dev Dyn 239, 1515-28.
Pak, J. and Fire, A. (2007). Distinct populations of primary and secondary effectors during
RNAi in C. elegans. Science 315, 241-4.
Papoulas, O., Hays, T. S. and Sisson, J. C. (2005). The golgin Lava lamp mediates dyneinbased Golgi movements during Drosophila cellularization. Nat Cell Biol 7, 612-8.
Parrish, S. and Fire, A. (2001). Distinct roles for RDE-1 and RDE-4 during RNA interference
in Caenorhabditis elegans. RNA 7, 1397-402.
Pauli, F., Liu, Y., Kim, Y. A., Chen, P. J. and Kim, S. H. (2006). Chromosomal clustering and
GATA transcriptional regulation of intestine-expressed genes in C. elegans.
Development 133, 287-95.
Pilipiuk, J., Lefebvre, C., Wiesenfahrt, T., Legouis, R. and Bossinger, O. (2009). Increased
IP3/Ca2+ signaling compensates depletion of LET-413/DLG-1 in C. elegans
epithelial junction assembly. Dev Biol 327, 34-47.
Plant, P. J., Fawcett, J. P., Lin, D. C., Holdorf, A. D., Binns, K., Kulkarni, S. and Pawson, T.
(2003). A polarity complex of mPar-6 and atypical PKC binds, phosphorylates and
regulates mammalian Lgl. Nat Cell Biol 5, 301-8.
Portereiko, M. F., Saam, J. and Mango, S. E. (2004). ZEN-4/MKLP1 is required to polarize
the foregut epithelium. Curr Biol 14, 932-41.
Putzke, A. P. and Rothman, J. H. (2003). Gastrulation: PARtaking of the bottle. Curr Biol 13,
R223-5.
Qadota, H., Inoue, M., Hikita, T., Koppen, M., Hardin, J. D., Amano, M., Moerman, D. G.
and Kaibuchi, K. (2007). Establishment of a tissue-specific RNAi system in C.
elegans. Gene 400, 166-73.
Robert, V. J. and Bessereau, J. L. (2007). Targeted engineering of the Caenorhabditis elegans
genome following Mos1-triggered chromosomal breaks. EMBO J 26, 170-83.
Rohrschneider, M. R. and Nance, J. (2009). Polarity and cell fate specification in the control
of Caenorhabditis elegans gastrulation. Dev Dyn 238, 789-96.
Sawyer, J. M., Glass, S., Li, T., Shemer, G., White, N. D., Starostina, N. G., Kipreos, E. T.,
Jones, C. D. and Goldstein, B. (2011). Overcoming Redundancy: an RNAi Enhancer
Screen for Morphogenesis Genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 188, 549-64.
Sawyer, J. M., Harrell, J. R., Shemer, G., Sullivan-Brown, J., Roh-Johnson, M. and Goldstein,
B. (2009). Apical constriction: A cell shape change that can drive morphogenesis.
Dev Biol 34, 5-19.
Schierenberg, E. (1987). Reversal of cellular polarity and early cell-cell interaction in the
embryos of Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol 122, 452-63.
Schierenberg, E. (2005). Unusual cleavage and gastrulation in a freshwater nematode:
developmental and phylogenetic implications. Dev Genes Evol 215, 103-8.
Schierenberg, E. (2006). Embryological variation during nematode development. In
WormBook,
(ed. The_Celegans_Research_Community), pp. 1-13: WormBook
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.55.1.
Schnabel, R., Hutter, H., Moerman, D. G. and Schnabel, H. (1997). Assessing normal
embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans using a 4D microscope: variability of
development and regional specification. Dev Biol 184, 234-65.

Development and Cell Polarity of the C. elegans Intestine

359

Schott, D. H., Cureton, D. K., Whelan, S. P. and Hunter, C. P. (2005). An antiviral role for the
RNA interference machinery in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
102, 18420-4.
Schulenburg, H., Kurz, C. L. and Ewbank, J. J. (2004). Evolution of the innate immune
system: the worm perspective. Immunol Rev 198, 36-58.
Segbert, C., Johnson, K., Theres, C., van Frden, D. and Bossinger, O. (2004). Molecular and
functional analysis of apical junction formation in the gut epithelium of
Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol 266, 17-26.
Sewell, S. T., Zhang, G., Uttam, A. and Chamberlin, H. M. (2003). Developmental patterning
in the Caenorhabditis elegans hindgut. Dev Biol 262, 88-93.
Shaye, D. D. and Greenwald, I. (2011). OrthoList: A Compendium of C. elegans Genes with
Human Orthologs. PLoS ONE 6, e20085.
Siegrist, S. E. and Doe, C. Q. (2005). Microtubule-induced pins/galphai cortical polarity in
Drosophila neuroblasts. Cell 123, 1323-35.
Sijen, T., Steiner, F. A., Thijssen, K. L. and Plasterk, R. H. (2007). Secondary siRNAs result
from unprimed RNA synthesis and form a distinct class. Science 315, 244-7.
Simske, J. S., Kppen, M., Sims, P. A., Hodgkin, J., Yonkof, A. and Hardin, J. (2003). The cell
junction protein VAB-9 regulates adhesion and epidermal morphology in C.
elegans. Nat Cell Biol 5, 619-25.
Snnichsen, B., Koski, L. B., Walsh, A., Marschall, P., Neumann, B., Brehm, M., Alleaume, A.
M., Artelt, J., Bettencourt, P., Cassin, E. et al. (2005). Full-genome RNAi profiling of
early embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 434, 462-9.
Steiner, F. A., Okihara, K. L., Hoogstrate, S. W., Sijen, T. and Ketting, R. F. (2009). RDE-1
slicer activity is required only for passenger-strand cleavage during RNAi in
Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Struct Mol Biol 16, 207-11.
Stetak, A. and Hajnal, A. (2011). The C. elegans MAGI-1 protein is a novel component of cell
junctions that is required for junctional compartmentalization. Dev Biol 350, 24-31.
Sugioka, K., Mizumoto, K. and Sawa, H. (2011). Wnt Regulates Spindle Asymmetry to
Generate Asymmetric Nuclear beta-Catenin in C. elegans. Cell 146, 942-54.
Sulston, J. and Horvitz, H. (1977). Post-embryonic cell lineages of the nematode,
Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol 56, 110-56.
Sulston, J., Schierenberg, E., White, J. and Thomson, J. (1983). The embryonic cell lineage of
the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol 100, 64-119.
Sulston, J. E. (2003). Caenorhabditis elegans: the cell lineage and beyond (Nobel lecture).
Chembiochem 4, 688-96.
Tabara, H., Sarkissian, M., Kelly, W. G., Fleenor, J., Grishok, A., Timmons, L., Fire, A. and
Mello, C. C. (1999). The rde-1 gene, RNA interference, and transposon silencing in
C. elegans. Cell 99, 123-132.
Tabara, H., Yigit, E., Siomi, H. and Mello, C. C. (2002). The dsRNA binding protein RDE-4
interacts with RDE-1, DCR-1, and a DExH-box helicase to direct RNAi in C.
elegans. Cell 109, 861-71.
Tanentzapf, G. and Tepass, U. (2003). Interactions between the crumbs, lethal giant larvae
and bazooka pathways in epithelial polarization. Nat Cell Biol 5, 46-52.
The_C_elegans_Sequencing_Consortium. (1998). Genome sequence of the nematode C.
elegans: a platform for investigating biology. Science 282, 2012-8.
Timmons, L. and Fire, A. (1998). Specific interference by ingested dsRNA. Nature 395, 854.

360

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Totong, R., Achilleos, A. and Nance, J. (2007). PAR-6 is required for junction formation but
not apicobasal polarization in C. elegans embryonic epithelial cells. Development
134, 1259-68.
Tsien, R. Y. (2009). Constructing and exploiting the fluorescent protein paintbox (Nobel
Lecture). Angewandte Chemie 48, 5612-26.
Tsukita, S., Furuse, M. and Itoh, M. (2001). Multifunctional strands in tight junctions. Nat
Rev Mol Cell Biol 2, 285-93.
van Frden, D., Johnson, K., Segbert, C. and Bossinger, O. (2004). The C. elegans ezrinradixin-moesin protein ERM-1 is necessary for apical junction remodelling and
tubulogenesis in the intestine. Developmental biology 272, 262-276.
Wang, Q. and Margolis, B. (2007). Apical junctional complexes and cell polarity. Kidney Int
72, 1448-58.
Weisz, O. A. and Rodriguez-Boulan, E. (2009). Apical trafficking in epithelial cells: signals,
clusters and motors. J Cell Sci 122, 4253-66.
White, J. (1988). The anatomy. In The nematode C. elegans, (ed. W. B. Wood), pp. 81-122. New
York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
White, J., Southgate, E., Thomson, J. and Brenner, S. (1986). The structure of the nervous
system of Caenorhabditis elegans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 314, 1-340.
Wilkins, C., Dishongh, R., Moore, S. C., Whitt, M. A., Chow, M. and Machaca, K. (2005).
RNA interference is an antiviral defence mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Nature 436, 1044-7.
Wodarz, A., Ramrath, A., Grimm, A. and Knust, E. (2000). Drosophila atypical protein
kinase C associates with Bazooka and controls polarity of epithelia and neuroblasts.
J Cell Biol 150, 1361-74.
Wood, W. B. (1988). Preface/Front Matter. In The nematode C. elegans, (ed. W. B. Wood).
Cold Spring Harbor, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Yamanaka, T., Horikoshi, Y., Sugiyama, Y., Ishiyama, C., Suzuki, A., Hirose, T., Iwamatsu,
A., Shinohara, A. and Ohno, S. (2003). Mammalian Lgl forms a protein complex
with PAR-6 and aPKC independently of PAR-3 to regulate epithelial cell polarity.
Curr Biol 13, 734-43.
Zhuang, J. J. and Hunter, C. P. (2011). Tissue-specificity of Caenorhabditis elegans Enhanced
RNAi Mutants. Genetics 188, 235-7.

16
Intercellular Communication
Nuri Faruk Aykan

Istanbul University, Institute of Oncology,

Turkey
1. Introduction
Intercellular communication (transfert of information) is an essential issue for continuity of
life in multicellular organisms. Several types of communication systems coordinate body
functions to maintain homeostasis (Guyton & Hall, 2000). Until now, it has been accepted
that two major organ systems control all physiologic processes within the human body: The
endocrine system and the nervous system (Greenspan & Gardner, 2004). Beside them, a
third organ system, immune system, is a super-system which provide recognition and
destroy of foreign cells by specific coordination between their cells again within the body.
The contact and communication between immun cells are used for the distinction between
self and non-self. In recent years, considerable data supported the existence of dynamic
interactions between these super-systems. For example, neuro-endocrine, neuro-immune,
psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinological cross communications have been identified
(Downing & Miyan, 2000; Sternberg, 1997; Weihe et al., 1991). In addition, within organ
systems, autocrine, paracrine, juxtacrine, neurocrine, lumencrine (exocrine) and finally
intracrine communications have been defined (di Sant'Agnese, 1992; Greenspan & Gardner,
2004; Guyton & Hall, 2000; Hansson & Abrahamsson, 2001; Krantic et al., 2004; Miller, 2003;
Patel et al., 1993; Re & Bryan, 1984; Re, 1989; Ruan & Lai, 2004; Sporn & Todaro, 1980; Sporn
& Roberts, 1992; Zimmerman et al., 1993) (Figure 1). Intercellular communication in the
organism is realized by specific molecules, except neural transmission exerted by action
potentials (Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003; Faller & Schuenke, 2004; Guyton & Hall, 2000)
and except information transfer by biophoton emission which has been reported very
recently (Albrecht-Buehler, 1992; Cohen & Popp, 1997; Fels, 2009; Jaffe, 2005; Musumeci et
al., 1999; Niggli, 1992). This review especially addresses chemical communication systems in
the human body by simplified examples.

2. Modes of communication
This chapter will attempt to summarize the modes of communications in this order below;
autocrine (including intracrine), paracrine (including juxtacrine, gap junctional, via
Tunneling Nano-Tube like structures), endocrine, neurocrine (including neuro-endocrine)
and lumencrine communications.
2.1 Autocrine communication
Autocrine communication (derived from auto: self and krinein: to secrete, Greek) is an
activity of a hormone or growth factors (GFs) that binds to and affects the same cell that

362

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

secreted it. These substances directly stimulate (or inhibit) the cell via their surface
receptors. Autocrine secretion was described first by Sporn and Todaro in 1980. It explains
self-regulation of cells. This concept is now not only important to explain malignant
transformation, but is also mainstay of embryogenesis and morphogenesis. Autocrine
regulation provides selective growth advantages during the earliest stages of embryogenesis
before the development of a functioning circulatory system and endocrine function
(Dockray, 1979; Sporn & Todaro 1980).

Fig. 1. Several intercellular modes of communication (courtesy of Mao-De Lai,

corresponding author of the article Ruan & Lai, 2004)
Autocrine secretion is an important phenomenon in the regulation of the behavior of
many normal cells such as macrophages, lymphocytes, fibroblasts and vascular smooth
muscle cells. This regulation can be positive or negative manner. For example, oncogenes
such as EGF, TGF- and PDGF enhance autocrine pathways to increase cell replication
during carcinogenesis. Same peptides also have an important autocrine role in tissue
repair and wound healing in normal physiology. On the other hand TGF- is a significant
negative autocrine regulator in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence of human colon
carcinogenesis (Sporn & Roberts, 1992). But, TGF- is bifuntional like many other peptide
growth factors and its stimulatory or inhibitory effects depends on many factors including
cell type specificity, cell growth condition, and some other factors (Sporn & Roberts, 1988;
Ruan & Lai 2004). In fact, cells are different than simple mechanical devices, they take
new information from its environment and depending on conditions they give an
appropriate response (Sporn & Roberts, 1992). For example, a specific autocrine cytokine
such as TGF- or interleukin-6 can act either positive or negative signal for growth in a
given cell (Sporn & Roberts, 1988; Akira et al., 1990). Autocrine communication can be
considered as a primitive mechanism of humoral regulation than endocrine secretion
(Sporn & Todaro, 1980).

Intercellular Communication

363

2.1.1 Internal autocrine (intracrine) communication

Another type of autocrine regulation is realized inside the cell. Internal autocrine or
intracrine mode of action which is described first Re RN et al in 1984, indicates that some
peptide hormones and growth factors (intracrines) bind and act in the cellular interior
either after internalization by target cells or retention in their cells of synthesis (Re &
Bryan, 1984; Re, 1989). Some endogenous cytokines such as interleukin-3 or PDGF can be
modified and retained within the cell to ensure internal cellular action and they have high
degree of intracellular biologic activity (Bejcek et al, 1989; Dunbar et al, 1989; Keating &
Williams 1988). As shown in Figure 1, a chemical mediator (peptide growth factor or
hormone) interacts with its specific receptor within the cell, bypassing the need of
secretion outside, to exert functional activity. An intracrine system, in contrast to
endocrine system, requires minimal amounts of biologically active hormones to exert their
maximum hormonal effects. For this reason, the intracrine system plays an important role
especially in the development of hormone-dependent neoplasms such as breast, prostate
malignancies. As another example, locally produced bioactive androgens and/or
estrogens exert their action in the cells where synthesis occurs without release in the
extracellular space including circulation (Sasano et al., 2008). Labrie and colleagues
described the formation of active androgens (such as DHT) from the inactive adrenal
precursors in the some tissues or cells in adenocarcinoma of the prostate where
biosynthesis takes place without release into the extracellular space as intracrine
activity (Labrie et al., 1995, 2003, Sasano et al., 2008). On the other hand, estrogendependent breast carcinoma in which aromatase converts circulating androgens to
estrogens (from androstenedione to estrone and from testosterone to estradiol,
respectively) should also be considered as intracrine tissue. One of the most studied
example of intracrine function is about local renin-angiotensin system (RAS). As it is
known, the proteolytic enzyme renin (an aspartyl protease) which cleaves
angiotensinogen, is secreted mostly from juxtaglomerular cells in the renal afferent
arteriole. Reduced renal arteriolar blood pressure and then the activation of local 2adrenoreceptor stimulates the secretion of renin. The major source of plasma
angiotensinogen is the liver, but it is also formed for local use in the heart and the brain.
Cleavage of angiotensinogen by renin yields angiotensin I which has no biological
activity. Further, angiotensin II is produced from angiotensin I by endothelial
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin III is produced from angiotensin II
by aminopeptidase. Angiotensin II is a potent constrictor of vascular smooth muscle, and
this action is mediated by the AT1 receptor. Angiotensin II and III act on zona
glomerulosa cells in the adrenal cortex and promote secretion of aldosterone. Today we
know that renin is not simply a circulating enzyme but is a hormone and it is also an
intracrine. Renin and angiotensin are also active within cells. A complete intracrine RAS
exists in some cells (Re & Bryan, 1984). For example, an adrenal intracellular RAS has
been reported (Peters et al., 1999). Prorenin and renin can bind to specific cellular
receptors. Prorenin, and to a lesser extent, renin, can be internalized by cells where
angiotensin II is produced (Re, 2003a). Internalized, activated prorenin causes both
hypertension and cardiac injury. Nuclear angiotensin receptors were also reported (Re,
1999). There is a renin transcript in some cells (adrenal, brain) lacking the sequence
encoding the secretory signal piece (renin exon 1A) (Clausmeyer et al., 2000; Peters et al.,

364

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

1999). Renin exon 1A generates angiotensin in mitochondria which have angiotensin

receptors and stimulates aldosterone secretion in the adrenal cortex. This aldosterone
secretion is inhibited by the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan (Peters et al., 1999).
Renin exon 1A is upregulated by nephrectomy. Adrenal mitochondrial renin granules
increase following nephrectomy (Peters et al, 1999). Release of angiotensin II in the
intracellular space upregulates a series of genes including PDGF which stimulated
proliferation (Re, 2003b). It has been reported that renin exon 1A upregulated in the
ventricles of rats after myocardial infarction. Intracrine RAS may have a reasonable role in
the processes like left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis and some forms of
arrhytmia (Re, 2003b). So, the existence of intracrine RAS can be clinically important.
Another important area related to intracrinology is the angiogenesis. Many intracrines
(angiogenin, FGF-2, angiotensin) are angiogenic either directly or through the stimulation
of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Li & Keller, 2000; Re, 1999). Angiogenin is
an RNase and needs nucleolar translocation to stimulate angiogenesis. VEGF also is an
intracrine. Lee and colleagues, demonstrated that VEGFR1 expression was abundant in
breast cancer cells (Lee et al., 2007). It was predominantly expressed internally in MDAMB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells and VEGFR1 antibody had no effects on the
survival of these cells. Learning this intracrine concept has a practical significance because
the usage of therapeutic antibodies against GFs have serious limitations in that an internal
autocrine loop can not be accessible to antibody therapy (Sporn & Roberts, 1992).
2.2 Paracrine communication
Paracrine communication (derived from para: from beside by, Greek) is an activity of an
agent (hormone or growth factor) that binds to and affects neighboring cells. The agent is
directly released into the intercellular space and may involve many nearby cells that have
receptors for this agent (berg, 1998; Raybould et al., 2003). One nice example of
paracrine communication is the interaction between vascular endothelial cells and
pericytes. The control of proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells can be
mediated by neighboring cells; pericytes in a capillary (Antonelli-Orlidge et al, 1989), or
smooth-muscle cells (Dennis & Rifkin, 1991) in an artery. A capillary endothelial cell
synthesize latent TGF- and a pericyte is required for activation of this latent molecule.
This is a cooperative interaction via paracrine way. Loss of paracrine activation by
pericytes may contribute diabetic proliferative vascular retinopathy (Antonelli-Orlidge et
al, 1989). During recent years, interactions between endothelial cells and mural cells
(pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells) have gained increasing attention in
physiological and pathological conditions including tumor angiogenesis, diabetic
retinopathy, hereditary telangiectasia, lymphedema and hereditary stroke and dementia
syndrome (Armulik et al, 2005). Some signaling pathways such as angiopoietin-Tie2,
PDGF-B/PDGFR- are described between endothelial cells and pericytes. Nitric oxide
(NO) is also a paracrine agent; endothelial cells produce NO (and citrulline) from arginine
as a substrate by endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and it diffuses into smooth muscle
where induces relaxation and dilatation of blood vessels (Schechter & Gladwin, 2003). As
another example, paracrine interactions between immune cells and fibroblasts are
required for the normal repair of injured tissue (Sporn & Roberts, 1992). On the other
hand, it has been demonstrated recently the multicellular autocrine and paracrine cross

Intercellular Communication

365

talk in the inflammatory tumor microenvironment; for example RAGE (receptor for
advanced glycation end products) engagement in cancer cell surface with its ligands
(AGEs, S100/calgranulins, amyloid A, amyloid- and DNA-binding protein HMGB1)
which are expressed and secreted by many cell types within the tumor microenvironment
including fibroblasts, leukocytes and vascular cells, produces activation of multiple
intracellular signalling mechanisms involved in several inflammation-associated clinical
entities, such as cancer, diabetes, renal and heart failures and neurodegenerative diseases
(Rojas et al, 2010). Intercellular bidirectional paracrine communication is essential also
either in spermatogenesis or development of an egg competent to undergo fertilization
and embryogenesis (Matzuk et al, 2002).
2.2.1 Juxtacrine communication
Another kind of paracrine communication between signaling and target cells is juxtacrine
interactions. Juxtacrine mode of action (derived from juxta: nearby, Latin) is a direct and
intimate contact between two cells such as macrophage-T lymphocyte, spermatogoniaSertoli cell or endothelial cell (EC) and the leukocyte (Krantic et al., 2004; Patel et al., 1993;
Zimmerman et al., 1993). This signaling form provides a mechanism for strict spatial control
of activation of one cell by another and juxtacrine signaling is likely to be common in
physiologic events that require tight regulation (Zimmerman et al., 1993). The term
juxtacrine was coined by Anklesaria and Massagu and colleagues in 1990 (Anklesaria et
al, 1990; Massagu, 1990). In juxtacrine systems the signaling factor acts while associated
with the surface of signaling cells, rather than acting in the fluid phase. In the example of
spermatogonia-Sertoli cell, spermatogonia produce somatostatin and Sertoli cells express
sst2 receptors. Activation of sst2 receptor by somatostatin binding leads to a diminished
expression of stem cell factor (SCF) expression by Sertoli cells. This inhibition of SCF is
associated with a decrease in spermatogonia proliferation (Krantic et al, 2004). Immunologic
synapse which involve multiple adhesion and regulatory molecules between antigenpresenting cell (APC) and T-cell can also be considered juxtacrine communication (Bromley
et al. 2001; Biggs et al, 2011). Juxtacrine secretion provides a unique mechanism for
preventing an undesirable diffuse action of a given cytokine on innocent bystander cells
(Sporn and Roberts, 1992). For example tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine that can
act by a juxtacrine mechanism has been implicated as a critical mediator of cachexia, septic
shock, rheumatoid artritis, autoimmune states, induction of HIV expression and the killing
of tumor cells. Transmembrane form of TNF is highly active and cell-to-cell contact, without
secretion into the intercellular space, is sufficient for TNF to kill a target tumor cell (Perez et
al., 1990). Disruption of juxtacrine signaling may lead to pathologic outcomes, oxidantinjured endothelial cells is one example and this disruption may be a fundamental process
in adult respiratory distress syndrome, shock and similar tissue injuries (Zimmerman et al.,
1993).
2.2.2 Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication (GJIC)
GJIC is different than the other modes of communication where a ligand and its receptor
interaction exists by diffuse (autocrine, paracrine, endocrine) or non-diffuse (juxtacrine)
mechanism. This type of communication between adjacent cells is mediated via

366

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

intercellular channels that cluster in specialized regions of the plasma membrane to form
gap junctions (Robertson 1963, Revel and Karnovsky 1967, Wei et al 2004, as cited in Mee
et al, 2006). Gap junctional channels link the cytoplasm of two cells, and provide the
exchange of ions (K+, Ca2+), second messengers (cAMP, cGMP, IP3) and small
metabolites like glucose (Kanno & Loewenstein, 1964; Lawrence et al., 1978, as cited in
Mee et al., 2006) . Valiunas et al (2005), recently showed that transfer of small interfering
RNAs between neighboring cells trough gap junctions. GJIC is essential for many
pysiological events such as cell synchronization, differentiation, cell growth, and
metabolic coordination of avascular organs including epidermis and lens (Vinken et al.,
2006; White and Paul, 1999). GJIC forms a close electrical and metabolic unit (syncytium).
It is present in the epithelium, many smooth muscles, the myocardium, and the glia of the
central nervous system (Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003). Electric coupling permits the
transfer of excitation (electrical synapses); many examples can be given for this wave of
excitation in the body such as atrium and ventricles of the heart, stomach, intestine,
biliary tract, uterus and ureter. Gap junctions are formed by two unrelated protein
families, the pannexins and connexins (Mee et al, 2006). Connexins have four
transmembrane domains and six connexins oligomerize to form hemichannels called
connexons. One connexon docks with another connexon on the adjacent cell, thereby
forming a common channel which substances with molecular masses of up to around 1
kDa can pass (Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003). This organization requires the
membranes of two adjacent cells leaving a 2-4 nm gap (Bruzzone et al., 1996; White & Paul
1999). Gap junction channels are selective permeable. There are at least 21 connexin
isoforms and connexons can be formed either from a single type of connexin or from more
than one type, leading to the formation of either homomeric or heteromeric hemichannels,
respectively (Mee et al, 2006) and this characteristic can explain selective permeability.
For example connexin32 homomeric hemichannels were permeable to both cAMP and
cGMP whereas connexin26/connexin32 hemichannels were permeable mainly to cGMP.
The Contact inhibition process can be mediated in some cells by gap junctions (Trosko,
2007).
2.2.3 Intercellular communication via Tunneling Nano-Tube (TNT) like structures
Very recently, a novel mechanism for intercellular communication was discovered by
which nanotubular structures, consisting of thin membrane bridges, mediate membrane
continuity between mammalian cells (Rustom et al., 2004). These channels, referred to as
tunneling nanotubes (TNT), were shown to actively traffic cytosolic content from cell to
cell within the interior of their filaments (Rustom et al., 2004). TNTs were first described
in cultured rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Calcium ions, MHC class I proteins, prions,
viral and bacterial pathogens, small organelles of the endosomal/lysosomal system and
mitochondria are among identified TNT cargos until now (Eugenin et al., 2009; Gerdes,
2009; Gerdes et al., 2007; Gurke et al., 2008; Koyanagi et al., 2005). Intercellular exchange
via TNT based cell-communication was reported in cells which have high motility and
plasticity like progenitor cells, immune cells and tumor cells. The exchange of endosomerelated organelles and other cellular components over long distances and the coordination
of signaling between the connected cells are realized by this way (Rustom et al. 2004,
Gerdes et al. 2007; Gerdes & Carvalho, 2008). Domhan et al (2011) reported also

Intercellular Communication

367

intercellular exchange by TNT, between human renal proximal epithelial cells; this may
play an important role in renal physiology.
2.3 Endocrine communication
Endocrine system (derived from endon: inside, krinein: to secrete, Greek) is a radio-like
communication system. It consists of endocrine glands and specialized groups of cells
within organs of multicellular organism. The endocrine glands sends its hormonal messages
like a radio broadcast to essentially all cells of human body by secretion into the circulation
of blood. Hormones are chemical messengers of endocrine communication. They are
transported through the bloodstream and cells which have a receiver (a receptor) take this
message (Greenspan & Gardner, 2004). Hormones can be proteins (eg growth hormone,
FSH, LH), peptides or peptide derivatives (eg ACTH), amino acid derivatives (eg
catecholamines, thyroid hormones). Steroid hormones and vitamin D are derived from
cholesterol. Retinoids are derived from carotenoids and eicosanoids are derived from fatty
acids. Some hormones (eg insulin, growth hormone, prolactin, catecholamines) bind cell
surface receptors, others (steroids, thyroid hormones) bind to intracellular receptors that act
in the nucleus. Hormone binding alters receptor conformation and this alteration transmits
the binding information
into postreceptor events that influence cellular function
(Greenspan & Gardner, 2004). Hormones serve as messenger substances that are mainly
utilized for slower, long-term transmission of signals; they are carried by the blood to target
structures great distances away (Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003). Endocrine system is
essentially responsible for control and integration of multicellular organism. The principal
functions of endocrine hormones at the target level, are to control and regulate enzyme
activity, transport processes, growth, secretion of other hormones, exert negative or positive
feedback control and coordinate cells of same type. Endocrinology is a great and expanding
discipline of science (Table 1).
2.4 Neurocrine communication
Nervous communication is point-to-point through nerves and electrical in nature and fast. By
this aspect, communication by nervous system is similar to sending messages by
conventional telephone so it is a cable phone-like system. In neurocrine communication,
neuronal cells release their products directly into the synaptic space; they act on another cell
type (berg, 1998). A synapse is the site where the axon of a neuron communicates with
effectors or other neurons (Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003). According to the termination of
an axon, the synapse may be axo-dendritic, axo-axonic or axo-somatic (Faller and Schuenke,
2004). Chemical synapses utilize (neuro)transmitters for the transmission of information.
The arrival of action potential to the synapse in the axon triggers the release of transmitter
from the presynaptic terminals. The transmitter then diffuses across the narrow intercellular
gap (synaptic cleft) which is approximately 10-50 nm, and it binds postsynaptic receptors in
the membrane of a neuron or a glandular or muscle cell (Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003;
Faller & Schuenke, 2004). Transmitters are released by exocytosis of synaptic cytosolic
storage vesicles. Depending on the type of transmitter and receptor involved, the effect on
the postsynaptic membrane may be excitatory or inhibitory. Neuroscience, like
endocrinology is also another essential interdisciplinary science (Table 1).

368

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2.4.1 Neuro-endocrine communication

In this system, neurocrine and endocrine communications exist together.
Neuroendocrinology is a studying science the interactions between nervous and
endocrine systems (Greenspan & Gardner, 2004). There are two major mechanism of
neural regulation of endocrine function; the first is neurosecretion which refers to neurons
that secrete hormones into the circulation. For example, hypothalamic neurons synthesize
and secrete hormones (releasing or release inhibiting hormones) into blood vessels (a kind of
portal venous system) that communicate with the anterior pituitary. Posterior pituitary
hormones (oxytocin and ADH) are transported from hypothalamic neurons to the ends of
the axons in the neurohypophysis where enter the systemic circulation directly
(Despopoulos & Silbernagl, 2003). The second is the direct autonomic innervation of
endocrine tissues (such as adrenal medulla, pancreatic islets and gut) which couples
central nervous system signals to hormone release. Enterochromaffin cells (EC) in the
gastrointestinal tract have close contact with nerve elements of both afferent and efferent
type adjacent to the basal lamina of the mucosa and true synapses have been identified
(Ahlman & Dahlstrm, 1983). One of the interesting example of neuro-endocrine
communication is the stimulation of gastric secretion in the cephalic phase (Guyton &
Hall, 2000). In this phase of gastric secretion, when we see or smell a nice food while we
are hungry, gastric secretion increases even before food enters the stomach (Pavlovs
sham-feeding assay). Neurogenic signals come by vagus to stomach. In this point the first
chemical messengers are acetylcholine and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). It has been
demonstrated that G cells have muscarinic receptors and muscarine-like action,
particularly in the M3 receptor-mediated route, plays a significant role in acetylcholinemediated gastrin secretion (Matsuno et al., 1997). And we know also that cephalic phase
of acid secretion is augmented predominantly by acetylcholine and gastrin while
histamine is of major importance during the gastric phase (Schusdziarra, 1993). Martinez
and colleagues demonstrated similarly that atropine and gastrin antibody decrease basal
acid secretion while gastrin antibody only did not block the rise in acid during sham
feeding (Martinez et al., 2002). Gastrin stimulated acid secretion is through releasing
histamine from ECL (enterochromaffine-like) cells (Waldum et al., 2002). Cholecystokinin
2 (gastrin) receptors in the stomach are only in the ECL cells (Waldum et al., 2002). Then,
ECL cells release histamine and stimulate oxinthic cells via paracrine way (by binding H2
receptors) to produce HCl. As a control of gastric acid secretion, somatostatin (SS14)
secreted by D cells inhibits both G cell and the parietal cell.
2.5 Lumencrine (exocrine) communication
Another type of communication is lumencrine (exocrine) secretion in the open cell types like
pancreas and prostate. Like the other modes of regulations, lumencrine mechanism can also
play an important regulatory role both during growth and differentiation of the prostate as
well as in the secretory process of the mature gland (di Sant'Agnese, 1992). Calcitonin, GRP
(bombesin) and somatostatin have been reported in semen that they may be directly
secreted into the ejaculate (Arver & Sjoberg, 1982; Bucht et al, 1986; Gnessi et al, 1989; Sasaki
& Yoshinaga, 1989; Sjoberg et al, 1980; cited in di Sant'Agnese, 1992). It has also been shown
that a decrease in seminal ionized calcium correlates with a decrease in motility of sperm

Intercellular Communication

369

(Prien et al., 1990). On the other hand, lumencrine secretion of pancreatic enzymes, water
and ions play a major role in the duodenal phase of the digestion (Raybould et al., 2003)
(Figure 2).

Fig. 2. Lumencrine, endocrine and neuro-endocrine communications during the regulation

of pH in duodenum (modified from Li et al., and cited in Konturek et al, 2003). DVC: Dorsal
vagal center, S-RP: Secretin releasing peptide.
2.6 Hypotheses about intercellular communication
Information theory was developed by Shannon, approximately more than 60 years ago
(Shannon, 1948), to determine quantitative aspects of information exchange between a
biologic source and a biologic receiver (Mayer and Baldi, 1991). According to this theory,
peptidergic cell-to-cell communication between neurocrine, endocrine and growth factormediated messages require different encoding and decoding strategies. On the other hand
qualitative component of the exchanged message is concerned with semantic information
such as human language. The word information means knowledge of order in
common language (Vincent, 1994). The laws of linguistics and semantics are valid not
only at the organismic level, but also at the cellular and molecular level (Vincent, 1994).
Today, we know that bacteria communicate by quorum sensing molecules (Miller &
Bassler, 2001). Microbian language contains two component system which consists of a
signal (input) and a response (output) (Pechre, 2007). Sensors receive the signal, effectors
make the response. Cells use a molecule-based language called cellese which has the
counterparts of sound- and visual-based human language (humanese) (Ji, 1999). What is
transmitted is the meaning of the message (significance) which can be memorized by the
cell, providing a possible following use (Vincent, 1994). It was suggested that cytokines
can be viewed as symbols in an intracellular language (Sporn & Roberts, 1988). The
participation of the extracellular matrix in the language of intercellular communication is
a way that multicellular organisms can use past experience to determine the response to

370

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

cytokines and interactions with matrix enable cytokines to elicit adaptive responses
(Nathan & Sporn, 1991). Unique phenotype of cells based their carbohydrate determinants
on their cell surfaces is another area of interest (glycobiology) in intercellular
communication (Sporn & Roberts, 1992). Many peptide growth factors and cytokines are
described and they are multifunctional ((Sporn & Roberts, 1988). It is apparent that they
form part of complex cellular signaling language, in which the individual peptides are the
equivalent of characters of an alphabet or code (Sporn & Roberts, 1988). Five years ago,
we proposed an intercellular network model (message-adjusted network) in the
physiology of gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) endocrine system, based on up-to-date
information from medical publications (Aykan, 2007). In this network; message is an
input which can affect the physiologic equilibrium, mission is an output to improve the
disequilibrium, aim is always maintenance of homeostasis. Messages are picked up by
biologic sensors or detectors. If we orientate to a transmission of a unique, physiologic,
simple message we can design its proper network (Figure 3). In this model, different cells
use different chemical messengers via different modes of regulations to transmit the same
message. These message-adjusted intercellular networks may be most important (or
unique) determinants in the formation of proper, environmentally adaptive multi-cellular
organizations in the biology and it should be tested in the laboratory.

Fig. 3. A message-adjusted network model in the regulation of pH at the duodenum.

Unbuffered hydrogen ions coming from stomach stimulate secretin release from S cells in
the duodenum. Major effect of secretin is the secretion of bicarbonate ions from pancreatic
ductal epithelium. Vagal stimulation results also small stimulation of pancreatic bicarbonate
secretion.
Human body has more than 200 different cells (Alberts et al., 1994). The crucial question in
the field of communication physiology is that how they communicate each one with
another? Today, we know the words that are chemical messengers (bioactive peptides like
hormones and neuromediators, cytokines, growth factors, some ions and other molecules),
but we dont know languages specific to cell populations (tissue specific languages!).
Although there is an expanding knowledge in molecular biology, some scientific disciplines
which should be related to modes of communication are not developped yet in the literature
(Table 1).

371

Intercellular Communication

Intercellular
Communication
Intracrine
Autocrine
Paracrine
Juxtacrine
Endocrine
Neurocrine
Neuro-endocrine
Lumencrine

Scientific
Discipline
Intracrinology
?
?
?
Endocrinology
Neuroscience
Neuroendocrinology
?

Table 1. Modes of intercellular communication and related scientific disciplines.

On the other hand, we suggest that pheromones can play a role in lumencrine
interindividual unconscious communication (Mayer & Baldi, 1991; Brennan & Keverne,
2004; Knecht et al., 2003) but we dont know if there is a wireless-like intercellular
communication. This type of communication, if there is, should be between mobile cells,
such as circulating cells, spermatozoa or mature oocyte and it should be bi-directional to
provide cell to cell crosstalk. One potential example can be the induction of hypertrophy of
draining lymph nodes by mast-cell derived tumour necrosis factor during infection (Mc
Lachlan et al., 2003). The mode of this action of mast cells is defined as a remote control
mechanism (Buckland, 2003). A second candidate for wireless communication can be again
in the immune system; substance P and its receptors have been detected in granulocytes,
monocytes and lymphocytes (Ferone et al, 2001). A third and most interesting example may
be in the spermatozoa-egg communication; recent studies indicate that olfactory receptors
might be a role in the chemotaxis of spermatozoa (Sliwa, 2003; Spehr et al, 2004; Fukuda et
al, 2004; Eisenbach & Tur-Kaspa, 1999).

3. Conclusion
After human genome project (HU-GO) and protein organisations (HU-PO), it is time to
resolve all parts of intercellular communication. Clarifying intercellular communication
systems is as important as intracellular signal mechanisms. Finally, we believe that
intercellular communication in our world becomes by specific molecules; these molecules
are the words of the cell language.

4. Acknowledgment
Author thanks Ass. Prof. Barbaros Durgun, M.D. for his kind support in the preparation of
figure 3 and Mao De Lai for kind permission of figure 1.

5. References
Ahlman, H. and Dahlstrm, A. (1983). Vagal mechanisms controlling serotonin release from
the gastrointestinal tract and pyloric motor function. J Auton Nerv Syst 9:119-140.

372

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Akira, S., Hirano, T., Taga, T., & Kishimoto, T. (1990). Biology of multifunctional cytokines:
IL-6 and related molecules (IL-1 and TNF). FASEB J. 4:2860-2867.
Alberts B et al. (1994). Molecular biology of the cell. (3rd ed). Garland, p.1188.
Albrecht-Buehler, G. (1992). Rudimentary form of cellular vision. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA, 89:8288-8292.
Anklesaria, P., J. Teixid, M. Laiho, J. H. Pierce, J. S. Greenberger, & J. Massagu. (1990).
Cell-cell adhesion mediated by binding of membrane-anchored transforming
growth factor a to epidermal growth factor receptors promotes cell proliferation.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:3289-3293.
Antonelli-Orlidge, A., Saunders, K.B., Smith, S.R. & DAmore, P.A. (1989). An activated
form of transforming growth factor is produced by cocultures of endothelial cells
and pericytes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 86:4544-4548.
Armulik, A., Abramsson, A. & Betsholtz, C. (2005). Endothelial/pericyte interactions. Circ
Res. 97:512-523.
Aykan, N.F. (2007). Message-adjusted network (MAN) hypothesis in gastro-enteropancreatic (GEP) endocrine system. Medical Hypotheses, 69, 571-574.
Bejcek, B.E., Li, D.Y. & Deuel, T.F. (1989). Transformation by v-sis occurs by an internal
autoactivation mechanism. Science, 245:1496-1498.
Biggs, M.J.P., Milone, M.C., Santos, L.C., Gondarenko, A. & Wind, S.J. (2011). Highresolution imaging of the immunological synapse and T-cell receptor
microclustering through micrfabricated substrates. J. R. Soc. Interface. 8, 1462-1471.
Brennan, P.A., Keverne, E.B., (2004). Something in the air? New insights into mammalian
pheromones. Curr Biol. 14(2):R81-9.
Bromley, S.K., Burack, W.R., Johnson, K.G., et al., (2001). The immunological synapse. Annu.
Rev. Immunol. 19, 375-396.
Bruzzone, R., White, T.W., Paul, D.L. (1996) Connections with connexins: the molecular
basis of direct intercellular signaling. Eur J Biochem 238:127.
Buckland, J. (2003). Mast cells act by remote control. Nature Rev. Immunol. 3, 927.
Clausmeyer, S., Reinecke A, Farrenkopf R, Unger T & Peters J. (2000). Tissue-specific
expression of a rat renin transcript lacking the coding sequence for the prefragment
and its stimulation by myocardial infarction. Endocrinology 141: 29632970.
Cohen S and Popp FA, (1997). Low-level luminescence of the human skin. Skin Research and
Technology 3: 177180.
Dennis, P.A. and Rifkin, D.B. (1991). Cellular activation of latent transforming growth factor
requires binding to the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like
growth factor type II receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 88:580-584.
Despopoulos, A, Silbernagl, S. (Eds), (2003). Color Atlas of Physiology, 5th Edition, Georg
Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, New York.
di Sant'Agnese, P.A., (1992). Neuroendocrine differentiation in human prostatic carcinoma.
Hum. Pathol. 23, 287-296.
Dockray, GJ. (1979). Evolutionary relationships of the gut hormones. Fed Proc. 38:2295-2301.
Domhan, S., Ma, L., Tai, A., Anaya, Z., Beheshti, A., Zeier, M., Hlatky, L. and Abdollahi, A.
(2011). Intercellular communication by exchange of cytoplasmic material via
tunneling nano-tube like structures in primary human renal epithelial cells. PLoS
One 6(6): e21283.

Intercellular Communication

373

Downing, J.E., Miyan, J.A., (2000). Neural immunoregulation: Emerging roles for nerves in
immune homeostasis and disease. Immunol. Today 21, 281-289.
Dunbar, C.E., Browder, T.M., Abrams, J.S. & Nienhuis, A.W. (1989). COOH-terminalmodified interleukin-3 is retained intracellularly and stimulates autocrine growth.
Science, 245:1493-1496.
Eisenbach, M. and Tur-Kaspa, I., (1999). Do human eggs attract spermatozoa? Bioessays.
21(3):203-210.
Eugenin, E.A., Gaskill, P.J., Berman, J.W. (2009) Tunneling nanotubes (TNT) are induced by
HIV-infection of macrophages: a potential mechanism for intercellular HIV
trafficking. Cell Immunol 254: 142148.
Faller, A, Schuenke, M., (eds), (2004). The Human Body. An introduction to structure and
function. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, New York.
Fels, D. 2009. Cellular communication through light. PloS One, 4(4):e5086.
Ferone, D., Hofland, L.J., Colao, A. et al. (2001). Neuroendocrine aspects of
immunolymphoproliferative diseases. Ann. Oncol. 12(Suppl. 2):S125-S130.
Fukuda, N., Yomogida, K., Okabe, M., Touhara, K. (2004). Functional characterization of a
mouse testicular olfactory receptor and its role in chemosensing and in regulation
of sperm motility. J. Cell Sci. 117(24):5835-45.
Gerdes, H.H. (2009) Prions tunnel between cells. Nat Cell Biol 11: 235236.
Gerdes, H.H., Bukoreshtliev, N.V., Barroso, J.F. (2007) Tunneling nanotubes: a new route for
the exchange of components between animal cells. FEBS Lett 581: 21942201.
Gerdes, H.H., Carvalho, R.N. (2008) Intercellular transfer mediated by tunneling nanotubes.
Curr Opin Cell Biol 20: 470475.
Greenspan, F.S., Gardner, D.G. (Eds), (2004). Basic and Clinical Endocrinology, Seventh
Edition, pp. 2, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Gurke, S., Barroso, J.F., Hodneland, E., Bukoreshtliev, N.V., Schlicker, O., et al. (2008)
Tunneling nanotube (TNT)-like structures facilitate a constitutive, actomyosin
dependent exchange of endocytic organelles between normal rat kidney cells. Exp
Cell Res 314: 36693683.
Guyton, A.C. and Hall, J.E. (Eds), (2000). Textbook of Medical Physiology, Tenth Edition, pp.
836, Saunders, Philadelphia.
Hansson, J., Abrahamsson, P.A., 2001. Neuroendocrine pathogenesis in adenocarcinoma of
the prostate. Ann. Oncol. 12 (Suppl. 2): S145-S152.
Jaffe, L.F. (2005). Marine plants may polarize remote Fucus eggs via luminescence.
Luminescence 20: 414418.
Ji, S. (1999). The linguistics of DNA: words, sentences, grammar, phonetics, and semantics.
Ann NY Acad Sci 870: 411417.
Keating, M.T. & Williams, L.T. (1988). Autocrine stimulation of intracellular PDGF receptors
in v-sis-transformed cells. Science, 239:914-916.
Knecht, M., Witt M, Abolmaali N, et al. (2003). The human vomeronasal organ. Nervenarzt.
74(10):858-862.
Konturek SJ, Pepera J, Zabielski K, et al. (2003): Brain-gut axis in pancreatic secretion and
appetite control. J Physiol Pharmacol 54:3:293-317.
Koyanagi, M., Brandes, R.P., Haendeler, J., Zeiher, A.M. and Dimmeler, S. (2005) Cell-to-cell
connection of endothelial progenitor cells with cardiac myocytes by nanotubes: a
novel mechanism for cell fate changes? Circ Res 96: 10391041.

374

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Krantic, S., Goddard, I., Saveanu, A., et al., (2004). Novel modalities of somatostatin actions.
Eur. J. Endocrinol. 151, 643-655.
Labrie, F., Belanger, A., Simard, J., Luu-The, V. & Labrie, C. (1995). DHEA and peripheral
androgen and estrogen formation: intracrinology, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 774 1628.
Labrie, F., Luu-The, V., Labrie, C., Belanger, A., Simard, J., Lin, S.X. & Pelletier, G. (2003).
Endocrine and intracrine sources of androgens in women: inhibition of breast
cancer and other roles of androgens and their precursor dehydroepiandrosterone,
Endocr. Rev. 24:152182.
Lee TH, Seng S, Sekine M. et al. (2007). Vascular endothelial growth factor mediates
intracrine survival in human breast carcinoma cells through internally expressed
VEGFR1/FLT1. PloS Med. 4(6):e186.
Li, W. & Keller, G. (2000). VEGF nuclear accumulation correlates with phenotypical changes
in endothelial cells. J Cell Sci 113: 15251534.
Martinez, V., Barrachina, M.D., Ohning, G. & Tach, Y. (2002). Cephalic phase of acid
secretion involves activation of medullary TRH receptor subtype 1 in rats. Am J
Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 283(6):G1310- G1319.
Massagu, J. (1990). Transforming growth factor-a. A model for membrane-anchored
growth factors. J. Biol. Chem. 265:21393-21396.
Matsuno M, Matsui T, Iwasaki A, Arakawa Y. (1997). Role of acetylcholine and gastrinreleasing peptide (GRP) in gastrin secretion. J Gastroenterol. 32(5):579-586.
Matzuk, M.M., Burns, K.H., Viveiros, M.M. and Eppig, J.J. (2002). Intercellular
communication in the mammalian ovary: oocytes carry the conversation. Science.
Vol. 296, 2178-2180.
Mayer, E.A. and Baldi, J.P. (1991). Can regulatory peptides be regarded as words of a
biological language? Am J Physiol 261: G171G184.
McLachlan, J.B., Hart, J.P., Pizzo, S.V. et al., (2003). Mast cell-derived tumor necrosis factor
induces hypertrophy of draining lymph nodes during infection. Nat. Immunol.
4(12):1199-205.
Mee, G., Richard, G. and White, T.W. (2006). Gap junctions: basic structure and function.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Vol.127, 2516-2524.
Miller, M.B. and Bassler, B.L. (2001). Quorum sensing in bacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol. 55:16599.
Miller, L.J. (2003). Organization of the gut endocrine system. In: T. Yamada, D.H. Alpers, N.
Kaplowitz, L Laine, C Owyang, D.W. Powell (Eds), Textbook of Gastroenterology, 4th
ed, pp. 48-77, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
Musumeci, F., Scordino, A., Triglia, A., Blandino, G., Milazzo, I. (1999). Intercellular
communication during yeast cell growth. Europhysics Letters 47: 736742.
Nathan, C. and Sporn, M. (1991). Cytokines in context. J Cell Biol. 113:5: 981-986.
Niggli H. (1992). Ultraweak photons emitted by cells: biophotons. Journal of Photochemistry
and Photobiology B 14: 144146.
berg, K. (Ed), (1998). Neuroendocrine gut and pancreatic tumours; tumour biology, diagnosis and
treatment. Novartis Pharma AG, Basel.
Patel, K.D., Lorant, E., Jones, D.A., et al. (1993). Juxtacrine interactions of endothelial cells
with leukocytes: tethering and signaling molecules. Behring Inst. Mitt. 92, 144-64.
Pechre, J-C. (ed), (2007). The Intelligent Microbe. First ed. Frison-Roche.

Intercellular Communication

375

Perez, C., Albert, I., DeFay, K., Zachariades, N., Gooding, L., and Kriegler, M. (1990). A
nonsecretable cell surface mutant of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) kills by cell-to-cell
contact. Cell. 63, 251-258.
Peters J, Obermller N, Woyth A, Peters B, Maser-Gluth C, Kranzlin B & Gretz N. (1999).
Losartan and angiotensin II inhibit aldosterone production in anephric rats via
different actions on the intraadrenal renin-angiotensin system. Endocrinology 140:
675682.
Prien, S., Lox, C., Messer, R. and DeLeon, F. (1990). Seminal concentrations of total and
ionized calcium from men with normal and decreased motility. Fertil Steril 54:171172.
Raybould, H.E., Pandol, S.J., Yee, H., (2003). The integrated responses of the gastrointestinal
tract and liver to a meal. In: T. Yamada, D.H. Alpers, N. Kaplowitz, L Laine, C
Owyang, D.W. Powell (Eds), Textbook of Gastroenterology, 4th ed, pp. 2-12,
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
Re, R. (1999). The nature of intracrine peptide hormone action. Hypertension 34: 534538.
Re, R.N. (1989). The cellular biology of angiotensin: paracrine, autocrine and intracrine
action in cardiovascular tissues. J Mol Cell Cardiol 21, Suppl 5: 6369.
Re, R.N. (2003a). Intracellular rennin and the nature of intracrine enzymes. Hypertension,
42:117-122.
Re, R.N. (2003b). Implications of intracrine hormone action for physiology and medicine.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 284: H751-H757.
Re, R.N. and Bryan, S.E. (1984). Functional intracellular renin-angiotensin systems may exist
in multiple tissues. Clin Exp Hypertens A6, Suppl 1011: 17391742.
Rojas, A., Figueroa, H. and Morales, E. (2010). Fueling inflammation at tumor
microenvironment: the role of multiligand/rage axis. Carcinogenesis. Vol.31, No.3
pp. 334-341.
Ruan, W.J. and Lai, M.D. (2004). Autocrine stimulation in colorectal carcinoma (CRC).
Medical Oncology, vol. 21, no. 1, 17.
Rustom, A., Saffrich, R., Markovic, I., Walther, P., Gerdes, H.H. (2004) Nanotubular
highways for intercellular organelle transport. Science 303: 10071010.
Sasano, H., Suzuki, T., Miki, Y. & Moriya, T. (2008). Intracrinology of estrogens and
androgens in breast carcinoma. J Steroid Biochem & Mol Biol. 108: 181-185.
Schechter, A.N. and Gladwin, M.T. (2003). Hemoglobin and the paracrine and endocrine
functions of nitric oxide. N Engl J Med. 348:15:1483-1485.
Schusdziarra, V. (1993). Physiologic regulation of gastric acid secretion. Z Gastroenterol.
31(3):210-5.
Shannon, C.E. (1948). A mathematical theory of communication. Bell Syst Tech J 27:379423.
Sliwa, L. (2003). Chemotaxis of spermatozoa--an important and little known process
accompanying fertilization. Folia Med Cracov. 44(1-2):153-8.
Spehr, M., Schwane, K., Riffell, J.A. et al. (2004). Particulate adenylate cyclase plays a key
role in human sperm olfactory receptor-mediated chemotaxis. J. Biol. Chem.
279(38):40194-40203.
Sporn, M.B., Roberts, A.B. (1988). Peptide growth factors are multifunctional. Nature 332,
217-219.
Sporn, M.B., Roberts, A.B. (1992). Autocrine secretion-10 years later. Ann Int Med. 117:408414.

376

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Sporn, M.B., Todaro, G.J. (1980). Autocrine secretion and malignant transformation of cells.
New Engl. J. Med. 303, 878-880.
Sternberg, E.M. (1997). Emotions and disease: From balance of humors to balance of
molecules. Nat. Med. 3, 264-7.
Trosko, J.E. (2007). Gap junctional intercellular communication as a biological Rosetta
Stone in understanding, in a systems biological manner, stem cell behavior,
mechanisms of Epigenetic Toxicology, chemoprevention and chemotherapy. J
Membrane Biol. 218: 93100.
Valiunas, V., Polosina, Y.Y., Miller, H. et al. (2005). Connexin-specific cell-to-cell transfer of
short interfering RNA by gap junctions. J Physiol. 568:459-468.
Vincent, L.M. (1994). Reflexions on the usage of information theory in biology. Acta Biotheor.
42(2-3): 167-179.
Vinken, M., Vanhaecke, T., Papeleu, P., Snykers, S., Henkens, T. and Rogiers V. (2006)
Connexins and their channels in cell growth and cell death. Cell Signal 18:592600.
Waldum, H.L., Kleveland, P.M., Sandvik, A.K., Brenna, E., Syversen, U., Bakke, I. and
Tommeras, K. (2002). The cellular localization of the cholecystokinin 2 (gastrin)
receptor in the stomach. Pharmacol Toxicol. 91(6):359-62.
Weihe, E., Nohr, D., Michel, S., Muller, S., Zentel, H.J., Fink, T. & Krekel, J. (1991). Molecular
anatomy of the neuro-immune connection. Int. J. Neurosci. 59, 1-23.
White, T.W., Paul, D.L. (1999) Genetic diseases and gene knockouts reveal diverse connexin
functions. Annu Rev Physiol 61:283310.
Zimmerman, G.A., Lorant, D.E., McIntyre, T.M. & Prescott, S.M. (1993). Juxtacrine
intercellular signaling: another way to do it. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 9, 573577.

Section 4
Cellular Basis of Disease and Therapy

17
Adult Stem Cells in Tissue
Homeostasis and Disease
Elena Lazzeri, Anna Peired, Lara Ballerini and Laura Lasagni
University of Florence,
Italy

1. Introduction
Stem cells (SCs) are a rare population of cells characterized by the ability to self-renew in
order to preserve the SC pool and to differentiate in different lineage to produce progeny
needed for the physiological functions of tissues and organs. SC can be classified as
embryonic SC (ESC) and adult or somatic SC (ASC): ESC have been isolated from the inner
cell mass of the blastocyst and are pluripotent cells, that is cells able to differentiate into all
the cell types required to form an entire organism (Smith, 2001); ASC are tissue-resident SC
that, based on their differentiation potency, can be classified as multipotent, oligopotent or
even unipotent. It is still controversial whether every mammalian tissue and organ
possesses an ASC, but many tissue-specific ASC have been successfully identified and
isolated e.g., hematopoietic SCs (HSCs), mammary SCs, muscle SCs (satellite cells),
intestinal SCs, and mesenchymal SCs. All these tissues need to constantly replace damaged
or dead cells throughout the life of the animal. This process of continual cell replacement
critical for the maintenance of adult tissues, is called tissue homeostasis, and is maintained
through the presence of ASC (Fig. 1). The homeostatic replacement of cells varies
substantially among different tissues. The epithelium of the intestine is one of the most
rapidly self-renewing tissue in adult mammals and it completely self-renews in around 5
days (van der Flier & Clevers, 2009). By contrast, interfollicular epidermis takes 4 weeks to
renew (Blanpain & Fuchs, 2009), whereas the lung epithelium can take as long as 6 months
to be replaced (Rawlins & Hogan, 2006). Moreover, apart from the maintenance of tissue
homeostasis, ASC are devoted to the regeneration and repair of highly specialized tissues.
Regeneration refers to the proliferation of cells to replace lost structures, such as the growth
of an amputated limb in amphibians. In mammals, whole organs and complex tissues rarely
regenerate after injury, but tissues with high proliferative capacity, such as the
hematopoietic system and the epithelia of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, renew
themselves continuously and can regenerate after injury, as long as the SC of these tissues
are not destroyed (Fig. 1). Repair most often consist of a combination of regeneration and
scar formation by the deposition of collagen which relative contribution depends on the
ability of the tissue to regenerate and the extent of the injury. For instance, in superficial
injury of the skin, wound can heal through the regeneration of the surface epithelium.
However, scar formation is the predominant healing process that occurs when the
extracellular matrix framework is damaged by severe injury (Fig. 1). This last mechanism
results in restoration of tissue continuity but with or without function (Gurtner et al., 2008).

380

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 1. Normal homeostasis and healing responses. In normal homeostasis a balance

between proliferation and cell death maintains the tissue structure and function. Healing
after acute injury can occur by regeneration, that restores normal tissue structure, or repair
with deposition of collagen fibers and scar formation.

2. SCs and their niches

Self-renewal and differentiation of ASC are supported by two types of cell division known
as symmetric and asymmetric (Morrison & Kimble, 2006). With symmetric division both the
daughter cells acquire similar fates, while the asymmetric division, a fundamental and
nearly universal mechanism for the generation of cellular diversity and pattern, gives rise to
daughter cells with dissimilar fates. Divergent fates in daughter cells may be recognized by
various characteristics: (i) morphological, such as cell size and shape; (ii) molecular, such as
the segregation of proteins into only one daughter cell; or (iii) behavioural, such as the
subsequent descendant types produced by either of the daughter cells. One mechanism for
fate determination of daughter cells following symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions is
the partitioning of fate-determining molecules during mitosis of the mother cell (Tajbakhsh
et al., 2009). The idea that specific molecules can be partitioned unequally to daughter cells
and behave as fate determinants had been hypothesized over a century earlier, following
observations of cell divisions in simple organisms. When an intrinsic mechanism is used,
cells establish an axis of polarity, orient the mitotic spindle along this axis and localize cell
fate determinants to one side of the cell. During cytokinesis, determinants are then
segregated into one of the two daughter cells where they direct cell fate (Betschinger &
Knoblich, 2004). However, this hypothesis was only experimentally validated a little under
two decades ago, with the identification of the first asymmetrically segregated cell fate
determinant Numb (Rhyu et al., 1994).

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

381

Alternatively, the SC depends on the contact with the surrounding microenvironment (the
SC niche) for maintaining the potential to self-renew (Li & Xie, 2005). By orienting its
mitotic spindle perpendicularly to the niche surface, the SC will placed the two daughters in
distinct cellular environments either inside or outside the SC niche, leading to asymmetric
fate choice. However, when SC divides parallel to the niche it may also generate two
identical SC in order to increase SC number or to compensate for occasional SC loss
(Yamashita et al, 2010). The concept of the niche was proposed first by Schofield
(Schofield, 1978) who hypothesized that proliferative, hematopoietic cells derived from the
spleen displayed decreased proliferative potential when compared to HSC obtained from
the bone marrow because they were no longer in association with a complement of cells, the
niche, which supports long term SC activity. This concept subsequently has proven
relevant to many different SC systems, and the definition of the niche has been expanded
further to include functional regulation of SC by both cellular and acellular (extracellular
matrix) component of the niche. Thus the niche comprise all the microenvironment
surrounding SCs, which provides diverse external cues to instruct SCs activities, preserve
their proliferative potential and block maturation (Jones & Wagers, 2008).

3. Signaling pathways regulating SC function

Despite morphological and functional differences among different ASC, common signaling
pathways appear to control SC self-renewal, activation, and differentiation, including Notch
and Wingless-type (Wnt).
3.1 Notch signaling pathway
The Notch signaling pathway was discovered in flies more than 90 years ago (Morgan,
1917), and it is among the most well-conserved signaling pathways in animals. It arose with
the evolution of multicellular organisms and the concomitant need for juxtacrine cell-to-cell
communication to coordinate development. In mammals, four Notch transmembrane
receptors (Notch1-4) have been described. Notch ligands are also transmembrane proteins
comprising two different subtypes (Delta, Jagged), each containing several members
(Jagged1-2, Delta-like1, 3, and 4) (Kopan & Ilagan, 2009). In Notch signaling, a 'signalsending cell' presents the Notch ligand to the 'signal-receiving cell', which expresses the
Notch receptor. Triggering of Notch receptor by ligand binding promotes two proteolytic
cleavage events at the Notch receptor (Fig. 2) (Kopan & Ilagan, 2009). The first cleavage is
catalyzed by the ADAM-family of metalloproteases, whereas the second cleavage is
mediated by -secretase, an enzyme complex that contains presenilin, nicastrin, PEN2 and
APH1. The second cleavage releases the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which is free to
translocate to the nucleus where it engages CSL, converting it from a transcriptional
repressor to an activator and activates transcription of genes containing CSL binding sites
(Kopan & Ilagan, 2009). In the absence of a Notch signal, CSL represses transcription of
Notch target genes by interacting with the basal transcription machinery and recruiting
ubiquitous corepressor proteins to form multiprotein transcriptional repressor complexes
(Lai, 2002). In the presence of a Notch signal, NICD binding to CSL displaces corepressors
from CSL. The best characterized Notch target genes belong to the hairy enhancer of split
(Hes) complex and consist of the b-HLH transcription factors Hes (1-7) and Hey (1-3) (Bray
& Bernard, 2010).

382

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 2. Model of Notch signaling pathway. See the text for detail.
3.2 Wnt signaling pathway
The Wnt signaling pathway is a highly conserved developmental pathway, and orchestrates
development and morphogenesis in many different tissues. Wnt proteins are secreted
proteins, that bind to receptors of the Frizzled family (FZD) (Wodarz & Nusse, 1998), of
which 10 members were found, and several coreceptors such as lipoprotein receptor-related
protein (LRP)-5/6, (Pinson et al., 2000) Ryk, or Ror2 (Logan & Nusse, 2004). Wnt signals can
be transduced to the canonical, or Wnt/-catenin, pathway and to the noncanonical, or catenin independent, pathway.
3.2.1 Canonical Wnt signaling pathway
The canonical Wnt pathway involves the multifunctional protein -catenin (MacDonald et
al., 2009). In the absence of Wnt, -catenin is targeted to a multimeric destruction complex
with adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and Axin and is phosphorylated by casein kinase
1, followed by phosphorylation by glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3 (Fig.34) (Ikeda et al.,
1998). This phosphorylation targets -catenin for ubiquitination and degradation by the
proteasome. The binding of Wnt ligands to the FZD receptors results in the disassembly of
the destruction complex and the stabilization of -catenin. This process also involves the
protein dishevelled (DVL). Cytoplasmic -catenin accumulates and is eventually imported
into the nucleus, where it serves as a transcriptional coactivator of transcription factors of
the TCF/LEF family (Arce et al., 2006). TCF/LEF target genes are then involved in
regulating cell proliferation, SC maintenance, or differentiation.

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

383

3.2.2 Noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway

Different noncanonical Wnt signals are transduced through FZD receptors and coreceptors.
Depending on the major intracellular mediators used, those are called the Wnt/JNK
(Veeman et al., 2003) or Wnt/calcium pathway (Fig. 3). The core element of the Wnt/JNK
pathway (or planar cell polarity PCP- pathway) includes the activation of small GTPases of
the rho family, such as rac, cdc42, and rhoA. The GTPases can activate more downstream
mediators like JNK or rho kinase (ROK). In this branch, Dvl is also recruited by a FZD
receptor and promotes the asymmetrical localization of the PCP core proteins within the cell
(Montcouquiol, et al. 2006). The asymmetrical subcellular localization of these elements in
an epithelial sheet directs cytoskeletal reorganization. The same mechanism is used in
mesenchymal cells to direct cell movement and migration during gastrulation (convergent
and extension movements) (Roszko, et al., 2009).

Fig. 3. Model of canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway. See the text for detail.
The existence of the Wnt/calcium pathway was hypothesized because injection of RNA
coding for certain Wnts or FZD into early zebrafish embryos triggered intracellular calcium
release (Slusarski et al., 1997) and loss of Wnt-11 or Wnt-5A function resulted in reduced
intracellular calcium signaling (Eisenberg & Eisenberg, 1999; Westfall et al., 2003). This
finding was subsequently expanded by the observation that the Wnt-induced release of
intracellular calcium is sufficient to activate different intracellular calcium-sensitive
enzymes such as protein kinase C, PKC (Sheldahl et al., 1999), calciumcalmodulindependent kinase II, CamKII (Kuhl et al., 2000) and the calcium-sensitive phosphatase
calcineurin (Saneyoshi et al., 2002). Through calcineurin the Wnt/calcium pathway connects
to NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) transcription factor and gene expression.

384

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Presently, a series of recent findings clearly indicate that different Wnt signaling pathways
are simultaneously active within the same cell type, supporting the idea that Wnt pathways
are highly connected to form a Wnt signaling network. This network seems to be activated
by either one or more ligands acting on a certain cell type (Kestler & Kuhl, 2008).
3.3 Wnt signaling inhibitors
Secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRP1, 2, 3, 4, 5), WIF1, DKK1, -2, -3, and -4 are secretedtype Wnt signaling inhibitors. WIFs and SFRPs can directly bind to Wnt proteins in the
extracellular space, thereby affecting receptor occupancy and, ultimately, the cellular
response (Bovolenta et al., 2008). DKK1 is among the best-characterized inhibitors of the
canonical Wnt pathway. DKK1 itself is a target gene of Wnt/-catenin signaling, thereby
establishing a negative-feedback loop (Niida et al., 2004). There are two possible
mechanisms by which DKK1 inhibits -catenin signaling. One possible mechanism is that
DKK1 prevents the formation of WntFZDLRP6 complexes on the cell surface by binding
to LRP6 (Seto et al., 2006). Another possibility, which is related to the internalization of
LRP6, is that DKK1 binds to another class of receptor, Kremen (Krm). In this model, the
binding of DKK1 to LRP6 and Krm results in the formation of a ternary structure and
induces rapid endocytosis and the removal of LRP6 from the plasma membrane, and
thereby attenuates -catenin signaling (Mao et al., 2002).

4. Hematopoietic SCs
In adult mammals, HSCs form a rare population of multipotent SCs that reside primarily in
the bone marrow (BM). They have the capability to both self-renew and constantly give rise
to lineage-specific progenitor cells and effector blood cells that perform the physiological
functions of the hematopoietic system. Blood cells can be classified into various cell types,
from the myeloid (monocytes and macrophages, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils,
erythrocytes, megakaryocytes/platelets, dendritic cells), and lymphoid lineages (T-cells, Bcells, NK-cells) (Liu et al., 2010).
HSCs are functionally defined by their capacity to reconstitute the hematopoietic system of
immunodeficient animals such as NOD/SCID mice or contribute to functional
reconstitution in human transplant settings. HSCs can be identified and isolated by a
combination of presence and absence of cell surface markers. The most commonly used
combination is characterized by the positive expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-Kit
(CD117) and the membrane glycoprotein Sca-1 (Okada et al., 1992), together with the lack of
markers of terminal differentiation (Ter119, Gr-1, Mac-1, B220, CD4 and CD8), collectively
known as Lineage markers. The resulting c-Kit+ Sca-1+ Lin- population, is commonly
referred to as KSL cells. More recently, an alternative method was described, using a
signature of SLAM (Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule) family of cell surface
molecules, CD150+ CD244- CD48- (Kiel et al, 2005). This is the first family of receptors
whose combinatorial expression precisely distinguishes HSCs from hematopoietic
progenitor cells (HPC).
The BM microenvironment also called niche- plays an important role in the regulation of
self-renewal and differentiation of HSCs. It is composed of different types of cells and
structures surrounding the bone, which regulates the fate of hematopoietic cells through

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

385

direct or indirect means, facilitating a stable generation of all the blood cells needed in a
steady state situation. But the niche also adapts in times of hematopoietic stress. A failure to
maintain a strict regulation of the hematopoietic cells can lead to a variety of malignancies
such as leukemia, the most common form of cancer in humans (Renstrom et al., 2010).
4.1 Notch pathway as a regulator of HSC behavior
All Notch receptors and ligands are expressed on HSCs (Singh et al., 2000) and it is now
well established that Notch signaling is essential for the production of HSCs during
embryogenesis. However, its role in subsequent stages of mammalian HSC development is
still controversial (Liu et al, 2010; Radtke et al., 2010).
In adult hematopoiesis, activation of Notch signaling has been reported to promote HSCs
self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation in vitro and in vivo, and in both mice and
humans. Constitutive expression of NICD by HSCs, leading to the constitutive activation of
the Notch pathway, enhances proliferation and consequently delays hematopoiesis.
Conversely, it inhibits differentiation in response to various cytokines, mostly under
myeloid promoting conditions (Carlesso et al, 1999). Several reports show that HSCs
stimulated with soluble or membrane-bound Notch ligand Delta 1 (Karanu et al, 2001) or
Jagged1 (Karanu et al. 2000) increase in expansion potential in vitro and in reconstitution
capacity in vivo. Although these gain-of-function studies show an important role for Notch
in expanding the HSC pool, they do not prove that Notch is essential for post-natal
hematopoiesis. The controversy arises from several loss-of-function studies in mice that did
not fully support the previous conclusions. In particular, inactivation of Notch receptors
(Notch1, Notch2), ligands (Jagged1) or downstream effectors (CSL/RBPJ, Mastermind-like1)
does not impair HSC function (Cerdan & Bhatia, 2010). Additional studies failed to identify
a protective role for Notch when HSCs were exposed to oxidative stress. Taken together,
these results show that Notch signaling is not a major regulator of adult HSC maintenance
in vivo. Downstream of HSCs, Notch signaling plays a critical role in cell fate decision of a
variety of oligopotent progenitor cells in the hematopoietic system, such as in T-cell
development. Inactivation of Notch signaling in HPCs results in early blockade of T-cell
lymphopoiesis, due to a failure in commitment to the T-cell lineage. Transgenic mice with a
conditional deletion of Notch1 do not develop T-cells but develop ectopic B-cells in the
thymus, while immunodeficient mice expressing a constitutively active form of Notch1
develop ectopic T-cells in the bone marrow (BM) but no B-cell (Tanigaki & Honjo, 2007).
Additionally, Notch1 signaling is necessary at various stages of T-cell development, such as
progression through thymocyte maturation, regulation of T-cell Receptor (TCR-) gene
rearrangement, regulation of lineage decisions between and lineages (Tanigaki &
Honjo, 2007).
4.2 Role of Notch in T-cell leukemia
The pathological role for a deregulated Notch signaling was first described in a rare human
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma (T-ALL), in which a t(7;9) chromosomal
translocation results in the generation of a constitutively active, but truncated form of the
Notch1 receptor named TAN1 (Translocation Associated Notch homolog) (Ellisen et al.,
1991). Evidence that constitutively active Notch1 is responsible for disease development was
provided by murine BM reconstitution experiments. Irradiated mice transplanted with BM

386

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

progenitors expressing activated forms of Notch1 developed clonal hematopoietic tumors

characterized as T-ALL. Experiments performed using other truncated Notch isoforms,
including Notch2 and Notch3, showed similar results. However, mice having a defect in Tcell development failed to produce tumors. These results reveal that Notch1 has a special
oncotropism for T-cell progenitors (Radtke et al., 2010). These findings became extremely
relevant when a study of a large number of T-ALL patients revealed in more than 50% of
them the presence of at least one gain-of-function mutation in the Notch1 receptor,
emphasizing the oncogenic role of Notch (Weng et al., 2004). Notch1 mutations found in TALL affect critical domains responsible for preventing the spontaneous activation of the
receptor in the absence of ligand or for terminating Notch1 signaling in the nucleus.
Studies of the genes and pathways controlled by Notch in T-ALL identified Notch1 as a
central regulator, promoting leukemia cell growth by multiple direct and indirect
mechanisms (Fig. 4) (Paganin & Ferrando, 2011). Analysis of Notch1 expression in T-ALL
showed that it acts as a direct transcriptional activator of multiple genes. Notch1 also
promotes the expression of the MYC oncogene, which in turn further enhances its direct
effect on anabolic genes and facilitates cell growth. Indeed, many of the anabolic genes
directly controlled by Notch1 are also direct targets of MYC, creating a feed-forward-loop
transcriptional network that promotes leukemic cell growth (Palomero et al., 2006).
Additionally, Notch1 facilitates the activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, a
critical regulator of cell growth and metabolism, via transcriptional downregulation of the
PTEN tumor suppressor gene by Hes1, a transcriptional repressor directly downstream of
Notch1 signaling (Palomero et al., 2007). The mTOR signaling was suppressed in T-ALL
cells upon inhibition of Notch signaling, illustrating the importance of this indirect
mechanism of regulation. The transcriptional program activated by oncogenic Notch1 also
has a direct effect on cell cycle progression, promoting of G1/S cell cycle progression in TALL. This effect is mediated in part by transcriptional upregulation of CCND3, CDK4 and
CDK6. Moreover, Notch1 induces the transcription of the S phase kinase-associated protein
2 (SKP2), which mediate the proteasomal degradation of CDKN1B (p27/Kip1) and
CDKN1A (p21/Cip1), promoting premature entry of the cells into S phase (Sarmento et al,
2005). Notch1 can also modulate the survival of T-ALL cells by interacting with NF-B,
upregulating its activity by increasing expression of IB kinase and upregulating both the
expression and the nuclear localization of NF-B. Inhibition of NF-B in T-ALL can
efficiently restrict tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo (Vilimas et al., 2007).
In addition, Notch1 modulates the NFAT cascade through the activation of calcineurin,
which is a calcium-activated phosphatase that is important for the activation and
translocation of NFAT factors to the nucleus. Calcineurin inhibition resulted in T-ALL cell
death, as well as tumor regression and prolonged survival of leukemic mice (Medyouf et al.,
2007). Finally, Notch1 regulates the activity of p53, lowering its expression through
repression of the ARF-mdm2-p53 surveillance network. Attenuation of Notch signaling led
to increase p53 expression and to tumor regression by inducing apoptosis (Beverly et al.,
2005). A strong body of evidence supports a central role of Notch1 in promoting cell
metabolism, growth and proliferation, as well as in enhancing the activity of signaling
pathways that reinforce these functions and also promote cell survival. These results suggest
that blocking Notch1 signaling may reduce the self-renewal capacity of T-ALL cells and/or
selectively affect the leukemia initiating cell population.

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

387

Only few Notch mutations have been reported in myelogenous leukemias, but it is unclear
whether Notch aberrant expression is responsible for the disease.

Fig. 4. Genes and pathways controlled by Notch in T-ALL

4.3 Wnt pathway and HSC
In hematopoiesis, Wnt pathway activity is required in the BM niche to regulate HSC
proliferation and preserve self-renewal capacity (Malhotra & Kincade, 2009). Even though
the role of canonical signaling on the regulation of adult hematopoiesis has been studied
in great detail, controversy remains, possibly explained by differences in strength and
duration of Wnt signaling or redundancy with other pathways. A role for Wnt signaling
in hematopoiesis is supported by observations that Wnt ligands enhance proliferation of
HSCs ex vivo (Van Den Berg et al, 1998) and that Wnt antagonists inhibit HSC
proliferation and reconstitution. In particular, only short-term repopulation was reported
using HSCs from normal mice cultured with Wnt3A (Reya et al., 2003; Willert et al., 2003).
Subsequent studies reported that noncanonical Wnt5a inhibited canonical Wnt3amediated signaling to promote the maintenance of quiescent, functionally transplantable
HSCs. In addition constitutively active nuclear -catenin signaling reduces HSC
quiescence and blocks HSC differentiation (Kirstetter et al., 2006). On the other hand,
osteoblast-specific expression of Dkk1 results in increased HSC cycling and reduced
regenerative capacity (Fleming et al, 2008). These findings suggest that Wnt pathway
activation in the niche limits HSC proliferation and preserves self-renewal. These
observations suggest that fine-tuning of Wnt/-catenin activity in the microenvironment
is crucial for maintaining SC quiescence.

388

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

The canonical Wnt pathway has also been shown to be necessary for appropriate HSC
development (Zhao et al., 2008). In this model, Ctnnb1-/- bone marrow cells are deficient in
long-term HSC maintenance and compete poorly against wild-type cells. However,
experiments in adult HSC revealed that Ctnnb1 is dispensable for HSC maintenance in fully
developed HSC (Koch et al., 2008). This indicates differential requirements for self-renewal
pathways in development versus maintenance of HSC.
In the context of development, genetic studies have demonstrated the requirement for
canonical signaling in the formation of mesoderm (Kelly et al., 2004; Liu et al., 1999). Recent
advances have provided insights into the uniqueness of the biological functions of canonical
and noncanonical pathways. It has been found that non-canonical and canonical Wnts
affected different target populations and stages of hematopoietic development
(Vijayaragavan et al., 2009). Consistent with its previously defined role in human adult cells
(Van Den Berg et al., 1998), canonical signaling increased proliferation of blood committed
progenitors when administered during the proper window of time during EB development.
However, a short pulse of non-canonical signaling was necessary and sufficient to control
exit of hESCs from the pluripotent state and subsequent entry into the
mesendoderm/mesoderm lineages (Vijayaragavan et al., 2009). Taken together, these
findings provide the first evidence of a unique role for non-canonical signaling in early
specification of hematopoiesis from hESCs, whereas canonical signaling affects the
proliferation of cells already fated to blood. These studies provide a valuable model system
for examining the possibility of chronological activation and interaction between noncanonical and canonical signaling in the cellular progression from mesoderm to blood. The
controversial function of canonical signaling on the reconstituting capacity of adult HSCs,
combined with these present findings in hESCs, underscores the importance of fine tuning
the strength and duration of Wnt signaling towards therapeutically exploiting the balance
between self-renewal and lineage commitment of HSCs.
However, there are conflicting reports on the requirement for Wnt/-catenin signaling in
basal hematopoiesis: conditional disruption of -catenin in adult HSCs does not affect their
ability to self-renew and reconstitute hematopoietic lineages (Huang et al, 2009). In addition,
although overexpression of stabilized -catenin increases immunophenotypic HSCs, this is
associated with a loss of repopulating activity and hematopoietic failure in vivo (Kirstetter et
al., 2006), findings that appear incompatible with a positive role for -catenin in
hematopoiesis. A general conclusion from these apparently conflicting reports is that the
role of Wnt signaling in hematopoiesis is complex and context dependent (Staal & Sen,.
2008). However, although the -catenin loss-of-function studies suggest that canonical Wnt
signaling is not essential for basal hematopoiesis in adults, they do not rule out a possible
role for the Wnt/-catenin pathway under nonbasal conditions and are still compatible with
gain-of-function experiments in which the pathway is activated.
4.4 Wnt signaling and malignant HSC
Stem cell quiescence is closely associated with protection from myelotoxic insults (Cheshier
et al, 1999). Similar to the role of tissue SCs in normal tissues, several cancers are also
propagated by small populations of quiescent cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are resistant to
both conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapies, and are retained and contribute to
relapse following discontinuation of therapy (Dick, 2008).

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

389

When Ctnnb1 was deleted contemporaneously with activation of BCR-ABL using retroviral
infection and transformation of HSC, chronic myeloid leukemia stem cell (CML-LSC) failed
to engraft in secondary recipient mice (Hu Y et al., 2009). These experiments clearly indicate
a pivotal role of Wnt signaling in CML-LSC development. More recently, Ctnnb1 has been
investigated in the maintenance of already engrafted CML-LSC. In this clinically relevant
setting, pharmacologic or genetic inactivation of Ctnnb1 after onset of the myeloproliferative
disease acted synergistically with imatinib, reduced LSC numbers, and improved survival in
a BM transplant model (Abrahamsson et al., 2009). Thus, despite its dispensability for adult
HSC, CML-LSCs seem to retain dependency on canonical Ctnnb1 to maintain self-renewal
capacity. In human disease, Ctnnb1 activation via the canonical Wnt pathway has been
shown to occur in CML-blast crisis LSCs. Aberrant splicing of GSK3 appears to contribute to
this hyperactivation in blast crisis samples (Abrahamsson et al., 2009). Thus, there is
growing evidence that canonical Wnt signaling is an attractive target pathway in the
treatment of CML-LSC. Moreover, cell extrinsic inhibition of Wnt signaling through ectopic
DKK1 expression impairs leukemia cell proliferation in vitro (Zhu et al., 2009).

5. Intestinal SCs
Homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium is maintained by an intestinal SC (ISC)
compartment that resides at the bottom of the crypt, safely far from the shear stresses and
potentially toxic agents. These ISC are at the top of a cellular hierarchy and are crucial for
the renewal of the differentiated progeny within the intestinal layer (Medema & Vermeulen,
2011). Indeed, as they migrate out of their niche, they cease to proliferate and initiate
differentiation into the different cell lineages of the mature villi: absorptive enterocytes,
mucin-secreting-goblet cells, peptide hormone-secreting neuroendocrine cells, and
microbicide-secreting Paneth cells. Until relatively recently, ISCs were a rather elusive
entity at the bottom of the intestinal crypt, and the discovery of ISC markers has only partly
detailed the organization of the intestinal crypt and villi. Briefly, the marker LGR5 identifies
crypt base columnar cells (CBCC) located in between the Paneth cells at the crypt bottom
(Barker et al., 2007), whereas the markers BMI1 and TERT identify the +4 position in the
crypt, just above the Paneth cells (Montgomery et al., 2011; Sangiorgi & Capecchi, 2008).
Knock-in constructs that allow expression of GFP and Cre from the Lgr5 locus show that
LGR5 expression is confined to CBCCs, and that these cells give rise to the variety of
epithelial cells present in crypts, proving that CBCCs function as ISCs as well (Barker et al.,
2007, Sato et al., 2009). The existence of these different types of ISC remains a matter of
debate and notably, remains to be determined whether and how BMI1+ +4 cells ISCs and
LGR5+ ISCs relate to each other. Interestingly, recent data indicate that TERT-expressing
ISCs can generate LGR5+ISCs (Montgomery et al., 2011) suggesting that these different ISC
types may act in a hierarchical fashion. Regardless of this dispute about ISC identity, there is
a consensus that ISCs reside in a niche that provides the cells with essentials signals such as
Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog. Under normal circumstances, the Paneth cell signals dictate the
size of the SC pool to maintain the total number of SCs within the niche constant. SCs may
divide asymmetrically, so that one SC remains within the niche, resulting in self-renewal,
whilst the other daughter cell gives rise to progenitor cells that can migrate up the crypt and
become more differentiated as they reach the top. Alternatively, two recent studies (LopezGarcia et al., 2010; Snippert et al., 2010) support that SCs may divide symmetrically either

390

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

forming two daughter SCs (leading to expansion) or two daughter non-stem progenitor cells
(leading to extinction). Several pathways play a role in maintaining and regulating stem
ISCs, including Wnt and Notch.
5.1 Notch signaling in intestinal epithelium
In the intestine, Notch activity determines lineage decisions between enterocyte and
secretory cell differentiation. Several components of the Notch pathway are expressed in
adult intestinal crypt cells, suggesting a role for Notch signaling in gene expression
programs in immature proliferating compartment cells (Sander & Powell, 2004; Schroder
& Gossler, 2002). The first evidence that Notch signaling plays a role in cell-type
specification in the intestine was reported in Hes1 knockout mice (Jensen et al., 2000). The
deletion of the Hes1 gene resulted in the generation of excessive numbers of goblet cells,
enteroendocrine cells, and Paneth cells. Subsequently, it was shown that Math1 (mouse
atonal homolog1), one of the genes repressed by Hes1, is required for the differentiation
into the three secretory lineages, because the intestinal epithelium of Math1-mutant mice
is populated only by absorptive cells (Yang et al., 2001). These data suggest that the choice
between the absorptive or secretory fate might be the first decision made by each
progenitor cells, and that Hes1 and Math1 activated by Notch signal play opposite roles in
this decision making. Recently, using the villin promoter to drive the expression of a
constitutively active form of mouse Notch1 receptor, it was noticed an expansion of
proliferating intestinal progenitor cells (Fre et al., 2005). Moreover, Notch activation
inhibited the differentiation of secretory cells in the mouse intestine, as there was a
complete depletion of goblet cells, a marked reduction in enteroendocrine cells, and a low
expression of early marker for Paneth cells. These results clearly suggest that Notch
signaling is required for maintaining crypt cells in a proliferative state, at least in part,
through its negative regulation of Math1. Conversely, conditional removal of the Notch
pathway transcription factor CSL/RBP-J increases the proportion of goblet cells in the
murine intestine, and a similar phenotype was observed using a -secretase inhibitor (van
Es et al., 2005). These results suggest that Notch pathway is not only a gatekeeper for
proliferating crypt progenitor cells, but is also involved in controlling the balance between
secretory and absorptive cell types. Data suggest that the ISC microenvironment delivers
Notch-activating signals to maintain stemness, which is consistent with the observation
that Paneth cells express Notch ligands (Sato et al., 2011). In particular, recent papers
identified Dll1 and Dll4 as the physiologically relevant Notch1 and Notch2 ligands within
the small intestine of the mouse. These ligands cooperate and exhibit a partial functional
redundancy to maintain the crypt progenitor compartment (Pellegrinet et al., 2011).
However, Notch seems to have dual functions in the crypt, as it acts together with Wnt to
affect significantly crypt homeostasis (Fre et al., 2005; van Es et al., 2005).
5.2 Canonical Wnt signaling in intestinal epithelium
The Wnt pathway proteins regulate cellular fate along the crypt-villus axis in normal gut
epithelium and have been implicated in ISC self-renewal. The nuclear accumulation of catenin is preferentially observed in cells located at the base of crypts and decreases as cells
move toward the top of the crypts (van der Wetering et al., 2002). Wnt target genes EphB2

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

391

and EphB3 control crypt cellular segregation (Batlle et al., 2002), Sox9 regulates Paneth cell
differentiation (Mori-Akiyama et al., 2007), and Lgr5 (Barker et al., 2007). TCF4 null mice
died shortly after birth and showed an embryonic epithelium made entirely of differentiated
cells without proliferative compartments in the crypts (Korinek et al., 1998) suggesting that
TCF4 maintains the proliferation of SCs in the murine small intestine. Notably, deletion of
the Wnt/TCF4 target gene c-Myc led to a loss of intestinal crypts in a murine model
(Muncan et al., 2006). The importance of the Wnt signaling pathway in maintaining the
architecture and homeostasis of the adult intestinal epithelium was also shown in a murine
model through adenoviral expression of Dkk1. This induced Wnt inhibition in fully adult
mice, resulted in inhibition of proliferation in the small intestine and colon, with progressive
loss of crypts, villi and glandular structure (Kuhnert et al., 2004). By contrast, when the Wnt
pathway is overactivated by mutations in APC or -catenin, many of the epithelial cells
enter into the proliferative state and display a failure of the differentiation programs
(Andreu et al., 2005; Sansom et al., 2004). According with these data, recent papers
demonstrated that injection of R-spondin1 (R-Spo1), a potent activator of the Wnt signaling
pathways, induced rapid onset of crypt cell proliferation displaying epithelial hyperplasia in
the intestine of normal mice through -catenin stabilization and subsequent transcriptional
activation of target genes such as murine Axin2, Ascl2, and Lgr5 (Kim et al., 2005;
Takashima et al., 2011). The effects of R-Spo1 administration determine protection against
radiation-induced colitis by stimulating proliferation of intestinal SCs and protect them
against a damage after allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation, suppressing inflammatory
cytokine cascades and donor T cell activation (Takashima et al., 2011). These, in vivo, data
suggest that Wnt signaling is directly linked to the promotion of cellular proliferation and,
more specifically, the regulation of progression through cell cycle. In this regard, previous
papers pointed to the downregulation of p21cip1waf1, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor
(CKI), as an important mechanism that might mediate Wnt-dependent growth promotion. A
microarray analysis showed that p21cip1waf1 was one of the genes whose expression was
increased by inhibition of Wnt signaling in human colorectal cancer-derived LS174T cells
(van der Wetering et al., 2002). Furthermore, the TCF4 target gene c-Myc has been shown to
play a central role in Wnt-mediated repression of p21cip1waf1 expression at the transcriptional
level through its direct binding to the p21cip1waf1 gene promoter (van der Wetering et al.,
2002). These data suggest that the repression of p21cip1waf1 by c-Myc might be the
intracellular mechanism by which Wnt signaling regulates the G1/S transition and cell cycle
progression. This signaling cascade has been shown to be functional in vivo, because
abnormal features of proliferation/differentiation in the adult murine intestine, which occur
with the single deletion of APC, are mostly rescued when c-Myc gene is simultaneously
deleted (Sansom et al., 2007). Furthermore, this restoration of the morphologically normal
phenotype in double mutant mice for APC and c-Myc is accompanied by restoration of p21
expression within the crypts, suggesting the involvement of p21 in the Wnt-c-Myc pathwaymediated growth control of progenitor cells. Indeed, raises the possibility that p21 is an
intracellular molecular switch between proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, it has
been shown that conditional expression of p21cip1waf1 alone allow cells to differentiate (van
der Wetering et al., 2002) suggesting that the cell fate choice between proliferation and
differentiation is regulated by modulation of the expression of p21cip1waf1 via the direct
induction of c-Myc by Wnt signaling.

392

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 5. The role for Notch and Wnt pathways in intestinal epithelial proliferation and
differentiation. The ISC can give rise to four lineages of terminally differentiated cells: a is
absorptive cells, b and c (Paneth, goblet and enteroendocrine cells) have secretory
phenotypes. See the text for detail.
In general, the data strongly support a model in which Notch directs proliferation when
Wnt signal activity is high, and directs enterocyte differentiation when Wnt activity levels
drop towards the top of the crypt. The multipotent progenitors require both Wnt and Notch
signals to be activated for fulfilling continuous proliferation without differentiation. Once
some cells in this Wnt and Notch-activated population escape from the Notch signal, they
stop proliferating and acquire the Math1 function. These cells raise the terminally
differentiation in secretory cells in areas where the Wnt signal is not active (Pinto et al.,
2003), whereas they differentiate in Paneth cells if they remain at the bottom of the crypt
where Wnt ligands are abundant. By contrast, if cells in this Wnt and Notch-active
population lose the Wnt signal, for example, because of their positional changes along the
vertical axis, they differentiate as absorptive cells (Fig. 5).
5.3 SCs and the origin of intestinal cancer
Despite stringent homeostatic maintenance in the intestine, the high number of patients
with colorectal cancer (CRC) indicates that these regulatory mechanisms often fall short in
protecting against malignant transformation. Both environmental and genetic risk factors
have been defined for CRC, and deregulation of morphogenetic pathways plays a key part
in cancer development. Notably, the vast majority of sporadic CRC cases carry Wnt
pathway mutations, highlighting the importance of this pathway in CRC. The hit that
induces transition from normal to polypoid tissue is accompanied by several changes in
crypt appearance and behavior, cells show a more immature phenotype and a higher
proliferative index which results in expansion of the pre-malignant clone. Although

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

393

mutation of APC or -catenin is an early event in the transformation of colonic epithelial

cells, studies have revealed that colon carcinomas do not contain nuclear -catenin
homogeneously (Fodde & Brabletz, 2007). This so-called -catenin paradox indicate that
Wnt signaling has a preponderant role only for a subset of tumour cells, cancer SCs (CSCs),
which are endowed with tumorigenic capacity (Vermeulen et al., 2008). Indeed, the past
decade has seen a shift in the way tumours are perceived, and the now widely accepted
model is that tumours contain a small population of self-renewing CSCs, as well as a large
compartment of more differentiated tumour cells (Vermeulen et al., 2008). Cellular hierarchy
within CRC is maintained, at least in part, by microenvironmental factors regulating
stemness and differentiation. In agreement, tumour cells located next to myofibroblast-rich
regions, have a much higher incidence of nuclear-localized -catenin, suggesting for
microenvironment-modulated Wnt signaling (Fodde & Brabletz, 2007). A recent paper point
to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as the myofibroblast-derived signal that, at least in part,
orchestrates this intimate relationship and enhances Wnt activity in more differentiated
tumour cells, thereby reinstalling CSCs features (dedifferentiation) (Vermeulen et al., 2010).
Indeed, using a TCF/LEF reporter that directs the expression of enhanced green fluorescent
protein, authors provided evidence that Wnt signaling activity is a marker for colon CSCs
and is regulated by the microenvironment. Moreover, they show that differentiated cancer
cells can be reprogrammed to express CSC markers and regain their tumorigenic capacity
when stimulated with myofibroblast-derived factors (Vermeulen et al., 2010). Although,
these data clearly ascertain a role for the Wnt pathway in CRC stemness, Notch inhibition
with an antibody against the Notch ligand Dll4 results in human colon CSCs differentiation,
reduction of CRC growth in a xenotransplantation model and chemosensitization (Hoey et
al., 2009).

6. Identification of Renal SCs

The mammalian kidney shares with the majority of organs the ability to repopulate and at
least partially repair structures that have sustained some degree of injury. Indeed, tubular
integrity can be rescued after acute damage, and even severe glomerular disorders
sometimes may undergo regression and remission, suggesting that glomerular injury is also
reparable (Imai & Iwatani, 2007; Remuzzi, et al., 2006). However, the existence of renal SC
(RSC) has been a matter of long debate. Recently, converging data definitively demonstrated
the existence of a population of stem/progenitor cells in the parietal epithelium of the
Bowmans capsule of adult human kidney (Sagrinati, et al., 2006) (Fig.6). These SC coexpress
both CD24, a surface molecule that has been used to identify different types of human SC,
and CD133, a marker of several types of adult tissue SC, lack lineage-specific markers,
express transcription factors that are characteristic of multipotent SC, and exhibit selfrenewal, high clonogenic efficiency and multidifferentiation potential. When injected
intravenously in SCID mice that had acute kidney injury, RSC regenerated tubular
structures from different portions of the nephron and also reduced the morphological and
functional kidney damage (Sagrinati, et al., 2006).
In addition, it was demonstrated that RSC are arranged in a precise sequence within
Bowmans capsule of adult human kidneys (Ronconi, et al., 2009) (Fig. 6).

394

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 6. Localization of RPC in the glomerulus. RPC (green) are localized in the Bowmans
capsule epithelium. A transitional cell population (podocyte progenitors, green/yellow)
displays features of either RPC or podocyte (yellow) and localize between the urinary pole
and the vascular stalk. Cells that express only podocyte markers and the phenotypic
features of differentiated podocytes (yellow) localize at the vascular stalk of the glomerulus.
These findings obtained in human kidneys were confirmed in a parallel study performed in
murine kidney by Appel (Appel, et al., 2009), who also demonstrated the existence of
transitional cells with morphological and immunohistochemical features of both parietal
epithelial cells and podocyte in proximity of the glomerular vascular stalk and that
podocytes are recruited from parietal epithelial cells, which proliferate and differentiate
from the urinary to the vascular stalk, then generating novel podocytes (Fig. 6). This occurs
as the kidney grows, during childhood and adolescence, and may also take place following
an injury which allows a slow, regulated generation of novel podocytes, such as
uninephrectomy. Recently, a rare subpopulation of CD133+CD24+ cells has also been
describe in renal tubules (Lindgren, et al., 2011). These cells are able to proliferate and
differentiate after tubular injury. Accordingly, tubular epithelium regenerating on acute
tubular necrosis displayed long stretches of CD133+CD24+ cells, further substantiating that
the cells that are repairing tubular epithelium may simply represent the result of
proliferation and differentiation of CD133+CD24+ tubular progenitors.
6.1 Involvement of RSC in glomerular disorders and cancer
It has been widely recognized that a disruption in the strictly regulated balance of SC selfrenewal and differentiation not only impairs regenerative mechanisms but can even
generate disorders. In the glomerulus, the response to podocyte injury may cause aberrant
epithelial cell proliferation, hypercellular lesions formation and Bowmans space
obliteration, as seen in collapsing glomerulopathy and in crescentic glomerulonephritis
(Albaqumi & Barisoni, 2008; Thorner, et al., 2008). Until now, theories explaining the origin
of aberrant epithelial cells in collapsing glomerulopathy and crescentic glomerulonephritis
have been controversial. One possibility is that these cells are exclusively of parietal
epithelial origin (Thorner et al., 2008 ), while another is that some dedifferentiated

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

395

podocytes acquire markers of parietal epithelial cells (Moeller et al., 2004). It was recently
demonstrated that the majority of cells present in the hyperplastic lesions in collapsing
glomerulopathy or crescentic glomerulonephritis exhibits the RSC markers CD133 and
CD24, with or without coexpression of podocyte markers (Smeets et al., 2009). Therefore, it
is suggested that the glomerular hyperplastic lesions are generated by RSC of Bowmans
capsule at different stages of their differentiation towards mature podocytes. Support for
this hypothesis came from lineage tracing experiments performed in transgenic mice with
genetically labeled parietal epithelial cells in a model of inflammatory crescentic
glomerulonephritis, and of collapsing glomerulopathy (Smeets et al., 2009).
Finally, a close relationship between the transcriptome of CD133+ tubular progenitors and
the one derived by papillary renal cell carcinomas was demonstrated (Lindgren et al. 2011).
Moreover, a strong CD133 expression was observed in the papillary renal cell carcinomas
analysed. Thus, these observations raise the provocative hypothesis that papillary renal cell
carcinomas may directly derive from CD133+CD24+ renal tubular progenitors, whereas clear
renal cell carcinomas may derive from other more differentiated proximal tubular cells.
6.2 Signaling pathway regulating the RSC niche
The molecular mechanisms regulating the proliferation of RSC, as well as the cell fate
determination in the podocyte lineage are unknown. We recently demonstrate the role of the
Notch signaling pathway in both these processes (Lasagni et al., 2010). Notch activation
triggers the expansion of renal progenitors by promoting their entry into the S-phase of the
cell cycle and mitotic division. Moreover, Notch downregulation is required for
differentiation toward the podocyte lineage. However, Notch downregulation was neither
sufficient nor necessary for the acquisition of a podocyte phenotype, but an impaired
downregulation of the Notch pathway led to podocyte death. Indeed, renal progenitor
differentiation into podocytes was associated with cell cycle checkpoint activation and
G2/M arrest, reflecting an intrinsic barrier to replication of mature podocytes. Persistent
activation of the Notch pathway induced podocytes to cross the G2/M checkpoint, resulting
in cytoskeleton disruption and cell death (Lasagni et al., 2010). Notch expression was
virtually absent in the glomeruli of healthy adult kidneys, while a strong upregulation was
observed in renal progenitors and podocytes in patients affected by glomerular disorders.
Accordingly, inhibition of the Notch pathway in mouse models of focal segmental
glomerulosclerosis ameliorated proteinuria and reduced podocyte loss during the initial
phases of glomerular injury, while inducing reduction of progenitor proliferation during the
regenerative phases of glomerular injury with worsening of proteinuria and
glomerulosclerosis. Taken altogether, these results suggest that the severity of glomerular
disorders depends on the Notch-regulated balance between podocyte death and
regeneration provided by renal progenitors (Lasagni et al., 2010).

7. References
Abrahamsson AE, Geron, I., Gotlib, J., Dao, KH., Barroga, CF., Newton, IG., Giles, FJ.,
Durocher, J., Creusot, RS., Karimi, M., Jones, C., Zehnder, JL., Keating, A., Negrin,
RS., Weissman, IL.& Jamieson, CH. (2009). Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta
missplicing contributes to leukemia stem cell generation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA,
Vol.106, No.10, (March 2009), pp.39259, ISSN1091-6490.

396

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Albaqumi, M. & Barisoni, L. (2008) Current views on collapsing glomerulopath,. J Am Soc

Nephrol., Vol.19, No.7, (July 2008), pp. 1276-1281, ISSN 1046-6673
Andreu, P.; Colnot, S.; Godard, C.; Gad, S.; Chafey, P.; Niwa-Kawakita, M.; Laurent-Puig, P.;
Kahn, A.; Robine, S.; Perret, C. & Romagnolo, B. (2005). Crypt-restricted
proliferation and commitment to the Paneth cell lineage following Apc loss in the
mouse intestine. Development, Vol.132, No.6, (March 2005), pp. 1443-1451, ISSN
1011-6370
Appel, D.; Kershaw, D.B.; Smeets, B.; Yuan, G.; Fuss, A.; Frye, B.; Elger, M.; Kriz, W.; Floege,
J. & Moeller, M.J. (2009) Recruitment of podocytes from glomerular parietal
epithelial cells, J Am Soc Nephrol, Vol.20, No.2, (February 2009), pp. 333-343, ISSN
1046-6673
Arce, L.; Yokoyama, N.N. & Waterman, M.L. (2006) Diversity of LEF/TCF action in
development and disease. Oncogene. Vol.25, No.57, (December 2006), pp. 7492-504,
ISSN 0950-9232
Barker, N.; van Es, JH.; Kuipers, J.; Kujala, P.; van den Born, M.; Cozijnsen, M.; Haegebarth,
A.; Korving, J.; Begthel, H.; Peters, PJ. & Clevers, H. (2007) Identification of stem
cells in small intestine and colon by marker gene Lgr5. Nature, Vol.449, No.7165,
(October 2007), pp. 1003-7, ISSN 00280836
Batlle, E.; Henderson, J.T.; Beghtel, H.; van den Born, M.M.; Sancho, E.; Huls, G.; Meeldijk, J.;
Robertson, J.; van de Wetering,; M. Pawson, T. & Clevers, H. (2002). Beta-catenin
and TCF mediate cell positioning in the intestinal epithelium by controlling the
expression of EphB/ephrinB. Cell, Vol.111, No.2, (October 2002), pp. 251-263, ISSN
0092-8674
Betschinger, J. & Knoblich, J.A. (2004) Dare to be different: asymmetric cell division in
Drosophila, C. elegans and vertebrates, Curr Biol, Vol.14, No.16, (August 2004), pp.
R674-685, ISSN 0960-9822
Beverly, L.J.; Felsher, D.W. & Capobianco, A.J. (2005). Suppression of p53 by Notch in
lymphomagenesis: Implications for initiation and regression. Cancer Research,
Vol.65, No.16, (August 2005), pp. 7159-7168, ISSN 1538-7445.
Blanpain C, Fuchs E. (2009) Epidermal homeostasis: a balancing act of stem cells in the skin,
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, Vol.10, No.3, (March 2009), pp. 207-217, ISSN 1471-0072
Bovolenta, P.; Esteve, P.; Ruiz, J.M.; Cisneros, E. & Lopez-Rios, J.(2008) Beyond Wnt
inhibition: new functions of secreted Frizzled-related proteins in development and
disease. J Cell Sci, Vol.121, No.6, (March 2008), pp. 737746, ISSN 0021-9533
Bray, S. & Bernard, F. (2010) Notch targets and their regulation. Curr. Top. Dev. Biol., Vol.92,
253275 ISSN: 0070-2153
Carlesso, N.; Aster, J.C.; Sklar, J. & Scadden, D.T., (1999). Notch1-induced delay of human
hematopoietic progenitor cell differentiation is associated with altered cell cycle
kinetics. Blood, Vol.93, No.3, (February 1999), pp. 838-848, ISSN 0006-4971.
Cedarn, C. & Bhatia, M. (2010) Novel roles for Notch, Wnt and Hh in hematopoiesis derived
from human pluripotent stem cells. Int J Dev Biol, Vol.54, No.6-7, (2010), pp. 955963, ISSN 02146282
Cheshier, SH., Morrison, SJ., Liao, X. & Weissman IL. (1999). In vivo proliferation and cell
cycle kinetics of long-term self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells. Proc Natl Acad
Sci USA , Vol.96, No.6, (March 1999), pp.31205, ISSN 1091-6490.

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

397

Dick, JE. (2008). Stem cell concepts renew cancer research. Blood, Vol.112, No.13, (December
2008), pp.4793807, ISSN 0006-4971.
Eisenberg, C.A. & Eisenberg, L.M. (1999) WNT11 promotes cardiac tissue formation of early
mesoderm, Dev. Dyn., Vol.216, No.1, (September 1999), pp. 4558, ISSN 1058-8388
Ellisen, L.W.; Bird, J.; West, D.C.; Soreng, A.L.; Reynolds, T.C.; Smith, S.D. & Sklar, J. (1991).
TAN-1, the human homolog of the Drosophila Notch gene, is broken by
chromosomal translocations in T lymphoblastic neoplasms. Cell, Vol.66, No.4,
(August 1991), pp. 649-661, ISSN 0092-8674.
Fleming, HE., Janzen, V., Lo Celso, C., Guo, J., Leahy, KM., Kronenberg, HM. & Scadden
DT. (2008). Wnt signaling in the niche enforces hematopoietic stem cell quiescence
and is necessary to preserve self-renewal in vivo. Cell Stem Cell, Vol.2, No.3, (March
2008), pp.27483, ISSN 19345909
Fodde, R. & Brabletz, T. (2007). Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in cancer stemness and
malignant behavior. Curr Opin Cell Biol, Vol.19, No. , (April 2007), pp. 150-158, ISSN
09550674
Fre, S.; Huyghe, M.; Mourikis, P.; Robine, S.; Louvard, D. & Artavanis-Tsakonas, S. (2005).
Notch signals control the fate of immature progenitor cells in the intestine. Nature,
Vol. 435, No. 7044, (June 2005), pp. 964-968, ISSN 0028-0836
Gurtner, G.C.; Werner, S.; Barrandon, Y. & Longaker, M.T. (2008) Wound repair and
regeneration, Nature, Vol.453, No.7193, (May 2008), pp. 314-321, ISSN 0028-0836
Hoey, T.; Yen, W.C.; Axelrod, F.; Basi, J.; Donigian, L.; Dylla, S.; Fitch-Bruhns, M.; Lazetic, S.;
Park, I.K.; Sato, A.; Satyal, S.; Wang, X.; Clarke, M.F.; Lewicki, J. & Gurney, A.
(2009). DLL4 blockade inhibits tumor growth and reduces tumor-initiating cell
frequency. Cell Stem Cell, Vol.5, No.2, (August 2009), pp. 168-177, ISSN 19345909
Hu Y, Chen, Y., Douglas, L. & Li, S. (2009). beta-Catenin is essential for survival of leukemic
stem cells insensitive to kinase inhibition in mice with BCR-ABLinduced chronic
myeloid leukemia. Leukemia, Vol.23, No.1, (January 2009), pp.10916, ISSN
08876924.
Huang, J., Zhang, Y., Bersenev, A., OBrien, WT., Wei Tong, W., Emerson, SG. & Klein, PS.
(2009). Pivotal role for glycogen synthase kinase3 in hematopoietic stem cell
homeostasis in mice J. Clin. Invest, Vol.119, No.12, (December 2009), pp.35193529,
ISSN 00219738.
Ikeda, S.; Kishida, S.; Yamamoto, H.; Murai, H.; Koyama, S. & Kikuchi, A. (1998) Axin, a
negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway, forms a complex with GSK-3beta
and beta-catenin and promotes GSK-3beta-dependent phosphorylation of betacatenin, EMBO J., Vol.17, No.5, (March 1998), pp. 1371-84, ISSN 0261-4189
Imai, E. & Iwatani, H. (2007) The continuing story of renal repair with stem cells. J Am Soc
Nephrol., Vol.18, No.9, (September 2007), pp. 2423-2424, ISSN 1046-6673
Jensen, J.; Pedersen, E.E.; Galante, P.; Hald, J.; Heller, R.S.; Ishibashi, M.; Kageyama, R.;
Guillemot, F.; Serup, P. & Madsen, O.D. (2000). Control of endodermal endocrine
development by Hes-1. Nat Genet, Vol.24, No.1, (January 2000), pp. 36-44, ISSN
1061-4036
Jones, D.L. & Wagers, A.J. No place like home: anatomy and function of the stem cell niche,
Nature Review Molecular Cell Biology, Vol.9, No.1, (January 2008), pp. 11-21, ISSN:
1471-0072

398

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Karanu, F.N.; Murdoch, B.; Gallacher, L.; Wu, D.M.; Koremoto, M.; Sakano, S. & Bathia, M.
(2000). The Notch ligand Jagged-1 represents a novel growth factor of human
hematopoietic stem cells. J Exp Med, Vol.192, No.9, (November 2000), pp. 1365-1372,
ISSN 1540-9538.
Karanu, F.N.; Murdoch, B.; Miyabayashi, T.; Ohno, M.; Koremoto, M.; Gallacher, L.; Wu, D.;
Itoh, A.; Sakano, S. & Bathia, M. (2001). Human homologues of Delta-1 and Delta-4
function as mitogenic regulators of primitive human hematopoietic cells. Blood,
Vol.97, pp. 1960-1967, ISSN 0006-4971.
Kelly, OG., Pinson, KI. & Skarnes, W.C. (2004) The Wnt co-receptors Lrp5 and Lrp6 are
essential for gastrulation in mice. Development , Vol.131, No.12, (June 2004), pp.
2803-2815, ISSN 09501991.
Kestler, H.A. & Khl, M. (2008) From individual Wnt pathways towards a Wnt signaling
network. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, Vol.363, No.1495, (April 2008), pp. 133347, ISSN 0080-4622
Kiel, M.J.; Yilmaz, O.H.; Iwashita, T.; Yilmaz, O.H.; Terhorst, C. & Morrison S.J. (2005).
SLAM family receptors distinguish hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and
reveal endothelial niches for stem cells. Cell, Vol.121, No.7, (July 2005), pp. 11091121, ISSN 0092-8674.
Kim, K.A.; Kakitani, M.; Zhao, J.; Oshima, T.; Tang, T.; Binnerts, M.; Liu, Y.; Boyle, B.; Park,
E.; Emtage, P.; Funk, W.D. & Tomizuka K. (2005). Mitogenic influence of human Rspondin1 on the intestinal epithelium. Science, Vol. 309, No. 5738, (August 2005),
pp. 1256-1259, ISSN 0036-8075
Kirstetter, P., Anderson, K., Porse, BT., Jacobsen, SE. & Nerlov, C. (2006) Activation of the
canonical Wnt pathway leads to loss of hematopoietic stem cell repopulation and
multilineage differentiation block. Nat Immunol , Vol.7, No.10, (October 2006),
pp.1048-1056, ISSN 15292916.
Koch, U., Wilson, A., Cobas, M., Kemler, R., Macdonald, H.R. & Radtke, F. (2008)
Simultaneous loss of beta- and gamma-catenin does not perturb hematopoiesis or
lymphopoiesis. Blood, Vol.111, No.1, (January 2008), pp.160-164, ISSN 15280020.
Kopan, R. & Ilagan, M. X. (2009) The canonical Notch signaling pathway: unfolding the
activation mechanism. Cell, Vol.137, No.2, (April 2009), pp. 216233, ISSN 00928674
Korinek, V.; Barker, N.; Moerer, P.; van Donselaar, E.; Huls, G.; Peters, P.J. & Clevers, H.
(1998). Depletion of epithelial stem-cell compartments in the small intestine of mice
lacking Tcf-4. Nat Genet., Vol.19, No.4, (August 1998), pp. 379-383, ISSN 1061-4036
Kuhl, M.; Sheldahl, L.C.; Malbon, C.C. & Moon, R.T. (2000) Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent
protein kinase II is stimulated by Wnt and Frizzled homologs and promotes ventral
cell fates in Xenopus, J. Biol. Chem., Vol.275, No.17, (April 2000), pp. 12 701
12 711, ISSN 0021-9258
Kuhnert, F.; Davis, C.R.; Wang, H.T.; Chu, P.; Lee, M.; Yuan, J.; Nusse, R. & Kuo, C.J. (2004).
Essential requirement for Wnt signaling in proliferation of adult small intestine and
colon revealed by adenoviral expression of Dickkopf-1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A,
Vol.101, No.1, (January 2004), pp. 266-271, ISSN 1091-6490
Lai, E.C.(2002) Keeping a good pathway down: transcriptional repression of Notch pathway
target genes by CSL proteins, EMBO Rep, Vol.3, No.9, (September 2002), pp. 840845, ISSN 1469-221X.

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

399

Lasagni, L.; Ballerini, L.; Angelotti, M.L.; Parente, E.; Sagrinati, C.; Mazzinghi, B.; Peired, A.;
Ronconi, E.; Becherucci, F.; Bani, D.; Gacci, M.; Carini, M.; Lazzeri, E. & Romagnani,
P. (2010) Notch activation differentially regulates renal progenitors proliferation
and differentiation toward the podocyte lineage in glomerular disorders. Stem Cells,
Vol.28, No.9, (September 2010), pp. 1674-1685, ISSN 066-5099
Li, L. & Xie, T. (2005) Stem cell niche: structure and function, Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol., Vol.21,
(November 2005), pp. 605-31, ISSN 1081-0706
Lindgren, D.; Bostrm, A.K.; Nilsson, K.; Hansson, J.; Sjlund, J.; Mller, C.; Jirstrm, K.;
Nilsson, E.; Landberg, G.; Axelson, H. & Johansson, M.E. (2011) Isolation and
characterization of progenitor-like cells from human renal proximal tubules, Am J
Pathol, Vol.178, No.2, (February 2011), pp. 828-837, ISSN 0002-9440
Liu, J.; Sato, C.; Cerletti, M. & Wagers, A. (2010).Notch signaling in the regulation of stem
cell self-renewal and differentiation. Curr Top Dev Biol, Vol.92, No.7, (April 2001),
pp. 367-409, ISSN 0070-2153.
Liu, P., Wakamiya, M., Shea, MJ., Albrecht, U., Behringer, RR. & Bradley, A. (1999).
Requirement for Wnt3 in vertebrate axis formation. Nat Genet , Vol.22, No.4,
(August 1999), pp. 361-365, ISSN 10614036.
Logan, C.Y. & Nusse, R. (2004) The Wnt signaling pathway in development and disease.
Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol., Vol.20, (July 2004), pp. 781810, ISSN 1081-0706
Lopez-Garcia, C. Klein, A.M. Simons, B.D. Winton, D.J. (2010). Intestinal stem cell
replacement follows a pattern of neutral drift. Science, Vol.330, No.6005, (November
2010), pp. (822-825), ISSN 0036-8075
MacDonald, B.T.; Tamai, K. & He, X. (2009) Wnt/beta-catenin signaling: components,
mechanisms, and diseases. Dev Cell, Vol.17, No.1, (July 2009), pp. 9-26, ISSN. 15345807
Malhotra, S. & Kincade, P.W. (2009). Wnt-related molecules and signaling pathway
equilibrium in hematopoiesis. Cell Stem Cell, Vol.4, No.1, (January 2009), pp.2736,
ISSN, 19345909.
Mao, B.; Wu, W.; Davidson, G.; Marhold, J.; Li, M.; Mechler, B.M.; Delius, H.; Hoppe, D.;
Stannek, P.; Walter, C.; Glinka, A. & Niehrs, C. (2002) Kremen proteins are
Dickkopf receptors that regulate Wnt/-catenin signaling, Nature, Vol. 417,
No.6889, (June 2002), pp. 664667, ISSN 0028-0836
Medema, JP. Vermeulen, L. (2011). Microenvironmental regulation of stem cells in intestinal
homeostasis and cancer. Nature, Vol.474, No.7351, (June 2011), pp. 318-326, ISSN
0028-0836
Medyouf, H.; Alcade, H.; Berthier, C.; Guillemain, M.C.; dos Santos, N.R.; Janin, A.;
Decaudin, D.; de Th, H. & Ghysdael, J. (2007). Targeting calcineurin activation as a
therapeutic strategy for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nature Medicine,
Vol.13, No.6, (June 2007), pp. 736-741, ISSN 1078-8956.
Moeller, M.J.; Soofi, A.; Hartmann, I.; Le Hir, M.; Wiggins, R.; Kriz, W. & Holzman, L.B.
(2004) Podocytes populate cellular crescents in a murine model of inflammatory
glomerulonephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol, Vol.15, No.1, (January 2004), pp. 61-67, ISSN
1046-6673
Montcouquiol, M.; Crenshaw, E.B. 3r &, Kelley MW (2006) Noncanonical Wnt signaling and
neural polarity. Annu Rev Neurosci., Vol.29, (July 2006), pp. 363-86, ISSN 0147-006X

400

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Montgomery, R.K. Carlone, D.L. Richmond, C.A. Farilla, L. Kranendonk, M.E. Henderson,
D.E. Baffour-Awuah, N.Y. Ambruzs, D.M. Fogli, L.K. Algra, S. Breault, D.T. (2011).
Mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase (mTert) expression marks slowly cycling
intestinal stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol. 108, No. 1, (January 2011), pp.
(179-184), ISSN 1091-6490
Morgan, T. (1917) The theory of the gene, Am. Nat., Vol.51, No.609, (September 1917), pp.
513-544. ISSN 00030147
Mori-Akiyama, Y.; van den Born, M.; van Es, J.H.; Hamilton, S.R.; Adams, H.P.; Zhang, J.;
Clevers, H. & de Crombrugghe, B. (2007). SOX9 is required for the differentiation
of paneth cells in the intestinal epithelium. Gastroenterology, Vol.133, No.2, (August
2007), pp. 539-546, ISSN 0016-5085
Morrison, S.J. & Kimble J. (2006) Asymmetric and symmetric stem-cell division in
development and cancer, Nature, Vol.441, No.7097, (June 2006), pp. 1068-1074, ISSN
0028-0836
Muncan, V.; Sansom, O.J.; Tertoolen, L.; Phesse, T.J.; Begthel, H.; Sancho, E.; Cole, A.M.;
Gregorieff, A.; de Alboran, I.M.; Clevers, H.; Clarke, A.R. (2006). Rapid loss of
intestinal crypts upon conditional deletion of the Wnt/Tcf-4 target gene c-Myc. Mol
Cell Biol, Vol.26, No.22, (November 2006), pp. 8418-8426, ISSN 1098-5549
Niida, A.; Hiroko, T.; Kasai, M.; Furukawa, Y.; Nakamura, Y.; Suzuki, Y.; Sugano, S. &
Akiyama, T. (2004) DKK1, a negative regulator of Wnt signaling, is a target of the
beta-catenin/TCF pathway, Oncogene, Vol.23, No.52, (November 2004), pp. 8520-6,
ISSN 0950-9232
Okada, S.; Nakauchi, H.; Nagayoshi, K.; Nishikawa, S.; Miura, Y. & Suda, T. (1992). In vivo
and in vitro stem cell function of c-kit- and Sca-1-positive murine hematopoietic
cells. Blood, Vol.80, No.12, (December 1992), pp. 3044-3050, ISSN 1528-0020.
Paganin, M. & Ferrando, A. (2011). Molecular pathogenesis and targeted therapies for
NOTCH1-induced T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood, Vol.25, No.2, (March
2011), pp. 83-90, ISSN 1528-0020.
Palomero, T.; Lim, W.K.; Odom, D.T.; Sulis, M.L.; Real, P.J.; Margolin, A.; Barnes, K.C.;
O'Neil, J.; Neuberg, D.; Weng, A.P.; Aster, J.C.; Sigaux, F.; Soulier, J.; Look, A.T.;
Young, R.A.; Califano, A. & Ferrando, A.A. (2006). NOTCH1 directly regulates cMYC and activates a fee-forward-loop transcriptional network promoting leukemic
cell growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA , Vol.103, No.48, (November 2008), pp. 1826118266, ISSN 1091-6490.
Palomero, T.; Sulis, M.L.; Cortina, M.; Real, P.J.; Barnes, K.; Ciofani, M.; Caparros, E; Buteau,
J.; Brown, K.; Perkins, S.L.; Bhagat, G.; Mishra, A.; Basso, G.; Parsons, R.; ZigaPflcker, J.C.; Dominguez, M. & Ferrando A.A. (2007). Mutational loss of PTEN
induces resistance to NOTCH1 inhibition in T-cell leukemia. Nature medicine,
Vol.13, No.10, (October 2007), pp. 1203-1210, ISSN 1074-7613.
Pellegrinet, L.; Rodilla, V.; Liu, Z.; Chen, S.; Koch, U.; Espinosa, L.; Kaestner, K.H.; Kopan,
R.; Lewis, J. & Radtke, F. (2011). Dll1- and dll4-mediated notch signaling are
required for homeostasis of intestinal stem cells. Gastroenterology, Vol.140, No.4,
(April 2011), pp. 1230-1240, ISSN 0016-5085
Pinson K.I, Brennan J, Monkley S, Avery B.J, Skarnes W.C (2000) An LDL-receptor-related
protein mediates Wnt signaling in mice. Nature. Vol.407, No.6803, (September
2000), pp. 535538, ISSN 0028-0836

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

401

Pinto, D.; Gregorieff, A.; Begthel, H. & Clevers, H. (2003). Canonical Wnt signals are
essential for homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium. Genes Dev, Vol.17, No.14,
(July 2003), pp. 1709-1713, ISSN 1549-5477
Radtke, F.; Fasnacht, N. & MacDonald, H.R. (2010). Notch Signaling in the Immune System.
Immunity, Vol.32, No.1, (January 2010), pp. 14-27, ISSN 1074-7613.
Rawlins, E.L. & Hogan, B.L. (2006) Epithelial stem cells of the lung: privileged few or
opportunities for many? Development, Vol.133, No.13, (July 2006), pp. 2455-2465,
ISSN 1011-6370
Remuzzi, G.; Benigni, A. & Remuzzi A. (2006) Mechanisms of progression and regression of
renal lesions of chronic nephropathies and diabetes. J Clin Invest. , Vol.116, No.2,
(February 2006), pp. 288-296, ISSN 0021-9738
Renstrom, J.; Kroger, M., Peschel, C. & Oostendorp, R.A.J. (2010). How the niche regulates
hematopoietic stem cells. Chemico-Biological Interactions, Vol.184, No.1-2, (March
2010), pp. 7-15, ISSN 0009-2797.
Reya, T., Duncan, AW., Ailles, L., Domen, J., Scherer, D.C., Willert, K., Hintz, L., Nusse, R. &
Weissman, IL. (2003) A role for Wnt signaling in self-renewal of haematopoietic
stem cells. Nature, Vol.423, No.6938, (May 2003), pp.409-414 ISSN 0028-0836.
Rhyu, M.S.; Jan, L.Y. & Jan, Y.N. (1994) Asymmetric distribution of numb protein during
division of the sensory organ precursor cell confers distinct fates to daughter cells,
Cell, Vol.76, No.3, (February 1994), pp. 477-491, ISSN 0092-8674
Ronconi, E.; Sagrinati, C.; Angelotti, M.L.; Lazzeri, E.; Mazzinghi, B.; Ballerini, L.; Parente,
E.; Becherucci, F.; Gacci, M.; Carini, M.; Maggi, E.; Serio, M.; Vannelli, G.B.; Lasagni,
L.; Romagnani, S. & Romagnani, P. (2009) Regeneration of glomerular podocytes by
human renal progenitors. J Am Soc Nephrol., Vol.20, No.2, (February 2009), pp. 322332, ISSN 1046-6673
Roszko, I.; Sawada, A. & Solnica-Krezel, L. (2009) Regulation of convergence and extension
movements during vertebrate gastrulation by the Wnt/PCP pathway, Semin Cell
Dev Biol., Vol.20, No.8, (October 2009), pp. 986-97, ISSN 1084-9521
Sagrinati, C.; Netti, G.S.; Mazzinghi, B.; Lazzeri, E.; Liotta, F.; Frosali, F.; Ronconi, E.; Meini,
C.; Gacci, M.; Squecco, R.; Carini, M.; Gesualdo, L.; Francini, F.; Maggi, E.;
Annunziato, F.; Lasagni, L.; Serio, M.; Romagnani, S. & Romagnani, P. (2006)
Isolation and characterization of multipotent progenitor cells from the Bowman's
capsule of adult human kidneys. J Am Soc Nephrol., Vol.17, No.9, (September 2006),
pp. 2443-2456, ISSN 1046-6673.
Sander, G.R. & Powell, B.C. (2004). Expression of notch receptors and ligands in the adult
gut. J Histochem Cytochem, Vol. 52, No. 4, (April 2004), pp. 509-516, ISSN 0022-1554
Saneyoshi, T.; Kume, S.; Amasaki, Y. & Mikoshiba, K. (2002) The Wnt/calcium pathway
activates NF-AT and promotes ventral cell fate in Xenopus embryos. Nature,
Vol.417, No.6886, (May 2002), pp. 295299, ISSN 0028-0836
Sangiorgi, E. Capecchi, M.R. (2008). Bmi1 is expressed in vivo in intestinal stem cells. Nat
Genet. Vol.40, No.7, (July 2008), pp. 915-920, ISSN 1061-4036
Sansom, O.J.; Meniel, V.S.; Muncan, V.; Phesse, T.J.; Wilkins, J.A.; Reed, K.R.; Vass, J.K.;
Athineos, D.; Clevers, H. & Clarke, A.R. (2007). Myc deletion rescues Apc
deficiency in the small intestine. Nature, Vol.446, No.7136, (April 2007), pp. 676-679,
ISSN 0028-0836

402

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Sansom, O.J.; Reed, K.R.; Hayes, A.J.; Ireland, H.; Brinkmann, H.; Newton, I.P.; Batlle, E.;
Simon-Assmann, P.; Clevers, H.; Nathke, I.S.; Clarke, A.R. & Winton D.J. (2004).
Loss of Apc in vivo immediately perturbs Wnt signaling, differentiation, and
migration. Genes Dev. Vol.18, No.2, (June 2004), pp. 1385-1390, ISSN 1549-5477
Sarmento, L.M.; Huang, H.; Limon, A.; Gordon, W.; Fernandes, J.; Tavares, M.J.; Miele, L.;
Cardoso, A.A.; Classon, M. & Carlesso, N. (2005). Notch1 modulates timing of G1-S
progression by inducing SKP2 transcription and p27 Kip1 degradation. Journal of
Experimental Medicine, Vol.202, No.1, (July 2005), pp. 157-168, ISSN 1540-9538.
Sato, T. van Es, J.H. Snippert, H.J. Stange, D.E. Vries, R.G. van den Born, M. Barker, N.
Shroyer, N.F. van de Wetering, M. Clevers, H. (2011). Paneth cells constitute the
niche for Lgr5 stem cells in intestinal crypts. Nature, Vol.469, No. 330, (January
2011), pp. 415-418, ISSN 0028-0836
Sato, T. Vries, R.G. Snippert, H.J. van de Wetering, M. Barker, N. Stange, D.E. van Es, J.H.
Abo, A. Kujala, P. Peters, P.J. Clevers, H. (2009). Single Lgr5 stem cells build cryptvillus structures in vitro without a mesenchymal niche. Nature, Vol.459, No.7244,
(May 2009), pp. 262-265, ISSN 0028-0836
Schofield, R. (1978) The relationship between the spleen colony-forming cell and the
haematopoietic stem cell, Blood Cells, Vol.4, No.1-2, pp. 7-25, ISSN 0340-4684
Schrder, N. & Gossler, A. (2002). Expression of Notch pathway components in fetal and
adult mouse small intestine. Gene Expr Patterns, Vol.2, No.3-4, (December 2002), pp.
247-250, ISSN 1567-133X
Seto. E.S. & Bellen, H.J.(2006) Internalization is required for proper Wingless signaling in
Drosophila melanogaster, J. Cell Biol, Vol.173, No.1, (April 2006), pp. 95106, ISSN
0021-9525
Sheldahl, L.C.; Park, M.; Malbon, C.C. & Moon, R.T. (1999) Protein kinase C is differentially
stimulated by Wnt and Frizzled homologs in a G-protein-dependent manner, Curr.
Biol, Vol.9, No.13, (July 1999), pp. 695698, ISSN 0960-9822
Singh, N.; Phillips, R.A.; Iscove, N.N. & Egan, S.E. (2000). Expression of notch receptors,
notch ligands, and fringe genes in hematopoiesis. Exp hematol, Vol.28, No.5, (May
2000), pp. 527-534, ISSN 0301-472X.
Slusarski, D.C.; Yang-Snyder, J.; Busa, W.B. & Moon, R.T. (1997) Modulation of embryonic
intracellular Ca2+ signaling by Wnt-5A, Dev. Biol., Vol.182, No.1, (February 1997),
pp. 114120, ISSN 0012-1606
Smeets, B.; Angelotti, M.L.; Rizzo, P.; Dijkman, H.; Lazzeri, E.; Mooren, F.; Ballerini, L.;
Parente, E.; Sagrinati, C.; Mazzinghi, B.; Ronconi, E.; Becherucci, F.; Benigni, A.;
Steenbergen, E.; Lasagni, L.; Remuzzi, G.; Wetzels, J. & Romagnani, P. (2009) Renal
progenitor cells contribute to hyperplastic lesions of podocytopathies and
crescentic glomerulonephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol, Vol.20, No.12, (December 2009),
pp. 2593-2603, ISSN 1046-6673
Smith, A.G. (2001). Embryo-derived stem cells: of mice and men, Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol.,
Vol.17, (November 2001), pp. 435-462, ISSN 1081-0706
Snippert, H.J. van der Flier, L.G. Sato, T. van Es, J.H. van den Born, M. Kroon-Veenboer, C.
Barker, N. Klein, A.M. van Rheenen, J. Simons, B.D. Clevers, H. (2010). Intestinal
crypt homeostasis results from neutral competition between symmetrically
dividing Lgr5 stem cells. Cell, Vol.143, No.1, (October 2010), pp. 134-144, ISSN 00928674

Adult Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Disease

403

Staal, F.J. & Sen, J.M. (2008). The canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role
in lymphopoiesis and hematopoiesis. Eur. J. Immunol, Vol.38, No.7, (Jul 2008),
pp.17881794, ISSN 00142980.
Tajbakhsh, S.; Rocheteau, P. & Le Roux, I. (2009) Asymmetric cell divisions and asymmetric
cell fates, Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, Vol.25, (November 2009), pp. 671-699, ISSN 10810706
Takashima, S.; Kadowaki, M.; Aoyama, K.; Koyama, M.; Oshima, T.; Tomizuka, K.; Akashi,
K. & Teshima T. (2011). The Wnt agonist R-spondin1 regulates systemic graftversus-host disease by protecting intestinal stem cells. J Exp Med, Vol.208, No.2,
(February 2011), pp. 285-294, ISSN 0022-1007
Tanigaki, K. & Honjo, T. (2007). Regulation of lymphocyte development by Notch signaling.
Nature Immunology, Vol.8, No.5, (May 2007), pp. 451-456, ISSN 1529-2916.
Thorner, P.S.; Ho, M.; Eremina, V.; Sado, Y. & Quaggin, S. (2008) Podocytes contribute to the
formation of glomerular crescents. J Am Soc Nephrol, Vol.19, No.3, (March 2008), pp.
495-502, ISSN 1046-6673.
van de Wetering, M. Sancho, E. Verweij, C. de Lau, W. Oving, I. Hurlstone, A. van der Horn,
K. Batlle, E. Coudreuse, D. Haramis, A.P. Tjon-Pon-Fong, M. Moerer, P. van den
Born, M. Soete, G. Pals, S. Eilers, M. Medema, R. Clevers, H. (2002). The betacatenin/TCF-4 complex imposes a crypt progenitor phenotype on colorectal cancer
cells. Cell, Vol.111, No.2, (October 2002), pp. (241-250), ISSN 0092-8674
Van Den Berg, DJ., Sharma, AK., Bruno, E. & Hoffman, R. (1998). Role of members of the
Wnt gene family in human hematopoiesis. Blood, Vol.92, No.9, (November 1998),
pp. 31893202, ISSN 15280020.
van Es, J.H.; van Gijn, M.E.; Riccio, O.; van den Born, M.; Vooijs, M.; Begthel, H.; Cozijnsen,
M.; Robine, S.; Winton, D.J.; Radtke, F. & Clevers, H. (2005). Notch/gammasecretase inhibition turns proliferative cells in intestinal crypts and adenomas into
goblet cells. Nature, Vol.435, No.7044, (June 2005), pp. 959-963, ISSN 0028-0836
Veeman, M..T.; Axelrod, J.D. & Moon, R.T. A second canon. Functions and mechanisms of
beta-catenin-independent Wnt signaling. Dev. Cell. Vol.5, No.3, (September 2003),
pp. 367377, ISSN 1534-5807
Vermeulen, L.; De Sousa, E.; Melo, F.; van der Heijden, M.; Cameron, K.; de Jong, J.H.;
Borovski, T.; Tuynman, J.B.; Todaro, M.; Merz, C.; Rodermond, H.; Sprick, M.R.;
Kemper, K.; Richel, D.J.; Stassi, G. & Medema, J.P. (2010). Wnt activity defines colon
cancer stem cells and is regulated by the microenvironment. Nat Cell Biol, Vol.12,
No.5, (May 2010), pp. 468-476, ISSN 1097-6256
Vermeulen, L.; Sprick, M.R.; Kemper, K.; Stassi, G. & Medema, J.P. (2008). Cancer stem cells-old concepts, new insights. Cell Death Differ, Vol.15, No.6, (June 2008), pp. 947-958,
ISSN 1350-9047
Vijayaragavan, K., Szabo, E., Bosse, M., Ramos-Mejia, V., Moon, R.T.& Bhatia, M. (2009).
Noncanonical Wnt signaling orchestrates early developmental events toward
hematopoietic cell fate from human embryonic stem cells. Cell Stem Cell , Vol.4,
No.3, (March 2009), pp. 248-262, ISSN 19345909.
Vilimas, T.; Mascarenhas, J.; Palomero, T.; Mandal, M.; Buonamici, S.; Meng, F.; Thompson,
B.; Spaulding, C.; Macaroun, S.; Alegre, M.L.; Kee, B.; Ferrandom, A.; Miele, L. &
Aifantis, I. (2007). Targeting the NF-kappaB signaling pathway in Notch1-induced
T-cell leukemia. Nat Med, Vol.13, No.1, (January 2007), pp. 70-77, ISSN 1078-8956.

404

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Weng, A.P.; Ferrando, A.A.; Lee, W.; Morris, J.P., 4h; Silverman, L.B.; Sanchez-Irizarry, C;
Blacklow, S.C.; Look, A.T. & Aster, J.C. (2004). Activating mutations of NOTCH1 in
human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Science, Vol.306, No.5694, (October
2004), pp. 269-271, ISSN 0036-8075.
Westfall, T.A.; Brimeyer, R.; Twedt, J.; Gladon, J.; Olberding, A.; Furutani-Seiki, M. &
Slusarski, D.C. (2003) Wnt-5/pipetail functions in vertebrate axis formation as a
negative regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin activity, J. Cell Biol., Vol.162, No.5,
(September 2003), pp. 889898, ISSN 0021-9525
Willert, K., Brown, J.D., Danenberg, E., Duncan, AW., Weissman, IL., Reya, T., Yates, JR. 3rd,
Nusse, R. (2003). Wnt proteins are lipidmodified and can act as stem cell growth
factors. Nature, Vol.423, No.6938, (May 2003), pp.448452, ISSN 00280836.
Wodarz, A. & Nusse, R. (1998) Mechanisms of Wnt signaling in development. Annu. Rev.
Cell Dev. Biol. Vol.14, (November 1998), pp. 5988, ISSN 1081-0706
Yamashita YM, Yuan H, Cheng J, Hunt AJ. (2010) Polarity in stem cell division: asymmetric
stem cell division in tissue homeostasis, Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol, Vol.2, pp.
a001313, ISSN 1943-0264
Yang, Q.; Bermingham, N.A.; Finegold, M.J. & Zoghbi, H.Y. (2001). Requirement of Math1
for secretory cell lineage commitment in the mouse intestine. Science, Vol.294,
No.5549, (December 2001), pp. 2155-2158, ISSN 0036-8075
Zhao, C., Blum, J., Chen, A., Kwon, HY., Jung, SH., Cook, JM., Lagoo, A. & Reya T. (2007).
Loss of beta-catenin impairs the renewal of normal and CML stem cells in vivo.
Cancer Cell, Vol.12, No.6, (December 2007), pp.52841, ISSN 15356108.
Zhu, Y., Sun, Z., Han, Q., Liao, L., Wang, J., Bian, C., Li, J., Yan, X., Liu, Y., Shao, C., Zhao,
RC.. (2009). Human mesenchymal stem cells inhibit cancer cell proliferation by
secreting DKK-1. Leukemia , Vol.23, No.5, (May 2009), pp.925-33, ISSN 08876924.

18
Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State
V. Morales-Tlalpan1*, C. Saldaa2, P. Garca-Sols2,
H. L. Hernndez-Montiel2 and H. Barajas-Medina1
1Hospital

Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajo,

San Carlos la Roncha, Len, Guanajuato,
2Departamento de Investigacin Biomdica. Facultad de Medicina,
Universidad Autnoma de Quertaro, Santiago de Quertaro, Quertaro,
Mxico
1. Introduction
The epithelial cells form a physical barrier that serves to separate two different environments,
and interact with neighboring cells through various kinds of cell-cell communication systems.
Among the systems of cell-cell communications have been described 3 types of intercellular
junctions: gap-junctions, adherents-junctions and tight-junctions.
The tight junctions are critical for the sealing of cellular sheets and controlling paracellular ion
flux. Tight junctions are composed primarily of 3 components: The IgG-like family of
junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs), occluding and claudin families. Claudins are the main
constituents of tight junctions. The claudin family proteins is composed of approximately 24
transmembrane proteins, all of which are closely related, most of them are well characterized
at the level of gene and protein. The claudins are present in variety of normal tissues,
hyperplastic conditions, but have also been found in benign neoplams and cancers that exhibit
epithelial differentiation. Loss of claudins expression has been reported in various malignant
diseases. The differential expression of several members of the family of the claudins in
various cancers has been used to confirm the histological identity of certain types of cancer.
The permeability barrier in the terminal airspaces of the lung is due in large part to tight
junctions between alveolar epithelial cells, which regulate the flow of molecules between
apical and basolateral extracellular compartments. Disruption of the paracellular alveolar
permeability barrier is a significant pathological consequence of acute lung injury. Little is
known about the expression and localization of claudins in normal bronchial epithelium
and lung cancer. So that is in our interest to describe the expression of claudins in normal
and lung cancer, also describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms.

2. Tight junctions
The cellular polarity is critical for a variety of cellular functions, such as directed migration,
asymmetric cell division and the vectorial transport of molecules. Polarity is studied in
*

Corresponding Author

406

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

epithelial cells where apical and basolateral surface domains with different lipid and protein
compositions can be distinguished (Steed, et al., 2010). In vertebrate epithelia, the two
membrane domains are separated by tight junctions (TJ), who act as an intramembrane
diffusion barrier and also as a paracellular seal that prevents diffusion of molecules across
the epithelial cell layer. TJs are structures appearing as discrete sites of fusion between the
outer plasma membrane of adjacent cells. The TJ regulates the diffusion of solutes with size
and charge selectivity and that it is functionally different in physiologically diverse
epithelial cell types. To understand the molecular mechanism controlling TJ structure and
function, it is important to determine their molecular composition and organization
(Anderson & Cereijido 2001; Steed, et al., 2010).
2.1 Tight junction molecular structure
The molecular components of the TJ have been separated into 3 groups: 1) The integral
transmembrane proteins, 2) The peripheral or cytoplasmic and 3) TJassociated/regulatory proteins. 1) The integral transmembrane proteins are essential for
correct assembly of the structure: occludin, claudins and junctional, immunoglobulin
superfamily membrane proteins with two extracellular Ig-like domains, including JAM-A,
JAM4, coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR), and endothelial cell-selective adhesion
molecule (ESAM). The integral transmembrane proteins are the critical for correct
assembly of the TJ structure and controlling TJ functions via homotypic and heterotypic
interactions. 2) The peripheral or cytoplasmic or plaque anchoring proteins: the
membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family proteins ZO 1, ZO 2, and ZO 3
bind to the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of claudins, occludin, tricellulin, and JAM-A.
In addition, MAGI-1, MAGI-3, MUPP1, PATJ and ASIP/PAR3 are known to be PDZ
domain-containing proteins that directly bind to claudins or other TJ-associated
membrane proteins. The plaque anchoring proteins act as a scaffold to bind the raft of TJ
molecules together and provide the link to the actin cytoskeleton and the signaling
mechanism of the cell. 3) TJ-associated/regulatory proteins -catenin, cingulin,
paracingulin, etc., (for review see: Blasig, et al., 2006; Furuse 2010; Hamazaki, et al., 2002;
Itoh, et al., 1999, Tsukita & Furuse 2000a, 2000b).
2.2 Paracellular transport
Separation of functional compartments is necessary for higher organisms. The structures
that separate such compartments, epithelia and endothelia, consist of cell layers with
diverse properties according to the organisms actual demands. While such structures
prevent uncontrolled diffusion and convection of substances, they also provide selective
transport processes via secretion (exocrine and endocrine glands), absorption (intestine),
or reabsorption (kidney). Such transport processes are realized via the transcellular
pathway involving resorption across the apical membrane, transfer through the
cytoplasm, and extrusion at the basolateral membrane. In general, transcellular transport
is an energy-dependent process, but it allows the organism to reabsorb substances that are
indispensable, even against an existing electrochemical gradient. Moreover, since this
pathway is controlled at several steps, it allows fine-tuning according to actual demands.
On the other hand, paracellular transport occurs through the intercellular space of

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

407

adjacent cells. This transport is passive and dependent on an electrochemical gradient.

This form of transport allows bulk reabsorption with a minimum of energy expenditure.
The key structure of the intercellular space, and thus the major determinant of
paracellular transport, is the tight junction (TJ). The ion conductance of tight junctions
varies from tissue to tissue and can be experimentally manipulated by expressing or
removing specific pores. The specificity of these pores is determined by the claudin
composition and, more precisely, by the properties of their extracytoplasmic loops, such
as electrostatic interaction sites. The molecular mechanisms that underlie size-selective
paracellular diffusion are unclear. However, several studies reported a functional
dissociation between transepithelial electrical resistance and size-selective paracellular
diffusion upon specific modifications of either junctional components or signaling
pathways that affect permeability. Thus, the molecular bases of ion-selective and sizeselective permeation seem to be distinct (see Figure1) (Amasheh, et al., 2009; Steed, et al.,
2010; Tsukita &Furuse 2000a, 2000b; Will, et al., 2008).

3. Claudins
The tight junctions consist of several components: integral membrane proteins, cytoplasmic
proteins and cytoskeletal proteins (Brennan, et al., 2010). To date, a number of integral
membrane proteins are associated with TJ, occludin, adhesion molecules, claudin family,
etc., (Tsukita & Furuse 2000a, 2000b, Dhawan, et al., 2005; Furuse, 2010). Gradually has been
shown that the molecular architecture of these complex is more numerous, the TJ is made
up of at least 40 different components (Figure 1) (for review see: Schneeberger & Lynch,
2004; http://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway/hsa/hsa04530.html). Among the elements
that form part of integral membrane proteins, the claudin family (Clds; present active
infinitive of claude, means close), has attracted the attention because of its relatively
recent identification, the family includes 24 members in mammals (Furuse 2010, Brennan,
et al., 2010), although Tsukita group recently has reported three new genes that code for
Cldns 25, 26 and 27 (Mineta, et al., 2011). The Cldns were identified in 1998 by Dr. Tsukita
in membrane fractions from chicken liver (enriched with TJ) through sucrose gradients.
Among the protein components two bands of 23 kDa were obtained, with similar in size
but not identical. Analysis of the amino acid sequence showed that these proteins were
structurally related (30% identical at the amino acid sequence), calling claudin 1 and
2, respectively (Furuse et al., 1998). However, earlier reports this had already been
described genes with similar sequences (Briehl & Miesfeld, 1991, Katahira, et al., 1997).
This information allowed proposes the existence of a large family of proteins. Currently
there are over 558 articles that involve claudins studies (updated to April 20, 2011),
describing various aspects of molecular, cellular, regulation, operation, including its
expression/co-expression, localization in tissues and organs, and their potential
involvement in diseases.
Before the discovery of the claudins, it is believed that the tight junctions were composed
mainly of occludin. Even thought that occludin and claudin were members of the same
family, but the report of the genetic sequence of the Cldns confirmed that these were
different from those occludins proteins, and showed no similarity between them (Furuse, et
al., 1998a). To date is accepted that the central part proteins responsible for the paracellular
barrier are the claudins (Angelow, et al., 2008, Tsukita & Furuse, 2000).

408

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Claudins are found in the tight junction at the interface of the basolateral and apical
membranes of polarized epithelial and endothelial cells, and also at paranodes in compact
myelin. Transfected claudins are capable of forming tight junction strands or fibrils, the
freezefracture descriptions of a branching and anastomosing network of rows of
intramembranous particles characteristic of tight junctions. Claudins are also found in the
basolateral membranes, possibly as precursors to the fibrils (Peter & Goodenough 2004).

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the molecular organization of epithelial.

Cell-cell interactions are mediated by intercellular junctional complexes: gap junctions,
adherent junctions, desmosome and thigh junctions, each of which have different had
asymmetric distribution in epithelial cells, TJ are located at the apical-basal border and
they contribute to maintain cell polarity, regulate the solute and fluid exchange between
basolateral and apical domains, and also regulated paracellular permeability. TJ
membrane proteins are linked to the cytoskeleton (F-actin) via a complex network of
adaptor proteins.
3.1 Claudin evolution
The mechanism by which the family of claudins evolves is unknown; however, the data
suggest that this family expanded by gene duplication early in the evolution of chordates

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

409

(for review sees: Lal-Nag & Morin 2009, Loh, et al., 2004, Kollmar, et al., 2001). When the
septate junctions (the corresponding structure of invertebrates), were replaced by tight
junctions. In the same way as other groups of genes were extended, the claudins diversified
into the body of vertebrates from the chordates, leading to new structures: the skull, pairs of
sense organs and appendages (Kollmar, et al., 2001). The search for claudins in the
Genebank of Drosophyla melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans showed no similarity to
genes previously reported (Venter & Adams, 2001; Kolmar, et al., 2001). However, in D.
melanogaster, was recently found three genes, which encode for three different proteins that
are required in the paracellular transport: Megatrachea (Mega) Sinuous (Sinu) and Kune
Kune. Mega, a transmembrane protein homologous to claudins, and show that it acts in
septate junctions, this protein has transepithelial barrier function similar to the claudins,
and is necessary for normal tracheal cell morphogenesis but not for apico-basal polarity or
epithelial integrity (Behr, et al., 2003). The gene sinuous encodes a protein that is
molecularly and functionally similar to vertebrate claudins. Sinuous share several
characteristic with vertebrate claudins as has all of the amino acids absolutely conserved
across vertebrate claudins and has as much sequence similarity to canonical vertebrate
claudins as do some of the more divergent vertebrate claudins. Also has functional
similarity because it localizes to and is required for the function of paracellular barrier
junctions (Wu, et al., 2004). Kune Kune, this protein localizes to septate junctions and is
required for junction organization and paracellular barrier function, but not for apical-basal
polarity (Nelson, et al., 2010). In C. elegans genome database identified four claudinrelated, 20-kDa integral membrane proteins (CLC-1 to -4), which showed sequence
similarity to the vertebrate claudins. The expression and distribution of CLC-1 was mainly
expressed in the epithelial cells in the pharyngeal region of digestive tubes and colocalized
at their intercellular junctions. In CLC-1-deficient worms, the barrier function of the
pharyngeal portion of the digestive tubes appeared to be severely in experiments performed
with RNA interference. CLC-2 was expressed in seam cells in the hypodermis, and it also
appeared to be involved in the hypodermis barrier (Asano, et al., 2003). In addition VAB-9 is
a predicted four-pass integral membrane protein that has greatest similarity to BCMP1
(brain cell membrane protein 1, a member of the PMP22/EMP/Claudin family of cell
junction proteins) and localizes to the adherents junction domain of C. elegans apical
junctions. In this nematode C. elegans protein VAB-9 regulates adhesion and epidermal
morphology (Simske, et al., 2003). In Danio rerio (Zebra fish) have been located at least 15
genes for Cldns, some of which have their orthologous in human (Kollmar, et al., 2001), and
among non-vertebrate Halocynthia roretzi (Sea pineapple) as also found a gene that encodes
to claudins (Kollmar, et al., 2001). The presence of these genes suggests that the origin of the
claudins may be quite ancient and that a claudin ancestor pre-dates the establishment of the
chordates (Kollmar, et al., 2001).
3.2 Claudin structure
The claudins belong to the peripheral myelin protein (PMP22)/ epithelial membrane protein
(EMP)/ epithelial membrane protein or membrane protein (MP20)/claudin superfamily of
four transmembrane-spanning domains. The 24 mammalian members are 20 to 34 kDa in
size (Lal-Nag & Morin, 2009, Peter & Goodenough 2004), and recently others members of
the claudin family 25, 26 and 27 were reported ( Mineta, et al., 2011). The proteins are

410

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

predicted, on the basis of hydropathy plots, to have four transmembranal helices (Morita, et
al., 1999; Lal-Nag & Morin, 2009), with their NH2-and COOH-terminal tails extending into
the cytoplasm (Lal-Nag & Morin, 2009). Sequence analysis of Cldns has led to classification
into two groups: classic claudins (110, 14, 15, 17, 19), and non-classic claudins (1113, 16, 18,
2024) (Table 2), according to their degree of sequence similarity to conserved structural
features at ECL1 for classic claudins (Krause, et al., 2008). The typical claudin protein
contains a small intracellular cytoplasmic NH2-terminal sequence of approximately 4 to 5
residues followed by a huge extracellular loop (EL1) of approximately 60 residues, a short
20-residue intracellular loop, another extracellular loop (EL2) of about 24 residues, and a
COOH-terminal cytoplasmic. The size of the COOH-terminal tail is more variable in length;
it is typically between 21 and 63 residues. The amino acid sequences of the first and fourth
transmembrane domains are highly conserved among Cldns, and the second and third are
more diverse. The first loop contains several charged amino acids and, as such, is thought to
influence paracellular charge selectivity, and two highly conserved cysteine residues are
hypothesized to increase protein stability by the formation of an intramolecular disulfide
bond. It is assumed that the first extracellular loop is critical for determining the paracellular
tightness and the selective paracellular ion permeability (see Table 2). It has been suggested
that the second extracellular loop, can form dimers with Cldns on opposing cell membranes
through hydrophobic interactions between conserved aromatic residues and that the second
extracellular loop may cause narrowing of the paracellular cleft (Lal-Nag & Morin 2009;
Krause, et., al 2008, 2009).
The region that shows the most sequence and size heterogeneity among the claudin proteins
is the COOH-terminal tail. It contains a PDZ-domain-binding motif that allows claudins to
interact directly with cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins, such as the TJ-associated proteins
MUPP1, PATJ, ZO-1, ZO-2 and ZO-3, and MAGUKs (see figure 1 and 2). Furthermore, the
COOH-terminal tail upstream of the PDZ-binding motif is required to target the protein to
the TJ complex, and also functions as a determinant of protein stability and function. The
COOH-terminal tail is the target of various post-translational modifications, such as
serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation and palmitoylation, which can significantly
alter claudin localization and function. Most cell types express multiple claudins, and the
homotypic and heterotypic interactions of claudins from neighboring cells allow strand
pairing and account for the TJ properties, although it appears that heterotypic head-to-head
interactions between claudins belonging to two different membranes are limited to certain
combinations of claudins, and stoichiometry have yet to be determined (Lal-Nag & Morin,
2009; Peter, & Goodenough 2004).
The extracellular domains of claudins in one cell are thought to interact with those in an
opposing cell to form a new class of ion channel (see Figure 1). These channels confer ion
selectivity to the paracellular pathway between luminal and basolateral extracellular
compartments. The permeability properties of the paracellular pathway have the
biophysical characteristics of conventional ion channels, including ion selectivity,
anomalous mole fraction effects, pH dependence and a diameter of 6. Exchanging the
first extracellular loop between claudin-2 and claudin-4 changes the Na+ and Cl selectivity
of the paracellular pathway in cultured epithelial cells (Peter & Goodenough 2004; BenYosef, et al., 2003).

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

411

Fig. 2. Schematic representation of structure and molecular interactions of typical claudins.

Claudins are proteins with four transmembrane-spanning domains (TM 1, TM 2, TM 3, and
TM 4), two extracellular loops (EL1 and EL2) related with paracellular ion selectivity and
oligomerization respectively. The NH2 and COOH terminal are localized in the cytosol,
intracellular loops are posttranscriptional modify. COOH terminal contains PDZ-binding
domain that is important for signal transduction.

4. Epithelial cells
Epithelia have three basic functions in multicellular organisms, first, cover the outer
surface of the body and the cavities and formed a physical barrier that separates two
environments. This physical barrier provides protection against mechanical damage, the
entry of microorganisms and water losses. Epithelia are also involved in secretion and
absorption process. These three functions of epithelia are given primarily by the type of
cellular arrangements that characterizes them. Epithelial cells are polarized and form
sheets of cells attached to each other through complex mechanisms. Some of these
mechanisms of cell-cell interactions will be discussed in this chapter. Thus in an epithelial
cell it can distinguish two basic functional components: a) the basal domain and b) the
apical domain (Feing & Muthuswamy, 2009). The basal domain participated in cell-

412

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

extracelular matrix (ECM) interactions; in particular, it is in contact with a structure

formed by type IV collagen, laminin and proteoglycans called basal lamina (Gumbiner,
1996). The basal lamina allows epithelial cells to be attached to the underlying connective
tissue. In specialized epithelial tissue basal domain is also involved in endocrine secretion.
The apical domain is located in the opposite direction of the basal. Depending on its
functions basal domain is involved in exocrine secretion and absorption. Alternatively,
another fundamental property of epithelial tissue is the close cohesion between the cells,
which allows the formation adherents selectively permeable layers that are at once very
strong mechanical barriers. Cell-cell interactions are mediated by intercellular junctional
complexes that consist of gap junctions (GJ), adherent junctions (AJ), desmosomes (Ds)
and thigh junctions (TJ), each of which have different functions and properties (Itoh &
Bissell et al., 2003; Feing & Muthuswamy, 2009). These junctional complexes had
asymmetric distribution in epithelial cells, TJ are located at the apical-basal border and
they contribute to maintain cell polarity, regulate the solute and fluid exchange between
basolateral and apical domains, and also regulated paracellular permeability (Itoh &
Bissell et al., 2003; Feing & Muthuswamy, 2009). TJ are widely explained in section 3 of
the present chapter. On the other hand, AJ are basal to TJ and they are considered the
primary determinants of cell-cell adhesion. AJ are ubiquitously represented by cadherins,
transmembranal Ca2+-dependent receptors, which form complex with catenins,
cytoplasmic plaque proteins, and actin cytoskeleton. Cell adhesion regulates the
organization of cell patters and architecture of tissues (Gumbiner, 1996). In epithelia, it
can be found different cell shapes (flat, cylindrical or cubic) in at least three basic forms of
cell arrangement, a) simple epithelia (single sheet of cells), b) stratified (multiple cell
sheets) and c) pseudostratified (single sheets of cells with several sizes and shapes that
give the appearance of true stratified epithelia).
4.1 Lung epithelial cells
The adult human lung is lined by specialized types of airway epithelia organized in treelike form with three anatomical and functional units: a) trachea and bronchi
(tracheobronchial), b) bronchioles and acinar ducts (bronchiolar), and c) peripheral
saccular-alveolar structures (alveoli) (Maeda, et al., 2007). Tracheabronchial and
bronchiolar units form conducts that provide inhaled gases to alveoli unit, there;
epithelial alveolar cells and capillaries exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide required for
respiration (Maeda, et al., 2007). Each of these airway units is composed of distinct types
of epithelial cells that are important for maintaining normal lung function, in Table 1 is
shown a summary of the main types of intrapulmonary epithelial cells with their
respective function.
Trachea and bronchi are characterized by pseudostratified epithelia, whereas bronchioles,
acinar ducts and alveoli are mainly characterized by simple cubic epithelia. Epithelial cells
throughout of airway show major functions such as protection (Ciliated cells), progenitor
cells (Basal and Clara cells), exocrine secretion (Goblet, Clara and Alveolar type II cells),
endocrine secretion (Neuroendocrine pulmonary cells), and gas exchange (Alveolar type I
cells) (Table 1) (Herzog, et al., 2008; Linnoila, 2006; Maeda, et al., 2007; Reynolds, et al., 2007;
Rock, et al., 20010; Rogers, 2007).

413

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

Airway
unit
T
R
A
C
H
E
O
B
R
O
N
C
H
I
A
L
B
R
O
N
C
H
I
O
L
A
R
A
L
V
E
O
L
I

Epithelia
type

Epithelial cell
types
Goblet
Basal

Pseudostratified
Clara

Ciliated
Clara
Ciliated
Simple
columnarcuboidal

Cell function

Biomarkers

Mucus secretion
Attachment with
the basement
membrane;
Progenitor cells
Mucus secretion;
Mucocilliary
clearance; Detoxify
xenobiotics and
oxidant gasses;
Progenitor of
ciliated cells;
Regulation of
immune system
Mucocilliary
clearance
See above
See above

Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC)

Transcription factor p63,
cytokeratins 5 and 14

Uteroglobin, Surfactant
apoproteins A, B and D

Calpastatin, ezrin
See above
See above

Pulmonary
neuroendocrine cells

Endocrine and
paracrine secretion
in lung
development;
Oxygen sensors

Gastrin-releasing peptide,
bombesin, calcitonin generelated peptide,
synaptophysin

Alveolar
type I cells
(squamous
cells)

Mediate gas
exchange

T1-, aquaporin-5 (AQP5)

Simple
columnar
Alveolar
type II cells

Synthesis, secretion
and recycle the lipid
Surfactant apoprotein C
and protein
and ATP-binding cassette
component of
A3 (ABCA3)
surfactant
Innate immunity

Table 1. Characteristics of intrapulmonary epithelia of human. Sources: Herzog, et al.,

2008; Linnoila, 2006; Maeda, et al., 2007; Reynolds, et al., 2007; Rock, et al., 2010; Rogers,
2007.
The complex patterns of intrapulmonary epithelial cells, organization, numbers and types of
cells, are regulated by several humoral signals and cell-cell interactions. It is know that

414

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

several physiopathological conditions could modify the lung epithelial cell pattern such as
infection, cytokines, inflammatory mediators, pollutants and injury that are associated with
common airway diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic
fibrosis and cancer (Ballaz & Mulshine, 2003; Maeda, et al., 2007; Rock, et al., 2010).
4.2 Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most important epithelial neoplasias in the world with high
incidence and mortality (Jemal, et al., 2011). Currently lung cancer is the most commonly
diagnosed cancer, as well as, the leading cause of cancer death in males in worldwide.
Among females, it represents the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second
leading cause of cancer death. Even more, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancerrelated deaths around the world, accounting for more deaths than those caused by three
of the most diagnosed cancers combined (prostate, breast and colorectal cancers). In 2008
estimated lung cancer related deaths in worldwide were 1, 378, 400 whereas estimated
related cancer deaths by prostate, breast and colorectal cancers were 1, 004, 900 (Jemal, et
al., 2011). Moreover, whereas the five-year survivor over time was improved in prostate,
breast and colorectal carcinomas in last 15 years, at 99%, the five-year survivor rate of
lung cancer was relatively unchanged at 15% (Borczuck, et al., 2009; Schwartz, et al.,
2007). The high mortality of lung cancer could be explained in part by histological
heterogeneity and late detection (Borczuck, et al., 2009; Schwartz, et al., 2007). On the
other hand, smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer, 80-90% of lung cancer
cases are associated with smoking but only 15%of the smokers developed lung cancer and
10% of lung cancers occur in never-smokers (Borczuck, et al., 2009; Schwartz, et al., 2007).
Other lung carcinogens are asbestos, arsenic, radon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
and air pollution (Jemal, et al., 2011). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported
that the cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths
(around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. The main types of cancer are: lung (1.4 million deaths),
stomach (740 000 deaths), liver (700 000 deaths), colorectal (610 000 deaths) and breast
(460 000 deaths). More than 70% of all cancer deaths occurred in low- and middle-income
countries. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11
million in 2030 (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/index.html).
Lung cancer is divided into two histological types, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most common lung cancer; it represents
between 80-85% of cases and consists in a heterogeneous group of cancers that can divide
into three major subtypes: squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (AC) and
large-cell carcinoma. This histological heterogeneity is only the reflection of lung cancer
biology complexity and it has very important implications in initiation, treatment and
prognosis.
Multi-step models of carcinogenesis, genetic and genomic approaches are developed to
understand lung carcinogenesis (Borczuck, et al., 2009; Schwartz, et al., 2007; Wistuba, et al.,
2002). In this way, an emergent field of lung carcinogenesis is open, the role that play the
loss of polarity and dysregulation cell-cell adhesion molecules in initiation and invasion
process of cancer cells.

415

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

CLDN
Aa
1
211

MW
22,744

PT

230

24,549

220

23,319

209

22,077

218

23,147

PT: Na+, K+,

water
PB: mono,
divalent ions;
PB: Na+
PT: ClPB

6
7

220
211

23,292
22,390

C
C

225

24,845

9
10

217
a: 226
b: 228
207
244

22,848
24,251
24,488
21,993
27,110

C
NC
NC
NC
NC

239
228
305
224
a: 261
b: 261
a: 224
b: 211
219
229
220
292
205
276
223
320

25,699
24,356
33,836
24,603
27,856
27,720
23,229
22,076
23,515
25,393
25,509
31,915
22,802

C
NC
NC
C
NC
NC
C
C
C
NC
NC
NC
NC

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

Cl

Transport

Organism
H, C, R, M,
D, Cw
H, C, R, M,
D,Cw, G
H, C, R, M

Detection
Disease
Protein
Up:
LC-S
RTi_PCR Down: LC-A
RTi_PCR

H, C, R, M

RTi_PCR

Up: P-MC

H, C, R, M

RTi_PCR

Up: LC-A
Down: LC-S

H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M

RTi_PCR

H, C, R, M

RTi_PCR

H, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
M
PB: K+
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
PT: Na+, cations H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
PT: Na+ cations H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
H, C, R, M
M
M
M

RTi_PCR

PB: Na+
PT: ClPBdivalent
cations
PT: Na+, K+

RTi_PCR
IE
RTi_PCR
RTi_PCR

Table 2. Molecular characteristics of claudins. Gene; Aminoacids (Az); Molecular Weight

(MW); Classification: Classical (C) and Non-Classical (NC); Paracellular Transport (PT) and
Paracellular Barrier (PB); Organism: Human (H), Chimpanzee (C) Rat (R), Mouse (M), Dog
(D), Cow (Cw), Chicken (G); Lung expression: Real-time PCR (RT_PCR); Disease type:
Adenocarcinoma (LC-A), Lung Cancer (LC-S), Pleura (metastatic adenocarcinoma) (P-MC).
Source: Amasheh, et al., 2009; Angelow, et al., 2006; Hewitt, et al., 2006; Hou, et al., 2006;
2007, 2008, 2009; Krause, et al., 2008; Milatz, et al., 2010; Mineta, et al., 2011; Singh, et al.,
2010; Wen, et al., 2004; http://www.genecards.org/.

416

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

4.3 Claudins and lung cancer

The tight junctions exist in lung epithelium, but knowledge of their development, normal,
disease and cancer phases, but exact function and distribution in the developing and adult
human lung is incomplete. Epithelial cells often express multiple claudin types, and they
show a variable expression profile in different epithelia. Similarly, expression of different
claudins varies between different types of epithelial, endothelial and mesothelial tumors
Kaarteenaho, et al., 2010). The expression of the different claudins during ontogenesis of
human lung might vary since they have distinct expression profiles in normal human lung
(Kaarteenaho, et al., 2010). Disruption of the paracellular alveolar permeability barrier is a
significant pathologic consequence of acute lung injury. The permeability barrier in terminal
airspaces of the lung is due in large part to tight junctions between alveolar epithelial cells,
which regulate the flow of molecules between extracellular apical and basolateral
compartments (Boitano, et al., 2004). In humans, very little is known about the expression
and localization of claudins in normal bronchial epithelium and also in lung cancer. The
expression of different claudins was studied in freshly excised human airways using
immunfluorescence staining and confocal microscopy bronchi and bronchioles expressed
claudins 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7, but not claudins 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 15, and 16 (Coyne, et al., 2003).
Claudins 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 are expressed in developing human lung from week 12 to week 40
with distinct locations and in divergent quantities. The expression of claudin 1 was
restricted to the bronchial epithelium, whereas claudin 3, 4 and 7 were positive also in
alveolar epithelium as well as in the bronchial epithelium. All claudins studied are linked to
the development of airways, whereas claudin 3, 4, 5 and 7, but not claudin 1, are involved in
the development of acinus and the differentiation of alveolar epithelial cells (Kaarteenaho, et
al., 2010). In human lung tumors by using cDNA microarray and in large cell carcinomas
relatively low levels of claudin-4 and 7 expressions were found as compared with other
types of lung cancer, such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and small cell lung
cancer (Garber, et al., 2001). Claudin 1 expression was stronger in squamous cell carcinomas
than in adenocarcinomas, whereas claudin 4 and claudin 5 expression was stronger in
adenocarcinomas (Jung, et al., 2009). 10 Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) elicits strong anticancer effects and is less toxic making it widely used in recent clinical trials, HCPT-loaded
nanoparticles reduced the expression of cell-cell junction protein claudins, E-cadherin, and
ZO-1, and transmission electron microcopy demonstrated a disrupted tight junction
ultrastructure (Zhang, et al., 2011). Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) augments barrier
function in primary rat alveolar epithelial cells grown in culture, specifically whether KGF
alters tight junction function via claudin expression. KGF significantly increased alveolar
epithelial barrier functions in culture as assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance
(TER) and paracellular permeability (LaFemina, et al., 2010). Alveolar epithelial cells
cultured for 5 days formed high-resistance barriers, which correlated with increased
claudin-18 localization to the plasma membrane (Kolval, et al., 2010). Bronchial BEAS-2B
cells and SK-LU1 cells respond to tobacco smoke by changing their claudin mRNA synthesis
and resulting tight junction permeability changes may thus contribute to tobacco induced
carcinogenesis both during initiation and progression (Merikallio, et al., 2011). Zeb1 and
twist regulate expression of genes which take part in epitheliomesenchymal transition
(EMT). Carcinomas metastatic to the lung showed a significantly higher expression of these
transcriptional factors than primary lung tumors, indicating their probable importance in
the metastatic process. Zeb1 and twist were inversely associated with several claudins,
indicating a role in their down-regulation (Merikalio, et al., 2011).

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

417

Despite many questions, recent insights into the molecular structure of tight junctions and
claudins are beginning to explain their important physiological differences and contribution
to paracellular transport and their importance in several disease and neoplasias, as well as,
in healthy tissues.

5. Acknowledgment
This study was supported by PROMEP to Dr. Carlos Saldaa and Dr. Pablo Garca-Sols. We
thank Dr. Gerardo Ortega and Direccin de Planeacin, Enseanza e Investigacin (Hospital
Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajo) for their support during the elaboration of this
manuscript.

6. References
Amasheh, S.; Milatz, S.; Krug, S.M.; Bergs, M.; Amasheh, M.; Schulzke, J.D. & Fromm, M.
(2009). Na+ absorption defends from paracellular back-leakage by claudin-8
upregulation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Vol. 378, No. 1, (January 2009), pp. 4550, ISSN: 0006-291X
Amasheh, S., Milatz, S., Krug, S.M., Markov, A.G., Gunzel, D., Amasheh, M. & Fromm, M.
(2009). Tight junction proteins as channel formers and barrier builders. Ann N Y
Acad Sci, Vol. 1165, (May 2009), pp. 211-219, ISSN: 0077-8923
Angelow, S., Kim, K.J. & Yu, A.S. (2006). Claudin-8 modulates paracellular permeability to
acidic and basic ions in MDCK II cells. J Physiol, Vol. 571, No. Pt 1, (December
2005), pp. 15-26, ISSN: 0022-3751, 1469-7793
Asano, A., Asano, K., Sasaki, H., Furuse, M. & Tsukita, S. (2003). Claudins in Caenorhabditis
elegans: their distribution and barrier function in the epithelium. Curr Biol, Vol. 13,
No. 12, (June 2003), pp. 1042-1046, ISSN: 0960-9822
Ballaz, S. & Mulshine, J.L. (2003). The potential contributions of chronic inflammation to
lung carcinogenesis. Clin Lung Cancer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (July 2003), pp. 46-62, ISSN:
1525-7304, 938-0690
Behr, M., Riedel, D. & Schuh, R. (2003). The claudin-like megatrachea is essential in septate
junctions for the epithelial barrier function in Drosophila. Dev Cell, Vol. 5, No. 4,
(October 2003), pp. 611-620, ISSN: 1534-5807, 1878-1551
Ben-Yosef, T., Belyantseva, I.A., Saunders, T.L., Hughes, E.D., Kawamoto, K., Van Itallie,
C.M., Beyer, L.A., Halsey, K., Gardner, D.J., Wilcox, E.R., Rasmussen, J., Anderson,
J.M., Dolan, D.F., Forge, A., Raphael, Y., Camper, S.A. & Friedman, T.B. (2003).
Claudin 14 knockout mice, a model for autosomal recessive deafness DFNB29, are
deaf due to cochlear hair cell degeneration. Hum Mol Genet, Vol. 12, No. 16, (August
2003), pp. 2049-2061, ISSN: 1460-2083, 0964-6906
Blasig, I.E., Winkler, L., Lassowski, B., Mueller, S.L., Zuleger, N., Krause, E., Krause, G.,
Gast, K., Kolbe, M. & Piontek, J. (2006). On the self-association potential of
transmembrane tight junction proteins. Cell Mol Life Sci, Vol. 63, No. 4, (February
2006), pp. 505-514, ISSN: 1420-682X, 1420-9071
Borczuk, A.C., Toonkel, R.L. & Powell, C.A. (2009). Genomics of lung cancer. Proc Am Thorac
Soc, Vol. 6, No. 2, (April 2009), pp. 152-158, ISSN: 1546-3222

418

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Boitano, S., Safdar, Z., Welsh, D.G., Bhattacharya J., & Koval M. (2004). Cell-cell interactions
in regulating lung function. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, Vol.287, No. 3,
(September 2004), L455 - L459, ISSN: 1040-0605, 1522-1504
Brennan, K., Offiah, G., McSherry, E.A. & Hopkins, A.M. (2010). Tight junctions: a barrier to
the initiation and progression of breast cancer? J Biomed Biotechnol, Vol. 2010,
(November 2009), pp. 460607, ISSN: 1110-7243, 1110-7251
Briehl, M.M. & Miesfeld, R.L. (1991). Isolation and characterization of transcripts induced by
androgen withdrawal and apoptotic cell death in the rat ventral prostate. Mol
Endocrinol, Vol. 5, No. 10, (October 1991), pp. 1381-1388, ISSN: 0888-8809, 1944-9917
Cereijido M & Anderso J.M. (1991). Tight Junctions (Kindle Edition), CRC Press, ISBN
0849323835, USA
Coyne, C.B., Gambling, T.M., Boucher, R.C., Carson, J.L. & Johnson L.G. (2003). Role of
claudin interactions in airway tight junctional permeability, Am J Physiol Lung Cell
Mol Physiol Vol, 285, No. 5 (November 2003), pp. 11661178, ISSN: 1040-0605, 15221504
Dhawan, P., Singh, A.B., Deane, N.G., No, Y., Shiou, S.R., Schmidt, C., Neff, J., Washington,
M.K. & Beauchamp, R.D. (2005). Claudin-1 regulates cellular transformation and
metastatic behavior in colon cancer. J Clin Invest, Vol. 115, No. 7, (July 2005), pp.
1765-1776, ISSN: 0021-9738, 1558-8238
Feigin, M.E. & Muthuswamy, S.K. (2009). Polarity proteins regulate mammalian cell-cell
junctions and cancer pathogenesis. Curr Opin Cell Biol, Vol. 21, No. 5, (October
2009), pp. 694-700, ISSN: 0955-0674, 1879-0410
Furuse, M., Fujita, K., Hiiragi, T., Fujimoto, K., & Tsukita, S. (1998). Claudin-1 and -2: novel
integral membrane proteins localizing at tight junctions with no sequence similarity
to occludin. J Cell Biol, Vol. 141, No. 7, (June 1998), pp. 1539-1550, ISSN: 0021-9525,
1540-8140
Furuse, M. Molecular basis of the core structure of tight junctions. (2010). Cold Spring Harb
Perspect Biol, Vol. 2, No. 1, (January 2010), pp. a002907, ISSN: 0014-5793, 1873-3468
Garber, M.E., Troyanskaya, O.G., Schluens, K., Petersen, S., Thaesler, Z., PacynaGengelbach, M., van de Rijn, M., Rosen, G.D., Perou, C.M., Whyte R.I., Altman,
R.B., Brown, P.O., Botstein, D., & Petersen, I. (2001) Diversity of gene expression in
adenocarcinoma of the lung. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA, Vol. 98 No. 24, (November
2001), pp. 1378413789, ISSN: 0027-8424, 1091-6490
Gumbiner, B.M. (1996). Cell adhesion: the molecular basis of tissue architecture and
morphogenesis. Cell, Vol. 84, No. 3, (February 1996), pp. 345-357, ISSN: 0092-8674,
1097-4172
Hamazaki, Y., Itoh, M., Sasaki, H., Furuse, M. & Tsukita, S. (2002). Multi-PDZ domain
protein 1 (MUPP1) is concentrated at tight junctions through its possible interaction
with claudin-1 and junctional adhesion molecule. J Biol Chem, Vol. 277, No. 1,
(October 2001), pp. 455-461, ISSN: 0021-9258, 1083-351X
Herzog, E.L., Brody, A.R., Colby, T.V., Mason, R. & Williams, M.C. (2008). Knowns and
unknowns of the alveolus. Proc Am Thorac Soc, Vol. 5, No. 7, (September 2008), pp.
778-782, ISSN: 1546-3222, 1943-5665
Hewitt, K.J., Agarwal, R. & Morin, P.J. (2006). The claudin gene family: expression in normal
and neoplastic tissues. BMC Cancer, Vol. 6, (July 2006), pp. 186, ISSN:1471-2407

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

419

Hou, J., Gomes, A.S., Paul, D.L. & Goodenough, D.A. (2006). Study of claudin function by
RNA interference. J Biol Chem, Vol. 281, No. 47, (November 2006), pp. 36117-36123,
ISSN: 0021-9258, 1083-351X
Hou, J., Shan, Q., Wang, T., Gomes, A.S., Yan, Q., Paul, D.L., Bleich, M. & Goodenough, D.A.
(2007). Transgenic RNAi depletion of claudin-16 and the renal handling of
magnesium. J Biol Chem, Vol. 282, No. 23, (June 2007), pp. 17114-17122, ISSN: 00219258, 1083-351X
Hou, J., Renigunta, A., Konrad, M., Gomes, A.S., Schneeberger, E.E., Paul, D.L., Waldegger,
S. & Goodenough, D.A. (2008). Claudin-16 and claudin-19 interact and form a
cation-selective tight junction complex. J Clin Invest, Vol. 118, No. 2, (February
2008), pp. 619-628, ISSN: 0021-9738, 1558-8238
Hou, J., Renigunta, A., Gomes, A.S., Hou, M., Paul, D.L., Waldegger, S. & Goodenough, D.A.
(2009). Claudin-16 and claudin-19 interaction is required for their assembly into
tight junctions and for renal reabsorption of magnesium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A,
Vol. 106, No. 36, (September 2009), pp. 15350-15355, ISSN: 0027-8424, 1091-6490
Itoh, M., Furuse, M., Morita, K., Kubota, K., Saitou, M. & Tsukita, S. (1999). Direct binding of
three tight junction-associated MAGUKs, ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3, with the COOH
termini of claudins. J Cell Biol, Vol. 147, No. 6, (December 1999), pp. 1351-1363,
ISSN: 0021-9525, 1540-8140
Itoh, M. & Bissell, M.J. (2003). The organization of tight junctions in epithelia: implications
for mammary gland biology and breast tumorigenesis. J Mammary Gland Biol
Neoplasia, Vol. 8, No. 4, (October 2003), pp. 449-462, ISSN:1083-3021, 1573-7039
Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M.M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E. & Forman, D. (2011) Global cancer
statistics. CA Cancer J Clin, Vol. 61, No. 2, (March-April 2011), pp. 69-90, ISSN: 00079235, 1542-4863
Jung, J.H., Jung, C.K., Choi, H.J., Jun, K.H., Yoo, J., Kang, S.J. & Lee, K.Y. (2009). Diagnostic
utility of expression of claudins in non-small cell lung cancer: different expression
profiles in squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Pathol Res Pract, Vol.
205, No. 6, (February 2009), pp. 409-416, ISSN: 0344-0338, 1618-0631
Kaarteenaho, R., Merikallio, H., Lehtonen, S., Harju, T., & Soini Y. (2010). Divergent
expression of claudin -1, -3, -4, -5 and -7 in developing human lung. Respir Res, Vol.
17 No. 11 (May 2010), pp.59, ISSN: 1465-9921, 1465-993X
Katahira, J., Inoue, N., Horiguchi, Y., Matsuda, M. & Sugimoto, N. (1997). Molecular cloning
and functional characterization of the receptor for Clostridium perfringens
enterotoxin. J Cell Biol, Vol. 136, No. 6, (March 1997), pp. 1239-1247, ISSN: 00219525, 1540-8140
Kollmar, R., Nakamura, S.K., Kappler, J.A. & Hudspeth, A.J. (2001). Expression and
phylogeny of claudins in vertebrate primordia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol. 98,
No. 18, (August 1991), pp. 10196-10201, ISSN: 0027-8424, 1091-6490
Koval, M., Ward, C., Findley, M.K., Roser-Page, S., Helms, M.N., & Roman J. (2010).
Extracellular matrix influences alveolar epithelial claudin expression and barrier
function. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, Vol. 42, No. 2, (May 2009), pp. 172-180. ISSN:
1044-1549, 1535-4989
Krause, G., Winkler, L., Mueller, S.L., Haseloff, R.F., Piontek, J. & Blasig, I.E. (2008).
Structure and function of claudins. Biochim Biophys Acta, Vol. 1778, No. 3, (March
2008), pp. 631-645, ISSN: 0006-3002, 0006-3002

420

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Krause, G, Winkler L, Piehl C, Blasig I, Piontek J and Mller SL. (2009). Structure and
function of extracellular claudin domains. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Vol 1165, (2009 May),
pp. 34-43, ISSN: 0077-8923, 1749-6632
LaFemina, M.J., Rokkam, D., Chandrasena, A., Pan, J., Bajaj, A., Johnson, M., & Frank, J.A.
(2010). Keratinocyte growth factor enhances barrier function without altering claudin
expression in primary alveolar epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, Vol.
299, No. 6, (September 2010), pp.L724-L734, ISSN: 1040-0605, 1522-1504
Lal-Nag, M. & Morin, P.J. (2009). The claudins. Genome Biol, Vol. 10, No. 8, (August 2009),
pp. 235, ISSN: 1465-6906, 1465-6914
Linnoila, R.I. (2006). Functional facets of the pulmonary neuroendocrine system. Lab Invest,
Vol. 86, No. 5, (May 2006), pp. 425-444, ISSN: 0023-6837, 1530-0307
Loh, Y.H., Christoffels, A., Brenner, S., Hunziker, W. & Venkatesh, B. (2004). Extensive
expansion of the claudin gene family in the teleost fish, Fugu rubripes. Genome Res,
Vol. 14, No. 7, (June 2004), pp. 1248-1257, ISSN: 1088-9051, 1549-5469
Maeda, Y., Dave, V. & Whitsett, J.A. (2007). Transcriptional control of lung morphogenesis.
Physiol Rev, Vol. 87, No. 1, (January 2007), pp. 219-244, ISSN: 0031-9333, 1522-1210
Merikallio, H., Kaarteenaho, R., Pkk, P., Lehtonen, S., Hirvikoski, P., Mkitaro, R., Harju,
T., & Soini, Y. (2011). Zeb1 and twist are more commonly expressed in metastatic
than primary lung tumours and show inverse associations with claudins. J Clin
Pathol, Vol. 64, No. 2, (December 2010), pp.136-140. ISSN: 0021-9746, 1472-4146.
Merikallio, H., Kaarteenaho, R., Paakko, P., Lehtonen, S., Hirvikoski, P., Makitaro, R., Harju,
T. & Soini, Y. (2011). Impact of smoking on the expression of claudins in lung
carcinoma. Eur J Cancer, Vol. 47, No. 4, (November 2010), pp. 620-630, ISSN: 00142964
Milatz, S., Krug, S.M., Rosenthal, R., Gunzel, D., Muller, D., Schulzke, J.D., Amasheh, S. &
Fromm, M. (2010). Claudin-3 acts as a sealing component of the tight junction for
ions of either charge and uncharged solutes. Biochim Biophys Acta, Vol. 1798, No. 11,
(July 2010), pp. 2048-2057, ISSN: 0006-3002
Mineta, K., Yamamoto, Y., Yamazaki, Y., Tanaka, H., Tada, Y., Saito, K., Tamura, A.,
Igarashi, M., Endo, T., Takeuchi, K. & Tsukita S. (2011). Predicted expansion of the
claudin multigene family. FEBS Lett, Vol. 585, No. 4, (January 2011), pp. 606-612
ISSN: 0014-5793, 1873-3468
Moldvay, J., Jackel, M., Paska, C., Soltesz, I., Schaff, Z. & Kiss, A. (2007). Distinct claudin
expression profile in histologic subtypes of lung cancer. Lung Cancer, Vol. 57, No. 2,
(April 2007), pp. 159-167, ISSN: 0169-5002, 1872-8332
Morita, K., Furuse, M., Fujimoto, K. & Tsukita, S. (1999). Claudin multigene family encoding
four-transmembrane domain protein components of tight junction strands. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol. 96, No. 2, (January 1999), pp. 511-516, ISSN: 0027-8424,
1091-6490
Nelson, K.S., Furuse, M. & Beitel, G.J. (2010). The Drosophila Claudin Kune-kune is required
for septate junction organization and tracheal tube size control. Genetics, Vol. 185,
No. 3, (April 2010), pp. 831-839, ISSN: 0016-6731, 1943-263
Peter, Y. & Goodenough D. Claudins. Curr Biol. Vol.14, No.8, (Apr 2004), pp.R293-R294,
ISSN: 0960-9822, 1879-0445
Peter, Y., Comellas, A., Levantini, E., Ingenito, E.P. & Shapiro, S.D. (2009). Epidermal growth
factor receptor and claudin-2 participate in A549 permeability and remodeling:

Claudins in Normal and Lung Cancer State

421

implications for non-small cell lung cancer tumor colonization. Mol Carcinog, Vol.
48, No. 6, (June 200), pp. 488-497, ISSN: 0899-1987, 1098-2744
Reynolds, S.D. & Malkinson, A.M. (2010). Clara cell: progenitor for the bronchiolar
epithelium. Int J Biochem Cell Biol, Vol. 42, No. 1, (January 2010), pp. 1-4, ISSN: 13572725, 1878-5875
Rock, J.R., Randell, S.H. & Hogan, B.L. (2010). Airway basal stem cells: a perspective on their
roles in epithelial homeostasis and remodeling. Dis Model Mech, Vol. 3, No. 9-10,
(Sep-Oct 2010), pp. 545-556, ISSN Print: 1754-8403, online: 1754-8411
Rogers, D.F. (2007). Physiology of airway mucus secretion and pathophysiology of
hypersecretion. Respir Care, Vol. 52, No. 9, (September 2007), pp. 1134-1146; ISSN:
0020-1324
Schneeberger E.E. & Lynch RD. (2004). The tight junction: a multifunctional complex. Am J
Physiol Cell Physiol, Vol. 286, No. 6, (Jun 2004), pp.C1213-C1228, ISSN: 0363-6143,
1522-1563
Schwartz, A.G., Prysak, G.M., Bock, C.H. & Cote, M.L. (2007). The molecular epidemiology
of lung cancer. Carcinogenesis, Vol. 28, No. 3, (March 2007), pp. 507-518, ISSN: 01433334, 1460-2180
Simske, J.S., Koppen, M., Sims, P., Hodgkin, J., Yonkof, A. & Hardin, J. (2003). The cell
junction protein VAB-9 regulates adhesion and epidermal morphology in C.
elegans. Nat Cell Biol, Vol. 5, No. 7, (July 2003), pp. 619-625, ISSN: 1465-7392, 14764679
Singh, A.B., Sharma, A. & Dhawan, P. (2010). Claudin family of proteins and cancer: an
overview. J Oncol, Vol. 2010, (July 2010), pp. 541957, ISSN: 1687-8450, 1687-8469
Steed, E., Balda, M.S. & Matter, K. (2010). Dynamics and functions of tight junctions. Trends
Cell Biol, Vol. 20, No. 3, (January 2010), pp. 142-149, ISSN: 0962-8924, 1879-3088
Tsukita, S. & Furuse, M. (2000a). The structure and function of claudins, cell adhesion
molecules at tight junctions. Ann N Y Acad Sci, Vol. 915, (2000), pp. 129-135, ISSN:
0077-8923, 1749-6632
Tsukita, S. & Furuse, M. (2000b). Pores in the wall: claudins constitute tight junction strands
containing aqueous pores. J Cell Biol, Vol. 149, No. 1, (April 2000), pp. 13-16, ISSN:
0021-9525, 1540-8140
Tsukita, S., Furuse, M. & Itoh, M. (2001). Multifunctional strands in tight junctions. Nat Rev
Mol Cell Biol, Vol. 2, No. 4, (April 2001), pp. 285-293, ISSN: 1471-0072, 1471-0080
Venter, J.C., Adams, M.D., Myers, E.W., Li, P.W., Mural, R.J., Sutton, G.G., Smith, H.O.,
Yandell, M., Evans, C.A., Holt, R.A., Gocayne, J.D., Amanatides, P., Ballew, R.M.,
Huson, D.H., Wortman, J.R., Zhang, Q., Kodira, C.D., Zheng, X.H., Chen, L., Skupski,
M., Subramanian, G., Thomas, P.D., Zhang, J., Gabor Miklos, G.L., Nelson, C., Broder,
S., Clark, A.G., Nadeau, J., McKusick, V.A., Zinder, N., Levine, A.J., Roberts, R.J.,
Simon, M., Slayman, C., Hunkapiller, M., Bolanos, R., Delcher, A., Dew, I., Fasulo, D.,
Flanigan, M., Florea, L., Halpern, A., Hannenhalli, S., Kravitz, S., Levy, S., Mobarry,
C., Reinert, K., Remington, K., Abu-Threideh, J., Beasley, E., Biddick, K., Bonazzi, V.,
Brandon, R., Cargill, M., Chandramouliswaran, I., Charlab, R., Chaturvedi, K., Deng,
Z., Di Francesco, V., Dunn, P., Eilbeck, K., Evangelista, C., Gabrielian, A.E., Gan, W.,
Ge, W., Gong, F., Gu, Z., Guan, P., Heiman, T.J., Higgins, M.E., Ji, R.R., Ke, Z.,
Ketchum, K.A., Lai, Z., Lei, Y., Li, Z., Li, J., Liang, Y., Lin, X., Lu, F., Merkulov, G.V.,
Milshina, N., Moore, H.M., Naik, A.K., Narayan, V.A., Neelam, B., Nusskern, D.,

422

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Rusch, D.B., Salzberg, S., Shao, W., Shue, B., Sun, J., Wang, Z., Wang, A., Wang, X.,
Wang, J., Wei, M., Wides, R., Xiao, C., Yan, C., Yao, A., Ye, J., Zhan, M., Zhang, W.,
Zhang, H., Zhao, Q., Zheng, L., Zhong, F., Zhong, W., Zhu, S., Zhao, S., Gilbert, D.,
Baumhueter, S., Spier, G., Carter, C., Cravchik, A., Woodage, T., Ali, F., An, H., Awe,
A., Baldwin, D., Baden, H., Barnstead, M., Barrow, I., Beeson, K., Busam, D., Carver,
A., Center, A., Cheng, M. L., Curry, L., Danaher, S., Davenport, L., Desilets, R., Dietz,
S., Dodson, K., Doup, L., Ferriera, S., Garg, N., Gluecksmann, A., Hart, B., Haynes, J.,
Haynes, C., Heiner, C., Hladun, S., Hostin, D., Houck, J., Howland, T., Ibegwam, C.,
Johnson, J., Kalush, F., Kline, L., Koduru, S., Love, A., Mann, F., May, D., McCawley,
S., McIntosh, T., McMullen, I., Moy, M., Moy, L., Murphy, B., Nelson, K., Pfannkoch,
C., Pratts, E., Puri, V., Qureshi, H., Reardon, M., Rodriguez, R., Rogers, Y. H.,
Romblad, D., Ruhfel, B., Scott, R., Sitter, C., Smallwood, M., Stewart, E., Strong, R.,
Suh, E., Thomas, R., Tint, N. N., Tse, S., Vech, C., Wang, G., Wetter, J., Williams, S.,
Williams, M., Windsor, S., Winn-Deen, E., Wolfe, K., Zaveri, J., Zaveri, K., Abril, J. F.,
Guigo, R., Campbell, M. J., Sjolander, K. V., Karlak, B., Kejariwal, A., Mi, H.,
Lazareva, B., Hatton, T., Narechania, A., Diemer, K., Muruganujan, A., Guo, N., Sato,
S., Bafna, V., Istrail, S., Lippert, R., Schwartz, R., Walenz, B., Yooseph, S., Allen, D.,
Basu, A., Baxendale, J., Blick, L., Caminha, M., Carnes-Stine, J., Caulk, P., Chiang, Y.
H., Coyne, M., Dahlke, C., Mays, A., Dombroski, M., Donnelly, M., Ely, D., Esparham,
S., Fosler, C., Gire, H., Glanowski, S., Glasser, K., Glodek, A., Gorokhov, M., Graham,
K., Gropman, B., Harris, M., Heil, J., Henderson, S., Hoover, J., Jennings, D., Jordan,
C., Jordan, J., Kasha, J., Kagan, L., Kraft, C., Levitsky, A., Lewis, M., Liu, X., Lopez, J.,
Ma, D., Majoros, W., McDaniel, J., Murphy, S., Newman, M., Nguyen, T., Nguyen, N.,
Nodell, M., Pan, S., Peck, J., Peterson, M., Rowe, W., Sanders, R., Scott, J., Simpson,
M., Smith, T., Sprague, A., Stockwell, T., Turner, R., Venter, E., Wang, M., Wen, M.,
Wu, D., Wu, M., Xia, A., Zandieh, A. & Zhu, X.. (2001). The sequence of the human
genome. Science, Vol. 291, No. 5507, (February 2001), pp. 1304-1351, ISSN: 0193-4511,
0193-4511
Wen, H., Watry, D.D., Marcondes, M.C. & Fox, H.S. (2004). Selective decrease in paracellular
conductance of tight junctions: role of the first extracellular domain of claudin-5. Mol
Cell Biol, Vol. 24, No. 19, (October 2004), pp. 8408-8417, ISSN: 1471-0072, 1471-0080
Will, C., Fromm, M. & Muller, D. (2008). Claudin tight junction proteins: novel aspects in
paracellular transport. Perit Dial Int, Vol. 28, No. 6, (November-December 2008), pp.
577-584, ISSN: 0896-8608
Wistuba, II, Mao, L. & Gazdar, A.F. (2002). Smoking molecular damage in bronchial
epithelium. Oncogene, Vol. 21, No. 48, (October 2002), pp. 7298-7306, ISSN: 0890-6467
Wu, V.M., Schulte, J., Hirschi, A., Tepass, U. & Beitel, G.J. (2004). Sinuous is a Drosophila
claudin required for septate junction organization and epithelial tube size control. J
Cell Biol, Vol. 164, No. 2, (April 2010), pp. 313-323, ISSN: 0021-9525, 1540-8140
Zhang, G., Ding, L., Renegar, R., Wang, X.M., Lu, Q., Huo, S. & Chen, Y.H. (2011).
Hydroxycamptothecin-Loaded Fe(3) O(4) Nanoparticles Induce Human Lung
Cancer Cell Apoptosis through Caspase-8 Pathway Activation and Disrupt Tight
Junctions. Cancer Sci, (March 2011), pp. 1216-1222, ISSN: 1347-9032, 1349-7006
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/index.html.
http://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway/hsa/hsa04530.html.
http://www.genecards.org/.

19
Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies
David Alejandro Silva, Elizabeth Richey and Hongmin Qin
Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station,
USA

1. Introduction
Cilia and flagella are microtubule-based appendages extending from the basal body of most
eukaryotic cells, and are classified as either motile or primary. Motile cilia or flagella can be
found on many cells such as Chlamydomonas, sperm, and respiratory tract epithelial cells.
This type of cilia is responsible for movement of the cell itself or generation of fluid flow. In
contrast, primary cilia are non-motile organelles that are critically involved in visual,
olfactory and auditory signal transduction and play key roles in the regulation of gene
expression, development, and behavior. This chapter reviews the current understanding of
the various mechanisms involved in cilia and flagellar assembly and maintenance.
Consistent with the nearly ubiquitous cellular distribution, cilia have been implicated in
numerous human diseases collectively known as ciliopathies. This chapter also discusses
several major ciliopathies including primary ciliary dyskinesia, hydrocephalus, polycystic
kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and cancer.

2. Mechanics of ciliogenesis
2.1 Basic biology of cilia
Cilia and flagella are long, slender structures protruding from the body of ciliated cells and
are composed of a microtubule-based core known as the axoneme. The main structural
element is an array of nine doublet microtubule pairs. The a-subfiber of these pairs exists as
a fully enclosed filament and is fused to the incomplete b-subfiber containing fewer tubulin
subunits. The individual pairs of subfibers are linked together by nexin proteins, forming
an enclosed cylinder around a central pair of singlet subfibers; this layout is known as the
9+2 arrangement. The axoneme itself originates from the basal body, a modified form of
the centriole consisting of nine triplet microtubules which anchors the cilia to the plasma
membrane. The area between the triplet microtubules of the basal body and doublet pairs
of the axoneme is referred to as the transition zone. Proteinaceous extensions from this area
called transition fibers serve to mark the enclosure of the flagellar compartment and create a
barrier from the cytoplasm. The outer and inner dyneins, located on the a-subfiber of the
axoneme, are motor proteins that produce the bending and sliding of the microtubules by
exerting force on the b-subfiber via ATP hydrolysis. Defects in the inner and outer motor
complexes can yield paralyzed or uncoordinated sliding of the axoneme, resulting in
inefficient movement. The outer doublet ring and the central pair of microtubules are
connected by structures known as radial spokes [1].

424

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Cilia can be distinguished into two types: primary (nonmotile) and motile cilia. While they
have the same basic structure, the biological functions of these two types can be very
different. Primary cilia typically do not contain the central pair of microtubules (having a
9+0 structure), and also lack other accessory proteins important for generating the ciliary
waveform stroke. This form of cilia is considered a sensory antenna for the cell due to a
highly specialized membrane protein profile and ability to extend in the luminal space of
various tissues. Historically, motile cilia/flagella are known to be important for locomotion
in single-celled organisms. In humans, however, motile cilia are important for various
physiological processes, ranging from mucous clearing in the trachea to aiding in
establishing proper left-right symmetry in developing organisms [2]. Because of their
structural similarities, the terms cilia and flagella will be used interchangeably.
2.2 Intraflagellar transport at a glance
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a term used to describe the bi-directional movement of nonmembrane protein particles that move along the microtubule doublet core (or axoneme),
between the space of the ciliary membrane and the axoneme. IFT was originally discovered
by Kozminksi and colleagues in 1993, using digital interference contrast (DIC) microscopy
to visualize the continuous movement of bulges beneath the membrane of a
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant with paralyzed-cilia [3]. Anterograde movement, towards
the ciliary tip or plus end of microtubules, is powered by heterotrimeric kinesin-2, and
retrograde movement is driven by cytoplasmic dynein1b [4-14]. A multi-meric protein
complex known as the IFT particle attaches to the motor complex and is itself comprised of
two large protein sub-complexes [5]. The axoneme is undergoing constant turnover at its
tip, meaning tubulin and other accessory proteins must be constantly replenished at the
distal tip [15]. The well-conserved IFT motors and particles are tasked with assembling and
maintaining the whole cilia structure by serving as adaptors for the transport of axonemal
precursors and the recycling of turnover products [1]. A secondary, though equally
important, function of IFT is to ferry in ciliary membrane proteins through a secondary
adapter complex known as the BBSome [16, 17].
2.2.1 IFT Motors
2.2.1.1 Anterograde motor
First isolated in sea-urchin, the anterograde IFT motor is a heterotrimeric kinesin-2,
comprised of three individual subunits [18]. Homologs are found in a variety of ciliated
organisms, including Tetrahymena, Caenorhabditis elegans, and humans. In Chlamydomonas,
FLA10 and FLA8 comprise the motor portion of the complex and together they interact with
FLA3, a kinesin-associated protein [19]. First evidence for the role of the kinesin-2 in
anterograde movement came from the characterization of a temperature sensitive mutant in
FLA10. While incubated at the permissive temperature (22C), the biflagellated green algae
possess two, full-length flagella. However, following a shift to the non-permissive
temperature (32C), FLA10 subunit denatures and levels of IFT proteins significantly reduce
within the first hour [6]. Cessation of IFT results in the dismantling of the axoneme and the
entire ciliary structure is retracted back into the cell body because of the normal turnover [5].
In addition, an isolated null mutant for the FLA10 subunit produces no flagella [20]. Taken
together, these studies demonstrate the importance of kinesin-2 to ciliogenesis.

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

425

These observations, however, are not entirely consistent among all ciliated organisms.
Mutations in the kinesin-2 motor subunits of different species do not result in a cilia-less cell
phenotype because of a secondary, homodimeric kinesin known as OSM-3 in C. elegans and
KIF17 in Homo sapiens[13]. Studies investigating the function of OSM-3 conclude that the
canonical kinesin-2 motor and OSM-3 work in a concerted effort to build sensory cilia in C.
elegans [13]. Single mutants in KLP-11 (FLA8) and KAP-1 (FLA3) in C. elegans appear to
form intact sensory cilia due to the redundancy of OSM-3 function in ciliogenesis (Signor et
al, 1999). However, perturbations of OSM-3 results in loss of the ciliary distal segment
comprised of singlet microtubule extensions beyond the doublet axoneme core. In these
mutants, the heterotrimeric anterograde motor still allows formation of the middle segment.
It could be possible the transferring of the IFT particle from the canonical kinesin-II to OSM3 may insure proper, sequential construction of the cilia. However, it has been well
documented that OSM-3 speed actually increases in disrupted kinesin-II mutants [21],
suggesting that kinesin-II may in fact be negatively regulating OSM-3. If so, kinesin-II
would ultimately be involved in determining the re-supply rate of axonemal precursors to
the flagella compartment. Defects in retrograde IFT clearly demonstrate the negative impact
that excess precursors and turnover products have on proper ciliary function. Therefore,
accumulation of axonemal components, due to a faster influx of proteins by OSM-3, could
also unbalance the natural turnover vs. assembly in favor of creating longer cilia, which is a
phenotype that has been observed in kinesin-II mutants. Recently, a null mutant for a
relatively new kinesin, KLP-6 in C. elegans males, demonstrated a slower procession of OSM3/KAP-1-associated IFT particle within the ciliary compartment [22]. Although it was
observed moving independently of the canonical IFT particle/motor complex, KLP-6
function may have a positive influence on ciliary length. This conclusion is supported by a
reduction of klp-11/klp-6 double mutant cilia compared to the single klp-11 mutant; klp-11
mutant has comparatively longer cilia than wild-type.
2.2.1.2 Retrograde motor
IFT-dynein, cytoplasmic dynein 2 (previously known as dynein 1b), powers the retrograde
movement of IFT [12]. To date, four proteins are confirmed members of the dynein 2
complex: heavy chain DHC1b, light chain LC8, light intermediate chain D1bLIC, and an
intermediate chain FAP133 [7-9, 14, 23-25]. C. elegans null mutants defective in dynein
components undergo normal anterograde movement but accumulate large amounts of IFT
proteins and turnover products within the ciliary compartment [26]. Retrograde-defective
cilia are severely truncated and contain protein aggregates that appear as noticeable large,
electron-dense clots. These results suggest IFT dynein is responsible for the retrograde
movement of the IFT; this result has been seen in Chlamyomonas, where defects in IFT dynein
lead to protein accumulations in the flagella compartment [27]. Anterograde movement
remains active in these mutants; however, the characteristic bulbous cilia are present as a
result of axonemal turnover outpacing the dysfunctional retrograde IFT. It has become
fairly evident that IFT particles do not passively diffuse out of the flagella compartment and
turnover products must be actively removed by dynein 2 in order to allow unhindered
trafficking of the IFT trains.
The current model for retrograde activation is fragmented at best. IFT-dynein is carried into
the compartment in an inactivated form as part of the IFT cargo. Once it reaches the tip, a

426

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

poorly understood remodeling occurs, initiating the dynein-powered return of the IFT train
back to the cell body [27, 28]. During retrograde movement, the kinesin is inactivated, but it
is unknown whether kinesin-2 is removed by the IFT particle as part of the turnover cargo
or simply diffused out. IFT-dynein has been historically shown to associate with complex A
in Chlamydomonas, primarily due to IFT-A temperature sensitive mutants exhibiting similar
phenotypes as retrograde mutants [29, 30]. During remodeling at the distal tip, IFT-A likely
facilitates the activation of dynein-2 in order to initiate retrograde movement, although a
detailed mechanistic overview is lacking [28].
The newest addition to the retrograde movement model suggests OSM-3 and kinesin-II may
directly transport IFT dynein, independently of the IFT particle in C. elegans [11]. The
conclusion is derived from IFT-dynein undergoing normal IFT transportation speeds
despite the uncoupling of IFT complex A/kinesin-2, and complex B/OSM-3. Another new
concept suggests IFT172 may in fact mediate the interaction between inactivated dynein and
the IFT particle during anterograde movement [28]. A new study in C. elegans has revealed
the presence of a new retrograde dynein motor, specific to outer labial quadrant neurons,
which are able to form full functional cilia in canonical IFT dynein mutants [11].
2.2.1.3 Regulation of the motors
IFT motor regulation continues to be of high interest in the cilia field due to the motors
important functions. Defects in FLA3, the kinesin associated protein, lead to mislocalized
kinesin-II and subsequently produce a bald or flagella-less phenotype in Chlamydomonas
[31]. Isolation of DYF-11 null mutant, a homolog of human microtubule-interacting protein
(MIP)-T3 and IFT54 in C. elegans, reveals that this protein may serve as an anchoring protein
for the priming/loading of the entire IFT motor/particle complex onto the transition zone of
cilia [32]. KIF17, OSM-3 homolog of C. elegans, in human primary cilia was discovered to be
under the regulation of a RAN gradient between the cell body and flagellar compartment.
This mechanism operates in similar fashion to the RAN gradient active in regulating the
trafficking of proteins across the nuclear pore complex [33]. A ciliary localization signal
(CLS) at the tail end of KIF17 was shown to contribute to the interaction with another
accessory protein known as importin-2, a nuclear import protein; this interaction was
inhibited by RAN-GTP. Similar CLS signals may exist for additional proteins in other
model organisms due to the conserved nature of IFT. Recent study into the regulation of
IFT-dynein flagellar entry has suggested that Chlamydomonas IFT172, a peripheral protein of
IFT-B subcomplex, may be directly involved in the transport of IFT-dynein into the flagellar
compartment [28].
2.3 IFT particle
By comparing the flagellar proteome of a fla10ts mutant after incubation at the nonpermissive temperature to a wild-type proteome, Cole and colleagues biochemically
observed the depletion of certain proteins from the flagellar compartment [5]. After further
analysis, members of the IFT particle were discovered. Results from this study
demonstrated that the IFT particle was actually comprised of two sub-complexes, IFT-A and
IFT-B, which to date consist of 6 and 12 polypeptides, respectively [19]. A recent study shed
new light on the organization of the IFT-B subcomplex, demonstrating it can be separated
further into two tetrameric subdomains: IFT25/27/74/81/72 and IFT52/46/88/70 [34-36].

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

427

IFT52 serves as the interface between the IFT74/81 and IFT52/46/88/70 [36]; IFT74/81
functions as the intermediate complex between IFT25/27 and IFT52/46/88/70. Currently
IFT-A complex is understood to be composed of IFT144/121/140/121/139/43 [30], however
its structural organization remains unclear.
A majority of the IFT members are enriched in WD40 and tetracopeptide repeats (TPR),
multi-protein binding domains that possibly form a circularized beta-propeller structure
and alpha helical solenoid, respectively, to behave as scaffolding elements [19]. WAA is
another binding motif present in these proteins, although it is poorly understood. Most of
the IFT proteins contribute to the overall integrity of their respective complexes, evident by
the subsequent instability and depletion of complex-mates following disruption of certain
IFT proteins. Depending on which complex is disrupted, flagella morphology is typically
affected in one of two ways: structurally sound but severely truncated cilia (IFT-B mutants)
or short bulbous flagella (IFT-A) [1, 13, 27]. The resulting phenotype reveals the different
nature of the two complexes; short flagella convey IFT-Bs importance in anterograde
movement and protein buildup in the flagella compartment suggest IFT-A is involved in
retrograde IFT. Nonetheless, the many parts of IFT machinery must work in a concerted
effort to strike an efficient balance between retrograde and anterograde transportation
dynamics.
Defects in other IFT-B proteins typically lead to a bald phenotype, making any biochemical
analysis a challenge to determine individual function. A null mutant of ift88, the first IFT
protein to be implicated in disease [37], displays a bald phenotype in Chlamydomonas. The
absence of IFT54/MIP-T3 causes the entire IFT motor/particle complex, with the exception
of OSM-3, to mislocalize at the ciliary base in C. elegans [32]. In IFT46 mutants, IFT-B
complex still assembles the complex B core proteins but stability is severely affected, evident
by the presence of structural sound yet short flagella in Chlamydomonas [38]. A suppressor
IFT46 mutant sufficiently stabilizes the IFT complex to produced full length flagella.
However, upon closer analysis, the axoneme lack outer dynein arms [38]. Thus, IFT46
serves as an adaptor protein for the specific transport of ODA16, a component of the outer
dynein arms [39]. It is unclear whether IFT46 functions as a structural protein, since it
appears not to be an essential contributor to complex B structural integrity (Richey and Qin,
unpublished). It could possess a secondary function as a molecular indicator or chaperone
for the IFT-B complex assembly, since the IFT-B can still assemble on a sucrose density
gradient (Richey and Qin, unpublished). In addition to the known IFT core proteins, there
are a few peripheral proteins associated with complex B: IFT57, IFT20, IFT172, and IFT80
[34]. IFT20 is a particularly interesting protein, because it is the only IFT protein that can
localize in the Golgi apparatus, the central hub for the sorting and packaging of
macromolecules for secretion. The current model suggests IFT20 is involved in directing
vesicles transporting ciliary-specific proteins near the basal body, and participating in the
trafficking of membrane proteins into the flagellar compartment [40]. IFT57 can target to the
transition fibers of the axoneme, and serves as an anchoring protein for IFT20 to IFT-B in
zebrafish [41]. IFT172 is also an interesting protein, since it readily dissociates from the IFT
particle and has been shown to be important for retrograde movement. Using temperature
sensitive mutant fla11ts (IFT172), Pederson et al. 2006 concluded that IFT172 directly
interacts with CrEB1, a protein exclusively located at the flagella tip, and accumulates IFT-B
but not IFT-A nor IFT dynein proteins in the flagella [42, 43]. Recently, evidence of IFT172
involvement in the flagellar entry of IFT-dynein was detected in Chlamydomonas. Upon

428

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

incubation at the non-permissive temperature, IFT-dynein is depleted from the flagella

compartment of the temperature sensitive IFT172 mutant while the rest of IFT particle
remains at wild-type levels [28].
The function of individual IFT-A sub-complex proteins are even more enigmatic. Much like
IFT-B proteins, disruption or depletion of a single IFT-A protein leads to the instability of
the complex and subsequent depletion from the cell body [28]. Mouse IFT122 was shown to
regulate members of the sonic hedgehog pathway in a number of ways by uniquely
affecting the localization of certain proteins differently than IFT-A and IFT dynein mutants
[44]. In Drosophila, an IFT140 mutant does not have detectable levels of ciliary TRPV ion
channels; while the mRNA levels were unchanged, IFT140 may instead be important for the
post-translational stability of the ion channels [45]. The more predominant understanding
of the IFT-A function comes from its importance to retrograde movement. At the
permissive temperature, electron-dense bulges are present within the cilia of temperaturesensitive Chlamydomonas mutants in IFT139 (fla17) and IFT144 (fla15). Following a shift to
the non-permissive temperature leads to the complete breakdown of retrograde IFT and
retraction of the axoneme, resulting in lolli-pop shaped bulbs filled with IFT-B proteins [29,
30]. This phenotype is also observed in IFT dynein mutants, thought to arise from the
possible hindrance of retrograde IFT activation, and ultimately leading to the buildup of
turnover products and IFT particles within the flagellar compartment [43]. In C. elegans,
IFT-A directly interacts with kinesin-II while IFT-B is transported by OSM-3. IFT-A and IFTB are linked together by the BBSome, a secondary adaptor complex important for ciliary
membrane biogenesis [21, 46].
2.4 BBSome role in membrane biogenesis
Originally discovered during genetic disease screens, the BBSome protein complex functions
as an adaptor complex for the IFT particle and facilitates the transport of ciliary membrane
proteins. Interaction assays using BBS4 led to the discovery of the seven conserved proteins,
BBS1/2/4/5/7/8/9, that comprise the BBSome complex [47]. In the same study, BBS5 was
found to interact with phosphoinositides, phospholipids important for recruitment of
trafficking proteins to the plasma membrane, implicating a role for the BBSome in vesicle
trafficking. In addition, the BBS1 was shown to interact with Rabin8, a guanine nucleotide
exchange factor (GEF) for Rab8, two proteins important for ciliary protein trafficking [16].
BBS1 direct association with Rabin8 stimulates the proteins GEF-activity to promote Rab8
activation. Rab8 and Rabin8 contribution to ciliogenesis will be discussed below. Arl6
(BBS3), although not important for BBSome assembly, is important for the recruitment of
BBSome to primary cilia and purified liposomes [48]. In Chlamydomonas, perturbation of
BBSome proteins does not lead to any morphological defects; however, cells are unable to
undergo phototaxis, suggesting a role in signal transduction. The ciliary membrane in BBS1,
BBS4, and BBS7 mutants accumulate several proteins which are thought to hinder Ca2+
signaling pathways involved in the phototaxic response [17]. In C. elegans, the BBSome
serves as a linking bridge between IFT-A/kinesin-II and IFT-B/OSM-3; disruption of the
complex results in the uncoupling of the IFT machinery and leads to cilia morphology
defects in some cases [21, 46]. Protein models predict the BBSome functions as a vesicle
coat, much like clathrin and COPI/II coat, directing post trans-Golgi network (TGN) vesicles
to the ciliary compartment and accompanying them as a mediator between the IFT
machinery [48]. The BBSome also sporadically falls off the IFT train, possibly in the event

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

429

of cargo unloading [17]. However, only a few ciliary membrane proteins have been
confirmed to be BBSome-dependent for proper localization, most notably Somatostatin
receptor 3 (SSTR30) and some G-coupled receptors. Thus, it is unclear whether the BBSomedependent ciliary transport is a general mechanism or a protein-specific system [17].
2.5 Role of GTPases in ciliogenesis
Research in small GTPases involved in ciliogenesis is a growing branch of the field and the
results have been quite interesting. ADP-ribosylating factorlike (ARL) 13, BBS3 and the
BBSome are involved in the targeting and entry of flagellar membrane proteins into the
compartment [16]. ARL-13 and ARL-3 are small G-proteins antagonistically operating to
maintain the stability of IFT particles during middle segment transport in C. elegans (IFT A
and B) [49, 50]. ARL-13 may also have roles involved in maintaining axonemal integrity
since null mutant animals have a variety of gross cilia abnormalities [49-51]. It has been
suggested that ARL13 may in fact regulate the coupling of IFT-A and IFT-B, while ARL3
regulates IFT-B interaction with OSM-3; together they regulate the integrity of the IFT
machinery in C. elegans [50]. Rab8 is recruited to the transition zone by Rabin8 (Rab8GEF),
following stimulation from BBS1, a core member of the BBSome; this ultimately results in
the fusion of post-Golgi vesicles shuttling ciliary membrane proteins near the basal body
[52, 53]. Dominant negative and constitutive active constructs demonstrate the impact that
the nucleotide state of Rab8 has on its entry into the ciliary compartment and its role in
ciliogenesis [47]. Arf4 and Rab11 form a complex with Arf GTPase activating protein
ASAP1 and FIP3 to package and transport rhodopsin from the trans-golgi-network to
photoreceptor cilia [54]. This interaction between rhodopsin and Arf4 is dependent on a
VxPx motif, a ciliary localization signal also found in other ciliary membrane proteins [16].
Recently, the VxPx motif has been shown to be essential for the trafficking of polycistin-1
protein, and to be involved in the recruitment of Rab8, thereby promoting fusion of ciliary
membrane protein-containing vesicles [55]. Another small GTPase, Rab23, was found to be
responsible for the turnover of sonic hedgehog signaling protein, Smoothened, from the
ciliary compartment [56]. As mentioned in IFT motor regulation section, a RAN-GTP
ciliary/cytoplasmic gradient regulates the entry of kinesin motor KIF17 in the primary cilia
of cultured cells [33].
Two mysterious members of the IFT-B complex, IFT27/RABL4 and IFT22/RABL5, are the
only small GTPases known to directly interact with the IFT particle. IFT25 is a
phosphoprotein of unknown function , though it is known to interact with the small
GTPase-like IFT27 [57]. Recent work on IFT27 confirmed its GTP binding and GTPase
activity along with solving the crystal structure of the sub-complex IFT25/27. However, the
exact function of IFT25/27 remains unknown [58]. IFT22 has been the more controversial of
the two, since in recent studies with C. elegans and Trypanosome IFT22 homologs produced
conflicting results. In C. elegans, a putative constitutive active form (GTP-locked) of the
IFTA-2 (IFT22 homolog) can enter the ciliary compartment while dominant negative (GDPlocked) diffusely localizes throughout the neuronal cell body and is notably excluded from
the ciliary compartment [59]. IFTA-2 null mutants exhibited extended lifespans, reminiscent
of insulin IGF-1-like signaling pathway defects, and a failure to enter dauer formation, a
type of survival mode. The null IFTA-2 (IFT22) mutant had intact sensory cilia, effectively
suggesting IFTA-2 is not essential to ciliogenesis. However, RNAi knockdown experiments
of Trypanosome RABL5 lead to the buildup of IFT particles in the flagella compartment and

430

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

subsequent shortening of the flagella [60]. This phenotype is similar to mutants with
defective retrograde IFT, suggesting RABL5 is important for ciliogenesis.
2.6 Gating the ciliary compartment
As mentioned above, the transition fibers mark the entrance of the flagella compartment by
tethering the plasma membrane to the base of the flagella. The ciliary proteome contains
various proteins not found at such concentrated levels in cytoplasm, implying an inherent
selectivity to the transition zone barrier [61]. Although the complete regulatory pathway
remains poorly understood, various studies have begun to demonstrate the complexity of
the flagella gating mechanism. Recent biochemical characterization of cep290 mutant in
Chlamydomonas revealed that the protein CEP290 functions as an intricate member of the
transition zone barrier proteins [62]. CEP290 is part of the MKS/MKSR/NPHP proteins
(Meckel-Gruber syndrome/related and nephronophthisis), shown to localize at the base of
the flagella. Together these proteins form the transition zone and function as the ciliary
selective barrier, evident by the accumulation of non-ciliary proteins in the cilia of various
TZ mutants [63, 64]. Although IFT anterograde movement was normal and retrograde
slightly slower, the cep290 flagella accumulated IFT-B proteins and BBS4, yet had a
reduction of IFT-A, some membrane proteins and axonemal precursors. This phenotype
suggests CEP290 plays a role in the mechanical selectivity of the transition zone; it could be
possible that IFT-B binding/priming at the transition zone requires CEP290, which could
explain the mostly unhindered movement of IFT and the buildup of IFT-B and not IFT-A.
Additional selectivity mechanisms have become more apparent, such as the requirement of
ciliary transport signal (CTS) for access to the flagella compartment [16]. The VxPx motif, a
CTS, is important for the targeting and entry of ciliary membrane proteins polycistin-1 and
rhodopsin. In contrast, a recent study discovered a mechanism for molecular retention,
whereby passive diffusion into the ciliary membrane is inhibited by a transferable retention
signal [65]. Podoclayxin was shown to contain a four- amino acid PDZ binding motif that
facilitated its interaction with NA+/H+ exchanger 3 regulatory factor NHERF1, a protein
attached to the apical actin cytoskeleton [66]. The conserved four- amino acid sequence in
the PDZ binding motif was shown to be sufficient to prevent passive diffusion into the
cilary membrane domain [65]. Although the ciliary entry is passive, the ciliary membrane
protein retention appears to require the protein to be firmly attached to the axoneme. Thus,
a ciliary retention signal is likely to be necessary for membrane protein accumulation in the
ciliary compartment. Additionally, much like the gating system for the nuclear pore
complex, a RAN-GTP has been found to exist between the cilia and cytosol that is important
for import of KIF17, via its Ran-GTP dependent association with importin-2 [33].
2.7 Microtubule post translational modifications
The microtubule component of the axoneme undergoes various post-translational
modifications (PTMs) that play a vital role in promoting the mechanical movement of the
organelle. The dramatic impact of microtubule PTMs has been well characterized, but
recent studies have begun to deepen our understanding of how PTMs affect ciliary assembly
and maintenance. For an extensive review on the impact of PTMs on ciliogenesis and cell
motility, please see a recent review by Wloga and Gaertig [67, 68].

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

431

2.7.1 Acetylation of tubulin

N-Acetylation is the only PTM that occurs within the microtubule core, at the highly
conserved K40 residue on -tubulin [69-71]. Mammalian microtubules undergo acetylation
of lysine residues on multiple sites located on both - and - tubulin [72]. Recently MEC17, a previously uncharacterized protein now known as TAT1 (-tubulin
acetyltransferase), may be the sole enzyme responsible for the acetylation of K40 in
mammalian cilia [73]. Knockdown of TAT1 does not produce any severe morphological
defects nor does it affect microtubule polymerization. However, as a BBSome-associated
protein, it was suspected to be involved in cilia assembly. The depletion of TAT1 leads to a
delayed assembly of primary cilia; taken together with recent information, K40 acetylation
may be involved in the dynamics of axonemal assembly and disassembly [74]. Recent
studies demonstrate that acetylation of -tubulin may target these subunits for degradation,
since they are preferentially selected to be ubiquitinated over -tubulin during disassembly
[75]. A newly discovered BBSome subunit, BBIP10, functions as a positive regulator of
microtubule stability, as a reduction of cytoplasmic microtubules and increase in free
tubulin is seen in BBIP10-depleted cells. In addition, overexpression of BBIP10, microtubule
acetylation was dramatically increased. The function of BBIP10 on microtubule stability
appears to be either dependent or independent of the BBSome [76]
2.7.2 Glutamylation and glycylation
Glutamylation has been observed on microtubules in general, while glycylation has been
found to be restricted to the ciliary microtubules of flagellated cell types [77]. These side
chains are synthesized in distinct steps of initiation and elongation, typically carried out by
two types of enzymes known as tyroslytubulin ligase-like proteins (TTLLs) [78, 79]. Recent
studies have begun to investigate the function of these types of PTMs for ciliogenesis, most
notably by the impact of polyglutamylation on inner dynein dynamics [80, 81].

3. Ciliopathies
Ciliated cells can be found in various tissues throughout the human body. These include
the eye, the trachea, the kidney, the reproductive tract, the intestines, the heart, and many
others. In each of these tissues, the cilia perform a significant role in allowing proper
function of the tissues. Since ciliated cells are in most important organ tissues,
malfunctioning cilia contribute substantially to human disease. Diseases caused or related
to faulty cilia are called ciliopathies. The list of ciliopathies is just as diverse as the variety of
tissues in which cilia are found. These diseases support the fact that cilia, once thought to be
unimportant cellular appendages, are essential for sustaining health in the human body.
There are too many ciliopathies to mention, and the list continues to grow. Some major
ciliopathies include Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD), Hydrocephalus, Polycystic Kidney
Disease (PKD), Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), and even cancer [82].
3.1 Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)
The relationship between Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) and ciliary defects was first
discovered in the 1970s [83], making PCD the first human disorder found to be linked to
cilia function [84]. PCD is a multi-symptomatic ciliopathy that is present in all major ethnic

432

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

groups and occurs 1 in every 20,000 live births, although this is likely an underestimation
due to a failure to properly diagnose the disorder [85, 86]. PCD was first called immotile
cilia syndrome, but was renamed because it was later found that the cilia were not always
immotile, but often had abnormal motility [87].
PCD is characterized by many symptoms that are expressed to various degrees [84]. It
affects mainly the respiratory system beginning at birth or within the first month of life.
Early signs typically involve a persistent cough and chronic nasal congestion. Other
symptoms often include other respiratory problems such as sinusitis and bronchiectasis [87].
The respiratory symptoms of PCD are caused by the lack of uniform ciliary movement to
transport particles, or mucous in or out of the organs or the cells themselves. There are
about 200 motile cilia in the respiratory tract of a healthy individual. Beating coordinately,
these cilia function to remove mucous and debris from the airway in a process called
mucocilliary clearance [88]. When the cilia malfunction, there is buildup of mucous and
debris in the tract, which leads to respiratory difficulties.
However, this disease is not only associated with the respiratory system. It also has an
impact in development, fertility, and aural health. Fifty percent of patients with PCD have
total situs inversus, with organs developing on the opposite side of the body. This is
thought to be due to the importance of cilia in producing correct direction of nodal flow
during embryo development. This was seen in a 2002 study which showed that when
direction of nodal flow was artificially reversed to right instead of left, mice developed
organs that were a mirror image to normal orientation [89]. There are three known genes
involved in left-right axis (LRA) determination, including lrd (left-right dynein), hfh-4
(hepatocyte nuclear factor/forkhead homologue 4), and kif3B (kinesin member 3B) [90-92].
PCD also affects fertility. Males with PCD are typically infertile, and females have a higher
rate of ectopic pregnancies. Significant hearing impairment is seen in about fifty percent of
children with PCD [93]. This is likely due to the condition known as chronic secretory otitis,
which is found almost universally in PCD patients [94]. This is a condition that causes
collection of fluid in the middle ear and can cause serious hearing loss and pain. Studies
have been done to show that people with chronic secretory otitis have a slower ciliary beat
frequency, resulting in failure to move fluid out of the ear canal, leading to infection [95].
PCD is a genetically heterogeneous disease typically caused by autosomal recessive
mutations in ciliary protein genes. The most common mutations occur in DNAH5 (dynein
heavy chain) and DNAI1 (intermediate chain dynein) genes. Studies show that the disease
is caused by abnormalities in the axonemal structure of the cilia. In most patients, the outer
dynein arms are missing, of which fifty percent of these patients have mutations in DNAH5
and DNAI1 [96-98]. However, it is thought that lacking the inner dynein arms, central pair
of microtubules, or radial spokes can also lead to PCD. Seventy to eighty percent of patients
have outer or inner dynein arm defects, while only five to ten percent are missing radial
spokes. PCD can also be caused by a disorientation of cilia and transposed microtubules
[85]. Transposed microtubules occur when a cilium lacks the central microtubule pair and a
peripheral doublet with dynein arms transposes to the center of the axoneme. This
microtubule defect, coined central microtubule agenesis, causes a circular rotation of the
cilia rather than the normal back and forth motion [99]. In addition to genetic causation,
PCD can also be a result of acquired defects caused by epithelial damage by chronic
infection or irritant exposure [100].

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

433

Beat frequency, beat patterns, and protein localization are all parameters measured in
diagnosis of the disease. Nasal brush biopsies are most commonly used to collect a patients
cells, but bronchoscopic brush biopsies can also be used [101]. Typically, a diagnosis is
made by examining fixed cells under a transmission electron microscope to identify ciliary
structural defects in addition to measuring ciliary beat frequency in live cells by video
microscopy. However, in the case of central microtubule agenesis, it is important to also
look at ciliary beat pattern, since the cilia typically maintain a normal beat frequency, with
aberrant movement. These patients also tend to have normally functioning nodal cilia,
which allow normal situs, accounting for the fact that not all PCD patients have situs
inversus [99]. This may pose a problem for diagnosis if doctors are using organ orientation
as a diagnostic factor. Protein localization is a relatively new and uncommon means of
diagnosis. In respiratory cells, certain ciliary proteins have been shown to mislocalize in the
case of PCD. These include DNAH5 and DNAI1, which under normal circumstances,
colocalize throughout the axoneme. In patients with PCD caused by a mutation in the
DNAI1 gene, the protein fails to localize to the distal tip, leading to abnormal motility. In
patients with a mutation in DNAH5, the protein is entirely absent from the axoneme,
causing complete paralysis. This is useful for diagnosis since immunofluorescence can
show if this mislocalization is present [102]. Genetic testing can also be done, but is not very
reliable since the disease is very genetically heterogeneous, with the discovery of at least ten
related genes from various loci on multiple chromosomes [103]. False positive diagnoses
can occur during or after a respiratory infection or inflammation, since these conditions
show impaired ciliary function. Therefore diagnosis is only accurate at least four to six
weeks post-infection [101].
Screening for the disease is also very important to help rule PCD out for patients with
similar symptoms. Among the screening techniques, measuring levels of nasal nitric oxide
(nNO) is relatively new but fairly promising. Very low levels of nNO are exhaled from
patients with PCD. Therefore, if the patient has high or normal levels, they likely do not
have PCD. Levels are not diagnostic of PCD, however, since low levels can also be found in
accordance with other diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic sinusitis, and others. One
downfall of this screening technique is that it is ineffective for children under five years old,
since younger children will not be able to blow into the apparatus [104]. Saccharin testing is
also used for PCD screening. This is a measurement of the time it takes for a patient to be
able to taste saccharin, which is related to the function of the cilia in the taste bud cells.
However, this is not a very useful test since it is unreliable in children under twelve.
Radioaerosol mucociliary clearance testing, which measures how well mucous is removed
from the respiratory tract, is useful in infants for screening, but again is not diagnostic of
PCD [101].
Current treatment for PCD is mainly focused on treating and preventing the symptoms of
the disease. Studies are being done to test the efficacy of antibiotics, airway clearance, and
anti-inflammatory treatments [101]. Nebulized DNase has also shown promise in a 1999
case study with a PCD patient. The patients symptoms were not relieved from treatment
with antibiotic and bronchodilator treatments alone. However, when DNase was used in
addition to these treatments, there was a significant improvement in symptoms overnight.
This showed the therapeutic potential of DNase, but more studies need to be done to further
test the efficacy [105]. Gene therapy is also being considered. A 2010 pilot study showed
that a lentiviral vector can incorporate ciliary protein into the axoneme to restore ciliary

434

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

function [96]. Further studies need to be done to make these treatments more mainstream.
In addition to treatments, preventative measures such as avoiding respiratory irritations and
exercising, can be very helpful. If treatments and preventative measures are unsuccessful, it
is often necessary to undergo surgery.
PCD research has taught us a lot about cilia. It has shown the importance of cilia in
development, in respiratory function, in aural health, and in fertility. It has also taught us a
lot about the structure of cilia and the function of various ciliary proteins. In fact, a 2010
study revealed 208 potential ciliary genes based on PCD research [106]. PCD will continue
to give us new insights on ciliary function and will continue to be an important area of
ciliopathy research.
3.2 Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is a disease in which cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) accumulates in the brain.
CSF is mostly produced by the choroid plexuses of the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles
[107]. To maintain equilibrium it is important for the excess fluid to drain into the
subarachnoid space where it is resorbed into the venous system [108]. When this process
malfunctions, the fluid builds up, causing swelling in the brain that leads to many
complications. The disease dates back to the time of Hippocrates when he described a
liquefaction of the brain that showed symptoms such as headache, vomiting, and visual
impairment [109]. Other symptoms can include high intracranial pressure, in addition to
impairments in gait, cognition, alertness, and continence [110]. Although this disease can
have various causes, it has been shown that there is a higher prevalence of hydrocephalus in
patients that are known to have ciliary defects, and the disease can also be linked to genes
known to impact cilia function or structure [111]. Hydrocephalus is often seen in
conjunction with other ciliopathies such as PKD as seen in the Tg737 mouse [112] and more
rarely in PCD [113].
Although hydrocephalus has a rich history in research, the disease as a ciliopathy is a
relatively new area of study, and much is yet to be learned about its link with cilia. In
animal models, 43 mutations from 9 different genes are known to be related to
hydrocephalus. In contrast, there is only one gene that has been identified in humans [114].
X-linked hydrocephalus is caused by a mutation in the neural cell adhesion molecule L1
(L1CAM) gene [115]. This form of the disease was first discovered in 1949 [116] and occurs
about 1 in every 30,000 male births [117]. No research has been done up to this point to
determine if there is a link between L1CAM and cilia.
Many mouse models, however, have allowed identification of multiple ciliary genes that,
when mutated, can lead to hydrocephalus. Accumulation of CSF can be caused by
malfunctions in CSF production, CSF flow, or CSF absorption. Tg737 mice are missing
intraflagellar transport protein IFT88/Polaris. This protein is important for ion transport
and the mutation shows an overproduction of CSF, leading to the development of
hydrocephalus [107]. This suggests the importance of cilia in signaling and regulation of
CSF levels. Mice with this mutation also have abnormal beating of the motile cilia of the
ependymal cells, disrupting the CSF flow. However, this is not causal in this case since
development of the disease occurs before the motile cilia form [107]. In contrast, CSF flow
disruption seems to be the cause of hydrocephalus in Mdnah5 (axonemal dynein heavy
chain) and Hydin mutants. These mutants cause structural defects in the axoneme of the

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

435

cilia, leading to impaired motility [111, 118-120]. In these two mutants, the cilia are unable
to create sufficient flow to remove CSF from the ventricles. Other hydrocephalus mutants
are thought to be linked to important development pathways that may disrupt the CSF
equilibrium. Inactivation of Pten and -catenin leads to hydrocephalus [121]. These proteins
are key players in Wnt signaling pathway and important for proper midbrain development,
in which the function of primary cilia could be involved [122]. Polycystin-1, a ciliary
membrane protein, is also shown to be important in development and regulating fluid in the
brain [112]. Ptch1 and parkin-qk1 mutations also lead to hydrocephalus [123] most likely
due to a disruption in the Hedgehog pathway, which also involves the primary cilia [124].
All these findings show the importance of cilia in signaling, development, and movement of
fluid, and their roles in maintaining a healthy CSF balance in the brain.
An early method of diagnosis required ventricular puncture to test for dilation and
occlusive lesions. This procedure was risky, so it was eventually replaced by computed
tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [109]. Prenatal diagnosis can be
done for x-linked recessive hydrocephalus by doing serial ultrasound scans to test for
abnormal growth of the babys head [125]. Since there is only one known human
hydrocephalus gene, and it is for the rare x-linked type, genetic testing is not yet useful for
diagnosis.
The oldest treatment known for hydrocephalus was to tightly bandage the babys deformed
swollen head to decrease the size and swelling. This method was abandoned since it
increased the intracranial pressure. In the 18th and 19th centuries, special diets were
recommended and dehydration was induced with laxatives, diuretics, potassium iodide, etc.
In 1957 acetazolamide was first used in practice and is still used to reduce production of
CSF. Other treatments were abandoned such as isosorbide and irradiation of the choroid
plexus [109]. Vasoconstrictors such as dihydroergotamine have shown promise in allowing
better arterial pulsation and reducing ventricular dilation [126]. Various surgical treatments
have been used including external CSF drainage, serial lumbar puncturing, and
implantation of an internal shunt, which is a catheter that allows drainage of CSF out of the
ventricles. These surgical procedures brought about complications such as infections,
improper placement of shunts, and hydraulic mismanagement due to body positioning.
These complications necessitated further research and improvements. One of the most
pivotal improvements is the development and modification of shunts with adjustable,
autoregulating, antisiphon, and gravitational valves. There are currently at least 127 designs
of valves and more than 20 shunting procedures that have been suggested, with
ventriculoperitoneal shunts being the most commonly utilized. Valved shunts are now
standard treatment for hydrocephalus, being the choice treatment for about 80% of cases
[109, 127]. In elderly patients shunt implantation is very risky. Repeated lumbar
puncturing in patients with communicating hydrocephalus can potentially prevent the need
for shunt surgery in these patients [110]. The newest addition to shunt technology is
antibiotic-impregnated shunts that help prevent post-surgical infections [128].
The relationship between cilia and hydrocephalus and the genes that are involved are
poorly understood in humans. Advancements in this knowledge may eventually lead to
better, less invasive forms of treatment and a better understanding of how cilia function in
the brain.

436

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

3.3 Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

There are two types of PKD, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and
autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). ADPKD is the most common of all
the potentially lethal autosomal dominant diseases, with an incidence of 1 in 1000 [129].
Symptoms typically do not present themselves until between the ages of 35-50 years. These
symptoms include acute abdominal and lower back pain, hypertension, palpable kidneys,
recurrent urinary tract infections, shortness of breath, early satiety, hydrocephalus, kidney
stones and cysts in the kidney, liver, thyroid, subarachnoid space, and seminal vesicles [130].
ADPKD most often ends in end stage renal disease (ESRD) between 55 and 75 years old [82].
ARPKD, on the other hand presents itself immediately. Although delayed presentation is
possible, ARPKD can often be seen in utero, and leads to ESRD in the neonatal stage and
infants often die due to respiratory complications. Also unlike ADPKD, there is usually no
cyst formation in other organs in the case of ARPKD [130]. It is also much more rare, with an
incidence of 1 in 20000, and has a very high infant mortality rate [131].
Although other factors may be involved, strong correlations have been made between PKD
and cilia function. Primary cilia are now known to act as mechanosensors that regulate Ca2+
influx. Fluid flow in the kidney causes the primary cilia to bend, which allows the Ca2+
channels to open, allowing increased intracellular Ca2+. This process is disrupted in some
forms of PKD. However, primary cilia have also been implicated in pathways such as
Hedgehog, Wnt, cAMP, and Planar Cell Polarity. Disruptions of these pathways can lead to
abnormal polarity, differentiation, and proliferation, which can lead to cyst formation [130].
Therefore the role of primary cilia in cystogenesis is not only important, but is very
multidimensional.
In human, ADPKD is caused by a mutation in PKD1 (85 % of the time) or PKD2 (15% of the
time). There are more than 500 mutations known in PKD1 and 120 in PKD2 [132, 133].
These genes code for proteins polycystin-1 and polycystin-2, which both localize to renal
cilia [134]. These proteins prove to be important in renal tube development and cell
differentiation in the kidney. They are involved in the calcium signal transduction cascade
that regulates proliferation and differentiation [135, 136]. ARPKD is caused by a mutation
in PKHD1, which encodes fibrocystin, a receptor-like protein associated with the membrane
and colocalizes with polycystin-2 in primary cilia [82, 137]. It also plays a role in collecting
duct and biliary cell differentiation [138]. Studies in other species have made other
connections between cilia and PKD. In addition to hydrocephalus, Tg737 mice have cysts in
kidney and pancreas, hepatic fibrosis, and polydactyly. Mice with this mutation have
elevated polycystin-2 levels and have cilia that are much shorter than normal [135, 139].
These factors result in cyst formation. A mutation in Kif3A (a subunit of kinesin-II in kidney
epithelium) causes increased canonical Wnt activity. Deletion of this gene leads to absence
of cilia, and after the cilia are lost, cystogenesis occurs [140]. Seahorse is another mutation
that shows a disruption in Wnt signaling in zebrafish and may function downstream from
cilia [141]. Out of the 11 genes identified in zebrafish that relate to PKD, 6 were found to be
ciliary genes [142]. These mutants and more, show the importance of cilia and pathways in
regulating renal cells.
Although CT and MRI techniques can be used, diagnosis by ultrasound and positive family
history are the choice methods to test for PKD [143]. ARPKD can even be detected in utero
by ultrasound which reveals large kidneys that take up most of the fetal abdominal cavity

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

437

and the lack of urine in the bladder [130]. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
also allows discrimination between PKD and other kidney diseases with an accuracy of over
80%, by creating a fingerprint of urinary protein biomarkers with key PKD features [143].
Since most PKD patients have mutations in known PKD genes, genetic testing may be
plausible. However, since there are hundreds of possible mutations, the only commonly
used genetics testing is direct sequencing to screen for the disease [144].
There is currently no effective treatment that is widely used for PKD. Transplantation and
dialysis are often the only options. Apart from that, pain control, antibiotics for urinary
tract infections, increase in fluid intake, and refraining from smoking and caffeine, are ways
of lessening the symptoms [130]. However, many potential drugs for treating cystogenesis
are under investigation. Many drugs have shown to slow cyst growth in animal models.
Rapamycin helps regulate cell proliferation by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, which is often
overexpressed in PKD patients. This drug increases apoptosis and shedding of cystic cells,
which decreases kidney size and restored kidney function [145]. Roscovitine, currently used
in cancer treatment because it inhibits cell cycle, show positive effects in PKD models [146].
Lisinopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) also alters proliferative and
apoptotic pathways, reducing cyst development [147]. Patients with PKD show high levels
of circulating vasopressin. Tolvaptin is a vasopressin-2 receptor antagonist and shows
reduction in kidney and cyst volumes [148]. Ocreatide, an analogue of the hormone
somatostatin, inhibits cAMP production. In doing so, it inhibits secretion and reduces liver
cysts and kidney volume. However, it does not seem to improve renal function [149, 150].
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibition using EKI-785 also
showed promise in PKD animal studies [151]. Anti-inflammatory drug, colchicine, is a
microtubule inhibitor that has been shown to delay formation of cysts and is a candidate for
prolonged clinical use [152].
PKD mutants are giving us a better understanding of the importance of cilia in many
regulatory pathways and sensory functions. The disease further emphasizes how complex
these seemingly simple cellular organelles are, and how necessary they are in maintaining
systemic health and prevention of cystic growth.
3.4 Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS)
Many syndromes are related to cilia, Bardet-Biedl syndrome being the most well-known.
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a multi-symptomatic disorder with symptoms including
obesity, retinitis pigmentosa, genital hypoplasia, polydactyly, and mental retardation [153].
Typically at age 8, night blindness occurs which can eventually lead to complete blindness
between ages 15 and 20. Kidney cysts are also common, making end-stage renal failure the
most common cause of premature death in BBS patients [154]. Mid-facial deformities are
often seen in humans with BBS and also in mice mutants for BBS4 and BBS6 [131]. Although
this is a very multi-symptomatic disorder, obesity is what it is most known for. Ninetyeight percent of BBS patients become obese with a body mass index greater than 30% [155].
Diabetes occurs secondary to obesity, and patients often show lower locomotor activity than
normal [156, 157].
Phototransduction proteins and others necessary for vision are produced in the inner
segment of photoreceptor cells. To maintain the outer segments, the phototransduction

438

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

proteins have to be transported to the outer segments of the photoreceptors through the
connecting cilia, the only bridge between outer and inner segments. BBS proteins form a
BBSome and are believed to be responsible for recruiting membrane vesicles to the cilia [16,
47]. BBS proteins are also involved in important pathways such as Wnt and Hedgehog
pathways which are very important for proper development and function [153]. Hedgehog
and Wnt signaling are anti-adipogenic, preventing obesity [158-160]. It is now believed that
obesity in BBS patients is linked to the impairment of ciliated cells in the hypothalamus to
sense satiety, inducing hyperphagia [161]. BBS proteins may be important in transport of
leptin in and out of the cells, causing loss of leptin signaling ability when cilia are lost.
Moreover, melanin concentrating hormone receptor-1 (Mchr1) is involved in regulation of
feeding behavior, and fails to localize to cilia in BBS mutants [161, 162]. These are just a few
of the possible factors that may be involved in causing obesity in BBS patients.
BBS is an autosomal recessive disease showing pleiotropy, with multiple traits being
affected. Development of the disorder often requires more than three mutations in at least 2
BBS genes [163]. Apart from the causative mutations, other BBS mutations often serve as
disease modifiers. So far there are 12 known BBS genes, BBS1-12, which code for proteins
important in trafficking cargo to the basal body and along the cilia. Other ciliary proteins
have also been linked to BBS [154]. Among these are Kif3A and Tg737 mutants, which show
hyperphagic activity and obesity, in addition to elevated plasma levels of glucose, insulin,
and leptin [164].
Diagnosis of BBS typically requires the presence of at least four primary symptoms or three
primary in addition to two secondary symptoms. Primary symptoms include cone-rod
dystrophy, polydactyly, obesity, learning disability, genital defects, and renal anomalies.
Secondary symptoms include speech impairment, brachydactyly (short digits), syndachtyly
(fused digits), developmental delay, polyuria (excessive urination), ploydypsia (excessive
thirst), ataxia (lack of muscle coordination), diabetes, heart and liver problems, olfactory
deficits, and defects in pain and temperature sensation [154].
Since BBS is syndromic and affects multiple systems, treatment can be multi-faceted. Gene
therapy has shown promise in treating vision impairments. Mice, in which Bbs4 has been
deleted, show an inability of rhodopsin to localize to rod cilia and cone opsins to localize to
cone cilia. This failure to localize leads to photoreceptor apoptosis and the deterioration of
electroretinogram (ERG) a- and b-waves, causing serious vision impairment. Recently,
adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have shown to be successful in incorporating Bbs4
into these mutants and restoring the localization of rhodopsin. In doing so, photoreceptor
death was prevented, function of the retina was restored, and mice showed recovery of
visual behavioral responses [165]. Surgical techniques are used for other symptoms of BBS.
For instance renal transplantation is used in the case of cystic kidneys. Obesity is important
to treat, since it has been shown to cause a fifty percent increase in mortality rates most
likely caused by complications from secondary diseases. These include diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, digestive disorders, gall bladder cancer,
breast cancer, endometrium cancer, prostate cancer, etc [166, 167]. Bariatric surgeries such
as gastric bypass and gastric band operations greatly improve weight loss in patients with
obesity. These operations also show a dramatic improvement in reducing the risk of
secondary diseases that are known to be associated with obesity. Because of the reduction
in the incidence of these diseases, the mortality rate decreases substantially [168]. In

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

439

addition to surgical procedures, drug treatments have also been under review for the
treatment of obesity. There are only two drugs currently accepted by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration for long term obesity treatment. This is due to the high prevalence of
severe side effects correlated with the use of weight loss drugs. These side effects include
heart attack, gastrointestinal distress, liver damage, anxiety, memory problems, suicide, and
are often habit-forming. Because of these serious issues, it is important to be skeptical in
determining which drugs are safe to be used to treat obesity [169]. These are only a few of
the current treatments being used for BBS-related symptoms, and many others are yet to be
discovered.
Again, BBS adds further support to the idea that cilia are important in many areas
throughout the body, and they are very important in maintaining the overall health of the
individual.
3.5 Cancer
Relating cancer to cilia is one of the newest areas of ciliary research in the field today. The
cilia assembly-disassembly cycle is closely linked with the cell cycle. Cilia assemble upon
exit of mitosis to the stationary phase, and resorb when the cell exits the S-phase and enters
mitosis [170]. When the ciliogenesis is disrupted, it may have adverse effects on cell cycle
and lead to cancer. This may be due to centrosomal amplification and genetic instability
[171]. Proteins necessary for ciliogenesis colocalize to the centrosome, also supporting the
link between cilia and cell cycle [172]. Cilia have also been found to play roles in important
pathways such as Sonic Hedgehog, signal transduction pathways, and ligand-induced
signaling. These pathways have recently been shown to relate to cancer. New insights are
being made to connect ciliary dysfunction to carcinogenesis [172].
Primary cilia appear to have dual opposing functions in development of different types of
cancer, so that some refer to them as being an On/Off switch, regulating tumorigenesis [173,
174]. One of the most important pathways related to ciliogenesis and cancer is the Hedgehog
(Hh) pathway. Hh is normally suppressed by Ptch1 which prevents the trafficking of Smo in
primary cilia. When Smo fails to localize to cilia, it prevents Hh signaling. Under cancerous
conditions, however, Smo is able to localize to the cilia and Hh signaling is overexpressed
leading to oncogenesis [175]. SmoM2 leads to brain tumors only if primary cilia are present.
However, Gli2N induces brain tumors only in the absence of cilia, since absence of cilia
causes a disruption in Gli3, a repressor of Gli2N [174, 176]. It appears that primary cilia are
required both for the suppression and expression of oncogenisis. Primary cilia suppress
oncogenic mutations that act downstream of cilia, but allow expression of oncogenic
mutations upstream of cilia [173, 174, 177]. Therefore, cilia can play opposite roles depending
on the causal mutation of the cancer development [173, 174].
Disruptions in Hh, Wnt, and PDGF pathways all have been linked to tumor formation.
Cilia-associated genes such as Gli1, RPGRIP1, and DNAH9 are often mutated in breast
cancer [177]. Nek8 is also localized to cilia and upregulated in breast cancer [178, 179].
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in
the United States [180]. In this case, excessive Hh signaling is caused by a mutation in a
Kras gene[181], which codes for a protein known to be important in ciliogenesis. Therefore
affected cells lack primary cilia, and are unable to regulate proliferation [182].

440

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

German pathologist, Rudolf Virchow, first defined cancer in the mid-1800s when he realized
that Leukemia was caused by a rapid duplication of healthy cells that had mutated and in
response, multiplied. Before the advent of modern-day technology, cancer was not
diagnosed or treated until the tumors became visible and palpable, in which case they were
surgically removed. Since then, however, an emphasis has been placed on early detection so
that doctors can treat the cancer before it turns into large fatal tumors. Most doctors
recommend certain regular screening for some types of cancer. Among these are
mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies for colon cancer, Pap smears for cervical
cancer, and prostate exams for prostate cancer. Other diagnostic tests include blood tests,
ultrasounds, computed tomography (CT), X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
fine-needle biopsies. These techniques are used to detect early signs of cancer, allowing an
earlier treatment and an attempt to prevent fatality [183].
Cancer treatment is one of the most prioritized areas of research today. Many treatments
are currently being used and even more are being tested. These treatments include
chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and gene therapy. Perhaps the implications in
the relationship with cilia and cell cycle will help lead to the development of new
treatments.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia, hydrocephalus, polycystic kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl
syndrome, and cancer are only a few of the known ciliopathies, and more are still being
discovered. These diseases are not only important to study for diagnostic and treatment
purposes, but also give us a clearer understanding about cilia and their role in most critical
bodily functions. Further ciliopathy studies will continue to shed new light on these
important cellular structures.
The research in the Qin lab is supported by the NSF grant MCB-0923835.

4. References
[1] H. Ishikawa and W. F. Marshall, "Ciliogenesis: building the cell's antenna," Nat Rev Mol
Cell Biol, vol. 12, pp. 222-34, Apr 2011.
[2] G. J. Pazour and G. B. Witman, "The vertebrate primary cilium is a sensory organelle,"
Curr Opin Cell Biol, vol. 15, pp. 105-10, Feb 2003.
[3] K. G. Kozminski, K. A. Johnson, P. Forscher, and J. L. Rosenbaum, "A motility in the
eukaryotic flagellum unrelated to flagellar beating," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol.
90, pp. 5519-23, Jun 15 1993.
[4] J. Rosenbaum, "Intraflagellar transport," Curr Biol, vol. 12, p. R125, Feb 19 2002.
[5] D. G. Cole, D. R. Diener, A. L. Himelblau, P. L. Beech, J. C. Fuster, and J. L. Rosenbaum,
"Chlamydomonas kinesin-II-dependent intraflagellar transport (IFT): IFT particles
contain proteins required for ciliary assembly in Caenorhabditis elegans sensory
neurons," J Cell Biol, vol. 141, pp. 993-1008, May 18 1998.
[6] K. G. Kozminski, P. L. Beech, and J. L. Rosenbaum, "The Chlamydomonas kinesin-like
protein FLA10 is involved in motility associated with the flagellar membrane," J
Cell Biol, vol. 131, pp. 1517-27, Dec 1995.
[7] G. J. Pazour, C. G. Wilkerson, and G. B. Witman, "A dynein light chain is essential for
the retrograde particle movement of intraflagellar transport (IFT)," J Cell Biol, vol.
141, pp. 979-92, May 18 1998.

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

441

[8] G. J. Pazour, B. L. Dickert, and G. B. Witman, "The DHC1b (DHC2) isoform of

cytoplasmic dynein is required for flagellar assembly," J Cell Biol, vol. 144, pp. 47381, Feb 8 1999.
[9] P. Rompolas, L. B. Pedersen, R. S. Patel-King, and S. M. King, "Chlamydomonas FAP133
is a dynein intermediate chain associated with the retrograde intraflagellar
transport motor," J Cell Sci, vol. 120, pp. 3653-65, Oct 15 2007.
[10] D. J. Asai, V. Rajagopalan, and D. E. Wilkes, "Dynein-2 and ciliogenesis in
Tetrahymena," Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, vol. 66, pp. 673-7, Aug 2009.
[11] L. Hao, E. Efimenko, P. Swoboda, and J. M. Scholey, "The Retrograde IFT Machinery of
C. elegans Cilia: Two IFT Dynein Complexes?," PLoS One, vol. 6, p. e20995, 2011.
[12] J. M. Scholey, "Intraflagellar transport motors in cilia: moving along the cell's antenna," J
Cell Biol, vol. 180, pp. 23-9, Jan 14 2008.
[13] J. M. Scholey, "Intraflagellar transport," Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, vol. 19, pp. 423-43, 2003.
[14] M. E. Porter, R. Bower, J. A. Knott, P. Byrd, and W. Dentler, "Cytoplasmic dynein heavy
chain 1b is required for flagellar assembly in Chlamydomonas," Mol Biol Cell, vol.
10, pp. 693-712, Mar 1999.
[15] W. F. Marshall and J. L. Rosenbaum, "Intraflagellar transport balances continuous
turnover of outer doublet microtubules: implications for flagellar length control," J
Cell Biol, vol. 155, pp. 405-14, Oct 29 2001.
[16] M. V. Nachury, E. S. Seeley, and H. Jin, "Trafficking to the ciliary membrane: how to get
across the periciliary diffusion barrier?," Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, vol. 26, pp. 59-87,
Nov 10 2010.
[17] K. F. Lechtreck, E. C. Johnson, T. Sakai, D. Cochran, B. A. Ballif, J. Rush, G. J. Pazour, M.
Ikebe, and G. B. Witman, "The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii BBSome is an IFT cargo
required for export of specific signaling proteins from flagella," J Cell Biol, vol. 187,
pp. 1117-32, Dec 28 2009.
[18] D. G. Cole, S. W. Chinn, K. P. Wedaman, K. Hall, T. Vuong, and J. M. Scholey, "Novel
heterotrimeric kinesin-related protein purified from sea urchin eggs," Nature, vol.
366, pp. 268-70, Nov 18 1993.
[19] D. G. Cole, "The intraflagellar transport machinery of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii,"
Traffic, vol. 4, pp. 435-42, Jul 2003.
[20] K. Matsuura, P. A. Lefebvre, R. Kamiya, and M. Hirono, "Kinesin-II is not essential for
mitosis and cell growth in Chlamydomonas," Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, vol. 52, pp.
195-201, Aug 2002.
[21] J. J. Snow, G. Ou, A. L. Gunnarson, M. R. Walker, H. M. Zhou, I. Brust-Mascher, and J.
M. Scholey, "Two anterograde intraflagellar transport motors cooperate to build
sensory cilia on C. elegans neurons," Nat Cell Biol, vol. 6, pp. 1109-13, Nov 2004.
[22] N. S. Morsci and M. M. Barr, "Kinesin-3 KLP-6 Regulates Intraflagellar Transport in
Male-Specific Cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans," Curr Biol, vol. 21, pp. 1239-44, Jul 26
2011.
[23] Y. Hou, G. J. Pazour, and G. B. Witman, "A dynein light intermediate chain, D1bLIC, is
required for retrograde intraflagellar transport," Mol Biol Cell, vol. 15, pp. 4382-94,
Oct 2004.
[24] C. A. Perrone, D. Tritschler, P. Taulman, R. Bower, B. K. Yoder, and M. E. Porter, "A
novel dynein light intermediate chain colocalizes with the retrograde motor for

442

[25]

[26]

[27]
[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

intraflagellar transport at sites of axoneme assembly in chlamydomonas and

Mammalian cells," Mol Biol Cell, vol. 14, pp. 2041-56, May 2003.
J. C. Schafer, C. J. Haycraft, J. H. Thomas, B. K. Yoder, and P. Swoboda, "XBX-1 encodes
a dynein light intermediate chain required for retrograde intraflagellar transport
and cilia assembly in Caenorhabditis elegans," Mol Biol Cell, vol. 14, pp. 2057-70,
May 2003.
D. Signor, K. P. Wedaman, J. T. Orozco, N. D. Dwyer, C. I. Bargmann, L. S. Rose, and J.
M. Scholey, "Role of a class DHC1b dynein in retrograde transport of IFT motors
and IFT raft particles along cilia, but not dendrites, in chemosensory neurons of
living Caenorhabditis elegans," J Cell Biol, vol. 147, pp. 519-30, Nov 1 1999.
L. B. Pedersen and J. L. Rosenbaum, "Intraflagellar transport (IFT) role in ciliary
assembly, resorption and signalling," Curr Top Dev Biol, vol. 85, pp. 23-61, 2008.
S. M. Williamson, D. A. Silva, E. Richey, and H. Qin, "Probing the role of IFT particle
complex A and B in flagellar entry and exit of IFT-dynein in Chlamydomonas"
Protoplasma, 2011.
G. Piperno, E. Siuda, S. Henderson, M. Segil, H. Vaananen, and M. Sassaroli, "Distinct
mutants of retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT) share similar morphological
and molecular defects," J Cell Biol, vol. 143, pp. 1591-601, Dec 14 1998.
C. Iomini, L. Li, J. M. Esparza, and S. K. Dutcher, "Retrograde intraflagellar transport
mutants identify complex A proteins with multiple genetic interactions in
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii," Genetics, vol. 183, pp. 885-96, Nov 2009.
J. Mueller, C. A. Perrone, R. Bower, D. G. Cole, and M. E. Porter, "The FLA3 KAP
subunit is required for localization of kinesin-2 to the site of flagellar assembly and
processive anterograde intraflagellar transport," Mol Biol Cell, vol. 16, pp. 1341-54,
Mar 2005.
C. Li, P. N. Inglis, C. C. Leitch, E. Efimenko, N. A. Zaghloul, C. A. Mok, E. E. Davis, N. J.
Bialas, M. P. Healey, E. Heon, M. Zhen, P. Swoboda, N. Katsanis, and M. R. Leroux,
"An essential role for DYF-11/MIP-T3 in assembling functional intraflagellar
transport complexes," PLoS Genet, vol. 4, p. e1000044, Mar 2008.
J. F. Dishinger, H. L. Kee, P. M. Jenkins, S. Fan, T. W. Hurd, J. W. Hammond, Y. N.
Truong, B. Margolis, J. R. Martens, and K. J. Verhey, "Ciliary entry of the kinesin-2
motor KIF17 is regulated by importin-beta2 and RanGTP," Nat Cell Biol, vol. 12, pp.
703-10, Jul 2010.
B. F. Lucker, R. H. Behal, H. Qin, L. C. Siron, W. D. Taggart, J. L. Rosenbaum, and D. G.
Cole, "Characterization of the intraflagellar transport complex B core: direct
interaction of the IFT81 and IFT74/72 subunits," J Biol Chem, vol. 280, pp. 27688-96,
Jul 29 2005.
B. F. Lucker, M. S. Miller, S. A. Dziedzic, P. T. Blackmarr, and D. G. Cole, "Direct
interactions of intraflagellar transport complex B proteins IFT88, IFT52 and IFT46,"
J Biol Chem, vol. 2010, Apr 30 2010.
M. Taschner, S. Bhogaraju, M. Vetter, M. Morawetz, and E. Lorentzen, "Biochemical
Mapping of Interactions within the Intraflagellar Transport (IFT) B Core Complex:
IFT52 BINDS DIRECTLY TO FOUR OTHER IFT-B SUBUNITS," J Biol Chem, vol.
286, pp. 26344-52, Jul 29 2011.
G. J. Pazour, B. L. Dickert, Y. Vucica, E. S. Seeley, J. L. Rosenbaum, G. B. Witman, and D.
G. Cole, "Chlamydomonas IFT88 and its mouse homologue, polycystic kidney

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

443

disease gene tg737, are required for assembly of cilia and flagella," J Cell Biol, vol.
151, pp. 709-18, Oct 30 2000.
Y. Hou, H. Qin, J. A. Follit, G. J. Pazour, J. L. Rosenbaum, and G. B. Witman,
"Functional analysis of an individual IFT protein: IFT46 is required for transport of
outer dynein arms into flagella," J Cell Biol, vol. 176, pp. 653-65, Feb 26 2007.
N. T. Ahmed, C. Gao, B. F. Lucker, D. G. Cole, and D. R. Mitchell, "ODA16 aids
axonemal outer row dynein assembly through an interaction with the intraflagellar
transport machinery," J Cell Biol, vol. 183, pp. 313-22, Oct 20 2008.
J. A. Follit, R. A. Tuft, K. E. Fogarty, and G. J. Pazour, "The intraflagellar transport
protein IFT20 is associated with the Golgi complex and is required for cilia
assembly," Mol Biol Cell, vol. 17, pp. 3781-92, Sep 2006.
B. L. Krock and B. D. Perkins, "The intraflagellar transport protein IFT57 is required for
cilia maintenance and regulates IFT-particle-kinesin-II dissociation in vertebrate
photoreceptors," J Cell Sci, vol. 121, pp. 1907-15, Jun 1 2008.
L. B. Pedersen, M. S. Miller, S. Geimer, J. M. Leitch, J. L. Rosenbaum, and D. G. Cole,
"Chlamydomonas IFT172 is encoded by FLA11, interacts with CrEB1, and regulates
IFT at the flagellar tip," Curr Biol, vol. 15, pp. 262-6, Feb 8 2005.
L. B. Pedersen, S. Geimer, and J. L. Rosenbaum, "Dissecting the molecular mechanisms
of intraflagellar transport in chlamydomonas," Curr Biol, vol. 16, pp. 450-9, Mar 7
2006.
J. Qin, Y. Lin, R. X. Norman, H. W. Ko, and J. T. Eggenschwiler, "Intraflagellar transport
protein 122 antagonizes Sonic Hedgehog signaling and controls ciliary localization
of pathway components," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 108, pp. 1456-61, Jan 25
2011.
E. Lee, E. Sivan-Loukianova, D. F. Eberl, and M. J. Kernan, "An IFT-A protein is
required to delimit functionally distinct zones in mechanosensory cilia," Curr Biol,
vol. 18, pp. 1899-906, Dec 23 2008.
G. Ou, O. E. Blacque, J. J. Snow, M. R. Leroux, and J. M. Scholey, "Functional
coordination of intraflagellar transport motors," Nature, vol. 436, pp. 583-7, Jul 28
2005.
M. V. Nachury, A. V. Loktev, Q. Zhang, C. J. Westlake, J. Peranen, A. Merdes, D. C.
Slusarski, R. H. Scheller, J. F. Bazan, V. C. Sheffield, and P. K. Jackson, "A core
complex of BBS proteins cooperates with the GTPase Rab8 to promote ciliary
membrane biogenesis," Cell, vol. 129, pp. 1201-13, Jun 15 2007.
H. Jin, S. R. White, T. Shida, S. Schulz, M. Aguiar, S. P. Gygi, J. F. Bazan, and M. V.
Nachury, "The conserved Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins assemble a coat that
traffics membrane proteins to cilia," Cell, vol. 141, pp. 1208-19, Jun 25 2010.
S. Cevik, Y. Hori, O. I. Kaplan, K. Kida, T. Toivenon, C. Foley-Fisher, D. Cottell, T.
Katada, K. Kontani, and O. E. Blacque, "Joubert syndrome Arl13b functions at
ciliary membranes and stabilizes protein transport in Caenorhabditis elegans," J
Cell Biol, vol. 188, pp. 953-69, Mar 22 2010.
Y. Li, Q. Wei, Y. Zhang, K. Ling, and J. Hu, "The small GTPases ARL-13 and ARL-3
coordinate intraflagellar transport and ciliogenesis," J Cell Biol, vol. 189, pp. 1039-51,
Jun 14 2010.

444

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

[51] N. A. Duldulao, S. Lee, and Z. Sun, "Cilia localization is essential for in vivo functions of
the Joubert syndrome protein Arl13b/Scorpion," Development, vol. 136, pp. 4033-42,
Dec 2009.
[52] C. J. Westlake, L. M. Baye, M. V. Nachury, K. J. Wright, K. E. Ervin, L. Phu, C. Chalouni,
J. S. Beck, D. S. Kirkpatrick, D. C. Slusarski, V. C. Sheffield, R. H. Scheller, and P. K.
Jackson, "Primary cilia membrane assembly is initiated by Rab11 and transport
protein particle II (TRAPPII) complex-dependent trafficking of Rabin8 to the
centrosome," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 108, pp. 2759-64, Feb 15 2011.
[53] A. Knodler, S. Feng, J. Zhang, X. Zhang, A. Das, J. Peranen, and W. Guo, "Coordination
of Rab8 and Rab11 in primary ciliogenesis," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 107, pp.
6346-51, Apr 6 2010.
[54] J. Mazelova, L. Astuto-Gribble, H. Inoue, B. M. Tam, E. Schonteich, R. Prekeris, O. L.
Moritz, P. A. Randazzo, and D. Deretic, "Ciliary targeting motif VxPx directs
assembly of a trafficking module through Arf4," Embo J, vol. 28, pp. 183-92, Feb 4
2009.
[55] H. H. Ward, U. Brown-Glaberman, J. Wang, Y. Morita, S. L. Alper, E. J. Bedrick, V. H.
Gattone, 2nd, D. Deretic, and A. Wandinger-Ness, "A conserved signal and GTPase
complex are required for the ciliary transport of polycystin-1," Mol Biol Cell, vol.
2011, Jul 20 2011.
[56] C. Boehlke, M. Bashkurov, A. Buescher, T. Krick, A. K. John, R. Nitschke, G. Walz, and
E. W. Kuehn, "Differential role of Rab proteins in ciliary trafficking: Rab23 regulates
smoothened levels," J Cell Sci, vol. 123, pp. 1460-7, May 1 2010.
[57] Z. Wang, Z. C. Fan, S. M. Williamson, and H. Qin, "Intraflagellar transport (IFT) protein
IFT25 is a phosphoprotein component of IFT complex B and physically interacts
with IFT27 in Chlamydomonas," PLoS One, vol. 4, p. e5384, 2009.
[58] S. Bhogaraju, M. Taschner, M. Morawetz, C. Basquin, and E. Lorentzen, "Crystal
structure of the intraflagellar transport complex 25/27," Embo J, Apr 19 2011.
[59] J. C. Schafer, M. E. Winkelbauer, C. L. Williams, C. J. Haycraft, R. A. Desmond, and B.
K. Yoder, "IFTA-2 is a conserved cilia protein involved in pathways regulating
longevity and dauer formation in Caenorhabditis elegans," J Cell Sci, vol. 119, pp.
4088-100, Oct 1 2006.
[60] C. Adhiambo, T. Blisnick, G. Toutirais, E. Delannoy, and P. Bastin, "A novel function for
the atypical small G protein Rab-like 5 in the assembly of the trypanosome
flagellum," J Cell Sci, vol. 122, pp. 834-41, Mar 15 2009.
[61] J. L. Rosenbaum and G. B. Witman, "Intraflagellar transport," Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, vol.
3, pp. 813-25, Nov 2002.
[62] B. Craige, C. C. Tsao, D. R. Diener, Y. Hou, K. F. Lechtreck, J. L. Rosenbaum, and G. B.
Witman, "CEP290 tethers flagellar transition zone microtubules to the membrane
and regulates flagellar protein content," J Cell Biol, vol. 190, pp. 927-40, Sep 6 2010.
[63] H. Omran, "NPHP proteins: gatekeepers of the ciliary compartment," J Cell Biol, vol. 190,
pp. 715-7, Sep 6 2010.
[64] C. L. Williams, C. Li, K. Kida, P. N. Inglis, S. Mohan, L. Semenec, N. J. Bialas, R. M.
Stupay, N. Chen, O. E. Blacque, B. K. Yoder, and M. R. Leroux, "MKS and NPHP
modules cooperate to establish basal body/transition zone membrane associations
and ciliary gate function during ciliogenesis," J Cell Biol, vol. 192, pp. 1023-41, Mar
21 2011.

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

445

[65] S. S. Francis, J. Sfakianos, B. Lo, and I. Mellman, "A hierarchy of signals regulates entry
of membrane proteins into the ciliary membrane domain in epithelial cells," J Cell
Biol, vol. 193, pp. 219-33, Apr 4 2011.
[66] T. Takeda, T. McQuistan, R. A. Orlando, and M. G. Farquhar, "Loss of glomerular foot
processes is associated with uncoupling of podocalyxin from the actin
cytoskeleton," J Clin Invest, vol. 108, pp. 289-301, Jul 2001.
[67] J. Gaertig and D. Wloga, "Ciliary tubulin and its post-translational modifications," Curr
Top Dev Biol, vol. 85, pp. 83-113, 2008.
[68] D. Wloga and J. Gaertig, "Post-translational modifications of microtubules," J Cell Sci,
vol. 123, pp. 3447-55, Oct 15 2010.
[69] K. Greer, H. Maruta, S. W. L'Hernault, and J. L. Rosenbaum, "Alpha-tubulin acetylase
activity in isolated Chlamydomonas flagella," J Cell Biol, vol. 101, pp. 2081-4, Dec
1985.
[70] S. W. L'Hernault and J. L. Rosenbaum, "Reversal of the posttranslational modification
on Chlamydomonas flagellar alpha-tubulin occurs during flagellar resorption," J
Cell Biol, vol. 100, pp. 457-62, Feb 1985.
[71] S. W. L'Hernault and J. L. Rosenbaum, "Chlamydomonas alpha-tubulin is
posttranslationally modified by acetylation on the epsilon-amino group of a lysine,"
Biochemistry, vol. 24, pp. 473-8, Jan 15 1985.
[72] C. Choudhary, C. Kumar, F. Gnad, M. L. Nielsen, M. Rehman, T. C. Walther, J. V. Olsen,
and M. Mann, "Lysine acetylation targets protein complexes and co-regulates major
cellular functions," Science, vol. 325, pp. 834-40, Aug 14 2009.
[73] J. S. Akella, D. Wloga, J. Kim, N. G. Starostina, S. Lyons-Abbott, N. S. Morrissette, S. T.
Dougan, E. T. Kipreos, and J. Gaertig, "MEC-17 is an alpha-tubulin
acetyltransferase," Nature, vol. 467, pp. 218-22, Sep 9 2010.
[74] T. Shida, J. G. Cueva, Z. Xu, M. B. Goodman, and M. V. Nachury, "The major alphatubulin K40 acetyltransferase alphaTAT1 promotes rapid ciliogenesis and efficient
mechanosensation," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 107, pp. 21517-22, Dec 14 2010.
[75] K. Huang, D. R. Diener, and J. L. Rosenbaum, "The ubiquitin conjugation system is
involved in the disassembly of cilia and flagella," J Cell Biol, vol. 186, pp. 601-13,
Aug 24 2009.
[76] A. V. Loktev, Q. Zhang, J. S. Beck, C. C. Searby, T. E. Scheetz, J. F. Bazan, D. C.
Slusarski, V. C. Sheffield, P. K. Jackson, and M. V. Nachury, "A BBSome subunit
links ciliogenesis, microtubule stability, and acetylation," Dev Cell, vol. 15, pp. 85465, Dec 2008.
[77] J. C. Bulinski, "Tubulin posttranslational modifications: a Pushmi-Pullyu at work?," Dev
Cell, vol. 16, pp. 773-4, Jun 2009.
[78] K. Rogowski, F. Juge, J. van Dijk, D. Wloga, J. M. Strub, N. Levilliers, D. Thomas, M. H.
Bre, A. Van Dorsselaer, J. Gaertig, and C. Janke, "Evolutionary divergence of
enzymatic mechanisms for posttranslational polyglycylation," Cell, vol. 137, pp.
1076-87, Jun 12 2009.
[79] D. Wloga, D. M. Webster, K. Rogowski, M. H. Bre, N. Levilliers, M. Jerka-Dziadosz, C.
Janke, S. T. Dougan, and J. Gaertig, "TTLL3 Is a tubulin glycine ligase that regulates
the assembly of cilia," Dev Cell, vol. 16, pp. 867-76, Jun 2009.
[80] S. Suryavanshi, B. Edde, L. A. Fox, S. Guerrero, R. Hard, T. Hennessey, A. Kabi, D.
Malison, D. Pennock, W. S. Sale, D. Wloga, and J. Gaertig, "Tubulin glutamylation

446

[81]

[82]
[83]
[84]
[85]

[86]
[87]
[88]
[89]

[90]

[91]

[92]

[93]

[94]

[95]

[96]

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

regulates ciliary motility by altering inner dynein arm activity," Curr Biol, vol. 20,
pp. 435-40, Mar 9 2010.
T. Kubo, H. A. Yanagisawa, T. Yagi, M. Hirono, and R. Kamiya, "Tubulin
polyglutamylation regulates axonemal motility by modulating activities of innerarm dyneins," Curr Biol, vol. 20, pp. 441-5, Mar 9 2010.
F. Hildebrandt, T. Benzing, and N. Katsanis, "Ciliopathies," N Engl J Med, vol. 364, pp.
1533-43, Apr 21 2011.
B. A. Afzelius, "A human syndrome caused by immotile cilia," Science, vol. 193, pp. 3179, Jul 23 1976.
M. A. Zariwala, M. R. Knowles, and M. W. Leigh, "Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia," 1993.
M. Meeks, A. Walne, S. Spiden, H. Simpson, H. Mussaffi-Georgy, H. D. Hamam, E. L.
Fehaid, M. Cheehab, M. Al-Dabbagh, S. Polak-Charcon, H. Blau, A. O'Rawe, H. M.
Mitchison, R. M. Gardiner, and E. Chung, "A locus for primary ciliary dyskinesia
maps to chromosome 19q," J Med Genet, vol. 37, pp. 241-4, Apr 2000.
M. Meeks and A. Bush, "Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)," Pediatr Pulmonol, vol. 29, pp.
307-16, Apr 2000.
A. Bush and C. O'Callaghan, "Primary ciliary dyskinesia," Arch Dis Child, vol. 87, pp.
363-5; discussion 363-5, Nov 2002.
A. Wanner, M. Salathe, and T. G. O'Riordan, "Mucociliary clearance in the airways," Am
J Respir Crit Care Med, vol. 154, pp. 1868-902, Dec 1996.
S. Nonaka, H. Shiratori, Y. Saijoh, and H. Hamada, "Determination of left-right
patterning of the mouse embryo by artificial nodal flow," Nature, vol. 418, pp. 96-9,
Jul 4 2002.
D. M. Supp, D. P. Witte, S. S. Potter, and M. Brueckner, "Mutation of an axonemal
dynein affects left-right asymmetry in inversus viscerum mice," Nature, vol. 389,
pp. 963-6, Oct 30 1997.
J. Chen, H. J. Knowles, J. L. Hebert, and B. P. Hackett, "Mutation of the mouse
hepatocyte nuclear factor/forkhead homologue 4 gene results in an absence of cilia
and random left-right asymmetry," J Clin Invest, vol. 102, pp. 1077-82, Sep 15 1998.
S. Nonaka, Y. Tanaka, Y. Okada, S. Takeda, A. Harada, Y. Kanai, M. Kido, and N.
Hirokawa, "Randomization of left-right asymmetry due to loss of nodal cilia
generating leftward flow of extraembryonic fluid in mice lacking KIF3B motor
protein," Cell, vol. 95, pp. 829-37, Dec 11 1998.
B. A. Afzelius, B. Mossberg, and S. E. Bergstrom, "Immotile cilia syndrome (primary
ciliary dyskinesia), including Kartagener syndrome. ," in The metabolic and molecular
bases of inherited disease. , C. R. Scriver, A. L. Beaudet, W. S. Sly, and D. Valle, Eds.
New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division, 2001, pp. 4817-4827.
P. J. Hadfield, J. M. Rowe-Jones, A. Bush, and I. S. Mackay, "Treatment of otitis media
with effusion in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia," Clin Otolaryngol Allied
Sci, vol. 22, pp. 302-6, Aug 1997.
A. Gurr, T. Stark, M. Pearson, G. Borkowski, and S. Dazert, "The ciliary beat frequency
of middle ear mucosa in children with chronic secretory otitis media," Eur Arch
Otorhinolaryngol, vol. 266, pp. 1865-70, Dec 2009.
L. E. Ostrowski, W. Yin, K. E. Thonmpson, M. Patel, and J. C. Olsen, "Pilot studies of
gene therapy for primary ciliary dyskinesia," Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2010.

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

447

[97] N. Hornef, H. Olbrich, J. Horvath, M. A. Zariwala, M. Fliegauf, N. T. Loges, J.

Wildhaber, P. G. Noone, M. Kennedy, S. E. Antonarakis, J. L. Blouin, L. Bartoloni,
T. Nusslein, P. Ahrens, M. Griese, H. Kuhl, R. Sudbrak, M. R. Knowles, R.
Reinhardt, and H. Omran, "DNAH5 mutations are a common cause of primary
ciliary dyskinesia with outer dynein arm defects," Am J Respir Crit Care Med, vol.
174, pp. 120-6, Jul 15 2006.
[98] G. Pennarun, E. Escudier, C. Chapelin, A. M. Bridoux, V. Cacheux, G. Roger, A.
Clement, M. Goossens, S. Amselem, and B. Duriez, "Loss-of-function mutations in a
human gene related to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii dynein IC78 result in primary
ciliary dyskinesia," Am J Hum Genet, vol. 65, pp. 1508-19, Dec 1999.
[99] W. Stannard, A. Rutman, C. Wallis, and C. O'Callaghan, "Central microtubular agenesis
causing primary ciliary dyskinesia," Am J Respir Crit Care Med, vol. 169, pp. 634-7,
Mar 1 2004.
[100] G. B. Harris, J. C. R. Bermejo, and M. C. Suarez, "Different frequency of cilia with
transposition in human nasal and bronchial mucosa. A case of acquired ciliary
dyskinesia," Virchows Archiv-an International Journal of Pathology, vol. 437, pp. 325330, Sep 2000.
[101] A. Barbato, T. Frischer, C. E. Kuehni, D. Snijders, I. Azevedo, G. Baktai, L. Bartoloni, E.
Eber, A. Escribano, E. Haarman, B. Hesselmar, C. Hogg, M. Jorissen, J. Lucas, K. G.
Nielsen, C. O'Callaghan, H. Omran, P. Pohunek, M. P. Strippoli, and A. Bush,
"Primary ciliary dyskinesia: a consensus statement on diagnostic and treatment
approaches in children," Eur Respir J, vol. 34, pp. 1264-76, Dec 2009.
[102] M. Fliegauf, H. Olbrich, J. Horvath, J. H. Wildhaber, M. A. Zariwala, M. Kennedy, M.
R. Knowles, and H. Omran, "Mislocalization of DNAH5 and DNAH9 in respiratory
cells from patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia," Am J Respir Crit Care Med, vol.
171, pp. 1343-9, Jun 15 2005.
[103] H. N. Morillas, M. Zariwala, and M. R. Knowles, "Genetic causes of bronchiectasis:
primary ciliary dyskinesia," Respiration, vol. 74, pp. 252-63, 2007.
[104] S. D. Sagel, "Nasal nitric oxide: diagnostic value and physiological significance in
primary ciliary dyskinesia," J Pediatr, vol. 159, pp. 363-5, Sep 2011.
[105] M. ten Berge, G. Brinkhorst, A. A. Kroon, and J. C. de Jongste, "DNase treatment in
primary ciliary dyskinesia--assessment by nocturnal pulse oximetry," Pediatr
Pulmonol, vol. 27, pp. 59-61, Jan 1999.
[106] M. Geremek, M. Bruinenberg, E. Zietkiewicz, A. Pogorzelski, M. Witt, and C.
Wijmenga, "Gene expression studies in cells from primary ciliary dyskinesia
patients identify 208 potential ciliary genes," Hum Genet, vol. 129, pp. 283-93, Mar
2011.
[107] B. Banizs, M. M. Pike, C. L. Millican, W. B. Ferguson, P. Komlosi, J. Sheetz, P. D. Bell, E.
M. Schwiebert, and B. K. Yoder, "Dysfunctional cilia lead to altered ependyma and
choroid plexus function, and result in the formation of hydrocephalus,"
Development, vol. 132, pp. 5329-39, Dec 2005.
[108] H. J. Garton and J. H. Piatt, Jr., "Hydrocephalus," Pediatr Clin North Am, vol. 51, pp.
305-25, Apr 2004.
[109] A. Aschoff, P. Kremer, B. Hashemi, and S. Kunze, "The scientific history of
hydrocephalus and its treatment," Neurosurg Rev, vol. 22, pp. 67-93; discussion 94-5,
Oct 1999.

448

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

[110] T. S. Lim, S. W. Yong, and S. Y. Moon, "Repetitive lumbar punctures as treatment for
normal pressure hydrocephalus," Eur Neurol, vol. 62, pp. 293-7, 2009.
[111] I. Ibanez-Tallon, A. Pagenstecher, M. Fliegauf, H. Olbrich, A. Kispert, U. P. Ketelsen, A.
North, N. Heintz, and H. Omran, "Dysfunction of axonemal dynein heavy chain
Mdnah5 inhibits ependymal flow and reveals a novel mechanism for
hydrocephalus formation," Hum Mol Genet, vol. 13, pp. 2133-41, Sep 15 2004.
[112] C. Wodarczyk, I. Rowe, M. Chiaravalli, M. Pema, F. Qian, and A. Boletta, "A novel
mouse model reveals that polycystin-1 deficiency in ependyma and choroid plexus
results in dysfunctional cilia and hydrocephalus," PLoS One, vol. 4, p. e7137, 2009.
[113] M. A. Greenstone, R. W. Jones, A. Dewar, B. G. Neville, and P. J. Cole, "Hydrocephalus
and primary ciliary dyskinesia," Arch Dis Child, vol. 59, pp. 481-2, May 1984.
[114] J. Zhang, M. A. Williams, and D. Rigamonti, "Genetics of human hydrocephalus," J
Neurol, vol. 253, pp. 1255-66, Oct 2006.
[115] S. Weller and J. Gartner, "Genetic and clinical aspects of X-linked hydrocephalus (L1
disease): Mutations in the L1CAM gene," Hum Mutat, vol. 18, pp. 1-12, 2001.
[116] D. S. Bickers and R. D. Adams, "Hereditary stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius as a
cause of congenital hydrocephalus," Brain, vol. 72, pp. 246-62, Jun 1949.
[117] S. Kenwrick, M. Jouet, and D. Donnai, "X linked hydrocephalus and MASA
syndrome," J Med Genet, vol. 33, pp. 59-65, Jan 1996.
[118] I. Ibanez-Tallon, S. Gorokhova, and N. Heintz, "Loss of function of axonemal dynein
Mdnah5 causes primary ciliary dyskinesia and hydrocephalus," Hum Mol Genet,
vol. 11, pp. 715-21, Mar 15 2002.
[119] K. F. Lechtreck, P. Delmotte, M. L. Robinson, M. J. Sanderson, and G. B. Witman,
"Mutations in Hydin impair ciliary motility in mice," J Cell Biol, vol. 180, pp. 633-43,
Feb 11 2008.
[120] K. F. Lechtreck and G. B. Witman, "Chlamydomonas reinhardtii hydin is a central pair
protein required for flagellar motility," J Cell Biol, vol. 176, pp. 473-82, Feb 12 2007.
[121] A. Ohtoshi, "Hydrocephalus caused by conditional ablation of the Pten or beta-catenin
gene," Cerebrospinal Fluid Res, vol. 5, p. 16, 2008.
[122] J. B. Wallingford and B. Mitchell, "Strange as it may seem: the many links between Wnt
signaling, planar cell polarity, and cilia," Genes Dev, vol. 25, pp. 201-13, Feb 1 2011.
[123] C. Gavino and S. Richard, "Patched1 haploinsufficiency impairs ependymal cilia
function of the quaking viable mice, leading to fatal hydrocephalus," Mol Cell
Neurosci, vol. 47, pp. 100-7, Jun 2011.
[124] L. Jacob and L. Lum, "Deconstructing the hedgehog pathway in development and
disease," Science, vol. 318, pp. 66-8, Oct 5 2007.
[125] V. Varadi, K. Csecsei, G. T. Szeifert, Z. Toth, and Z. Papp, "Prenatal diagnosis of X
linked hydrocephalus without aqueductal stenosis," J Med Genet, vol. 24, pp. 207-9,
Apr 1987.
[126] D. Greitz, T. Greitz, and T. Hindmarsh, "A new view on the CSF-circulation with the
potential for pharmacological treatment of childhood hydrocephalus," Acta
Paediatr, vol. 86, pp. 125-32, Feb 1997.
[127] L. Jia, Z. X. Zhao, C. You, J. G. Liu, S. Q. Huang, M. He, P. G. Ji, J. Duan, Y. J. Zeng, and
G. P. Li, "Minimally-invasive treatment of communicating hydrocephalus using a
percutaneous lumboperitoneal shunt," J Zhejiang Univ Sci B, vol. 12, pp. 293-7, Apr
2011.

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

449

[128] D. M. Sciubba, R. M. Stuart, M. J. McGirt, G. F. Woodworth, A. Samdani, B. Carson,

and G. I. Jallo, "Effect of antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheters in decreasing the
incidence of shunt infection in the treatment of hydrocephalus," J Neurosurg, vol.
103, pp. 131-6, Aug 2005.
[129] V. E. Torres, P. C. Harris, and Y. Pirson, "Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney
disease," Lancet, vol. 369, pp. 1287-301, Apr 14 2007.
[130] C. R. Halvorson, M. S. Bremmer, and S. C. Jacobs, "Polycystic kidney disease:
inheritance, pathophysiology, prognosis, and treatment," Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis,
vol. 3, pp. 69-83, 2010.
[131] R. J. Quinlan, J. L. Tobin, and P. L. Beales, "Modeling ciliopathies: Primary cilia in
development and disease," Curr Top Dev Biol, vol. 84, pp. 249-310, 2008.
[132] J. Hoefele, K. Mayer, M. Scholz, and H. G. Klein, "Novel PKD1 and PKD2 mutations in
autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)," Nephrol Dial Transplant,
vol. 26, pp. 2181-8, Jul 2011.
[133] Y. C. Tan, J. D. Blumenfeld, R. Anghel, S. Donahue, R. Belenkaya, M. Balina, T. Parker,
D. Levine, D. G. Leonard, and H. Rennert, "Novel method for genomic analysis of
PKD1 and PKD2 mutations in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease,"
Hum Mutat, vol. 30, pp. 264-73, Feb 2009.
[134] B. K. Yoder, X. Hou, and L. M. Guay-Woodford, "The polycystic kidney disease
proteins, polycystin-1, polycystin-2, polaris, and cystin, are co-localized in renal
cilia," J Am Soc Nephrol, vol. 13, pp. 2508-16, Oct 2002.
[135] G. J. Pazour, J. T. San Agustin, J. A. Follit, J. L. Rosenbaum, and G. B. Witman,
"Polycystin-2 localizes to kidney cilia and the ciliary level is elevated in orpk mice
with polycystic kidney disease," Curr Biol, vol. 12, pp. R378-80, Jun 4 2002.
[136] A. C. Ong and D. N. Wheatley, "Polycystic kidney disease--the ciliary connection,"
Lancet, vol. 361, pp. 774-6, Mar 1 2003.
[137] S. Wang, J. Zhang, S. M. Nauli, X. Li, P. G. Starremans, Y. Luo, K. A. Roberts, and J.
Zhou, "Fibrocystin/polyductin, found in the same protein complex with
polycystin-2, regulates calcium responses in kidney epithelia," Mol Cell Biol, vol. 27,
pp. 3241-52, Apr 2007.
[138] I. Kim, Y. Fu, K. Hui, G. Moeckel, W. Mai, C. Li, D. Liang, P. Zhao, J. Ma, X. Z. Chen,
A. L. George, Jr., R. J. Coffey, Z. P. Feng, and G. Wu, "Fibrocystin/polyductin
modulates renal tubular formation by regulating polycystin-2 expression and
function," J Am Soc Nephrol, vol. 19, pp. 455-68, Mar 2008.
[139] G. J. Pazour, "Intraflagellar transport and cilia-dependent renal disease: the ciliary
hypothesis of polycystic kidney disease," J Am Soc Nephrol, vol. 15, pp. 2528-36, Oct
2004.
[140] F. Lin, T. Hiesberger, K. Cordes, A. M. Sinclair, L. S. Goldstein, S. Somlo, and P.
Igarashi, "Kidney-specific inactivation of the KIF3A subunit of kinesin-II inhibits
renal ciliogenesis and produces polycystic kidney disease," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S
A, vol. 100, pp. 5286-91, Apr 29 2003.
[141] N. Kishimoto, Y. Cao, A. Park, and Z. Sun, "Cystic kidney gene seahorse regulates
cilia-mediated processes and Wnt pathways," Dev Cell, vol. 14, pp. 954-61, Jun 2008.
[142] Z. Sun, A. Amsterdam, G. J. Pazour, D. G. Cole, M. S. Miller, and N. Hopkins, "A
genetic screen in zebrafish identifies cilia genes as a principal cause of cystic
kidney," Development, vol. 131, pp. 4085-93, Aug 2004.

450

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

[143] W. Gronwald, M. S. Klein, R. Zeltner, B. D. Schulze, S. W. Reinhold, M. Deutschmann,

A. K. Immervoll, C. A. Boger, B. Banas, K. U. Eckardt, and P. J. Oefner, "Detection
of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease by NMR spectroscopic
fingerprinting of urine," Kidney Int, vol. 79, pp. 1244-53, Jun 2011.
[144] M. A. Garcia-Gonzalez, J. G. Jones, S. K. Allen, C. M. Palatucci, S. D. Batish, W. K.
Seltzer, Z. Lan, E. Allen, F. Qian, X. M. Lens, Y. Pei, G. G. Germino, and T. J.
Watnick, "Evaluating the clinical utility of a molecular genetic test for polycystic
kidney disease," Mol Genet Metab, vol. 92, pp. 160-7, Sep-Oct 2007.
[145] J. M. Shillingford, N. S. Murcia, C. H. Larson, S. H. Low, R. Hedgepeth, N. Brown, C.
A. Flask, A. C. Novick, D. A. Goldfarb, A. Kramer-Zucker, G. Walz, K. B. Piontek,
G. G. Germino, and T. Weimbs, "The mTOR pathway is regulated by polycystin-1,
and its inhibition reverses renal cystogenesis in polycystic kidney disease," Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 103, pp. 5466-71, Apr 4 2006.
[146] N. O. Bukanov, L. A. Smith, K. W. Klinger, S. R. Ledbetter, and O. IbraghimovBeskrovnaya, "Long-lasting arrest of murine polycystic kidney disease with CDK
inhibitor roscovitine," Nature, vol. 444, pp. 949-52, Dec 14 2006.
[147] G. Jia, M. Kwon, H. L. Liang, J. Mortensen, V. Nilakantan, W. E. Sweeney, and F. Park,
"Chronic treatment with lisinopril decreases proliferative and apoptotic pathways
in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease," Pediatr Nephrol, vol. 25, pp. 113946, Jun 2010.
[148] X. Wang, V. Gattone, 2nd, P. C. Harris, and V. E. Torres, "Effectiveness of vasopressin
V2 receptor antagonists OPC-31260 and OPC-41061 on polycystic kidney disease
development in the PCK rat," J Am Soc Nephrol, vol. 16, pp. 846-51, Apr 2005.
[149] T. V. Masyuk, A. I. Masyuk, V. E. Torres, P. C. Harris, and N. F. Larusso, "Octreotide
inhibits hepatic cystogenesis in a rodent model of polycystic liver disease by
reducing cholangiocyte adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate," Gastroenterology,
vol. 132, pp. 1104-16, Mar 2007.
[150] P. Ruggenenti, A. Remuzzi, P. Ondei, G. Fasolini, L. Antiga, B. Ene-Iordache, G.
Remuzzi, and F. H. Epstein, "Safety and efficacy of long-acting somatostatin
treatment in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease," Kidney Int, vol. 68,
pp. 206-16, Jul 2005.
[151] W. E. Sweeney, Y. Chen, K. Nakanishi, P. Frost, and E. D. Avner, "Treatment of
polycystic kidney disease with a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor," Kidney Int, vol. 57,
pp. 33-40, Jan 2000.
[152] Y. Solak, H. Atalay, I. Polat, and Z. Biyik, "Colchicine treatment in autosomal dominant
polycystic kidney disease: many points in common," Med Hypotheses, vol. 74, pp.
314-7, Feb 2010.
[153] J. L. Tobin and P. L. Beales, "Bardet-Biedl syndrome: beyond the cilium," Pediatr
Nephrol, vol. 22, pp. 926-36, Jul 2007.
[154] K. Baker and P. L. Beales, "Making sense of cilia in disease: the human ciliopathies,"
Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet, vol. 151C, pp. 281-95, Nov 15 2009.
[155] P. L. Beales, N. Elcioglu, A. S. Woolf, D. Parker, and F. A. Flinter, "New criteria for
improved diagnosis of Bardet-Biedl syndrome: results of a population survey," J
Med Genet, vol. 36, pp. 437-46, Jun 1999.

Biology of Cilia and Ciliopathies

451

[156] P. Sen Gupta, N. V. Prodromou, and J. P. Chapple, "Can faulty antennae increase
adiposity? The link between cilia proteins and obesity," J Endocrinol, vol. 203, pp.
327-36, Dec 2009.
[157] K. Rahmouni, M. A. Fath, S. Seo, D. R. Thedens, C. J. Berry, R. Weiss, D. Y. Nishimura,
and V. C. Sheffield, "Leptin resistance contributes to obesity and hypertension in
mouse models of Bardet-Biedl syndrome," J Clin Invest, vol. 118, pp. 1458-67, Apr
2008.
[158] C. Christodoulides, C. Lagathu, J. K. Sethi, and A. Vidal-Puig, "Adipogenesis and
WNT signalling," Trends Endocrinol Metab, vol. 20, pp. 16-24, Jan 2009.
[159] P. J. King, L. Guasti, and E. Laufer, "Hedgehog signalling in endocrine development
and disease," J Endocrinol, vol. 198, pp. 439-50, Sep 2008.
[160] W. Cousin, C. Fontaine, C. Dani, and P. Peraldi, "Hedgehog and adipogenesis: fat and
fiction," Biochimie, vol. 89, pp. 1447-53, Dec 2007.
[161] N. F. Berbari, J. S. Lewis, G. A. Bishop, C. C. Askwith, and K. Mykytyn, "Bardet-Biedl
syndrome proteins are required for the localization of G protein-coupled receptors
to primary cilia," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 105, pp. 4242-6, Mar 18 2008.
[162] N. F. Berbari, A. D. Johnson, J. S. Lewis, C. C. Askwith, and K. Mykytyn, "Identification
of ciliary localization sequences within the third intracellular loop of G proteincoupled receptors," Mol Biol Cell, vol. 19, pp. 1540-7, Apr 2008.
[163]J. R. Lupski, N. Katsanis, S. J. Ansley, J. L. Badano, E. R. Eichers, R. A. Lewis, B. E.
Hoskins, P. J. Scambler, W. S. Davidson, and P. L. Beales, "Triallelic inheritance in
Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a Mendelian recessive disorder," Science, vol. 293, pp. 22562259, Sep 21 2001.
[164] J. R. Davenport, A. J. Watts, V. C. Roper, M. J. Croyle, T. van Groen, J. M. Wyss, T. R.
Nagy, R. A. Kesterson, and B. K. Yoder, "Disruption of intraflagellar transport in
adult mice leads to obesity and slow-onset cystic kidney disease," Curr Biol, vol. 17,
pp. 1586-94, Sep 18 2007.
[165] D. L. Simons, S. L. Boye, W. W. Hauswirth, and S. M. Wu, "Gene therapy prevents
photoreceptor death and preserves retinal function in a Bardet-Biedl syndrome
mouse model," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 108, pp. 6276-81, Apr 12 2011.
[166] A. L. Negri, F. R. Spivacow, E. E. Del Valle, M. Forrester, G. Rosende, and I. Pinduli,
"Role of overweight and obesity on the urinary excretion of promoters and
inhibitors of stone formation in stone formers," Urol Res, vol. 36, pp. 303-7, Dec
2008.
[167] L. Garfinkel, "Overweight and mortality," Cancer, vol. 58, pp. 1826-9, Oct 15 1986.
[168] N. V. Christou, J. S. Sampalis, M. Liberman, D. Look, S. Auger, A. P. McLean, and L. D.
MacLean, "Surgery decreases long-term mortality, morbidity, and health care use
in morbidly obese patients," Ann Surg, vol. 240, pp. 416-23; discussion 423-4, Sep
2004.
[169] E. Westly, "Fat attack," Sci Am, vol. 303, pp. 20-2, Sep 2010.
[170] L. M. Quarmby and J. D. Parker, "Cilia and the cell cycle?," J Cell Biol, vol. 169, pp. 70710, Jun 6 2005.
[171] M. Fliegauf, T. Benzing, and H. Omran, "When cilia go bad: cilia defects and
ciliopathies," Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, vol. 8, pp. 880-93, Nov 2007.
[172] E. J. Michaud and B. K. Yoder, "The primary cilium in cell signaling and cancer,"
Cancer Res, vol. 66, pp. 6463-7, Jul 1 2006.

452

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

[173] S. Y. Wong, A. D. Seol, P. L. So, A. N. Ermilov, C. K. Bichakjian, E. H. Epstein, Jr., A. A.

Dlugosz, and J. F. Reiter, "Primary cilia can both mediate and suppress Hedgehog
pathway-dependent tumorigenesis," Nat Med, vol. 15, pp. 1055-61, Sep 2009.
[174] Y. G. Han and A. Alvarez-Buylla, "Role of primary cilia in brain development and
cancer," Curr Opin Neurobiol, vol. 20, pp. 58-67, Feb 2010.
[175] R. Rohatgi, L. Milenkovic, and M. P. Scott, "Patched1 regulates hedgehog signaling at
the primary cilium," Science, vol. 317, pp. 372-6, Jul 20 2007.
[176] Y. G. Han, H. J. Kim, A. A. Dlugosz, D. W. Ellison, R. J. Gilbertson, and A. AlvarezBuylla, "Dual and opposing roles of primary cilia in medulloblastoma
development," Nat Med, vol. 15, pp. 1062-5, Sep 2009.
[177] K. Yuan, N. Frolova, Y. Xie, D. Wang, L. Cook, Y. J. Kwon, A. D. Steg, R. Serra, and A.
R. Frost, "Primary cilia are decreased in breast cancer: analysis of a collection of
human breast cancer cell lines and tissues," J Histochem Cytochem, vol. 58, pp. 85770, Oct 2010.
[178] A. J. Bowers and J. F. Boylan, "Nek8, a NIMA family kinase member, is overexpressed
in primary human breast tumors," Gene, vol. 328, pp. 135-42, Mar 17 2004.
[179] M. R. Mahjoub, M. L. Trapp, and L. M. Quarmby, "NIMA-related kinases defective in
murine models of polycystic kidney diseases localize to primary cilia and
centrosomes," J Am Soc Nephrol, vol. 16, pp. 3485-9, Dec 2005.
[180] A. Jemal, R. Siegel, E. Ward, Y. Hao, J. Xu, T. Murray, and M. J. Thun, "Cancer
statistics, 2008," CA Cancer J Clin, vol. 58, pp. 71-96, Mar-Apr 2008.
[181] C. Almoguera, D. Shibata, K. Forrester, J. Martin, N. Arnheim, and M. Perucho, "Most
human carcinomas of the exocrine pancreas contain mutant c-K-ras genes," Cell,
vol. 53, pp. 549-54, May 20 1988.
[182] E. S. Seeley, C. Carriere, T. Goetze, D. S. Longnecker, and M. Korc, "Pancreatic cancer
and precursor pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions are devoid of primary
cilia," Cancer Res, vol. 69, pp. 422-30, Jan 15 2009.
[183] K. Pickert, "Screening dilemma. Are some cancers better left undiscovered?," Time, vol.
177, pp. 60-4, 67, Jun 13 2011.

20
The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in
Healthy Cells and in Disease
Jasmina Ilievska, Naomi E. Bishop,
Sarah J. Annesley and Paul R. Fisher*

Department of Microbiology,
La Trobe University,
Australia

1. Introduction
Endocytosis is a process that occurs in all eukaryotes and is an essential mechanism for
internalizing membrane proteins and controlling intracellular trafficking (Bishop, 2003).
Membrane proteins such as active epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) are
endocytosed via clathrin-dependent or independent-pathways and are typically first
delivered to the early endosome (Bishop, 1997; Tarrago-Trani & Storrie, 2007) (Figure 1).
The early endosomes (or sorting endosomes) have a crucial role in sorting the
endocytosed cargo to three alternative destinations: (i) recycling the cargo back to the
plasma membrane (receptor sequestration), (ii) transferring the cargo to the trans Golgi
network (TGN), (iii) transporting the cargo into intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) of maturing
endosomes known as multivesicular bodies (MVBs) (reviewed by Gruenberg & Stenmark,
2004; Russel et al., 2006; Piper & Katzmann, 2007). The ultimate consequence of such
sorting is the exposure of the ILVs and their contents to lysosomal hydrolases after fusion
of the MVB with lysosomes (receptor down-regulation) (reviewed by Sorkin & von
Zastrow, 2009; Wegner et al., 2011). MVBs also play an important role in the traffic of
lysosomal enzymes from the TGN, and in the secretion of exosomes from cells (Lakkaraju
& Rodriguez-Boulan, 2008; Simons & Raposo, 2009, Thery et al., 2009). MVBs functions
extend beyond cargo sorting - they also serve as MHC class II compartments for antigen
presentation, T-cell secretory granules and melanosomes in specialised cell types (Raiborg
et al., 2003).
Efficient sorting at the early endosome and the MVB compartments typically requires monoor polyubiquitination of cell surface receptors. The molecular machinery that recognises the
ubiquitinated cargo at the early endosome and mediates its sorting into MVBs is a set of
interacting protein complexes, the endosomal complexes required for transport (ESCRTs).
The ESCRTs were first identified in yeast and were initially referred to as class E Vps
(vacuolar protein sorting) proteins (Raymond et al., 1992). Characterisation of the 18 class E

Corresponding Author

454

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig 1. Interrelationships between the endocytic and autophagic pathways.

(a) Receptor-mediated endocytosis involves internalization of plasma membrane cargo into
the cell. Endocytosed cargo is first delivered to the early endosome, which also receives
cargo from the TGN. From here on, selected cargo can be delivered to three alternative
destinations: (i) can be recycled back to the plasma membrane (receptor sequestration), or
(ii) sorted into the TGN or (iii) incorporated into ILVs of MVBs. The cargo within the MVB
compartment is subsequently transported to the lysosome where the constituents are broken
down by lysosomal hydrolases (receptor down-regulation). The MVB biogenesis and the
sorting of ubiquitinated cargo is controlled by four ESCRTs, -0, -I, -II -III, and the action of a
AAA+ type ATPase Vps4. (b) In contrast to endocytosis, autophagy digests intracellular
material by encapsulating damaged organelles or protein aggregates by a phagophore. The
resulting autophagosome can fuse directly with the lysosome forming an autolysosome or
indirectly via the MVB compartment forming a hybrid organelle, termed an amphisome.
genes revealed that ten of these encode subunits of the ESCRT system, whereas the others
encode ESCRT-related proteins or upstream or downstream interactors (reviewed by
Slagsvold et al., 2006) (Table 1).
Extensive genetic, biochemical and structural studies using yeast, Drosophila and
mammalian model systems have revealed the molecular roles of the ESCRTs. The ESCRT
system consists of four different complexes termed ESCRT-0, -I, -II and III, and a number
of associated proteins such as Vps4 (Babst et al., 2002a, 2002b; Katzmann et al., 2001)
(Figure 2). Ubiquitinated endosomal cargo targeted for lysosomal degradation is initially
recognised by ESCRT-0. ESCRT-I, -II and -III which are subsequently recruited to the
endosomal membrane by protein-protein interactions between the four complexes
(reviewed by Roxrud et al., 2010). The ubiquitinated cargo is further concentrated on the

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

455

endosomal membrane by the action of ESCRT-I and II, furthermore invaginations that
form from the endosomal membrane to become ILVs depend upon ESCRT-III and Vps4 facilitated membrane abscission (Elia et al., 2011; Babst et al., 2011). The endocytosed
contents in the ILVs are ultimately terminated via lysosomal degradation (Figure 1).
Following protein sorting into MVBs, the ATPase Vps4 catalyzes the release of the ESCRT
machinery from the limiting membrane of the MVB compartment into the cytosol for
further rounds of cargo sorting.
The ESCRTs also have alternative cellular roles beyond lysosomal trafficking. A subset of
ESCRTs have a well-established function in eukaryotic cell abscission (cytokinesis) (Spitzer
et al., 2006; Carlton & Martin-Serrano, 2007; Morita et al., 2007), viral budding (Morita &
Sundquist, 2004; Fujii et al., 2007) and autophagy (Filimonenko et al., 2007; Lee et al., 2007).
Given their importance in fundamental cellular processes, it is not surprising that ESCRT
dysfunction is associated with numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders,
cancer and infectious diseases. The dynamics and regulation of the ESCRT machinery have
been extensively reviewed (Hurley & Emr, 2006; Saksena et al., 2007; Williams & Urbe, 2007;
Raiborg & Stanmark, 2009; Hanson et al., 2009; Carlton & Martin-Serrano, 2009; Hurley,
2010; Roxrud et al., 2010; Henne et al., 2011) and will only be mentioned briefly here. This
review focuses on understanding the role of the ESCRTs in disease using model systems, to
better understand the mechanisms behind their role in pathogenesis.

2. Evolutionary conservation of ESCRTs

Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis has revealed in great detail the
conservation of the molecular machineries involved in cargo sorting and membrane
trafficking. The phylogenetic data has shown that most ESCRT genes emerged early during
the evolution of eukaryotes (Slater & Bishop, 2006, Field et al., 2007; Leung et al., 2008, Field
& Dacks, 2009). However the ESCRT-III complex and Vps4 have been identified in Archaea,
suggesting an even earlier, ancestral function for these components (Lindas et al., 2008;
Ghazi-Tabatabai et al., 2009; reviewed by Makarova et al., 2010; Samson et al., 2008, 2011). It
has even been suggested a similar mechanism may contribute to bacterial outer membrane
vesicle production (Kulp & Kuehn, 2011). All of the other ESCRT complexes with the
exception of ESCRT-0, are present across all of the eukaryotic lineages. ESCRT-0 appears to
be specific to the opisthokonts (metazoa and fungi) and is absent from Dictyostelium
discoideum, a member of their sister lineage the Amoebozoa, as well as from plants (Winter &
Hauser, 2006; Leung et al., 2008; Field & Dacks, 2009). However D. discoideum contains
instead a minimal, possibly ancestral ESCRT-0 in which DdTom1 interacts with ubiquitin,
clathrin and the ESCRT-1 protein Tsg101 (Blanc et al., 2009). MVBs were also recently
identified in the basal amoebozoan Breviata anathema, strengthening the conclusion that the
ESCRTs are a common feature of this supergroup (Herman et al., 2011). In mammals and
plants several VpsE genes such as Vps37, Vps4, Vps32, Mvb12 and Bro1 have undergone gene
duplications. The domain structure of VpsE proteins, especially the domains involved in
protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions is well conserved across yeast, metazoa and
plants (reviewed by Michelet et al., 2010) (Table 1). Collectively, these data suggests that the
fundamental structure and the role of the ESCRTs is well conserved among many
eukaryotic organisms.

Vps60/(Mos10)
Vps46/(Did2)
Ist1
Doa4

CHMP5
CHMP1A, B
IST1
UBPY/USP8

VTA1/LIP5
ALIX/AIP1

Vta1
Vps31/(Bro1)
Charged, coiled-coil
Charged, coiled-coil
MIM1, MIM2
Rhod, UBP

MIT, VSL
Bro1, Proline-rich domain

AAA+ ATPase, MIT

Charged, coiled-coil, MIM

Charged, coiled-coil, MIM
Charged, coiled-coil, MIM
Charged, coiled-coil, MIM

Coiled-coil, WH
PPXY, WH
GLUE, NZF1, 2 (yeast), WH

VHS, FYVE, UIM (yeast) DUIM

(metazoan), PTAP, GAT, coiled-coil
core, clathrin binding
VHS, UIM, SH3, GAT, coiled-coil
core, clathrin binding
UEV, Pro-rich linker, stalk, headpiece
Headpiece, C-terminal
Basic helix, head piece
Stalk, ubiquitin binding domain

ESCRT-III like protein, binds Vta1

ESCRT-III like protein, recruits Vps4
The tandem ESCRT III domains bind SNF7B and the DUB UBPY (USP8)
Removes ubiquitin

Positively regulates of Vps4

ESCRT-III interaction by recruiting Snf7, Doa4 recruitment, interacts with
apoptosis regulators, contains viral YPXP domains

ESCRT disassembly and recycling

Initiates membrane scission

Membrane scission, binds Bro1 domains
Completes membrane scission
Recruits Vps4; initiates ESCRT disassembly

Binds membranes
Binds ESCRT-III (Vps20), cargo
Binds membranes, ubiquitin and ESCRT-I (Vps28)

Cargo and ESCRT-0 (Vps27) interaction, contains the viral PTAP motif
Binds ESCRT-II (Vps36)
Binds membranes
Stabilizes ESCRT-I subunits, binds ubiquitin

Binds ubiquitinated cargo and DUB enzymes

Biological function
Binds PtdIns3P, ubiqutinated cargo, ESCRT-I and clathrin

Domains/Motifs1

acronyms: Bro1, Bro1 domain-containing protein 1; CHMP, charged multivesicular body protein; DID, DOA4-independent degradation
protein; DUB, deubiquitylating enzyme; DUIM, double-sided ubiquitin-interacting motif; ESCRT, endosomal sorting complex required for transport;
GAT; GLUE, GRAM-like ubiquitin-binding in EAP45; Hrs, hepatocyte growth factor-regulated Tyr kinase substrate; Ist1, increased sodium tolerance
protein 1; MIM, MIT-interacting motif; MIT, microtubule-interacting and transport; MVB, multivesicular body; NZF, Npl4-type zinc finger; SH3, SRC
homology 3; UBPY, ubiquitin isopeptidase Y; UEV, ubiquitin E2 variant; UIM, ubiquitin-interacting motif; VHS, Vps27, Hrs and STAM; Vps, vacuolar
protein sorting; VSL and VTA1; WH2, winged helix 2. *Alternative names are provided in brackets.

1Domain

Other

Vps4A,B/(SKD1,
2)

CHMP6
CHMP4A, B, C
CHMP3
CHMP2A, B

EAP30, Snf8
EAP20
EAP45

Vps4

Vps20
Vps32/* (Snf7)
Vps24
Vps2/(Did4)

ESCRT-III
Membrane scission

Vps4
Disassembly of ESCRTs

Vps22
Vps25
Vps36

ESCRT-II
Membrane deformation
and budding

Tsg101
Vps28
Vps37A, B, C, D
MVB12A, B

STAM1, 2

Hse1

Vps23
Vps28
Vps37
Mvb12

Metazoan
Protein names
Hrs

Yeast
Protein names
Vps27

ESCRT-I
Membrane deformation
and budding

ESCRT complex and

activity
ESCRT-0
Clusters ubiquitinated
cargo

456
Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Table 1. Components of the ESCRT machinery.

(Table is modified from Hurley & Hanson, 2010, see cited paper for further details on
domain/motif structure)

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

457

3. Structure and function of ESCRTs in normal cells

3.1 Composition of the ESCRT complexes
In order to understand the role of the ESCRTs in disease, a brief overview of the
composition of each complex is provided (Figure 2). ESCRT-0, -I and II are stable
heterotetrameric complexes, while ESCRT-III is formed by polymers formed by four core
protein subunits.

Fig. 2. Composition and molecular interactions of the ESCRTs.

Interactions between the four ESCRTs are indicated, as are interactions with ubiquitylated
cargo, accessory molecules such as phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P),
deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs), Bro1 and the ATPase Vps4. Yeast protein names have
been used but the figure above is a composite of data obtained from studies of several
model systems containing the ESCRTs.
3.1.1 ESCRT-0
The ESCRT-0 complex has an early role in MVB biogenesis and in the sorting of
ubiquitinated proteins into the MVB pathway. ESCRT-0 binds and clusters ubiquitinated
cargo destined for delivery into MVBs, and recruits clathrin and deubiquitinating enzymes
(Wollert et al., 2010). The ESCRT-0 complex consists of two subunits, Hrs (Vps27 in yeast)
and STAM1/2 (Hse1 in yeast). Hrs contains a FYVE zinc finger domain which binds
PtdIns(3)P providing membrane recruitment and endosomal specificity for the ESCRT-0
complex (Mao et al., 2000). Hrs and STAM1/2 bind ubiquitin via their UIM and VHS
ubiquitin domains respectively, which are essential for efficient sorting of ubiquitinated
proteins (Bishop et al., 2002; Mizuno et al., 2003; Bache et al., 2006). Hrs binds directly to the
tumour susceptibility gene101 product (Tsg101) recruiting ESCRT-I to the endosomal
membranes (Bishop et al., 2002) (Figure 2).
3.1.2 ESCRT-I
The ESCRT-I complex along with ESCRT-II is required for further concentrating
ubiquitinated cargo on the endosomal membrane and initiating the first stages of membrane
invagination (Wollert et al., 2010). Mammalian ESCRT-I is composed of four subunits
Tsg101 (Vps23 in yeast), Vps28, Vps37 (four isoforms, A-D) and Mvb12 (two isoforms A/B);
the yeast ESCRT-I contains single copies of the four subunits (Chu et al., 2006; Curtiss et al.,
2007; Kostelansky et al., 2007; Oestreich et al., 2007) (Figure 2). A novel ESCRT-I component
was recently identified in mammalian cells, termed UBAP1. UBAP1 contains a region

458

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

conserved in Mvb12 and binds Bro1 proteins involved in cytokinesis (Stefani et al., 2011).
The ESCRT-I structure is organised as a headpiece core with flexibly connected modules
that mediate interactions with other partners such as ESCRT-0, ubiquitin, Alix (Bro1 in
yeast) and ESCRT-II. The Tsg101 subunit can also directly bind Vps20, an ESCRT-III
component, surpassing both ESCRT-I and II (Katzmann et al., 2003; Bilodeau et al., 2003;
Pornillos et al., 2003).
3.1.3 ESCRT-II
The ESCRT-II complex is recruited to the endosomal membrane by the interaction between
the ESCRT-I subunit Vps28 and the ESCRT-II subunit Vps36 (Saksena et al., 2009) (Figure 2).
The ESCRT-II complex is a heterotetramer with one copy of Vps22 and Vps36 and two
copies of Vps25 (Hierro et al., 2004; Im & Hurley, 2008; Teis et al., 2010). Mammalian Vps36
binds PtdIns(3)P and ubiquitin via the GLUE domain and is important for efficient cargo
sorting (Teo et al., 2006). The yeast Vps36 contains a GLUE domain with two NZF
insertions. NZF1 binds to ESCRT-I (Gill et al., 2007) and NZF2 binds to ubiquitinated cargo
(Alam et al., 2004). The C-terminal domain of Vps25 provides a direct link to ESCRT-III by
binding to CHMP6 (Vps20).
3.1.4 ESCRT-III
The ESCRT-III complex plays an important role in membrane scission and is responsible for
pinching off the neck of the invagination, forming an ILV (Wollert et al, 2009, Wollert &
Hurley, 2010) (Figure 2). Mammalian ESCRT-III consists of multiple subunits, CHMP2 (two
isoforms A/B,) (in yeast Vps2), CHMP3 (in yeast Vps24), CHMP4 (four isoforms A-D) (in
yeast Snf7), and CHMP6 (in yeast Vps20) (Babst et al, 2002a; Bajorek et al., 2009b). The other
ESCRT-III subunits CHMP1 (two isoforms A/B), (in yeast Did2), CHMP5 (in yeast Vps60)
and Ist1 are not strictly essential for function and appear to assemble with the rest of the
ESCRT-III subunits at a later stage. Did2 and Vps60 recruit and activate Vps4, while Ist1
inhibits Vps4 activity (Nickerson et al., 2006; Dimaano et al., 2008). Vps4 is an AAA-ATPase,
which has an important role in catalysing and energizing the dissociation of the ESCRT
machinery form the endosomal membrane back to the cytosol, for further rounds of cargo
sorting. The ESCRT-III complex does not bind ubiquitin, however it recruits Alix, which
plays a key role in the endosomal recruitment of Doa4, a deubiquitinating enzyme (Babst et
al., 1997; 1998; Scott et al., 2005; Muziol et al., 2006; Shim et al., 2007; Yu et al., 2008; Teis et
al., 2008; Lata et al., 2008; Ghazi-Tabatabai et al., 2009).
3.2 Biological roles of the ESCRTs
3.2.1 Cytokinesis
In eukaryotes, cytokinesis consists of at least three key steps: (i) assembly of the central
spindle, (ii) formation of the cleavage furrow, (iii) and membrane abscission at the midbody
(Yang et al., 2008; reviewed by Saksena & Emr, 2009). The membrane scission and the
creation of the membrane curvature required in cytokinesis is topologically similar to the
curvature needed during MVB sorting and viral budding. Studies have shown that
components of ESCRTs are required for membrane abscission, the final step of cytokinesis.
For instance, ESCRT-III is specifically recruited to the midbody to mediate membrane fission

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

459

and Vps4 is important in the release of ESCRT-III in cytokinesis (Spitzer et al., 2006; Obita et
al., 2007; Carlton & Martin-Serrano, 2007). Furthermore, depletion of either Ist1 and Did2
(ESCRT-III and Vps4 human homologues) leads to an arrest in cytokinesis (Agromayor et
al., 2009; Bajorek et al., 2009a). Additionally, the ESCRT-I subunit Tsg101 and the ESCRT-III
associated protein Alix were found to competitively associate with Cep55 (a multimeric cell
division protein essential for late stage cell division) to facilitate recruitment of ESCRT-III
and Vps4 for abscission of the two daughter cells (Carlton & Martin-Serrano, 2007; Morita et
al., 2007). The role of ESCRT-II in cytokinesis is unclear, although studies conducted by
Langelier et al., 2006 indicate that Vps22 of ESCRT-II is located on the centrosomes and is
involved in the maturation of these organelles. The mechanisms behind ESCRT mediated
scission and their role in microtubule disassembly have been recently reviewed in detail by
Henne et al., 2011 and Roxrud et al., 2010 and will not be further discussed in this review.
3.2.2 Autophagy
In the mammalian system there are two pathways that intersect with the lysosome, the MVB
pathway as described in the introduction and the autophagy pathway. To date, three
autophagy pathways have been described in higher eukaryotes: microautophagy (MA),
chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) and macroautophagy (Mizushima et al., 2008;
Cuervo, 2010). Microautophagy was originally described in yeast, but is not yet well
characterised in other eukaryotes (Marzella et al., 1981). In this pathway, the lysosome
invaginates and internalizes cytosolic components, which are subsequently degraded in the
lumen of the lysosome. Chaperone-mediated autophagy is a more selective autophagy that
does not involve vesicle formation but rather a direct translocation of a specific set of
proteins across the lysosomal membrane. The cytosolic chaperone hsc70, a major component
of the CMA pathway recognises the pentapeptide KFERQ sequence in proteins destined
for lysosomal degradation (Sahu et al., 2011). The lysosome-associated protein type 2A
(LAMP2A) binds and translocates the KFERQ proteins to the lysosome, through a yetunclear-mechanism (Orenstein & Cuervo, 2010; reviewed by Shpilka & Elazar, 2011). A
recent study has identified a new macroautophagy-like degradation pathway that is distinct
from CMA and occurs in lysosomes (Orenstein & Cuervo, 2010). Endosomal
microautophagy was shown by Sahu et al., 2011 to occur during MVB formation and
requires both ESCRT-I and III, as well as hsc70 for delivery of KFERQ proteins from the
cytosol into MVBs. This study provided fresh insights into the mechanisms of autophagy in
mammalian model systems and also extended the role of ESCRTs to degradation of
cytosolic compartments. The role of the ESCRTs is best characterized in macroautophagy
and this will be the focus here.
Macroautophagy (henceforth simply referred to as autophagy) is a bulk degradation
pathway responsible for the removal of damaged organelles and for clearance of protein
aggregates (reviewed by Mehrpour et al., 2010). The fundamental molecular mechanisms of
the autophagy pathway have been extensively studied in yeast, using genetic screening to
identify autophagy genes (atg) (Klionsky et al., 2003). Subsequent inactivation of atg
orthologues in higher eukaryotes has shown that the autophagic machinery is highly
conserved. The autophagic pathway involves multiple steps: (i) sequestration of cytoplasmic
constituents by a double membrane phagophore, resulting in the formation of an
autophagosome and (ii) direct fusion of autophagosomes with the lysosome, where the

460

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

cytoplasmic material is degraded in the resulting autolysosome or alternatively (iii) fusion

of the autophagosome with the MVB compartment, forming a hybrid component termed an
amphisome, which then fuses with the lysosome (Lawrence & Brown, 1992; Berg et al., 1998;
Liou et al., 1997) (Figure 1).
Many age-related neurodegenerative disorders are characterised by an accumulation of
ubiquitin-positive aggregates in affected brain regions. Autophagy is necessary for the
clearance of these proteins, as aggregates essentially become toxic for postmitotic cells like
neurons (reviewed by Eskelinen & Saftig, 2009). Defects in the autophagic pathway are
associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, Huntingtons and
Parkinsons diseases. For instance, in Alzheimers disease (AD) neuronal autophagy is
activated in the early stages, however autophagic degradation becomes impaired as the
disease progresses (Boland et al., 2008). Similarly in Huntingtons disease (HD), active
autophagy helps in the clearance of toxic polyglutamine-containing proteins (Ravikumar et
al., 2004). In Parkinsons disease (PD) mutant -synuclein blocks its own degradation via the
chaperone-mediated autophagy pathway resulting in a gain-of-function neurotoxicity
(Cuervo et al., 2004).
Studies conducted using slime moulds, nematodes, flies and mammals as model systems to
study neurodegenerative disease have revealed that the ESCRT machinery plays a role in
autophagy. Genetic disruption of ESCRT-I, -II and -III in mammalian and Drosophila cells
leads to an increase in autophagosomes and toxic protein aggregates increase the severity of
HD (Lee et al., 2009). Similarly, in rodent cortical neurons, loss of the CHMP2B subunit
leads to an accumulation of autophagosomes (Lee et al,. 2007). Autophagosome and
amphisome accumulation was also observed in HeLa cells when Tsg101 and
CHMP3/Vps24 were knocked down or CHMP2B was disrupted (Lee et al., 2007).
Consistent with the above data, downregulation of Vps4 in HeLa cells resulted in
autophagosome accumulation, impaired degradation of autophagy substrates and impaired
delivery of endosomal constituents to autophagosomes (Nara et al., 2002). The observed
increase in autophagosomes suggests that there is either an enhanced initiation of
autophagy in the cell or a decreased autophagic flux. The ESCRT machinery is therefore
predicted to be involved in one or more key stages of the autophagic pathway. The
possibilities include: (i) ESCRTs are involved in signalling pathways that induce autophagy,
(ii) ESCRTs are required for phagophore closure or (iii) ESCRTs are involved in the fusion
of autophagosomes with the lysosome and/or the fusion of the autophagosomes with the
MVB (reviewed by Rusten & Stenmark, 2009).
To date, little is known about the underlying mechanisms allowing the ESCRTs to mediate
fusion of autophagosomes with the MVB compartment and lysosomes. It has been shown
that tethering of lysosomes to endosomes and autophagosomes is mediated by Rab7 (Bucci
et al., 2000, Gutierrez et al., 2004; Jager et al., 2004) and the HOPS complex, which brings the
membranes in close proximity (Wurmser et al., 2000; Seals et al., 2000; reviewed by Metcalf
& Isaacs, 2010). ESCRT proteins interact directly with the HOPS complex which binds Rab7,
as determined by a recent study which revealed that mutant CHMP2B (an ESCRT-III
subunit) leads to impaired recruitment of Rab7 (Urwin et al., 2010). This suggests that
functional ESCRTs are required either for recruiting the vesicular fusion machinery to the
MVB compartment or for delivery of the fusion machinery to lysosomes or
autophagosomes. A number of other proteins are also implicated in autophagosome fusion

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

461

with endosomes/lysosomes including UVRAG, Rubicon and LAMP-2. It is not yet known
whether the ESCRT machinery has an effect on these proteins and processes.
3.2.3 Downregulation of receptor-mediated signaling
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are growth factor receptors that play a important
regulatory roles in controlling cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, survival and
metabolism in several tissues and organs (Hunter, 2000; Pawson et al., 2001). Dysfunction of
RTKs or mutations in key components of their downstream signaling pathways results in a
variety of diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, immune deficiencies and cardiovascular
disorders (Blume-Jensen & Hunter, 2001). EGFR is one of the best studied RTKs, and its
uncontrolled signaling is associated with the development of a number of human cancers,
including mammary carcinomas, squamous carcinomas and glioblastomas (Hunter, 2000;
Pawson et al., 2001). The multivesicular body pathway silences RTK signaling via lysosome
sequestration and degradation and thus plays an important role in modulating the
amplitude and kinetics of amide signaling pathways from activated receptors (Saksena et
al., 2007; Hurley & Emr, 2006; Williams & Urbe, 2007). Defects in ESCRT-mediated sorting of
these receptors to lysosomal degradation pathways can thus lead to sustained receptor
signaling either because of prolonged residence and activity in the endosomal membrane or
as a result of increased recycling of the receptors to the plasma membrane.
Drosophila studies have shown that EGFR degradation is impaired and signalling is
prolonged by dysfunctional ESCRT-0 (Hrs) (Lloyd et al., 2002), ESCRT-I (Tsg101) (Vaccari &
Bilder, 2005) or ESCRT-II (Vps25) (Thompson et al., 2005). In mammals, depleting Tsg101
causes sustained EGFR signaling (Bache et al., 2006), whereas depletion of CHMP3 (ESCRTIII) (Bache et al., 2006) or Eap30 (ESCRT-II) (Malerod et al., 2007) causes delayed EGFR
degradation but not sustained signaling (Table 2). Sustained signaling observed in ESCRT-0,
-I and -II Drosophila mutants and after ESCRT-I depletion in mammals may result from
increases in the residence time of receptors in the endosomal membrane and their recycling
back to the plasma membrane. Mutations in ESCRT-III subunits do not cause sustained
signaling (Bache et al., 2006), possibly because ESCRTIII recruitment occurs after signal
termination. This may also explain why ESCRT-III subunits so far have not been implicated
in cancer.
The Notch signaling pathway is highly conserved from Drosophila to humans and plays a
central role in the normal development of many tissues and cell types. It controls various
effects on differentiation, survival, and/or proliferation that are highly dependent on signal
strength and cellular context. Dysfunction of the Notch signaling pathway leads to many
human diseases such as lung and skin cancer (Radtke & Raj, 2003; Allenspach et al., 2002).
Studies in Drosophila have shown that Notch signaling is terminated via lysosomal
degradation suggesting a role for the ESCRT machinery in the regulation of Notch. In
Drosophila, depletion of Hrs or mutation of Tsg101 or Vps25 leads to an accumulation of the
cell-surface receptors Notch, Delta, Thickveins and EGFR (Thompson et al., 2005; Vaccari &
Bilder, 2005; Moberg el al., 2005). Notch accumulation stimulates cell proliferation in the eye
disc (Chao et al., 2004, Tsai & Sun, 2004) and results in overgrowth phenotypes in
surrounding wild-type cells via the JAK/STAT pathway. Furthermore, inactivation of
Tsg101 or Vps5 in Drosophila results in loss of epithelial cell polarity, which is associated
with malignant transformation, suggesting that ESCRT components have a role in

462

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

organizing the actin and/or microtubule cytoskeleton (Thompson et al., 2005; Vaccari &
Bilder, 2005; Moberg el al., 2005; Saksana & Emr, 2009). In summary, there is growing
evidence that implicates functional ESCRTs in suppressing malignant transformation and
preventing cancer.

4. The roles of ESCRTs in disease

4.1 Neurodegenerative diseases
The most direct evidence that ESCRT dysfunction causes neurodegenerative disease comes
from the identification of autosomal dominant CHMP2B mutations found to cause a rare
form of frontotemporal dementia (FTD3) (Skibinski et al., 2005) and amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS) (Parkinson et al., 2006). FTD is the second most common form of early-onset
dementia after Alzheimers disease (Ratnavalli et al., 2002; Harvey et al., 2003) and is
characterised by the presence of either tau neurofibrillary tangles or ubiquitin deposits. FTD
with the presence of tau or ubiquitin pathology is termed FTLD-U (frontotemporal lobar
degeneration with ubiquitin-immunoreactive inclusions) (Neary et al., 2005). Both FTLD-U
and ALS are characterised by abnormal accumulation of ubiquitin-positive protein deposits
(including TDP-43) that contain p62, tau and -synuclein-negative neuronal cytoplasmic
inclusions (Arai et al., 2006; Neumann et al., 2006). The adapter protein p62 is commonly
found in protein inclusions associated with neurodegenerative disease (Talbot & Ansorge,
2006), it binds polyubiquitin (Vadlamudi et al., 1996) and interacts with the autophagic
associated protein Atg8/LC3 (Bjorkoy et al., 2005; Pankiv et al., 2007). Collectively, these
data implicate p62 as a link between protein accumulation and aggregation with autophagymediated clearance (reviewed by Saksena & Emr, 2009). Similarly, ESCRT-depleted cells and
cells overexpressing CHMP2 in flies, mice and humans, showed impaired autophagic
degradation leading to an accumulation of autophagosomes and protein aggregates
containing p62, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of FTD3. A recent study has shown
that deletion of the ESCRT proteins Tsg101 and Vps24 resulted in accumulation of TDP-43,
suggesting that impaired MVB function could have a role in TDP-43 aggregate formation in
FTLD-U and ALS (Filimonenko et al., 2007). Furthermore, Vps24 was found to be essential
in the clearance of expanded polyglutamine aggregates associated with Huntingtons
disease (Table 2) (Filimonenko et al., 2007). Collectively, these data suggest that efficient
autophagic degradation requires functional ESCRTs and dysfunction of this machinery is
associated with neurodegenerative phenotypes and disorders.
Several indirect links also implicate the ESCRTs in various neurodegenerative disorders, and
several ESCRT-interacting proteins are products of genes that are associated with inherited
forms of neurodegeneration (reviewed by Stuffers et al., 2009a). For instance, in mice, a null
mutation in Mahoganin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates Tsg101, causes spongiform
neurodegeneration, a recessively transmitted prion-like disease (Kim, et al., 2007; Jiao et al.,
2009). Two putative ESCRT-III interacting proteins, spartin and spastin are mutated in spastic
paraplegia, an inherited neurodegenerative disease that paralyzes the lower limbs (Reid et al.,
2005). The exact mechanism of CHMP4 contribution to this disease remains unclear and
requires further investigation. Finally, Niemann-Pick disease type C is an inherited
neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a disruption of lipid trafficking and is caused by
a mutation in either of the two genes, npc1 and npc2 (reviewed by Eskelinen & Saftig, 2009). A
dominant-negative mutant of Vps4 was found to cause an accumulation of ubiquitinated

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

463

NPC1 (Ohsaki et al., 2006). Together, these data indicate that dysregulation of ESCRT
pathways may contribute to a broad spectrum of degenerative diseases.
4.2 Cancer
The first hint that ESCRTs play a role in cancer came from the identification of Tsg101 and
Vps37A as tumour suppressor genes on the basis that they map to chromosomal regions
deleted or mutated in cancer (Li & Cohen, 1996; Xu et al., 2003). Genomic deletions and
splice variants of Tsg101 were found in sporadic forms of breast cancer (Li et al., 1997) and
other malignancies such as myeloid leukaemia and prostate cancer (Table 2) (Sun et al.,
1997; Lin et al., 1998). In addition, Vps37A expression in hepatocellular carcinomas was
found to be dramatically reduced or undetected suggesting that Vps37A may be a potential
tumour suppressor (Xu et al., 2003). Similar results were observed with CHMP1A, as
overexpression of this protein inhibited cell growth and tumour formation in human
pancreatic tumor cells (Li et al., 2009).
Mutations that prevent c-Cbl-mediated ubiquitination of EGFRs and thereby inhibit ESCRTmediated receptor down-regulation are associated with a number of cancers, particularly
acute myeloid leukemia. For example, a mutant EGFR lacking only the direct c-Cbl-binding
site transduces stronger mitogenic signals when compared to the wild-type receptor
(Waterman et al., 2002; Saksena & Emr, 2009). The c-Met RTK (also known as HGFR)
regulates invasive growth and is critical for normal development and wound repair. Its
overexpression causes uncontrolled proliferation and growth and consequently is associated
with a variety of human cancers (Haddad et al., 2001). In part c-Cbl-mediated ubiquitination
controls cellular c-Met levels and therefore ubiquitination and functional ESCRTs are
needed to avoid c-Met-related malignant transformation (Peschard et al., 2001).
Collectively, the foregoing studies indicate that the ESCRTs have a negative regulatory role
in growth receptor signaling, however several independent studies have shown that
ESCRTs also have a positive role in growth factor signaling. For instance, Tsg101 was
recently found to be overexpressed, rather then reduced in breast, thyroid, ovarian and
colon cancer (Ma et al., 2008). Furthermore, depletion of Tsg101 prevented tumorigenicity in
several cancer lines (Zhu et al., 2004). To further support ESCRTs positive role in oncogenic
signaling, the ESCRT-0 component Hrs was found to be essential for cell proliferation and
tumorigenesis in both HeLa and mouse fibroblast cells (Toyoshima et al., 2007).
A positive regulatory role in growth factor signalling for the ESCRTs has also been
observed in Drosophila melanogaster (Vaccari et al., 2005; Thompson et al., 2005; Moberg et al.,
2005; Vaccari et al., 2009; Herz et al., 2006; Rodahl et al., 2009). For example, Tsg101 is
essential for normal cell growth and cell survival in the fruit fly and clonal loss of this gene
in epithelial cells causes hyperplasia of surrounding tissue despite the mutant cells dying
via apoptosis (Moberg et al., 2005; reviewed by Stuffers et al., 2009a). Loss of Vps25 causes a
similar effect, whereas loss of Hrs is without effect (Vaccari & Bilder, 2005; Thompson et al.,
2005). It is important to note that the proapoptotic signaling pathways Hippo, JNK and Hid
are activated in the Vps25 Drosophila mutants. Expression of the caspase inhibitor p35 in the
Vps25 mutant cells restores cell growth and even results in overgrowth, suggesting that
mutations in both the ESCRT pathway and the apoptotic pathway are required for
overgrowth. Blocking apoptosis by expressing Ark (an essential component of the apoptotic

464

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

pathway) or Diap1 (Drosophila inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1), again results in overgrowth
of the Vps25 mutant tissue. Collectively, these results suggest that the ESCRTs in Drosophila
do not act as conventional tumor suppressors.
Overall, the ESCRTs have been implicated in both positive and negative roles in growth
factor receptor signaling and cancer, suggesting that the exact role of the ESCRTs in
tumourigenesis may be cell-type and context-dependent. Alternatively, ESCRT-mediated
actions in controlling cell proliferation may reflect diverse endosomal sorting roles on a
broad range of molecular targets with many different roles in cellular homeostasis
(reviewed by Lobert & Stenmark, 2011). Further research needs to be conducted using
different model systems to better understand the complex roles of the ESCRTs in signaling
and cell proliferation. More specifically, future studies need to address whether ESCRTs act
as genuine tumour suppressors in mammals, since at this stage this is still unclear.
4.3 Infectious diseases
4.3.1 Microbial infections
The endocytic and autophagic pathways play an important role in innate immunity. Multiple
studies have now shown that these host cell pathways can be manipulated by viruses and
microorganisms in order to facilitate infection (von Schwedler et al., 2003; Vieira et al., 2004;
Philips et al., 2008; Morita & Sundquist, 2004; Martin-Serrano & Marsh, 2007; McCullough et
al., 2008). ESCRTs play an important role in degenerative endosomal trafficking, so it is not
surprising that they are involved in killing many microorganisms. For example, functional
ESCRTs have been shown to restrict mycobacterial growth and infection (Philips et al., 2008).
Mycobacteria may invade macrophages and are able to survive and replicate intracellularly
due to their ability to prevent fusion of bacteria-containing phagosomes with lysosomes. In
both the Drosophila model system, and in mammalian macrophages, mutation of ESCRTs
renders cells susceptible to mycobacterial infections. Similarly, overexpression of Vps4 in the
host cell results in deficient differentiation and virulence of the intracellular protozoal
pathogen Leishmania major (Table 2) (Vieira et al., 2004; Philips et al., 2008). Furthermore,
autophagosome accumulation was also observed, and both functional endosomal and
autophagic pathways are required for optimal L. major virulence and infection (Besteiro et al.,
2006). The mechanisms by which ESCRTs mediate resistance to microbial infection have not
been defined. It is possible that ESCRTs are required for the delivery of the pathogen to the
lysosome, more specifically having a role in phagosome maturation and fusion between the
phagosome and lysosome. Like the involvement of the ESCRTs in the autophagic pathway
these results suggest that the ESCRTs affect multiple cellular trafficking events. The finding
that ESCRT components restrict the growth of intracellular microbial pathogens means that
they can now be considered as therapeutic targets for treatment of these infections which cause
millions of deaths every year.
In the case of eukaryotic pathogens, the ESCRTs of the pathogen may also play important
roles in virulence. Candida albicans causes opportunistic fungal infections and its ESCRT
proteins have multiple roles in pathogenesis. The fungal ESCRT components are suggested
to contribute to diverse fungal functions including cell signaling, nutrient acquisition and
possibly cell wall architecture (Cornet et al., 2005; Wolf et al., 2010). However the role of
ESCRTs in candidiasis is not yet fully understood.

465

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

Complex
Cancer
ESCRT-0

Component

Dysfunction/disease

Pathogenesis

Model systems

Hrs (Vps27)

Tumourigenesis and
metastatic potential

Human cancer
cells, MEF, mice

ESCRT-0 associated

Hrs (Vps27)

Benign brain tumours

(e.g. Schwannomas,
meningiomas,
ependymomas)

ESCRT-I

Vps37A

Hepatocellular ca. (HCC)

and metastasis

Tsg101 (Vps23)

Ovarian cancer

Tsg101 (Vps23)

Mammary cancer

Tsg101 (Vps23)

Papillary thyroid cancer,

gastrointestinal stromal
tumours
Neoplastic transformation
(ovary and imaginal
discs), over-proliferation
of adjacent WT cells
Prostate cancer

Hrs depletion is associated with

the upregulation of E-cadherin
and reduced -catenin signalling1
Interaction with
neurofibromatosis 2 tumour
suppressor protein
schwannomin/merlin, regulating
STAT signalling13, 14
Growth inhibitory protein,
suppressing proliferation,
transformation and invasion;
strongly reduced levels in HCC2
Up regulation of Tsg101:
suppression of p21 expression and
posttranslational regulation
through MAPK signalling3, 4
Overexpression of Tsg101:
increased signalling through
MAPK5
Overexpression of Tsg101
(consequences not known)6, 7

ESCRT-I/II

ESCRT-III

Erupted Tsg101/Vps25

CHMP3 (Vps24)
CHMP3 (Vps24)

Non-small cell lung

cancer

CHMP1A

Ductal pancreatic cancer

Tsg101 (Vps23) /
CHMP3 (Vps24) /
CHMP2B

Neurodegeneration
(FTLD-U, ALS,
Huntington's disease
(HD))

ESCRT-I associated

Tsg101 (Vps23)

ESCRT-I associated

Tsg101 (Vps23)

Spongiform
neurodegeneration
(hallmark of prion
disease)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth
disease (CMT1C)

ESCRT-III

CHMP2B (Vps2)

FTLD-U and ALS

CHMP4B (Snf7-2) /
CHMP2B

Neurodegeneration
(FTLD-U, ALS)

CHMP1B

Hereditary spastic

ESCRT-III associated

Neurodegenerative
diseases
ESCRT-I/III

ESCRT-III associated

Enhanced Notch and growth

factor signalling in mutant cells8, 9,

Human cancer
cells, rat cells

Human tissue
and cancer cells

Human tissue
and cancer cells

Human tissue,
transgenic mice
Human tissue

Drosophila

10

CHMP3 induces neuroendocrine

cell differentiation11
CHMP3 has a functional role in
neuroendocrine cell
differentiation12
Tumour suppressor, regulating
tumour growth potentially
through p53 signalling pathway15

Reduced autophagic degradation,

accumulation of Ub-protein
aggregates containing TDP-43;
reduced clearance of Huntingtonpositive inclusions18
E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase
Mahogunin ubiquitinates Tsg101;
depletion of Mahogunin disrupts
endosomal trafficking21
Interaction with SIMPLE; SIMPLE
plays a role in the lysosomal
sorting of plasma membrane
proteins22
Disruption of endosomal
trafficking, protein
accumulation16, 17
Accumulation of
autophagosomes; failure of
mutant CHMP2B to dissociate
properly leading to dysfunctional
ESCRT-III on late endosomes20
Interaction with spastin; spastin

Table 2. ESCRT-associated diseases in various model systems

(Modified from Stuffers et al., 2009a)

Human cells
Human cancer
cells
Human cells,
mice

Human cells,
mouse cells

Human cells, rat

tissue

Human cells

Drosophila, mice

Monkey cells

References: 1Toyoshima et al., 2007; 2Xu et al., 2003; 3Young et al., 2007; 4Young et al., 2007; 5Oh et al., 2007;
6Liu et al., 2002; 7Koon et al., 2004; 8Moberg et al., 2005; 9Vaccari & Bilder et al., 2005; 10Thompson et al.,
2005; 11Wilson et al., 2001; 12Walker et al., 2006; 13Gutmann et al., 2001; 14Scoles et al., 2002; 15Li et al., 2008;
16Parkinson et al., 2006; 17 Skibinski et al., 2005; 18Filimonenko et al., 2007; 19Rusten et al., 2007; 20Lee et al.,
2007; 21 Kim et al., 2007; 22 Shirk et al., 2005; 23Reid et al., 2005; 24Vieira et al., 2004; 25Cornet et al., 2005;
26Wolf et al., 2011; 27Babst et al., 1998; 28Spitzer et al., 2006; 29Besteiro et al., 2006; 30Shiels et al., 2007.

466

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

4.3.2 Viral infections

The beneficial role of ESCRTs in protecting against intracellular bacteria is reversed in viral
infections. Many membrane-enveloped viruses hijack the ESCRT machinery to bud out of
host cells. Retroviruses (HIV-1), filoviruses (Ebola virus), rhabdoviruses and arenaviruses
encode short sequence motifs termed L-domains (late domains) within their structural (Gag)
polyproteins that are essential for the release of assembled viruses from the host cells
(reviewed by Carlton & Martin-Serrano, 2009; Stuffers et al., 2009b). The P(S/T)AP motif
found on the HIV-1 Gag protein for example binds directly to the UEV domain of Tsg101 of
ESCRT-I. Even though HIV-1 budding is normally ESCRT-I dependent, if Tsg101 is
unavailable, the virus alternatively binds to Alix via the YPxL domain and buds (Stark et al.,
2003). Both ESCRT-I and Alix can independently recruit ESCRT-III, which together with
Vps4 are required for efficient virus budding. Recent studies have shown that ESCRT-III
and Vps4 can be recruited independently of either Tsg101 or Alix by the herpes simplex
virus type-1 (Pawliczek & Crump et al., 2009) and the hepatitis C virus (Corless et al., 2010).
ESCRT-II was found not to be essential for HIV- budding (Langelier et al., 2006), however
ESCRT-II was discovered recently to be essential for release of the avian sarcoma virus
(Pincetic et al., 2008). Other viruses such as the rabies virus can indirectly recruit the
ESCRTs by using the PPxY motif to specifically recruit WW-domain-containing E3
ubiquitin ligases of the Nedd4 family (Kikonyogo et al., 2001). Disruption of ESCRT function
by RNA interference or dominant-negative Vps4 arrests viral release at the plasma
membrane (Garrus et al., 2001; Martin-Serrano & Neil, 2011; Demirov et al., 2002; Strack et
al., 2003; reviewed by Carlton & Martin-Serrano, 2009). Collectively, this data confirms that
different enveloped viruses require specific proteins for budding and that the ESCRT
machinery regulates viral release from the plasma membrane.

5. Conclusions
The ESCRT machinery is ubiquitous in eukaryotes and has been highly conserved in
evolution due to its vital functions including endocytosis, cytokinesis and autophagy. Our
understanding of the ESCRTs roles in endocytosis, receptor downregulation, membrane
deformation and scission has made great progress over the past few years and the study of
various model systems has contributed significantly to this. We know that the ESCRTs, in
particular ESCRT-III and Vps4 have an intrinsic budding and scission activity that is
focused on the neck of the ILVs and that they are important regulators of cytokinesis
(Spitzer et al., 2006; Obita et al., 2007; Carlton & Martin-Serrano, 2007). Model systems have
implicated the ESCRTs in autophagic fusion events and in endosome-lysosome
degradation. Impaired function of these pathways causes various neurodegenerative
disorders, cancers and is implicated in microbial infections. Genetic disruption of ESCRT-I, II and III in mammalian and Drosophila systems has been shown to result in an
accumulation of autophagosomes and toxic aggregates which accelerates neurodegeneration
(Lee et al., 2007). Mutations in the ESCRT-III subunit CHMP2B, have been shown to cause
FTD3 (Skibinski et al., 2005) and ALS (Parkinson et al., 2006). Furthermore, the ESCRTs and
their associated proteins are also indirectly implicated in causing spongiform
neurodegeneration (Kim, et al., 2007; Jiao et al., 2009), spastic paraplegia (Reid et al., 2005)
and Niemann-Pick type C neurodegeneration (Ohsaki et al., 2006). Sustained receptor
signaling is a key event in carcinogenesis, and Tsg101 (Li et al., 1997, Sun et al., 1997; Lin et

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

467

al., 1998), Vps37A (Xu et al., 2003) and CHMP1A (Li et al., 2009) have been identified as
potential tumor suppressors. However several other subsequent studies found Tsg101 to
play a role in cell cycle control, a conclusion that is in contradiction to the tumor suppressor
properties of Tsg101 (Zhu et al., 2004). In Drosophila ESCRT-I and -II were found to behave
as tumor suppressors (Li & Cohen, 1996; Xu et al., 2003; Li et al., 2008). Tissues expressing
mutant ESCRT-I or -II were found to form tumors that are largely attributable to the cell
non-automous stimulation of proliferation caused by excessive cytokine production by the
mutant cells. This is triggered by overactive Notch signaling from endosomes, signifying
that the ESCRT machinery is crucial for silencing Notch signaling and thereby for tumor
suppression in flies. It has not yet been clarified whether this is the case in mammals. The
ESCRTs were found to have a beneficial role in innate immunity by restricting microbial
growth and infection (von Schwedler et al., 2003; Vieira et al., 2004; Philips et al., 2008;
Morita & Sundquist, 2004; Martin-Serrano & Marsh, 2007; McCullough et al., 2008). The
ESCRTs however, are turned against the host in viral infections. Several viruses, such as
HIV-1 use the ESCRT components to bud out cells and cause infection (reviewed by Carlton
& Martin-Serrano, 2009; Stuffers et al., 2009b). Further dissection of the roles of the ESCRTs
in these events will shed light on the basic mechanism of vesicular traffic and provide new
insights into disease pathogenesis and preventative and therapeutic strategies.

6. Acknowledgments
Due to the vast body of primary research that has contributed to our understanding of
endocytosis, autophagy and ESCRTs, we have been unable to cite many research papers in
the field and we apologise to those authors whose articles are not directly cited. J. Ilievska
was the recipient of an Australian postgraduate award scholarship (APA). This work was
supported by grants from the Australian Research Council and the Thyne Reid Memorial
Trusts. The authors are grateful to F. Nesci for assistance with preparing the Figures and S.
Aracic for proofreading the work.

7. References
Agromayor, M., Carlton, J. G., Phelan, J. P., Matthews, D. R., Carlin, L. M., Ameer-Beg, S.,
Bowers, K. & Martin-Serrano, J.; (2009). Essential role of hIST1 in cytokinesis. Mol
Biol Cell, 20, 5, (Mar, 2009), 1374-1387.
Alam, S. L., Sun, J., Payne, M., Welch, B. D., Blake, B. K., Davis, D. R., Meyer, H. H., Emr, S.
D. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2004). Ubiquitin interactions of NZF zinc fingers. EMBO J,
23, 7, (Apr, 2004), 1411-1421.
Allenspach, E. J., Maillard, I., Aster, J. C. & Pear, W. S.; (2002). Notch signaling in cancer.
Cancer Biol Ther, 1, 5, (Sep, 2002), 466-476.
Arai, T., Hasegawa, M., Akiyama, H., Ikeda, K., Nonaka, T., Mori, H., Mann, D., Tsuchiya,
K., Yoshida, M., Hashizume, Y. & Oda, T.; (2006). TDP-43 is a component of
ubiquitin-positive tau-negative inclusions in frontotemporal lobar degeneration
and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 351, 3, (Dec, 2006),
602-611.
Babst, M., Davies, B. A. & Katzmann, D. J.; (2011). Regulation of Vps4 during MVB sorting
and cytokinesis. Traffic, 12, 10, (Oct, 2011), 1298-1305.

468

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Babst, M., Sato, T. K., Banta, L. M. & Emr, S. D.; (1997). Endosomal transport function in
yeast requires a novel AAA-type ATPase, Vps4. EMBO J, 16, 8, (Apr, 1997), 18201831.
Babst, M., Wendland, B., Estepa, E. J. & Emr, S. D.; (1998). The Vps4 AAA ATPase regulates
membrane association of a Vps protein complex required for normal endosome
function. EMBO J, 17, 11, (Jun, 1998), 2982-2993.
Babst, M., Katzmann, D. J., Estepa-Sabal, E. J., Meerloo, T. & Emr, S. D.; (2002a). ESCRT-III:
an endosome-associated heterooligomeric protein complex required for MVB
sorting. Dev Cell, 3, 2, (Aug, 2002), 271-282.
Babst, M., Katzmann, D. J., Snyder, W. B., Wendland, B. & Emr, S. D.; (2002b). Endosomeassociated complex, ESCRT-II, recruits transport machinery for protein sorting at
the multivesicular body. Dev Cell, 3, 2, (Aug, 2002), 283-289.
Bache, K. G., Stuffers, S., Malerod, L., Slagsvold, T., Raiborg, C., Lechardeur, D., Walchli, S.,
Lukacs, G. L., Brech, A. & Stenmark, H.; (2006). The ESCRT-III subunit hVps24 is
required for degradation but not silencing of the epidermal growth factor receptor.
Mol Biol Cell, 17, 6, (Jun, 2006), 2513-2523.
Bajorek, M., Morita, E., Skalicky, J. J., Morham, S. G., Babst, M. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2009a).
Biochemical analyses of human IST1 and its function in cytokinesis. Mol Biol Cell,
20, 5, (Mar, 2009), 1360-1373.
Bajorek, M., Schubert, H. L., McCullough, J., Langelier, C., Eckert, D. M., Stubblefield, W.
M., Uter, N. T., Myszka, D. G., Hill, C. P. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2009b). Structural
basis for ESCRT-III protein autoinhibition. Nat Struct Mol Biol, 16, 7, (Jul, 2009), 754762.
Berg, T. O., Fengsrud, M., Stromhaug, P. E., Berg, T. & Seglen, P. O.; (1998). Isolation and
characterization of rat liver amphisomes. Evidence for fusion of autophagosomes
with both early and late endosomes. J Biol Chem, 273, 34, (Aug, 1998), 21883-21892.
Besteiro, S., Williams, R. A., Morrison, L. S., Coombs, G. H. & Mottram, J. C.; (2006).
Endosome sorting and autophagy are essential for differentiation and virulence of
Leishmania major. J Biol Chem, 281, 16, (Apr, 2006), 11384-11396.
Bilodeau, P. S., Winistorfer, S. C., Kearney, W. R., Robertson, A. D. & Piper, R. C.; (2003).
Vps27-Hse1 and ESCRT-I complexes cooperate to increase efficiency of sorting
ubiquitinated proteins at the endosome. J Cell Biol, 163, 2, (Oct, 2003), 237-243.
Bishop, N., Horman, A. & Woodman, P.; (2002). Mammalian class E vps proteins recognize
ubiquitin and act in the removal of endosomal protein-ubiquitin conjugates. J Cell
Biol, 157, 1, (Apr, 2002), 91-101.
Bishop, N. E.; (1997). An update on non-clathrin-coated endocytosis. Rev Med Virol, 7, 4,
(Dec, 1997), 199-209.
Bishop, N. E.; (2003). Dynamics of endosomal sorting. Int Rev Cytol, 232, 1-57.
Bjorkoy, G., Lamark, T., Brech, A., Outzen, H., Perander, M., Overvatn, A., Stenmark, H. &
Johansen, T.; (2005). p62/SQSTM1 forms protein aggregates degraded by
autophagy and has a protective effect on huntingtin-induced cell death. J Cell Biol,
171, 4, (Nov, 2005), 603-614.

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

469

Blanc, C., Charette, S. J., Mattei, S., Aubry, L., Smith, E. W., Cosson, P. & Letourneur, F.;
(2009). Dictyostelium Tom1 participates to an ancestral ESCRT-0 complex. Traffic, 10,
2, (Feb, 2009), 161-171.
Blume-Jensen, P. & Hunter, T.; (2001). Oncogenic kinase signalling. Nature, 411, 6835, (May,
2001), 355-365.
Boland, B., Kumar, A., Lee, S., Platt, F. M., Wegiel, J., Yu, W. H. & Nixon, R. A.; (2008).
Autophagy induction and autophagosome clearance in neurons: relationship to
autophagic pathology in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci, 28, 27, (Jul, 2008), 69266937.
Bucci, C., Thomsen, P., Nicoziani, P., McCarthy, J. & van Deurs, B.; (2000). Rab7: a key to
lysosome biogenesis. Mol Biol Cell, 11, 2, (Feb, 2000), 467-480.
Carlton, J. G. & Martin-Serrano, J.; (2007). Parallels between cytokinesis and retroviral
budding: a role for the ESCRT machinery. Science, 316, 5833, (Jun, 2007), 1908-1912.
Carlton, J. G. & Martin-Serrano, J.; (2009). The ESCRT machinery: new functions in viral and
cellular biology. Biochem Soc Trans, 37, 1, (Feb, 2009), 195-199.
Chao, J. L., Tsai, Y. C., Chiu, S. J. & Sun, Y. H.; (2004). Localized Notch signal acts through
eyg and upd to promote global growth in Drosophila eye. Development, 131, 16,
(Aug, 2004), 3839-3847.
Chu, T., Sun, J., Saksena, S. & Emr, S. D.; (2006). New component of ESCRT-I regulates
endosomal sorting complex assembly. J Cell Biol, 175, 5, (Dec, 2006), 815-823.
Corless, L., Crump, C. M., Griffin, S. D. & Harris, M.; (2010). Vps4 and the ESCRT-III
complex are required for the release of infectious hepatitis C virus particles. J Gen
Virol, 91, 2, (Feb, 2010), 362-372.
Cornet, M., Bidard, F., Schwarz, P., Da Costa, G., Blanchin-Roland, S., Dromer, F. &
Gaillardin, C.; (2005). Deletions of endocytic components VPS28 and VPS32 affect
growth at alkaline pH and virulence through both RIM101-dependent and RIM101independent pathways in Candida albicans. Infect Immun, 73, 12, (Dec, 2005), 79777987.
Cuervo, A. M.; (2004). Autophagy: many paths to the same end. Mol Cell Biochem, 263, 1-2,
(Aug, 2004), 55-72.
Cuervo, A. M.; (2010). Chaperone-mediated autophagy: selectivity pays off. Trends
Endocrinol Metab, 21, 3, (Mar, 2010), 142-150.
Curtiss, M., Jones, C. & Babst, M.; (2007). Efficient cargo sorting by ESCRT-I and the
subsequent release of ESCRT-I from multivesicular bodies requires the subunit
Mvb12. Mol Biol Cell, 18, 2, (Feb, 2007), 636-645.
Demirov, D. G., Orenstein, J. M. & Freed, E. O.; (2002). The late domain of human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 p6 promotes virus release in a cell type-dependent
manner. J Virol, 76, 1, (Jan, 2002), 105-117.
Dimaano, C., Jones, C. B., Hanono, A., Curtiss, M. & Babst, M.; (2008). Ist1 regulates Vps4
localization and assembly. Mol Biol Cell, 19, 2, (Feb, 2008), 465-474.
Elia, N., Sougrat, R., Spurlin, T. A., Hurley, J. H. & Lippincott-Schwartz, J.; (2011). Dynamics
of endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery during
cytokinesis and its role in abscission. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108, 12, (Mar, 2011),
4846-4851.

470

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Eskelinen, E. L. & Saftig, P.; (2009). Autophagy: a lysosomal degradation pathway with a
central role in health and disease. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1793, 4, (Apr, 2009), 664-673.
Field, M. C. & Dacks, J. B.; (2009). First and last ancestors: reconstructing evolution of the
endomembrane system with ESCRTs, vesicle coat proteins, and nuclear pore
complexes. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 21, 1, (Feb, 2009), 4-13.
Field, M. C., Gabernet-Castello, C. & Dacks, J. B.; (2007). Reconstructing the evolution of the
endocytic system: insights from genomics and molecular cell biology. Adv Exp Med
Biol, 607, 84-96.
Filimonenko, M., Stuffers, S., Raiborg, C., Yamamoto, A., Malerod, L., Fisher, E. M., Isaacs,
A., Brech, A., Stenmark, H. & Simonsen, A.; (2007). Functional multivesicular
bodies are required for autophagic clearance of protein aggregates associated with
neurodegenerative disease. J Cell Biol, 179, 3, (Nov, 2007), 485-500.
Fujii, K., Hurley, J. H. & Freed, E. O.; (2007). Beyond Tsg101: the role of Alix in 'ESCRTing'
HIV-1. Nat Rev Microbiol, 5, 12, (Dec, 2007), 912-916.
Garrus, J. E., von Schwedler, U. K., Pornillos, O. W., Morham, S. G., Zavitz, K. H., Wang, H.
E., Wettstein, D. A., Stray, K. M., Cote, M., Rich, R. L., Myszka, D. G. & Sundquist,
W. I.; (2001). Tsg101 and the vacuolar protein sorting pathway are essential for
HIV-1 budding. Cell, 107, 1, (Oct, 2001), 55-65.
Ghazi-Tabatabai, S., Obita, T., Pobbati, A. V., Perisic, O., Samson, R. Y., Bell, S. D. &
Williams, R. L.; (2009). Evolution and assembly of ESCRTs. Biochem Soc Trans, 37, 1,
(Feb, 2009), 151-155.
Gill, D. J., Teo, H., Sun, J., Perisic, O., Veprintsev, D. B., Emr, S. D. & Williams, R. L.; (2007).
Structural insight into the ESCRT-I/-II link and its role in MVB trafficking. EMBO J,
26, 2, (Jan, 2007), 600-612.
Gruenberg, J. & Stenmark, H.; (2004). The biogenesis of multivesicular endosomes. Nat Rev
Mol Cell Biol, 5, 4, (Apr, 2004), 317-323.
Gutierrez, M. G., Munafo, D. B., Beron, W. & Colombo, M. I.; (2004). Rab7 is required for the
normal progression of the autophagic pathway in mammalian cells. J Cell Sci, 117,
13, (Jun, 2004), 2687-2697.
Gutmann, D. H., Haipek, C. A., Burke, S. P., Sun, C. X., Scoles, D. R. & Pulst, S. M.; (2001).
The NF2 interactor, hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate
(HRS), associates with merlin in the "open" conformation and suppresses cell
growth and motility. Hum Mol Genet, 10, 8, (Apr, 2001), 825-834.
Haddad, R., Lipson, K. E. & Webb, C. P.; (2001). Hepatocyte growth factor expression in
human cancer and therapy with specific inhibitors. Anticancer Res, 21, 6B, (Dec,
2001), 4243-4252.
Hanson, P. I., Shim, S. & Merrill, S. A.; (2009). Cell biology of the ESCRT machinery. Curr
Opin Cell Biol, 21, 4, (Aug, 2009), 568-574.
Harvey, R. J., Skelton-Robinson, M. & Rossor, M. N.; (2003). The prevalence and causes of
dementia in people under the age of 65 years. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 74, 9,
(Sep, 2003), 1206-1209.
Henne, W. M., Buchkovich, N. J. & Emr, S. D.; (2011). The ESCRT pathway. Dev Cell, 21, 1,
(Jul, 2011), 77-91.

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

471

Herman, E. K., Walker, G., van der Giezen, M. & Dacks, J. B.; (2011). Multivesicular bodies
in the enigmatic amoeboflagellate Breviata anathema and the evolution of ESCRT 0. J
Cell Sci, 124, 4, (Feb, 2011), 613-621.
Herz, H. M., Chen, Z., Scherr, H., Lackey, M., Bolduc, C. & Bergmann, A.; (2006). Vps25
mosaics display non-autonomous cell survival and overgrowth, and autonomous
apoptosis. Development, 133, 10, (May, 2006), 1871-1880.
Hierro, A., Sun, J., Rusnak, A. S., Kim, J., Prag, G., Emr, S. D. & Hurley, J. H.; (2004).
Structure of the ESCRT-II endosomal trafficking complex. Nature, 431, 7005, (Sep,
2004), 221-225.
Hong, L., Ning, X., Shi, Y., Shen, H., Zhang, Y., Lan, M., Liang, S., Wang, J. & Fan, D.; (2004).
Reversal of multidrug resistance of gastric cancer cells by down-regulation of
ZNRD1 with ZNRD1 siRNA. Br J Biomed Sci, 61, 4, 206-210.
Hunter, T.; (2000). Signaling-2000 and beyond. Cell, 100, 1, (Jan, 2000), 113-127.
Hurley, J. H. & Emr, S. D.; (2006). The ESCRT complexes: structure and mechanism of a
membrane-trafficking network. Annu Rev Biophys Biomol Struct, 35, (Nov, 2006) 277298.
Hurley, J. H., Boura, E., Carlson, L. A. & Rozycki, B.; (2010). Membrane budding. Cell, 143, 6,
(Dec, 2010), 875-887.
Hurley, J. H & Hanson, P. I (2010). Membrane budding & scission by the ESCRT machinery :
its all in the neck. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 11, 8, 556-566.
Im, Y. J. & Hurley, J. H.; (2008). Integrated structural model and membrane targeting
mechanism of the human ESCRT-II complex. Dev Cell, 14, 6, (Jun, 2008), 902-913.
Jager, S., Bucci, C., Tanida, I., Ueno, T., Kominami, E., Saftig, P. & Eskelinen, E. L.; (2004).
Role for Rab7 in maturation of late autophagic vacuoles. J Cell Sci, 117, 20, (Sep,
2004), 4837-4848.
Jiao, J., Sun, K., Walker, W. P., Bagher, P., Cota, C. D. & Gunn, T. M.; (2009). Abnormal
regulation of TSG101 in mice with spongiform neurodegeneration. Biochim Biophys
Acta, 1792, 10, (Oct, 2009), 1027-1035.
Katzmann, D. J., Babst, M. & Emr, S. D.; (2001). Ubiquitin-dependent sorting into the
multivesicular body pathway requires the function of a conserved endosomal
protein sorting complex ESCRT-I. Cell, 106, 2, (Jul, 2001), 145-155.
Katzmann, D. J., Stefan, C. J., Babst, M. & Emr, S. D.; (2003). Vps27 recruits ESCRT
machinery to endosomes during MVB sorting. J Cell Biol, 162, 3, (Aug, 2003), 413423.
Kikonyogo, A., Bouamr, F., Vana, M. L., Xiang, Y., Aiyar, A., Carter, C. & Leis, J.; (2001).
Proteins related to the Nedd4 family of ubiquitin protein ligases interact with the L
domain of Rous sarcoma virus and are required for gag budding from cells. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A, 98, 20, (Sep, 2001), 11199-11204.
Kim, B. Y., Olzmann, J. A., Barsh, G. S., Chin, L. S. & Li, L.; (2007). Spongiform
neurodegeneration-associated E3 ligase Mahogunin ubiquitylates TSG101 and
regulates endosomal trafficking. Mol Biol Cell, 18, 4, (Apr, 2007), 1129-1142.
Klionsky, D. J., Cregg, J. M., Dunn, W. A., Jr., Emr, S. D., Sakai, Y., Sandoval, I. V., Sibirny,
A., Subramani, S., Thumm, M., Veenhuis, M. & Ohsumi, Y.; (2003). A unified
nomenclature for yeast autophagy-related genes. Dev Cell, 5, 4, (Oct, 2003), 539-545.

472

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Koon, N., Schneider-Stock, R., Sarlomo-Rikala, M., Lasota, J., Smolkin, M., Petroni, G., Zaika,
A., Boltze, C., Meyer, F., Andersson, L., Knuutila, S., Miettinen, M. & El-Rifai, W.;
(2004). Molecular targets for tumour progression in gastrointestinal stromal
tumours. Gut, 53, 2, (Feb, 2004), 235-240.
Kostelansky, M. S., Schluter, C., Tam, Y. Y., Lee, S., Ghirlando, R., Beach, B., Conibear, E. &
Hurley, J. H.; (2007). Molecular architecture and functional model of the complete
yeast ESCRT-I heterotetramer. Cell, 129, 3, (May, 2007), 485-498.
Kulp, A. & Kuehn, M. J.; (2011). The recognition of {beta}-strand motifs by RseB is required
for {sigma}E activity in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol, 193, 22, (Sep, 2011), 6179-6186.
Lakkaraju, A. & Rodriguez-Boulan, E.; (2008). Itinerant exosomes: emerging roles in cell and
tissue polarity. Trends Cell Biol, 18, 5, (May, 2008), 199-209.
Langelier, C., von Schwedler, U. K., Fisher, R. D., De Domenico, I., White, P. L., Hill, C. P.,
Kaplan, J., Ward, D. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2006). Human ESCRT-II complex and its
role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 release. J Virol, 80, 19, (Oct, 2006),
9465-9480.
Lata, S., Schoehn, G., Jain, A., Pires, R., Piehler, J., Gottlinger, H. G. & Weissenhorn, W.;
(2008). Helical structures of ESCRT-III are disassembled by VPS4. Science, 321, 5894,
(Sep, 2008), 1354-1357.
Lawrence, B. P. & Brown, W. J.; (1992). Autophagic vacuoles rapidly fuse with pre-existing
lysosomes in cultured hepatocytes. J Cell Sci, 102, 3, (Jul, 1992), 515-526.
Lee, J. A., Liu, L. & Gao, F. B.; (2009). Autophagy defects contribute to neurodegeneration
induced by dysfunctional ESCRT-III. Autophagy, 5, 7, (Oct, 2009), 1070-1072.
Lee, J. A., Beigneux, A., Ahmad, S. T., Young, S. G. & Gao, F. B.; (2007). ESCRT-III
dysfunction causes autophagosome accumulation and neurodegeneration. Curr
Biol, 17, 18, (Sep, 2007), 1561-1567.
Leung, K. F., Dacks, J. B. & Field, M. C.; (2008). Evolution of the multivesicular body ESCRT
machinery; retention across the eukaryotic lineage. Traffic, 9, 10, (Sep, 2008), 16981716.
Li, J., Belogortseva, N., Porter, D. & Park, M.; (2008). Chmp1A functions as a novel tumor
suppressor gene in human embryonic kidney and ductal pancreatic tumor cells.
Cell Cycle, 7, 18, (Sep, 2008), 2886-2893.
Li, J., Orr, B., White, K., Belogortseva, N., Niles, R., Boskovic, G., Nguyen, H., Dykes, A. &
Park, M.; (2009). Chmp 1A is a mediator of the anti-proliferative effects of all-trans
retinoic acid in human pancreatic cancer cells. Mol Cancer, 8, 7, (Sept, 2008), 28862893.
Li, L. & Cohen, S. N.; (1996). Tsg101: a novel tumor susceptibility gene isolated by controlled
homozygous functional knockout of allelic loci in mammalian cells. Cell, 85, 3,
(May, 1996), 319-329.
Li, L., Li, X., Francke, U. & Cohen, S. N.; (1997). The TSG101 tumor susceptibility gene is
located in chromosome 11 band p15 and is mutated in human breast cancer. Cell,
88, 1, (Jan, 1997), 143-154.
Lin, P. M., Liu, T. C., Chang, J. G., Chen, T. P. & Lin, S. F.; (1998). Aberrant TSG101
transcripts in acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol, 102, 3, (Aug, 1998), 753-758.

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

473

Lindas, A. C., Karlsson, E. A., Lindgren, M. T., Ettema, T. J. & Bernander, R.; (2008). A
unique cell division machinery in the Archaea. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 105, 48,
(Dec, 2008), 18942-18946.
Liou, W., Geuze, H. J., Geelen, M. J. & Slot, J. W.; (1997). The autophagic and endocytic
pathways converge at the nascent autophagic vacuoles. J Cell Biol, 136, 1, (Jan,
1997), 61-70.
Liu, R. T., Huang, C. C., You, H. L., Chou, F. F., Hu, C. C., Chao, F. P., Chen, C. M. & Cheng,
J. T.; (2002). Overexpression of tumor susceptibility gene TSG101 in human
papillary thyroid carcinomas. Oncogene, 21, 31, (Jul, 2002), 4830-4837.
Lloyd, T. E., Atkinson, R., Wu, M. N., Zhou, Y., Pennetta, G. & Bellen, H. J.; (2002) Hrs
regulates endosome membrane invagination and tyrosine kinase receptor signaling
in Drosophila. Cell 108, 2, (Jan, 2002), 261269.
Lobert, V. H. & Stenmark, H.; (2011). Cell polarity and migration: emerging role for the
endosomal sorting machinery. Physiology, 26, 3, (Jun, 2011), 171-180.
Ma, X. R., Edmund Sim, U. H., Pauline, B., Patricia, L. & Rahman, J.; (2008). Overexpression
of WNT2 and TSG101 genes in colorectal carcinoma. Trop Biomed, 25, 1, (Apr, 2008),
46-57.
Makarova, K. S., Yutin, N., Bell, S. D. & Koonin, E. V.; (2010). Evolution of diverse cell
division and vesicle formation systems in Archaea. Nat Rev Microbiol, 8, 10, (Oct,
2010), 731-741.
Malerod, L., Stuffers, S., Brech, A. & Stenmark, H.; (2007). Vps22/EAP30 in ESCRT-II
mediates endosomal sorting of growth factor and chemokine receptors destined for
lysosomal degradation. Traffic 8, 11, (Nov, 2007) 16171629.
Mao, Y., Nickitenko, A., Duan, X., Lloyd, T. E., Wu, M. N., Bellen, H. & Quiocho, F. A.;
(2000). Crystal structure of the VHS and FYVE tandem domains of Hrs, a protein
involved in membrane trafficking and signal transduction. Cell, 100, 4, (Feb, 2000),
447-456.
Martin-Serrano, J. & Marsh, M.; (2007). ALIX catches HIV. Cell Host Microbe, 1, 1, (Mar,
2007), 5-7.
Martin-Serrano, J. & Neil, S. J.; (2011). Host factors involved in retroviral budding and
release. Nat Rev Microbiol, 9, 7, (Jul, 2011), 519-531.
Marzella, L., Ahlberg, J. & Glaumann, H.; (1981). Autophagy, heterophagy, microautophagy
and crinophagy as the means for intracellular degradation. Virchows Arch B Cell
Pathol Incl Mol Pathol, 36, 2-3, 219-234.
McCullough, J., Fisher, R. D., Whitby, F. G., Sundquist, W. I. & Hill, C. P.; (2008). ALIXCHMP4 interactions in the human ESCRT pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 105,
22, (Jun, 2008), 7687-7691.
Mehrpour, M., Esclatine, A., Beau, I. & Codogno, P.; (2010). Overview of macroautophagy
regulation in mammalian cells. Cell Res, 20, 7, (Jul, 2010), 748-762.
Metcalf, D. & Isaacs, A. M.; (2010). The role of ESCRT proteins in fusion events involving
lysosomes, endosomes and autophagosomes. Biochem Soc Trans, 38, 6, (Dec, 2010),
1469-1473.
Michelet, X., Djeddi, A. & Legouis, R.; (2010). Developmental and cellular functions of the
ESCRT machinery in pluricellular organisms. Biol Cell, 102, 3, (Mar, 2010), 191-202.

474

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Mizuno, E., Kawahata, K., Kato, M., Kitamura, N. & Komada, M.; (2003). STAM proteins
bind ubiquitinated proteins on the early endosome via the VHS domain and
ubiquitin-interacting motif. Mol Biol Cell, 14, 9, (Sep, 2003), 3675-3689.
Mizushima, N., Levine, B., Cuervo, A. M. & Klionsky, D. J.; (2008). Autophagy fights disease
through cellular self-digestion. Nature, 451, 7182, (Feb, 2008), 1069-1075.
Moberg, K. H., Schelble, S., Burdick, S. K. & Hariharan, I. K.; (2005). Mutations in erupted,
the Drosophila ortholog of mammalian tumor susceptibility gene 101, elicit non-cellautonomous overgrowth. Dev Cell, 9, 5, (Nov, 2005), 699-710.
Morita, E. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2004). Retrovirus budding. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, 20, (Jun,
2004), 395-425.
Morita, E., Sandrin, V., Chung, H. Y., Morham, S. G., Gygi, S. P., Rodesch, C. K. &
Sundquist, W. I.; (2007). Human ESCRT and ALIX proteins interact with proteins of
the midbody and function in cytokinesis. EMBO J, 26, 19, (Oct, 2007), 4215-4227.
Muziol, T., Pineda-Molina, E., Ravelli, R. B., Zamborlini, A., Usami, Y., Gottlinger, H. &
Weissenhorn, W.; (2006). Structural basis for budding by the ESCRT-III factor
CHMP3. Dev Cell, 10, 6, (Jun, 2006), 821-830.
Nara, A., Mizushima, N., Yamamoto, A., Kabeya, Y., Ohsumi, Y. & Yoshimori, T.; (2002).
SKD1 AAA ATPase-dependent endosomal transport is involved in autolysosome
formation. Cell Struct Funct, 27, 1, (Feb, 2002), 29-37.
Neary, D., Snowden, J. & Mann, D.; (2005). Frontotemporal dementia. Lancet Neurol, 4, 11,
(Nov, 2005), 771-780.
Neumann, M., Sampathu, D. M., Kwong, L. K., Truax, A. C., Micsenyi, M. C., Chou, T. T.,
Bruce, J., Schuck, T., Grossman, M., Clark, C. M., McCluskey, L. F., Miller, B. L.,
Masliah, E., Mackenzie, I. R., Feldman, H., Feiden, W., Kretzschmar, H. A.,
Trojanowski, J. Q. & Lee, V. M.; (2006). Ubiquitinated TDP-43 in frontotemporal
lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Science, 314, 5796, (Oct, 2006),
130-133.
Nickerson, D. P., West, M. & Odorizzi, G.; (2006). Did2 coordinates Vps4-mediated
dissociation of ESCRT-III from endosomes. J Cell Biol, 175, 5, (Dec, 2006), 715-720.
Obita, T., Saksena, S., Ghazi-Tabatabai, S., Gill, D. J., Perisic, O., Emr, S. D. & Williams, R. L.;
(2007). Structural basis for selective recognition of ESCRT-III by the AAA ATPase
Vps4. Nature, 449, 7163, (Oct, 2007), 735-739.
Oestreich, A. J., Davies, B. A., Payne, J. A. & Katzmann, D. J.; (2007). Mvb12 is a novel
member of ESCRT-I involved in cargo selection by the multivesicular body
pathway. Mol Biol Cell, 18, 2, (Feb, 2007), 646-657.
Oh, K. B., Stanton, M. J., West, W. W., Todd, G. L. & Wagner, K. U.; (2007). Tsg101 is
upregulated in a subset of invasive human breast cancers and its targeted
overexpression in transgenic mice reveals weak oncogenic properties for mammary
cancer initiation. Oncogene, 26, 40, (Aug, 2007), 5950-5959.
Ohsaki, Y., Sugimoto, Y., Suzuki, M., Hosokawa, H., Yoshimori, T., Davies, J. P., Ioannou, Y.
A., Vanier, M. T., Ohno, K. & Ninomiya, H.; (2006). Cholesterol depletion facilitates
ubiquitylation of NPC1 and its association with SKD1/Vps4. J Cell Sci, 119, 3, (Jul,
2006), 2643-2653.

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

475

Orenstein, S. J. & Cuervo, A. M.; (2010). Chaperone-mediated autophagy: molecular

mechanisms and physiological relevance. Semin Cell Dev Biol, 21, 7, (Sep, 2010), 719726.
Pankiv, S., Clausen, T. H., Lamark, T., Brech, A., Bruun, J. A., Outzen, H., Overvatn, A.,
Bjorkoy, G. & Johansen, T.; (2007). p62/SQSTM1 binds directly to Atg8/LC3 to
facilitate degradation of ubiquitinated protein aggregates by autophagy. J Biol
Chem, 282, 33, (Aug, 2007), 24131-24145.
Parkinson, N., Ince, P. G., Smith, M. O., Highley, R., Skibinski, G., Andersen, P. M.,
Morrison, K. E., Pall, H. S., Hardiman, O., Collinge, J., Shaw, P. J. & Fisher, E. M.;
(2006). ALS phenotypes with mutations in CHMP2B (charged multivesicular body
protein 2B). Neurology, 67, 6, (Sep, 2006), 1074-1077.
Pawliczek, T. & Crump, C. M.; (2009). Herpes simplex virus type 1 production requires a
functional ESCRT-III complex but is independent of TSG101 and ALIX expression. J
Virol, 83, 21, (Nov, 2009), 11254-11264.
Pawson, T., Gish, G. D. & Nash, P.; (2001). SH2 domains, interaction modules and cellular
wiring. Trends Cell Biol, 11, 12, (Dec, 2001), 504-511.
Peschard, P., Fournier, T. M., Lamorte, L., Naujokas, M. A., Band, H., Langdon, W. Y. &
Park, M.; (2001). Mutation of the c-Cbl TKB domain binding site on the Met
receptor tyrosine kinase converts it into a transforming protein. Mol Cell, 8, 5, (Nov,
2001), 995-1004.
Philips, J. A., Porto, M. C., Wang, H., Rubin, E. J. & Perrimon, N.; (2008). ESCRT factors
restrict mycobacterial growth, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 105, 8, (Feb, 2008), 30703075.
Pincetic, A., Medina, G., Carter, C. & Leis, J.; (2008). Avian sarcoma virus and human
immunodeficiency virus, type 1 use different subsets of ESCRT proteins to facilitate
the budding process. J Biol Chem, 283, 44, (Oct, 2008), 29822-29830.
Piper, R. C. & Katzmann, D. J.; (2007). Biogenesis and function of multivesicular bodies.
Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, 23, 519-547.
Pornillos, O., Higginson, D. S., Stray, K. M., Fisher, R. D., Garrus, J. E., Payne, M., He, G. P.,
Wang, H. E., Morham, S. G. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2003). HIV Gag mimics the
Tsg101-recruiting activity of the human Hrs protein. J Cell Biol, 162, 3, (Aug, 2003),
425-434.
Radtke, F. & Raj, K.; (2003) The role of Notch in tumorigenesis: oncogene or tumour
suppressor? Nat Rev Cancer, 3, 10, (Oct, 2003), 756-767.
Raiborg, C. & Stenmark, H.; (2009). The ESCRT machinery in endosomal sorting of
ubiquitylated membrane proteins. Nature, 458, 7237, (Mar, 2009), 445-452.
Raiborg, C., Rusten, T. E. & Stenmark, H.; (2003). Protein sorting into multivesicular
endosomes. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 15, 4, (Aug, 2003), 446-455.
Ratnavalli, E., Brayne, C., Dawson, K. & Hodges, J. R.; (2002). The prevalence of
frontotemporal dementia. Neurology, 58, 11, (Jun, 2002), 1615-1621.
Ravikumar, B., Vacher, C., Berger, Z., Davies, J. E., Luo, S., Oroz, L. G., Scaravilli, F., Easton,
D. F., Duden, R., O'Kane, C. J. & Rubinsztein, D. C.; (2004). Inhibition of mTOR
induces autophagy and reduces toxicity of polyglutamine expansions in fly and
mouse models of Huntington disease. Nat Genet, 36, 6, (Jun, 2004), 585-595.

476

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Raymond, C. K., Howald-Stevenson, I., Vater, C. A. & Stevens, T. H.; (1992). Morphological
classification of the yeast vacuolar protein sorting mutants: evidence for a
prevacuolar compartment in class E vps mutants. Mol Biol Cell, 3, 12, (Dec, 1992),
1389-1402.
Reid, E., Connell, J., Edwards, T. L., Duley, S., Brown, S. E. & Sanderson, C. M.; (2005). The
hereditary spastic paraplegia protein spastin interacts with the ESCRT-III complexassociated endosomal protein CHMP1B. Hum Mol Genet, 14, 1, (Jan, 2005), 19-38.
Rodahl, L. M., Haglund, K., Sem-Jacobsen, C., Wendler, F., Vincent, J. P., Lindmo, K.,
Rusten, T. E. & Stenmark, H.; (2009). Disruption of Vps4 and JNK function in
Drosophila causes tumour growth. PLoS One, 4, 2, (2009).
Roxrud, I., Stenmark, H. & Malerod, L.; (2010). ESCRT & Co. Biol Cell, 102, 5, (May, 2010),
293-318.
Russell, M. R., Nickerson, D. P. & Odorizzi, G.; (2006). Molecular mechanisms of late
endosome morphology, identity and sorting. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 18, 4, (Aug, 2006),
422-428.
Rusten, T. E. & Stenmark, H.; (2009). How do ESCRT proteins control autophagy? J Cell Sci,
122, 13, (Jul, 2009), 2179-2183.
Rusten, T. E., Vaccari, T., Lindmo, K., Rodahl, L. M., Nezis, I. P., Sem-Jacobsen, C., Wendler,
F., Vincent, J. P., Brech, A., Bilder, D. & Stenmark, H.; (2007). ESCRTs and Fab1
regulate distinct steps of autophagy. Curr Biol, 17, 20, (Oct, 2007), 1817-1825.
Sahu, R., Kaushik, S., Clement, C. C., Cannizzo, E. S., Scharf, B., Follenzi, A., Potolicchio, I.,
Nieves, E., Cuervo, A. M. & Santambrogio, L.; (2011). Microautophagy of cytosolic
proteins by late endosomes. Dev Cell, 20, 1, (Jan, 2011), 131-139.
Saksena, S. & Emr, S. D.; (2009). ESCRTs and human disease. Biochem Soc Trans, 37, 1, (Feb,
2009), 167-172.
Saksena, S., Sun, J., Chu, T. & Emr, S. D.; (2007). ESCRTing proteins in the endocytic
pathway. Trends Biochem Sci, 32, 12, (Dec, 2007), 561-573.
Saksena, S., Wahlman, J., Teis, D., Johnson, A. E. & Emr, S. D.; (2009). Functional
reconstitution of ESCRT-III assembly and disassembly. Cell, 136, 1, (Jan, 2009), 97109.
Samson, R. Y., Obita, T., Freund, S. M., Williams, R. L. & Bell, S. D.; (2008). A role for the
ESCRT system in cell division in archaea. Science, 322, 5908, (Dec, 2008), 1710-1713.
Samson, R. Y., Obita, T., Hodgson, B., Shaw, M. K., Chong, P. L., Williams, R. L. & Bell, S. D.;
(2011). Molecular and structural basis of ESCRT-III recruitment to membranes
during archaeal cell division. Mol Cell, 41, 2, (Jan, 2011), 186-196.
Scoles, D. R., Nguyen, V. D., Qin, Y., Sun, C. X., Morrison, H., Gutmann, D. H. & Pulst, S.
M.; (2002). Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor schwannomin and its
interacting protein HRS regulate STAT signaling. Hum Mol Genet, 11, 25, (Dec,
2002), 3179-3189.
Scott, A., Chung, H. Y., Gonciarz-Swiatek, M., Hill, G. C., Whitby, F. G., Gaspar, J., Holton, J.
M., Viswanathan, R., Ghaffarian, S., Hill, C. P. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2005). Structural
and mechanistic studies of VPS4 proteins. EMBO J, 24, 20, (Oct, 2005), 3658-3669.

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

477

Seals, D. F., Eitzen, G., Margolis, N., Wickner, W. T. & Price, A.; (2000). A Ypt/Rab effector
complex containing the Sec1 homolog Vps33p is required for homotypic vacuole
fusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 97, 17, (Aug, 2000), 9402-9407.
Shiels, A., Bennett, T. M., Knopf, H. L., Yamada, K., Yoshiura, K., Niikawa, N., Shim, S. &
Hanson, P. I.; (2007). CHMP4B, a novel gene for autosomal dominant cataracts
linked to chromosome 20q. Am J Hum Genet, 81, 3, (Sep, 2007), 596-606.
Shim, S., Kimpler, L. A. & Hanson, P. I.; (2007). Structure/function analysis of four core
ESCRT-III proteins reveals common regulatory role for extreme C-terminal
domain. Traffic, 8, 8, (Aug, 2007), 1068-1079.
Shirk, A. J., Anderson, S. K., Hashemi, S. H., Chance, P. F. & Bennett, C. L.; (2005). SIMPLE
interacts with NEDD4 and TSG101: evidence for a role in lysosomal sorting and
implications for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. J Neurosci Res, 82, 1, (Oct, 2005), 4350.
Shpilka, T. & Elazar, Z.; (2011). Shedding light on mammalian microautophagy. Dev Cell, 20,
1, (Jan, 2011), 1-2.
Simons, M. & Raposo, G.; (2009). Exosomes-vesicular carriers for intercellular
communication. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 21, 4, (Aug, 2009), 575-581.
Skibinski, G., Parkinson, N. J., Brown, J. M., Chakrabarti, L., Lloyd, S. L., Hummerich, H.,
Nielsen, J. E., Hodges, J. R., Spillantini, M. G., Thusgaard, T., Brandner, S., Brun, A.,
Rossor, M. N., Gade, A., Johannsen, P., Sorensen, S. A., Gydesen, S., Fisher, E. M. &
Collinge, J.; (2005). Mutations in the endosomal ESCRT-III complex subunit
CHMP2B in frontotemporal dementia. Nat Genet, 37, 8, (Aug, 2005), 806-808.
Slagsvold, T., Pattni, K., Malerod, L. & Stenmark, H.; (2006). Endosomal and non-endosomal
functions of ESCRT proteins. Trends Cell Biol, 16, 6, (Jun, 2006), 317-326.
Slater, R. & Bishop, N. E.; (2006). Genetic structure and evolution of the Vps25 family, a
yeast ESCRT-II component. BMC Evol Biol, 6, (Aug, 2006), 59.
Sorkin, A. & von Zastrow, M.; (2009). Endocytosis and signalling: intertwining molecular
networks. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 10, 9, (Sep, 2009), 609-622.
Spitzer, C., Schellmann, S., Sabovljevic, A., Shahriari, M., Keshavaiah, C., Bechtold, N.,
Herzog, M., Muller, S., Hanisch, F. G. & Hulskamp, M.; (2006). The Arabidopsis elch
mutant reveals functions of an ESCRT component in cytokinesis. Development, 133,
23, (Dec, 2006), 4679-4689.
Stark, P., Bodemer, W., Hannig, H., Luboshitz, J., Shaklai, M. & Shohat, B.; (2003). Human T
lymphotropic virus type 1 in a seronegative B chronic lymphocytic leukemia
patient. Med Microbiol Immunol, 192, 4, (Nov, 2003), 205-209.
Stefani, F., Zhang, L., Taylor, S., Donovan, J., Rollinson, S., Doyotte, A., Brownhill, K.,
Bennion, J., Pickering-Brown, S. & Woodman, P.; (2011). UBAP1 is a component of
an endosome-specific ESCRT-I complex that is essential for MVB sorting. Curr Biol,
21, 14, (Jul, 2011), 1245-1250.
Strack, B., Calistri, A., Craig, S., Popova, E. & Gottlinger, H. G.; (2003). AIP1/ALIX is a
binding partner for HIV-1 p6 and EIAV p9 functioning in virus budding. Cell, 114,
6, (Sep, 2003), 689-699.
Stuffers, S., Brech, A. & Stenmark, H.; (2009a). ESCRT proteins in physiology and disease.
Exp Cell Res, 315, 9, (May, 2009), 1619-1626.

478

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Stuffers, S., Sem Wegner, C., Stenmark, H. & Brech, A.; (2009b). Multivesicular endosome
biogenesis in the absence of ESCRTs. Traffic, 10, 7, (Jul, 2009), 925-937.
Sun, Z., Pan, J., Bubley, G. & Balk, S. P.; (1997). Frequent abnormalities of TSG101 transcripts
in human prostate cancer. Oncogene, 15, 25, (Dec, 1997), 3121-3125.
Talbot, K. & Ansorge, O.; (2006). Recent advances in the genetics of amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia: common pathways in neurodegenerative
disease. Hum Mol Genet, 15, 2, (Oct, 2006), 182-187.
Tarrago-Trani, M. T. & Storrie, B.; (2007). Alternate routes for drug delivery to the cell
interior: pathways to the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Adv Drug
Deliv Rev, 59, 8, (Aug, 2007), 782-797.
Teis, D., Saksena, S. & Emr, S. D.; (2008). Ordered assembly of the ESCRT-III complex on
endosomes is required to sequester cargo during MVB formation. Dev Cell, 15, 4,
(Oct, 2008), 578-589.
Teis, D., Saksena, S., Judson, B. L. & Emr, S. D.; (2010). ESCRT-II coordinates the assembly of
ESCRT-III filaments for cargo sorting and multivesicular body vesicle formation.
EMBO J, 29, 5, (Mar, 2010), 871-883.
Teo, H., Gill, D. J., Sun, J., Perisic, O., Veprintsev, D. B., Vallis, Y., Emr, S. D. & Williams, R.
L.; (2006). ESCRT-I core and ESCRT-II GLUE domain structures reveal role for
GLUE in linking to ESCRT-I and membranes. Cell, 125, 1, (Apr, 2006), 99-111.
Thery, C., Ostrowski, M. & Segura, E.; (2009). Membrane vesicles as conveyors of immune
responses. Nat Rev Immunol, 9, 8, (Aug, 2009), 581-593.
Thompson, B. J., Mathieu, J., Sung, H. H., Loeser, E., Rorth, P. & Cohen, S. M.; (2005). Tumor
suppressor properties of the ESCRT-II complex component Vps25 in Drosophila.
Dev Cell, 9, 5, (Nov, 2005), 711-720.
Toyoshima, M., Tanaka, N., Aoki, J., Tanaka, Y., Murata, K., Kyuuma, M., Kobayashi, H.,
Ishii, N., Yaegashi, N. & Sugamura, K.; (2007). Inhibition of tumor growth and
metastasis by depletion of vesicular sorting protein Hrs: its regulatory role on Ecadherin and beta-catenin. Cancer Res, 67, 11, (Jun, 2007), 5162-5171.
Tsai, Y. C. & Sun, Y. H.; (2004). Long-range effect of upd, a ligand for JAK/STAT pathway,
on cell cycle in Drosophila eye development. Genesis, 39, 2, (Jun, 2004), 141-153.
Urwin, H., Authier, A., Nielsen, J. E., Metcalf, D., Powell, C., Froud, K., Malcolm, D. S.,
Holm, I., Johannsen, P., Brown, J., Fisher, E. M., van der Zee, J., Bruyland, M., Van
Broeckhoven, C., Collinge, J., Brandner, S., Futter, C. & Isaacs, A. M.; (2010).
Disruption of endocytic trafficking in frontotemporal dementia with CHMP2B
mutations. Hum Mol Genet, 19, 11, (Jun, 2010), 2228-2238.
Vaccari, T. & Bilder, D.; (2005). The Drosophila tumor suppressor Vps25 prevents
nonautonomous overproliferation by regulating notch trafficking. Dev Cell, 9, 5,
(Nov, 2005), 687-698.
Vaccari, T., Rusten, T. E., Menut, L., Nezis, I. P., Brech, A., Stenmark, H. & Bilder, D.; (2009).
Comparative analysis of ESCRT-I, ESCRT-II and ESCRT-III function in Drosophila
by efficient isolation of ESCRT mutants. J Cell Sci, 122, 14, (Jul, 2009), 2413-2423.
Vadlamudi, R. K., Joung, I., Strominger, J. L. & Shin, J.; (1996). p62, a phosphotyrosineindependent ligand of the SH2 domain of p56lck, belongs to a new class of
ubiquitin-binding proteins. J Biol Chem, 271, 34, (Aug, 1996), 20235-20237.

The Roles of ESCRT Proteins in Healthy Cells and in Disease

479

Vieira, O. V., Harrison, R. E., Scott, C. C., Stenmark, H., Alexander, D., Liu, J., Gruenberg, J.,
Schreiber, A. D. & Grinstein, S.; (2004). Acquisition of Hrs, an essential component
of phagosomal maturation, is impaired by mycobacteria. Mol Cell Biol, 24, 10, (May,
2004), 4593-4604.
von Schwedler, U. K., Stuchell, M., Muller, B., Ward, D. M., Chung, H. Y., Morita, E., Wang,
H. E., Davis, T., He, G. P., Cimbora, D. M., Scott, A., Krausslich, H. G., Kaplan, J.,
Morham, S. G. & Sundquist, W. I.; (2003). The protein network of HIV budding.
Cell, 114, 6, (Sep, 2003), 701-713.
Walker, G. E., Antoniono, R. J., Ross, H. J., Paisley, T. E. & Oh, Y.; (2006). Neuroendocrinelike differentiation of non-small cell lung carcinoma cells: regulation by cAMP and
the interaction of mac25/IGFBP-rP1 and 25.1. Oncogene, 25, 13, (Mar, 2006), 19431954.
Waterman, H., Katz, M., Rubin, C., Shtiegman, K., Lavi, S., Elson, A., Jovin, T. & Yarden, Y.;
(2002). A mutant EGF-receptor defective in ubiquitylation and endocytosis unveils
a role for Grb2 in negative signaling. EMBO J, 21, 3, (Feb, 2002), 303-313.
Wegner, C. S., Rodahl, L. M. & Stenmark, H.; (2011). ESCRT proteins and cell signalling.
Traffic, 12, 10, (Oct, 2011), 1291-1297.
Williams, R. L. & Urbe, S.; (2007). The emerging shape of the ESCRT machinery. Nat Rev Mol
Cell Biol, 8, 5, (May, 2007), 355-368.
Wilson, E. M., Oh, Y., Hwa, V. & Rosenfeld, R. G.; (2001). Interaction of IGF-binding proteinrelated protein 1 with a novel protein, neuroendocrine differentiation factor, results
in neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab,
86, 9, (Sep, 2001), 4504-4511.
Winter, V. & Hauser, M. T.; (2006). Exploring the ESCRTing machinery in eukaryotes. Trends
Plant Sci, 11, 3, (Mar, 2006), 115-123.
Wolf, J. M., Johnson, D. J., Chmielewski, D. & Davis, D. A.; (2010). The Candida albicans
ESCRT pathway makes Rim101-dependent and -independent contributes to
pathogenesis. Eukaryot Cell, 9, 8, (Jun, 2010), 1203-1215.
Wollert, T. & Hurley, J. H.; (2010). Molecular mechanism of multivesicular body biogenesis
by ESCRT complexes. Nature, 464, 7290, (Apr, 2010), 864-869.
Wollert, T., Wunder, C., Lippincott-Schwartz, J. & Hurley, J. H.; (2009). Membrane scission
by the ESCRT-III complex, Nature, 458, 7235, (Mar, 2009), 172-177.
Wurmser, A. E., Sato, T. K. & Emr, S. D.; (2000). New component of the vacuolar class C-Vps
complex couples nucleotide exchange on the Ypt7 GTPase to SNARE-dependent
docking and fusion. J Cell Biol, 151, 3, (Oct, 2000), 551-562.
Xu, Z., Liang, L., Wang, H., Li, T. & Zhao, M.; (2003). HCRP1, a novel gene that is
downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, encodes a growth-inhibitory protein.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 311, 4, (Nov, 2003), 1057-1066.
Yang, D., Rismanchi, N., Renvoise, B., Lippincott-Schwartz, J., Blackstone, C. & Hurley, J. H.;
(2008). Structural basis for midbody targeting of spastin by the ESCRT-III protein
CHMP1B. Nat Struct Mol Biol, 15, 12, (Dec, 2008), 1278-1286.
Young, T. W., Mei, F. C., Rosen, D. G., Yang, G., Li, N., Liu, J. & Cheng, X.; (2007a). Upregulation of tumor susceptibility gene 101 protein in ovarian carcinomas revealed
by proteomics analyses. Mol Cell Proteomics, 6, 2, (Feb, 2007), 294-304.

480

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Young, T. W., Rosen, D. G., Mei, F. C., Li, N., Liu, J., Wang, X. F. & Cheng, X.; (2007b). Upregulation of tumor susceptibility gene 101 conveys poor prognosis through
suppression of p21 expression in ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res, 13, 13, (Jul, 2007),
3848-3854.
Yu, Z., Gonciarz, M. D., Sundquist, W. I., Hill, C. P. & Jensen, G. J.; (2008). Cryo-EM
structure of dodecameric Vps4p and its 2:1 complex with Vta1p. J Mol Biol, 377, 2,
(Mar, 2008), 364-377.
Zhu, G., Gilchrist, R., Borley, N., Chng, H. W., Morgan, M., Marshall, J. F., Camplejohn, R. S.,
Muir, G. H. & Hart, I. R.; (2004). Reduction of TSG101 protein has a negative impact
on tumor cell growth. Int J Cancer, 109, 4, (Apr, 2004), 541-547.

21
Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Between Dream and Reality
Frdric Torossian, Aurelie Bisson, Laurent Drouot,
Olivier Boyer and Marek Lamacz

Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine,

Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy, University of Rouen,
France

1. Introduction
During the last decade, the characterization of Adult Stem Cells (ASC) incited
extraordinary infatuation for the development of autologous cellular therapy. The number
of directed cellular differentiation essays of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells
demonstrated, against the classical rules of embryology, unsuspected capacities to
generate ex vivo practically all cellular types. Nevertheless, the difficulties of revealing
these spectacular capacities during clinical applications of tissue reparation suggest a
random evolution of cell cultures. The major influence on this reality may play
fragmentary knowledge of transductional mechanisms controlling the cellular fate and
above all, the quality of isolated cells. This last condition seems to represent the one of
essential technical barriers. In fact, the process of cellular isolation principally residing in
the employment of cellular adherence and/or magnetic field able to retain cells marked
by tagged antibodies. Unfortunately, the proteins recognized by antibodies are not
expressed by sole stem cells but also by committed progenitors. In fact, the bone marrow
precursors represent very heterogenic population of mononuclear cells whose affiliation
seemed to be recently questioned. For instance, the antibody against CD34 protein is
employed for isolation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) while the absence of CD45
(universal hematopoietic cell marker) is recognized as sufficient to qualify Mesenchymal
Stem Cells (MSC). Consequently, if previous observations revealed promising potential of
bone marrow stem cells to be used for development of cellular therapy, their utilization
must be preceded by detailed studies of their biology with particular focus on specific
markers and transductional pathways permitting a high purity of isolation and control of
differentiation protocols. The proposed chapter is based on our recent work indicating the
heterogeneity of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from rabbit bone marrow which, placed
in the context of recent studies, allows to propose a novel hierarchic organization of bone
marrow cells. As ex vivo differentiation of stem cells would be dependent on
transductional mechanisms we also propose to discuss how pharmacological modulation
of activity of molecular target implicated in calcium homeostasis may influence cellular
differentiation.

482

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

2. Heterogeneity of MSC
2.1 Introduction
Besides tissues having properties of self-renewal such bone marrow, the liver represents in
Man the sole internal organ endowed with a spectacular capacity of regeneration illustrated
already by the ancient myth of Prometheus. Interestingly, this process intervenes only after
physical damage of the hepatic parenchyma which, destabilizing the entirety of the
extracellular matrix, highlights the crucial role of epigenetic modulation on the proliferation
and cellular differentiation (Michalopoulos & DeFrances, 1997; for review). Even if this
natural phenomenon does not seem to be reproduced in internal organs, the recent isolation
of adult multipotent, dormant within the various organs and tissues, stem cells seemed open
the way towards a Regenerating Cellular Therapy. Indeed, the bibliographical data indicate
a great plasticity of stem cells and in particular those taking from bone marrow like
hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Certain reports, already
conclusive in the rat and the mouse, indicate a possibility of directed in situ and in vitro
differentiation of stem cells and open exciting therapeutic prospects for tissue and various
organs repair, without exposing the host to the failure of an allogeneic transplant rejection.
Thus, contrary to embryonic stem cells (ESC) whose clinical application is still not
unanimously accepted, ASC initially appeared as an ideal solution to prepare various
autologous graft. Nevertheless, this dream about the imminent clinical application of ASC to
cure a number of diseases as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, myocardial infarction and many others
physiopathological states appeared more difficult to accomplish than initially expected.
With the perspective of recent dynamic works it is conceivable to think that this is just a
problem of a better knowledge of their diversity as well on the fundamental level as from
the point of view of their therapeutic use.
This observed ex vivo pluripotency of HSC and MSC was a cause of noted infatuation.
Surprisingly, HSC known to date for their capacity of renewal of blood morphotical
elements, were also able differentiated toward skeletal muscle (Ferrari, 1998), cardiac (Orlic
et al., 2001), nervous (Mezey et al., 2000), liver (Lagasse et al., 2000) or epithelial cells
(Krause et al., 2001). Despite the notable example of post infarct myocardium wall repair,
these works did not open the way to the routine clinical application (Agbulut et al., 2004).
Troublesome, these results appeared as not reproducible and the parabiosis experiments
between exposed to radiation and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic mousses did
not demonstrate this supposed regenerating power of HSC (Wagers et al., 2002).
The ex vivo experiments carried out with MSC reporting relatively similar observations. For
a long time, MSC were considered as having potential of differentiation limited to
mesenchymal family cells as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes or muscle precursors
(Ashton et al., 1980). More recently, MSC revealed in vitro abilities to generate cells
distinguished also by ecto- and endodermal features (Reyes et al., 2002; Woodbury et al.,
2000; Sato et al., 2005). However, this pluripotentiality was objected by certain unsettled
findings. At first, Hardeman et al. (1986) showed formation of cellular hybrids like
myofibroblast which was forming by a fusion of fibroblasts with myoblastes able to
conserve muscular character (Hardeman et al., 1986). Recently, the fusion of neuronal stem
cells with ESC yielded cells expressing both characters (Ying et al., 2002). Since labeling
technique with DNA coding enzymes or fluorescent proteins, these observations question

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

483

the reality of observed differentiation in situ. On the other hand, the possibility of phenotype
modification of gene expression according to culture conditions could contribute to
observed in vitro differentiation (Discher et al., 2009). It is also plausible that these divergent
observations reflect a greate heterogeneity of MSC characterized by a certain ability of
multipotency revealed during ex vivo manipulation where large majority of them represent
committed progenitor cells rather than really pluripotent stem cells. Then, the random
results of directed differentiation may be explained by imperfect approach of cell isolation.
In fact, majority of protocols used is based rather on adhesion capacity of MSC than on
specificity of a membrane marker not yet identified.
At the first time, on the basis of morphological differences, the heterogeneity of MSC was
brought up by Colter et al. (2000) which proposed three types of MSC. Two first, named RS1 and RS-2, characterized by a little size and absence or presence of granulations, were
considered as self-renewal cells. The third type, distinguished by apparently bigger size,
seemed corresponded to already partially differentiated (CSMm) cells (Colter et al., 2000).
Thus, the authors hypothesized that RS-1 and RS-2 cells were progenitors of CSMm but
since more quiescent state, RS-1 population appeared as precursor of RS-2 that
differentiated to CSMm cells. In the proposed schema, RS-2 population would have had the
capacity to maintain equilibrium of CSMm production by the ability to reprogramming
towards the ground RS-1 state (Colter et al., 2000). In reality, the ulterior antigenic study of
these three cellular populations that matching these morphological differences revealed yet
more important cellular heterogeneity than initially supposed (Colter et al., 2001).
2.2 Evidence of rabbit MSC heterogeneity
The above data indicated the necessity to explore this proposed heterogeneity of MSC on the
molecular level with particular insight into differences between clonal colonies which seems
to be essential in elaboration of final approach of directed differentiation. Thus, we carried
out the study having for objective the molecular characterization of colonies proliferating
from individual CD45- mononuclear cells isolated from bone marrow of rabbit. This model
was chosen for relative facility to obtain a biological material. This advantage being
unfortunately associated with limited knowledge of rabbit genome, we have employed the
Differential-Display Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (DDRT-PCR)
technique to analyze expressed respective mRNAs (Sturtevant, 2000). This approach resides
in use of several non-specific primers able to hybridize with certain extracted mRNA during
low temperature reaction (for more details see original paper of Sturtevant, 2000). In this
way, the comparison of obtained patterns of mRNA in analyzed colonies showed
differences in genes expression. The colonies were cultured separately after isolation of each
clone proliferated from one cell on the surface delimited by cylinder (Figure 1A). After the
harvest, the mRNA extract of each colony was analyzed with DDRT-PCR approach. In the
figure 1B, we present the DDRT-PCR patterns of amplicons obtained after analyze of 14
colonies with couple 1 of DDRT-PCR primers purchased from Seegen (Seoul, Korea). Thus,
these patterns, despite a certain similitude, vary by five differentially expressed mRNAs
marked by the arrows. These genes correspond to proteins implicated in different cellular
functions as follows: 1 TBC1D7- cellular growth and proliferation; 2 Filamine cell
migration; 3 Cystatine 10 chondrogenesis; 4- LUC7-like inhibition of myogenic
differentiation; 5 MTHFR inhibition of intracellular methylation. Their expression seem
to be convergent with expression of OCT-4 gene (Figure 1C) considering as a marker of non
differentiated cellular state (Tondreau et al., 2005).

484

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 1. Contribution to the hypothesis of MSC cells heterogeneity. A. Schematic

representation of MSC clonal colonies development. After delimitation of one cell in the
cylinder space and its proliferation, young colony is displaced in Petri dish where continues
to proliferate. Just before confluence, cells are harvested for extract of RNAs. B. Differential
Display Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (DDRT-PCR) gel containing the
amplicons obtained from 14 colonies extracts. The arrows indicate sequenced bands
corresponding to TBC1D7, Filamine, Cystatine 10, LUC7-like, MTHFR gens. See the text for
more details. C. Histograms representing the expression of OCT-4 gen. The line visualizes
the mean level of relative OCT-4 expression.
It was interesting to observe, that in the medium LIF-free (Leukemia Induced Factor is
employed in view to preserve non differentiated state during cell proliferation) the colonies
were able spontaneously differentiated to muscle precursor cells with unequal capacities
(Figure 2).

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

485

Fig. 2. Relative spontaneous expression of -actin gene in studied colonies. The presence
of actin was revealed by indirect immunocytochemistry where the presence of specific
antibody was detected with horseradish peroxydase system.
All these results clearly indicate that mononuclear CD45- cells, still considered as MSC, form
a heterogenic population characterized by different non differentiated and committed state.
Our results did not determine the definitive number of cellular clones but suggest that
currently practiced isolation of MSC may conducted toward random results of directed
differentiation.
2.3 Toward a new hierarchy of bone marrow stem cells
Our conclusion seems to be strongly supported by the similar results obtained by
microarray analysis of human MSC (Mareddy et al., 2009; Tormin et al., 2009). In addition,
common distribution of certain membranes markers as CD44, CD73, CD90 or CD105
indicates that use of relative antibodies cannot be considered as discriminative tool for cell
isolation. Thus, our results raised the question concerning hierarchy of organisation of bone
marrow stem cells and place the observations previously published by groups of Verfaillie
and Ratajczak at the special place. These key studies made mention of the very special cells
named multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPC) and very small embryonic-like cells
(VSEL) respectively (Jiang et al., 2002; Kucia et al., 2006). Even if these results cannot be
reproduced by other laboratories, MAPC possessing similar morphology to MSC are able
generate mature cells characterizing by ecto-, meso- and endodermal features. This
pluripotentiality, attesting their immature character, allows thinking that MAPC may be
direct precursor of MSC as well as HSC (Jiang et al., 2002). Conceivably, this hypothesis may
explain the random results of directed ex vivo MSC differentiation.
In contrast, VSEL cells are a very small, morphologically similar to embryo cells which being
probably attracted by the chemical gradient of SDF-1, colonize bone marrow during
embryogenesis (Kucia et al., 2006). Amazingly, the grafts of VSEL in irradiated mice
indicated that their weak number seems to be responsible for acceleration of senescence
process which suggesting their participation in internal organs and tissues regeneration
(Kucia et al., 2008). Convergently, the increased number of VSEL, expressing myogenic
Nkx2.5 protein, detected in general circulation in patients suffering from cardiac ischemia

486

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

suggests the possibility of their implication in cardiovascular repair (Wojakowski et al.,

2009). In the case of definitive clinical confirmation, this observation may open extremely
promising horizons of cellular therapy. Nevertheless, identification of these new cellular
populations not responds to the question concerning the origin of MSC.
In this context, our results support hypothesis that MSC cannot be considered as pluripotent
stem cells having the potential to generate all cells naturally deriving from tree embryonic
layers. In the Figure 3, we propose to attribute this role to MAPC and VSEL cells. There are
two possibilities, either we observe a coexistence of three cellular populations or existence an
ontogenetic hierarchy. In the first situation, each cellular type possesses the variable potency of
differentiation: i) VSEL that of committed precursor, ii) MAPC would be pluripotent and iii)
MCS just mesodermal. In the second situation, VSEL would be direct precursor of MAPC
generating MSC among other. In this way, the apparition of all cellular populations in bone
marrow would reflect an ontogenic hierarchy formed during embryogenesis where initial
number of VSEL cells determines a capacity of hypothetic organ repair during adult life. It
appears that however the reality may be, the strategy of preparation of graft from MSC should
be revised taking into account the recent clinical trials lacking therapeutic effects as published
recently (Menasche, 2011). In fact, the clinical use of MSC is actually recognize for their
immunomodulatory effects known in diminution of graft reject or graft versus host disease
(Ringden et al., 2006; Ucceli et al., 2007; Le Blanc et al., 2008). In this way, two novel axes of
fundamental research seem to be profiled: i) definite establishment of hierarchy of bone
marrow cells in regard of MAPC and VSEL cells, ii) exploration of intracellular pathways in
view to determine cellular fate during directed ex vivo differentiation.

B.

A.
MAPC

VSELa

CSM

VSELp

?
MAPC

?
Capacity of diffrentiation :
Committed
progenitors

Pluripotent

Mesodermal

VSELc
CSM

Fig. 3. Schematic representation of bone marrow stem cells hierarchy. A. Are we in the
presence of three types of CSA which evolved separately according to the physiological
regulation? B) Can one envisage a hierarchic ontogenic organization where VSEL cells
would be pluripotent stem cells generating all bone marrow cells?

3. Calcium signaling and fate of MSC

3.1 Introduction
The random results of ex vivo differentiation of MSC during preparation of autologous grafts
indicate that promising potential may be revealed by the microenvironment of cellular

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

487

culture. This hypothesis seems to open a new area for proceedings of directed
differentiation which may be based on modulation of activity of molecular targets of MSC.
Given the dependence of phenotypical gene expression, self renewing, migration or
proteolytical enzyme secretion on increase of cytosolic calcium concentration [Ca2+]c,
pharmacological modulation of calcium signalling would represent a key to control cellular
fate. The various membrane channels and ionic transporters having potential to modulate
[Ca2+]c appears then as appropriate molecular targets. Recent reports indicate that MSC
express several ionic membrane channels generating sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and
potassium (K) inward and outward currents characterized by molecular biology and patchclamp approaches (Li et al., 2005; Li et al., 2006; Deng et al., 2006; Kawano et al., 2003;
Kawano et al., 2002; Heubach et al., 2004). Nevertheless, the capacity of these channels to
modulate [Ca2+]c in MSC was not yet evaluated. Some data indicate that in human MSC, the
[Ca2+]c may change upon cyclic oscillatory variations via a mechanism implicating inositol
trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), store operating channels (SOCs), L-type voltage dependent
calcium channels (L-VDCaCs) as well as Na+-Ca2+ exchangers (NCX) (Kawano et al., 2003;
Kawano et al., 2002). We have recently shown that MSC express also several genes coding
the proteins of transient receptor potential cation channel (TRPC1/2/4/6) family (Torossian
et al., 2010) possessing a major role in cell proliferation as already documented in cancers (El
Boustany et al., 2008). Over it, dependence of immature cell proliferation or myoblasts
fusion (Lory et al., 2006) on activity of voltage dependent T-type calcium channel reinforces
idea that pharmacological modulation of calcium signalling could reveal potential to
improve efficiency of protocols employed in directed differentiation of adult stem cells.
In the present study, using functional and molecular biology approaches, we pursued two
major objectives: i) evaluation of efficiency of membrane voltage dependent ionic channels
(VDCaC, VDNaC, VDKC) and transporters (Na/K-dependent ATPase and NCX) to
modulate calcium homeostasis on the basis of kinetics of [Ca2+]c variations occasioned by
selective activators and blockers, ii) demonstration that inactivation of chosen targets such
T- or L- type VDCaC and TRPC1 reduced cellular proliferation and that high concentration
of nifedipine activated neuroglial differentiation.
3.2 Efficiency of molecular targets to modulate calcium homeostasis
Figure N4 illustrates that equilibrium state in single MSC is disturbed by modifications of
the extracellular medium or by the presence of selective pharmacological agents which
changing Ca2+, Na+ or K+ gradients induce the [Ca2+]c variations with different kinetics. The
gathered histograms representing the areas under curves (AUC) were obtained from
individual profiles whose averages are expressed in the Figures 4 and 5. The highest calcium
mobilization was observed in the presence of depolarizing solution of KCl as well as 2diazo-4,6-dinitrophenol (DDNP) or bepridil, well known respective blockers of BKCa
channels and NCX. Even if each product activated this increase by different mechanism, the
obtained AUCs were very similar and corresponded to 5.5, 5.25 and 5.1 M/L (Fig. 4). The
depolarizing solution of KCl imposing membrane potential to value inferior to -30 mV
activates low threshold VDCaCs as L- and/or N-type channels. Similar effect obtained
with DDNP (Fig. 5D) revealed a high capacity of the BKCa channel inactivation to membrane
depolarization subsequent to cytosolic K+ accumulation. The action of bepridil eliciting the
reverse mode of NCX action is responsible for calcium influx which considered its proximity

488

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

with endoplasmic reticulum, induces intracellular calcium mobilization (Niggli et al., 1991).
In the same way, figure 4 shows also that the action of Na/K-dependent ATPase having the
capacity to modify sodium gradient induced cytosolic calcium increase by recruitment of
NCX (Hilgemann et al., 1992). In contrast, the effect of other depolarizers as CaCl2 solution,
tetraethylammonium (TEA) or veratridine (Fig 5B, 4C and Fig 6) appeared as less efficient.
***

[Ca2+]c

Areas Under Curves

(103 nM.s/L)

4
*
2

ns

Bepridil

Na-free

Ouabain

DDNP

TEA

CaCl2

KCl

Fig. 4. Mean values of area under curves (AUC) of cytosolic calcium mobilization in
rabbit mesenchymal (MSC) stem cells. KCl (25 mM) in the absence (n= 10) or in the
presence of 10 M nifedipine ( ; n= 15), CaCl2 (10 mM) in the absence (n= 14) or in the
presence of 10 M nifedipine ( ; n= 17), TEA (3 mM; n= 14), DDNP (10 M; n= 6),
veratridine alone (100 M; n= 29) or in the presence of 1 M TTX ( ; n= 22), ouabain (10
M; n= 6), Na-free (n= 11) and bepridil (100 M; n= 17) were injected in the vicinity of MSC
(***, p<0.001; **, p<0.01; *, p<0.1). The mean values (SEM) of areas under curves were
numerically integrated from individual microfluorimetric (Indo-1) recordings by trapeze
method using Excel programme. Each recording represents the same number of points
acquired every 250 ms by PC-assisted system developed by Notocord Systems (Paris,
France).
The type of VDCaCs was determined with nifedipine, a dihydropyridine derived L- type
channel blocker and by RT-PCR experiments. The significantly reduced, but never totally
abolished stimulatory effect of KCl and CaCl2 solutions on calcium mobilization in the
presence of the blocker indicating the involvement of both nifedipine-sensitive and
insensitive VDCaCs. RT-PCR convergent experiments, carried out with Cav1.2, Cav2.2 and
Cav3.3 specific primers, confirmed expression of L-, N- and T-type of VDCaCs in MSC (Fig.
4, boxes). L-type channels (Cav1.2 subunits) were already reported in human and rat MSC
(Li et al., 2005; Li et al., 2006). In contrast, the existence of T channels in MSC are a matter of
debate since contradictory reports concluding to the absence of Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 subunits
(Li et al., 2005; Heubach et al., 2004) or to the presence of Cav3.2 whose functionality was
however not determined (Kawano et al. 2002). The importance of expression of T channel in
MSC is illustrated by observations in ESC where the sustained increase in [Ca2+]c is
responsible for cell proliferation (Lory et al., 2006) or fusion of differentiated myoblasts
(Bijlenga et al., 2000). The expression of N-type VDCaCs in MSC is not surprising because
its functionality in differentiating cells evolves through an expression pattern (Arnhold et
al., 2000). Thus, during neuronal differentiation of ESC, transitory high expression of N-type

489

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

channel in initially apolar phenotype matched with cellular migration whereas its
reappearance in differentiated neuron coincided, similarly to mature cells (Yokoyama et al.,
2005), with synaptogenesis and modification of the exocytose level (Jones et al., 1997). As
MSC are known for their secretory and migratory activities, similar functionality may be
expected. Consequently, calcium fluxes in MSC can be modified by opening of three types
of VDCaCs which filling up the different cytosolic microdomains with calcium can
separately control gene expression, cellular proliferation and migration or exocytosis (Lory
et al., 2006; Yokoyama et al., 2005; Yang et al., 2006; Yoo et al., 2007).

KCl

MSC

300
200

TEA
200

Cav1.2

238 bp

Cav2.2

445 bp

MSC
Kv1.4

536 bp

100
100
0

B
CaCl2

D
DDNP

MSC

c] of basal
(%
2+ [Ca level)

200
Cav3.3

MSC
264 bp

BKCa

200

266 bp

150
100

100

50
0

60

120 180

60

120

180

TIME (s)

Fig. 5. Effects of modulation of calcium and potassium channels on [Ca2+]c in rabbit

mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The arrows indicate the pressure-ejected administration of
depolarizing solution KCl (25 mM) (A), CaCl2 (10 mM) (B) and voltage or calcium
dependent potassium channels blockers as TEA (3 mM) (C) and DDNP (10 M) (D) in the
vicinity of the cells. The right-placed boxes represent RT-PCR obtained amplicons of mRNA
coding L, N, T-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (Cav1.2, Cav2.2 and Cav3.3
subunits), voltage dependent (Kv1.4 subunit) and calcium dependent (BKCa) potassium
channels. The curves represent a mean from 10 (A), 14 (B), 14 (C) and 6 (D) individual cell
recordings. The spontaneous level of [Ca2+]c (100% basal level) was calculated for each
experiment as the mean concentration during 30 s preceding the administration of ionic
solutions or potassium channel blockers.
Interestingly, the activation of T-type VDCaC in vivo appears to be directly dependent on a
potassium gradient demonstrating the crucial role of K+ channels in the evolution of stem
cell fate. This astute mechanism is based on cooperation between three types of ionic
channels. Briefly, VDKC or/and CaDKC provoke transitory membrane hyperpolarization
conducting to depolarizing potassium influx through delayed-rectifier potassium channel
responsible for T-type VDCaC activation and [Ca2+]c increase. Such membrane
hyperpolarization, detected in rat MSC (Deng et al., 2007) during progress of cell cycle from
G(1) to S phase, seems to be dependet on the balance of expression between KCa3.1 and

490

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

delayed-rectifier (Kv1.2/Kv2.1) subunits which since their down-regulation with the specific
RNAi appeared crucial for cell proliferation. Thus, the cooperation between IKCa and KDR
channels that generate hyperpolarizing efflux and subsequently delaying influx of K+ may
vary membrane polarity near the threshold value of T-type VDCaC activation.
Amazingly, unlike the mechanism described above, we found pharmacological way to
obtain ex vivo a similar effect on [Ca2+]c increase in MSC. Using functional and RT-PCR
experiments, we observed that the blockage of Kv1.4 and BKCa channels (fig.4C, D) by TEA
(51%; 32 of 63 cells) and DDNP (46%; 39 of 84 cells) induced [Ca2+]c-increase after VDCaC
activation due to intracellular membrane depolarization triggered by cytosolic K+
accumulation. Further studies are needed to show whether such blockage of BKCa channel
would stabilize cell proliferation and immaturity.
The pharmacological activation of VDNaC represents another way to augment [Ca2+]c.
Similarly to excitable cells like neurons or cardiocytes, the opening of VDCaCs in MSC
results also from progressive membrane depolarization initiated by low threshold T-type
VDCaC and/or VDNaC. In our experiments, veratridine (non-selective opener of VDNaCs)
(Yang et al., 2006) started Na-induced depolarization which reaching activation threshold of
VDCaCs was responsible for increase of [Ca2+]c (84% given 54 of 64 cells). Not significant
reduction of this effect by TTX, a VDNaCs blocker (t=0.38; 79% given 55 of 69 cells) (Fig. 5A)
and identification of mRNA encoding Nav1.9 subunit (Fig 5A) indicated the expression of
TTX-resistant VDNaCs in MSC. Noticeably, the type of VDNaC expression in MSC appears
to be controversial. Using identical primer as Deng et al. (2006), we were unable to confirm
their observation on expression of Nav1.1 subunit in rabbit MSC but we found relative
transcript in extracts from rabbit nervous system which suggests non-expression of this
subunit in our cultures. Divergent findings on the expression of VDNaC may also be noted
in human MSC. While Heubach et al. (2004) failed to identify both TTX-resistant and TTXsensitive channels, Li et al. (2005) detected a functional TTX-sensitive inward current. These
discrepancies may result from the different experimental protocols used. In our study,
mononuclear cells were separated with CD45 antibody instead of their capacity to adhesion
already reported (Li et al., 2005). Moreover, our mRNA samples were obtained at the final
stage of the first passage contrary to the 4th or even the 8th as previously described (Li et al.,
2005; Deng et al., 2006). As expression of sodium channel unit in vivo changes throughout
cellular maturation (Benn et al., 2001), these observed in vitro differences reveal modulation
of gene expression by microenvironment. Nevertheless, the weak kinetics of calcium
mobilization induced by veratridine seems indicate that VDNaCs did not appear as
interesting target to modulate a fate of MSC.
On the contrary, NCX having capacity to exchange cytosolic/extracellular Ca2+ for Na+ in
normal or reverse mode (Niggli et al., 1991) within chemical gradient of both ionic
populations, appears as powerful [Ca2+]c enhancer in MSC. As shown in Fig.6, Na-free
medium (38% given 17 of 45 cells), bepridil (44% given 31 of 70 cells) or ouabain (62% given
23 of 37 cells) led to transient increases in [Ca2+]c. The RT-PCR-detected expression of genes
coding NCX and Na+/K+-ATPases (Figs. 6B, C) matched our functional observations.
Similarly to other cellular models (Hilgemann et al., 1992), cytosolic overloading with
sodium after ouabain-induced inactivation of Na+/K+-ATPase triggered a [Ca2+]c increase
resulting from exchange of sodium for calcium during reverse mode action of NCX (Niggli
et al., 1991). In human MSC, the NCX seems to take part in the induction of calcium

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

491

Fig. 6. Effects of modulation of voltage dependent sodium channels, ATPase Na+/K+

dependent and sodium-calcium exchanger activities on [Ca2+]c in rabbit mesenchymal
stem cells (MSC). The arrows indicate the pressure-ejected administration of Veratridine
(100 M) (A), Ouabain (10 M) (B), Na+-free medium (C) and Bepridil (100 M) in the
vicinity of MSC. The right-placed boxes represent the RT-PCR obtained amplicons of mRNA
coding voltage-dependant sodium channel (Nav1.9 subunit) in MSC, Nav1.1 being detected
only in brain rabbit extract, ATPase Na-K dependend (B) and Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX)
(C). The curves represent a mean from 22 (A), 6 (B), 11 (C) and 17 (D) individual cell
recordings. The spontaneous level of [Ca2+]c (100% basal level) was calculated for each
experiment as the mean concentration during 30 s preceding the administration of ionic
solutions or potassium channel blockers.
oscillations (Kawano et al., 2003). In the present work, its activation induced a transient
increase in [Ca2+]c followed by a slow basal calcium level recovery. It is like during early
stage of cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse ESC, where without modifying transient
calcium variations, NCX enhanced the basal level of [Ca2+]c (Fu et al., 2006). This may
indicate the crucial role of NCX in the stabilization of higher basal [Ca2+]c in immature cells
where its activity may be improved by direct intracellular phosphorylation or by increase of
Na-gradient during opening of VDNaC or Na+/K+-ATPase inhibition.
3.3 Effects of VDCaCs inactivation on MSC cell culture
Taken account of highest capacity to modify calcium homeostasis, VDCaCs was chosen as
more appropriate target to evaluate pharmacological modulation of MSC fate. Another
choice is related to TRPC1 protein which being largely expressed by rabbit MSC (Torossian
et al., 2010) is known as one of essential factors managing calcium distribution during cancer
cell proliferation (El Boustany et al., 2008; El Hiani et al., 2009).
Then, the blockage of L- and T-type VDCaC pointed their implication in the control of
cellular proliferation and differentiation. Mibefradil and nifedipine induced a dose-

492

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

dependent decrease in cell numbers corresponding to 25 and 15 % of cells respectively at 10

M concentrations attaining very significant inhibition (65 and 50 %; p<0.005) when treated
with 30 M doses (Fig. 7). Similarly, inducing 45% inhibition of MSC proliferation, the
specific siRNA demonstrated a major role of TRPC1 protein in this process.

Cell growth (%)

100

***

**

75
50
25
0

10

30

Nif

10

30

Mibef

0.1

0.15

(M)

TRPC1
siRNA

Fig. 7. Relative mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) proliferation in the presence of calcium
channel blockers. MSC were cultured during 48 hours in the medium containing
nifedipine, mibefradil (10 and 30 M, both) or siRNA of TRPC1 (0.1 or 0.15 M). The results
represent the means (SEM) from four independent experiments expressed as a percentage
of proliferating cells. Each culture contained initially 20000 MSC and after 24h incubation
period in expansion medium, the blockers at respective concentrations were administered in
the plates. After 48h period of incubation the cells were fixed in acetic alcohol, stained with
crystal Violet and extracted with acetic acid after drying. The optical density of extractions
was evaluated using spectrophotometric measurement at 570 nm and compared to the
standard range to obtain the number of cells. The relative effect of the drugs on cell
proliferation was evaluated in comparison to non-treated cells (***, p<0.001; **, p<0.01; *,
p<0.1).
Noticeably, the presence of a higher concentration of nifedipine (100 M) induced
apparition of two types attached irregularly shaped cells. The first type, representing about
85%, was characterized by expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) (Fig. 8B, D,
F) whereas the second remained GFAP negative. This result may be particularly relevant in
comparison to the control LIF-free culture where cells showed varied morphology and
ability to spontaneously differentiate into myogenic precursor cells since relative to smooth muscle actin staining (Fig. 8A)
For the first time, we show that blockade of L-type channels in MSC may generate neural
precursor cells already shown for their GFAP staining (Imura et al., 2003). We observed two
kinds of GFAP+ cells corresponding to a low number of neural-like cells accompanied the
large majority of staining cells displaying astrocyte-like morphology. The absence of GFAP
staining in the LIF-free expansion medium and the disappearance of myogenic character
after treatment with nifedipine, fully support the idea that pharmacological modulation of
calcium homeostasis would reinforce strategy for directed differentiation of stem cells.
These observations suggest that the reduction of higher and persistent [Ca2+]c appears like a
turning point between proliferation and differentiation where favouring proliferation, the
persistent calcium level avoids differentiation.

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

493

Fig. 8. Spontaneous myogenic and nifedipine induced GFAP+ cells derived from
mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). (A) MSC stained with -smooth muscle actin cultured in
the LIF-free expansion medium. (B) Expression of GFAP in MSC cultured in the LIF-free
expansion medium supplemented with 100 M nifedipine. (C) Absence of GFAP expression
in MSC cultured in the LIF-free expansion medium in the absence of nifedipine and counter
staining with nuclear dye Hoechst. (D) Neural-like GFAP+ cells. (E,F) Morphological aspects
of astrocyte-like cultured MSC in the LIF-free expansion medium supplemented with 100
M nifedipine (E, viable cell; F, GFAP+ fixed cell). Scale bars, 100 m.
The results obtained during prolonged exposition of MSC on both anticalcics seem to
corroborate this hypothesis. As shown in the Fig. 9, the 10 M doses were able introduce
morphological modifications indicating the initiation of differentiation process. Cells
growing in the presence of mibefradil (Fig. 9B) seem to display a more elongated and
spindle shape while nifedipine favoured formation of cell extensions (Fig. 8C). Theirs action
coincided with apparition of numerous vacuoles apparently more large and swollen in the
presence of nifedipine (Fig. 8B, C). Since negative staining with oil red O, hematoxylineosine, toluidine blue or periodic acid-Schiff (data not shown) these vacuoles did not contain
lipids, glycoproteins nor mucopolysaccharides. Such formation, attributable to an
intensification of autophagy process (Mizushima & Levy, 2010), was transiently observed
during erythrocyte or lymphocyte differentiation (Kundu et al., 2008; Mortensen et al., 2010)
and appeared crucial to adipogenesis (Baerga et al., 2009). According to information recently
reported in human U-251 glioblastoma cells (Johnson et al., 2006) or maturating foetal
hepatocytes (Matsunga et al., 2008), the mechanism of this process may be explain by not
well understood dependency of initial stage of differentiation upon Ca-dependent PI3kinase activity. Interestingly, the siRNA-inactivation of TRPC1 expression did not modify
cell morphology suggesting that unlike T and L type channels this protein is not implicated
in MSC differentiation.

494

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 9. Morphological modifications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) induced by

calcium channel blockers. Culture of MSC in the LIF-free expansion medium in the absence
(A) and in the presence of mibefradil, T-type (B) or nifedipine, L-type calcium channel
blockers (C). Both blockers were employed at 10 M concentration. Scale bar, 100 m.
3.4 Conclusion
Taken together, our data demonstrated that pharmacological modulation of ionic carriers
activity, as particularly T- and L-type VDCaC or TRPC1 protein, may reinforce the strategies
employed ex vivo for directed differentiation of stem cells. Further studies should
demonstrate whether pharmacologically induced modulation of [Ca2+]c in stem cells would
maintain their immaturity or begin their differentiation.

4. General discussion and perspectives

The heterogeneity of MSC and their various commitments, as discussed above, perfectly
explain why clinical application appears restraint their supposed pluripotentiality on
immunological and mesenchymal capacity. In fact, not expressing II class MHC molecule,
MSC are therefore not antigen-presenting cells and would be ignored by the hosts immune
system (Tse et al., 2003; Krampera et al., 2003). By their constitutive secretory activity
(Caplan, 2009), MSC have capacity to create microenvironment favourable to combat graftversus-host-disease (Koc et al., 2000) as well as attenuate inflammatory bowel symptoms in
Crohn disease grafted patients (Caplan, 2009). Their aptitude for differentiate into
osteoblasts was exploited in clinical trial for the treatment of osteogenesis imprfecta patients
(Horowitz et al., 1999; 2002). One of very interesting work representing the regeneration of
surgically amputated meniscus in goat by knee injection of MSC with hyaluronan delivery
vehicle, provides perspective in the treatment of arthritis (Murphy et al., 2003). In contrast,
use of MSC in view of cardiac post infracted reparation which seems to provide therapeutic
improvement appeared to be not exerted by cardiomyocyte differentiation (Caplan, 2009).
Convergently, the results of clinical trials realized with autologous MSC, HSC and
mononuclear bone marrow cells (MNC) in about 1600 (Menasche, 2011) patients suffering
from acute myocardial infarction, refractory angina or chronic heart failure did not give
expected benefits indicating that heterogenic MNC of bone marrow, while remaining
immunologically neutral, appear to be not therapeutically reliable to repair other than hard

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

495

tissues like bone or cartilage. Nevertheless, the existence of great variability in the
functionality of MSC retrieved from patients indicating that pluripotent differentiation
would be ascribed to more immature cells which are able generating MSC. Our study shows
clearly that MSC should be considered as heterogeneous and composed by lineagecommitted cells that may be multipotent but certainly non pluripotent cells. In addition,
parallelism between decrease in MSC number with age (Lennon et al., 1996) and
acceleration of the senescence process in mouse grafted with a low number of VSEL cells
(Kucia et al., 2008) strongly suggests that this role may be ascribed to VSEL cells which
would represented this pluripotent cellular population. In this way, the unequal number of
VSEL cells in isolated samples may explain the random results of ex vivo differentiation. It is
therefore conceivable that specific isolation of this cell population represents the first
problem to resolve. In fact, the number of data suggest that bone marrow may be considered
as reserve of pluripotent cells but this property cannot be attributed to MSC.
Our study of calcium signaling raises a second problem of directed differentiation
representing by epigenetic reprogramming of gene expression which in an unpredictable
manner would change the cellular fate. This conclusion is supported by divergence
concerning the expression of VDCaCs and VDNaC in MSC. This inconvenience could be
avoided in the cultures composed of a homogenous population of stem cells able
reproducing stable microenvironment. Microenvironmental stability appears then as one of
the more important conditions allowing prediction of cellular evolution and an objective
comparison of the effects occasioned by experimentally introduced modifications. Our
results indicated that pharmacological modulation of calcium homeostasis may influence
cellular behavior seem open the perspectives for research of experimental protocols having
potential to control the cell proliferation and differentiation.
Taken together, it can be concluded that in view to realize a dream about autologous
regenerative grafts it would be necessary to direct the basic research toward two major
objectives: i) to find the strategy to facilely isolate pluripotent stem cells from the bone
marrow and ii) to perfect protocols allowing control the evolution of cellular cultures.

5. References
Agbulut, O.; Vandervelde, S., Al Attar, N., Larghero, J., Ghostine , S., Leobon, B., Robidel, E.,
Borsani, P., Le Lorc'h, M., Bissery, A., Chomienne, C., Bruneval, P., Marolleau, J.P.,
Vilquin, J.T., Hagege, A., Samuel, J.L. & Menasche, P. (2004). Comparison of human
skeletal myoblasts and bone marrow-derived CD133+ progenitors for the repair of
infarcted myocardium. J Am Coll Cardiol, 44, pp. (458-63).
Arnhold, S.; Andressen, C, Angelov, D.N., et al. (2000). Embryonic stem-cell derived
neurones express a maturation dependent pattern of voltage-gated calcium
channels and calcium-binding proteins. Int J Dev Neurosci, 18, pp. (201-212).
Ashton, B.A.; Allen, T.D., Howlett, C.R., Eaglesom, C.C., Hattori, A. & Owen, M. (1980).
Formation of bone and cartilage by marrow stromal cells in diffusion chambers in
vivo. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 151, pp. (294-307).
Baerga, R.; Zhang, Y., Chen, P.H., Goldman, S. & Jin, S. (2009). Targeted deletion of
autophagy-related 5 (atg5) impairs adipogenesis in a cellular model and in mice.
Autophagy, 5, pp. (1118-1130).

496

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Benn, S.C.; Costigan, M., Tate, S., Fitzgerald, M. & Woolf, C.J. (2001). Developmental
expression of the TTX-resistant voltage-gated sodium channels Nav1.8 (SNS) and
Nav1.9 (SNS2) in primary sensory neurons. J Neurosci, 21, pp. (6077-6085).
Bijlenga, P; Liu, J.H., Espinos, E., et al. (2000) T-type alpha 1H Ca2+ channels are involved in
Ca2+ signaling during terminal differentiation (fusion) of human myoblasts. Proc
Natl Acad Sci USA, 97, pp. (7627-7632).
Caplan, A. (2009). Why are MSCs therapeutics? New data: new insight. J Pathol, 217, pp.
(318-324).
Colter, D.C.; Class, R., DiGirolamo, C.M. & Prockop, D.J. (2000). Rapid expansion of
recycling stem cells in cultures of plastic-adherent cells from human bone marrow.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 97, pp. (3213-8).
Colter, D.C.; Sekiya, I. & Prockop, D.J. (2001). Identification of a subpopulation of rapidly
self-renewing and multipotential adult stem cells in colonies of human marrow
stromal cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 98, pp. (7841-5).
Deng, X.L.; Sun, H.Y., Lau, C.P. & Li, G.R. (2006). Properties of ion channels in rabbit
mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 348, pp.
(301-309).
Deng, X.L.; Lau, C.P., Lai, K., Cheung, K.F., Lau, G.K. & Li, G.R. (2007). Cell cycle-dependent
expression of potassium channels and cell proliferation in rat mesenchymal stem
cells from bone marrow. Cell Prolif, 40, pp. (656-670).
Discher, D.E.; Mooney, D.J. & Zandstra P.W. (2009). Growth factors, matrices, and forces
combine and control stem cells. Science, 324, pp. (1673-7).
El Boustany, C.; Bidaux, G., Enfissi, A., Delcourt, P., Prevarskaya, N. & Capiod, T. (2008).
Capacitative calcium entry and transient receptor potential canonical 6 expression
control human hepatoma cell proliferation. Hepatology, 47, pp. (2068-2077).
El Hiani, Y.; Ahidouch, A., Lehen'kyi, V., et al. (2009). Extracellular signal-regulated kinases
1 and 2 and TRPC1 channels are required for calcium-sensing receptor-stimulated
MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation. Cell Physiol Biochem, 23, pp. (335-346).
Ferrari, G. ; Cusella-De Angelis, G., Coletta, M., Paolucci, E., Stornaiuolo, A., Cossu, G. &
Mavilio, F. (1998). Muscle regeneration by bone marrow-derived myogenic
progenitors. Science, 279, pp. (1528-30).
Fu, J.D; Yu, H.M., Wang, R., Liang, J. & Yang, H.T. (2006). Developmental regulation of
intracellular calcium transients during cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse
embryonic stem cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin, 27, pp. (901-910).
Hardeman, E.C.; Chiu, C.P., Minty, A. & Blau, H.M. (1986). The pattern of actin expression
in human fibroblast x mouse muscle heterokaryons suggests that human muscle
regulatory factors are produced. Cell, 47, pp. (123-30).
Heubach, J.F.; Graf, E.M., Leutheuser, J., et al. (2004). Electrophysiological properties of
human mesenchymal stem cells. J Physiol, 554, pp. (659-672).
Hilgemann, D.W; Matsuoka, S, Nagel, G.A. & Collins, A. (1992). Steady-state and dynamic
properties of cardiac sodium-calcium exchange. Sodium-dependent inactivation. J
Gen Physiol, 100, pp. (905-932).
Horwitz, E.M.; Prockop, D.J., Fitzpatrick, L.A., Koo, W.W.K., Gordon, P.L., Neel, M., et al.
(1999). Transplantability and therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

497

mesenchymal cells in children with osteogenesis imperfecta. Nat Med, 5, pp. (309
313).
Horwitz, E.M.; Gordon, P.L., Koo, W.K., Marx, J.C., Neel, M.D., McNall, R.Y., et al. (2002).
Isolated allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells engraft and stimulate
growth in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: implications for cell therapy of
bone. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 99, pp. (89328937).
Imura, T.; Kornblum, H.I. & Sofroniew, M.V. (2003). The predominant neural stem cell
isolated from postnatal and adult forebrain but not early embryonic forebrain
expresses GFAP. J Neurosci, 23, pp. (2824-2832).
Jiang, Y.; Jahagirdar, B.N., Reinhardt, R.L., Schwartz, R.E., Keene, C.D., Ortiz-Gonzalez,
X.R., Reyes, M., Lenvik, T., Lund, T., Blackstad, M., Du, J., Aldrich, S., Lisberg, A.,
Low, W.C., Largaespada, D.A. & Verfaillie, C.M. (2002). Pluripotency of
mesenchymal stem cells derived from adult marrow. Nature, 418, pp. (41-9).
Johnson, E.E.; Overmeyer, J.H., Gunning, W.T. & Maltese, W.A. (2006). Gene silencing
reveals a specific function of hVps34 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in late versus
early endosomes. J Cell Sc, 119, pp. (1219-1232).
Jones, O.T.; Bernstein, G.M., Jones, E.J., et al. (1997). N-Type calcium channels in the
developing rat hippocampus: subunit, complex, and regional expression. J Neurosci,
17, pp. (6152-6164).
Kawano, S.; Otsu, K., Shoji, S., Yamagata, K. & Hiraoka, M. (2003). Ca(2+) oscillations
regulated by Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger and plasma membrane Ca(2+) pump induce
fluctuations of membrane currents and potentials in human mesenchymal stem
cells. Cell Calcium, 34, pp. (145-156).
Kawano, S.; Shoji, S., Ichinose, S., Yamagata, K., Tagami, M. & Hiraoka M. (2002).
Characterization of Ca(2+) signaling pathways in human mesenchymal stem cells.
Cell Calcium, 32, pp. (165-174).
Koc, O.N.; Gerson, S.L., Cooper, B.W., Dyhouse, S.M., Haynesworth, S.E., Caplan, A.I., et al.
(2000). Rapid hematopoietic recovery after co-infusion of autologous blood stem
cells and culture expanded marrow mesenchymal stem cells in advanced breast
cancer patients receiving high dose chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol, 18, pp. (307316).
Krampera, M.; Glennie, S., Dyson, J., Scott, D., Laylor, R., Simpson, E., et al. (2003). Bone
marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibit the response of naive and memory
antigen-specific T cells to their cognate peptide. Blood, 101, pp. (3722).
Kucia, M.; Reca, R., Campbell, F.R., Zuba-Surma, E., Majka, M., Ratajczak, J. & Ratajczak,
M.Z. (2006). A population of very small embryonic-like (VSEL) CXCR4(+)SSEA1(+)Oct-4+ stem cells identified in adult bone marrow. Leukemia, 20, pp. (857-69).
Kucia, M.J.; Wysoczynski, M., Wu, W., Zuba-Surma, E.K., Ratajczak, J. & Ratajczak, M.Z.
(2008). Evidence that very small embryonic-like stem cells are mobilized into
peripheral blood. Stem Cells, 26, pp. (2083-92).
Kundu, M.; Lindsten, T., Yang, C.Y., et al. (2008). Ulk1 plays a critical role in the autophagic
clearance of mitochondria and ribosomes during reticulocyte maturation. Blood,
112, pp. (1493-1502).

498

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Mortensen, M.; Ferguson, D.J., Edelmann, M., et al. (2010). Loss of autophagy in erythroid
cells leads to defective removal of mitochondria and severe anemia in vivo. Proc
Natl Acad Sci USA, 107, pp. (832-837).
Krause, D.S.; Theise, N.D., Collector, M.I., Henegariu, O., Hwang, S., Gardner, R., Neutzel,
S. & Sharkis, S.J. (2001). Multi-organ, multi-lineage engraftment by a single bone
marrow-derived stem cell. Cell,105, pp. (369-77).
Lagasse, E.; Connors, H., Al-Dhalimy, M., Reitsma, M., Dohse, M., Osborne, L., Wang, X.,
Finegold, M., Weissman, I.L. & Grompe M. (2000). Purified hematopoietic stem
cells can differentiate into hepatocytes in vivo. Nat Med, 6, pp. (1229-34).
Le Blanc, K.; Frassoni, F., Ball, L., Locatelli, F., Roelofs, H., Lewis, I., Lanino, E., Sundberg, B.,
Bernardo, M.E., Remberger, M., Dini, G., Egeler, R.M, Bacigalupo, A., Fibbe, W. &
Ringden, O. (2008). Mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of steroid-resistant,
severe, acute graft-versus-host disease: a phase II study. Lancet, 371, pp. (1579-86).
Lennon, D.P.; Haynesworth, S.E., Bruder, S.P., Jaiswall, N. & Caplan A.I. (1996). Human and
animal mesenchymal progenitor cells from bone marrow: identification of serum
for optimal selection and proliferation. In vitro Cell Dev Biol, 32, pp. (602611).
Li, G.R.; Sun, H., Deng, X. & Lau, C.P. (2005) Characterization of ionic currents in human
mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow. Stem Cells, 23, pp. (371-382).
Li, G.R.; Deng, X.L., Sun, H., Chung, S.S., Tse, H.F. & Lau, C.P. (2006) Ion channels in
mesenchymal stem cells from rat bone marrow. Stem Cells, 24, pp. (1519-1528).
Lory, P.; Bidaud, I. & Chemin, J. (2006). T-type calcium channels in differentiation and
proliferation. Cell Calcium, 40, pp. (135-146).
Mareddy, S.; Broadbent, J., Crawford, R. & Xiao, Y. (2009). Proteomic profiling of distinct
clonal populations of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. J Cell Biochem, 106, pp.
(776-86).
Matsunaga, T.; Toba, M., Teramoto, T., Mizuya, M., Aikawa, K. & Ohmori, S. (2008).
Formation of large vacuoles induced by cooperative effects of oncostatin M and
dexamethasone in human fetal liver cells. Med Mol Morphol, 41, pp. (53-58).
Menasche, P. (2011). Cardiac cell therapy: lessons from clinical trials. J Mol Cell Cardiol, 50,
pp. (258-265).
Mezey, E.; Chandross, K.J., Harta, G., Maki, R.A. & McKercher, S.R. (2000). Turning blood
into brain: cells bearing neuronal antigens generated in vivo from bone marrow.
Science 290, pp. (1779-82).
Michalopoulos, G.K. & DeFrances, M.C. (1997). Liver regeneration. Science, 276, pp. (60-66).
Mizushima N & Levine B. (2010). Autophagy in mammalian development and
differentiation. Nat Cell Biol, 12, pp. (823-830).
Murphy, J.; Fink, D., Hunsiker, E. & Barry, F. (2003). Stem cell therapyin a caprine model of
osteoarthritis. Arthrit Rheum, 48, pp. (34643474).
Niggli, E. & Lederer, W.J. (1991. Molecular operations of the sodium-calcium exchanger
revealed by conformation currents. Nature, 349, pp. (621-624).
Orlic, D.; Kajstura, J., Chimenti, S., Jakoniuk, I., Anderson, S.M., Li, B., Pickel, J., McKay, R.,
Nadal-Ginard, B., Bodine, D.M., Leri, A. & Anversa P. (2001). Bone marrow cells
regenerate infarcted myocardium. Nature, 410, pp. ( 701-5).

Autologous Grafts of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Between Dream and Reality

499

Reyes, M.; Lund, T., Lenvik, T., Aguiar, D., Koodie, L. & Verfaillie, C.M. (2001). Purification
and ex vivo expansion of postnatal human marrow mesodermal progenitor cells.
Blood, 98, pp. (2615-2625).
Reyes, M.; Dudek, A., Jahagirdar, B., Koodie, L., Marker, P.H. & Verfaillie C.M. (2002).
Origin of endothelial progenitors in human postnatal bone marrow. J Clin Invest,
109, pp. (337-46).
Ringden, O.; Uzunel, M., Rasmusson, I., Remberger, M., Sundberg, B., Lonnies, H.,
Marschall, H.U., Dlugosz, A., Szakos, A., Hassan, Z., Omazic, B., Aschan, J.,
Barkholt, L. & Le Blanc, K. (2006). Mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of
therapy-resistant graft-versus-host disease. Transplantation, 81, pp. (1390-7).
Sato, Y.; Araki, H., Kato, J., Nakamura, K, Kawano, Y., Kobune, M., Sato, T., Miyanishi, K.,
Takayama T, Takahashi M, Takimoto R, Iyama S, Matsunaga T, Ohtani S, Matsuura
Hamada, H. & Niitsu, Y. (2005). Human mesenchymal stem cells xenografted
directly to rat liver are differentiated into human hepatocytes without fusion. Blood,
106, pp. (756-63).
Sturtevant, J. (2000). Applications of differential-display reverse transcription-PCR to
molecular pathogenesis and medical mycology. Clin Microbiol Rev, 13, pp. (408-27).
Tondreau, T.; Meuleman, N., Delforge, A., et al. (2005). Mesenchymal stem cells derived
from CD133-positive cells in mobilized peripheral blood and cord blood:
proliferation, Oct4 expression, and plasticity. Stem Cells, 23, pp. (1105-1112).
Tormin, A.; Brune, J.C., Olsson, E., Valcich, J., Neuman, U., Olofsson, T., Jacobsen, S.E. &
Scheding, S. (2009). Characterization of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal
stromal cells (MSC) based on gene expression profiling of functionally defined
MSC subsets. Cytotherapy, 11, pp. (114-28).
Torossian, F.; Bisson, A., Vannier, J.P., Boyer, O. & Lamacz, M. (2010). TRPC expression in
mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Mol Biol Lett, 15, pp. (600-610).
Tse, W.T.; Pendleton, J.D., Beyer, W.M., Egalka, M.C. & Guinan, E.C. (2003). Suppression of
allogeneic T cell proliferation by human marrow stromal cells: implications in
transplantation. Transplantation, 75, pp. (389).
Uccelli, A.; Pistoia, V. & Moretta L. (2007). Mesenchymal stem cells: a new strategy for
immunosuppression? Trends Immunol, 28, pp. (219-26).
Wagers, A.J.; Sherwood, R.I., Christensen, J.L. & Weissman, I.L. (2002). Little evidence for
developmental plasticity of adult hematopoietic stem cells. Science, 297, pp. (22569).
Wojakowski, W.; Tendera, M., Kucia, M., Zuba-Surma, E., Paczkowska, E., Ciosek, J.,
Halasa, M., Krol, M., Kazmierski, M., Buszman, P., Ochala, A., Ratajczak, J.,
Machalinski, B. & Ratajczak, M.Z. (2009). Mobilization of bone marrow-derived
Oct-4+ SSEA-4+ very small embryonic-like stem cells in patients with acute
myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol, 53, pp. (1-9).
Woodbury, D.; Schwarz, E.J., Prockop, D.J. & Black, I.B. (2000). Adult rat and human bone
marrow stromal cells differentiate into neurons. J Neurosci Res, 61, pp. (364-70).
Yang, S.N. & Berggren, P.O. (2006). The role of voltage-gated calcium channels in pancreatic
beta-cell physiology and pathophysiology. Endocr Rev, 27, pp. (621-676).

500

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Ying, Q.L.; Nichols, J., Evans, E.P. & Smith A.G. (2002). Changing potency by spontaneous
fusion. Nature, 416, pp. (545-8).
Yokoyama, C.T.; Myers, S.J., Fu, J., Mockus, S.M., Scheuer, T. & Catterall, W.A. (2005).
Mechanism of SNARE protein binding and regulation of Cav2 channels by
phosphorylation of the synaptic protein interaction site. Mol Cell Neurosci, 28, pp.
(1-17).
Yoo, J.G. & Smith, L.C. (2007). Extracellular calcium induces activation of
Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and mediates spontaneous
activation in rat oocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 359, pp. (854-859).

Section 5
New Methods in Cell Biology

22
Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental
System to Study Cell Biology in
Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy
Monika Sramkova, Natalie Porat-Shliom, Andrius Masedunkas, Timothy
Wigand, Panomwat Amornphimoltham and Roberto Weigert

Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch,

National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research,
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
USA

1. Introduction
Mammalian cell biology has been studied primarily by using in vitro models. Among them,
cell cultures are the most extensively used since they make possible to study in great detail the
molecular machineries regulating the biological process of interest. Indeed, cell cultures offer
several advantages such as, being amenable to both pharmacological and genetic
manipulations, reproducibility, and relatively low costs. However, their major limitation is
that the architecture and physiology of cells in vitro may differ considerably from the in vivo
environment. This reflects the fact that cells in a living organism i) have a three-dimensional
architecture, ii) interact with other cell populations, iii) are surrounded by an extracellular
matrix with a specific and unique composition, and iv) receive a number of cues from the
vasculature and from the nervous system that are essential for maintaining their functions and
differentiation state (Cukierman et al., 2001; Ghajar and Bissell, 2008; Xu et al., 2009). In the last
two decades, cell biology has greatly benefited from major technological advances in light
microscopy that have enabled imaging virtually any cellular process at different levels of
resolution. The development of genetically-encoded fluorescently tagged proteins (Chalfie et
al., 1994) has triggered the development of novel technologies such as FRAP, FLIM, FRET,
BRET, photo-activation, photo-switching and photo-conversion (Diaspro, 2002; LippincottSchwartz, 2011a, b), and the realization of more sophisticated microscopes, which have
significantly improved the limits of light microscopy in terms of both temporal (spinning disk,
resonant scanners) and spatial (PALM, STORM, STED) resolution (Lippincott-Schwartz, 2011a,
b). However, the application of these very powerful technologies has been primarily restricted
to in vitro systems. One of the major breakthroughs in light microscopy is the realization of
instruments based on non-linear emissions (Denk et al., 1990; Mertz, 2004; Zipfel et al., 2003b),
which has opened the door to the development of intravital microscopy (IVM). IVM
encompasses a series of light microscopy-based techniques aimed at studying several
physiological processes in live animals (Amornphimoltham et al., 2011; Fukumura et al., 2010;
Weigert et al., 2010). In particular, two-photon microscopy (TPM) has been instrumental in
developing fields such as neuroscience, immunology and tumor biology For example,, TPM
has made possible imaging the behavior of single neuronal populations in the brain of live
animals leading to fundamental discoveries in neuronal plasticity and neurotransmission, thus

504

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

increasing our understanding of pathological conditions such as the Alzheimers disease or

ischemia-induced damages (Serrano-Pozo et al., 2011; Svoboda and Yasuda, 2006; Zhang and
Murphy, 2007). In immunology, TPM has been instrumental in analyzing the interactions
among the cells of the immune system during the immune response and has provided
valuable information on host-pathogen interactions (Cahalan and Parker, 2008; Germain et al.,
2005; Miller et al., 2002; Textor et al., 2011). Finally, the ability to image tumors in situ during
cell growth and invasion, and to monitor the tumor microenvironment has provided with
formidable tools to unravel several key mechanisms regulating tumor progression, thus
leading to the design and test of novel therapeutic approaches (Andresen et al., 2009;
Fukumura et al., 2010; Fukumura and Jain, 2008; Orth et al., 2011). The first attempt to image
submicron structures in a live animal has been in the brain, where long term imaging of
dendritic spines has been accomplished (Pan and Gan, 2008), whereas the first attempts to
image the internalization of fluorescently labeled molecules into highly dynamics sub-cellular
structures, such as the endosomes, has been performed in the kidney of live rats and mice
(Dunn et al., 2002; Dunn et al., 2003; Sandoval et al., 2004; Sandoval and Molitoris, 2008).
However, the motion artifacts due the heartbeat and the respiration of the animal have
precluded a detailed analysis of the dynamics of these events. Recently, we have developed an
experimental system that has enabled us to follow the dynamics of endosomes and secretory
granules in the salivary glands (SGs) of live rodents by using IVM (Masedunskas et al., 2011;
Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008; Sramkova et al., 2009). In this chapter, we will review some
of the most recent applications of IVM, aimed at studying various aspects of cell biology in live
rodents, and will highlight the fact that the salivary glands (SGs) represent a perfect model
organ for these studies since they offer unique advantages: first, they can be easily externalized
and positioned to completely eliminate the motion artifacts due to the respiration and the
heartbeat (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008), and second they can be easily manipulated both
pharmacologically and genetically providing thus with the opportunity to dissect and unravel
molecular machineries (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008, Sramkova et al., 2009). Our goal is to
persuade the readers that this approach has a wide range of applicability in different areas of
the biomedical field and has the potential to address several fundamental biological questions.

Fig. 1. Comparison among the various experimental systems utilized to study cell biology in
mammalian system

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

505

Increased complexity in the architecture of the experimental model systems utilized to study
cell biology: cell cultures grown on bi-dimensional surfaces (i.e. plastic or glass), cell
cultures grown in three dimensions (i.e. purified components of the extracellular matrix),
explanted organs, and live animals.

2. Basic principles of intravital microscopy

Biologists have been always fascinated by the possibility to observe biological process in live
organisms. One of the major challenges in IVM is to expose the tissue of interest taking care
of minimizing damages and maintaining its functionality during the observation period. To
this aim, appropriate surgical techniques have been developed since the early days of IVM.
The first intravital studies were performed in the early 30s, although they were limited to
the examination of the vasculature and its cellular components by using bright field
illumination (Beck and Berg, 1931). Advances in optical methods and particularly the
development of fluorescence light microscopy, have increased the level of resolution, thus
extending the number of biological processes that can be observed in vivo
(Amornphimoltham et al., 2011; Weigert et al., 2010). Fluorescence light microscopy is based
on the generation of contrast by the excitation of the energy levels of molecules (referred as
fluorophores) that are either naturally present in the tissue of interest or are administered
exogenously. The excitation is achieved by illuminating the specimen with a light source
such as a mercury lamp or a laser. The emission can be either directly proportional to the
excitation (linear) or exhibit a more complex dependence (non-linear). In the last two
decades, microscopes based on e various non-linear processes have been developed, making
possible to perform deep tissue imaging (Denk et al., 1990; Mertz, 2004; Zipfel et al., 2003b).
Below, we will briefly describe and compare some of the linear (confocal microscopy, CM)
and non-linear (multi-photon and harmonic generation) techniques that are commonly used
to perform IVM.
2.1 Confocal microscopy
In CM, the excitation of the fluorophore is achieved by using single photons with
wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to visible light (Fig.2). In order to gather the
signal coming from the focal plane and to avoid off-focus emissions that reduce the spatial
resolution, the emitted light is forced to pass through a pinhole. This allows to modify the
thickness of the sampled area providing an easy way to balance resolution and signal
intensity. Confocal microscopes are widespread tools and have been extensively used for
IVM (Guan et al., 2009; Masedunskas et al., 2011). However, CM has some limitations. First,
UV and visible light are scattered by biological specimen, thus limiting the imaging to the
first 50-60 m below the surface of the specimen and making CM the optimal choice for cell
cultures and optically transparent tissues. Second, long term illumination with UV and
visible light may lead to photobleaching and phototoxicity, limiting the use of CM to short
term imaging as documented by several reports of radiation-induced cellular damage or
impairment in tissue development (Dela Cruz et al., 2010). However, when tissues are
homogeneous and biological processes are not dependent on the depth, CM can be
successfully used providing a better spatial resolution than other techniques (Masedunskas
et al., 2011).

506

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 2. Comparison between linear and non-linear modalities of fluorescence light

microscopy.
Single photon excitation: the energy gap between the ground (E0) and the excited (E*) state
in the fluorophore is filled by a single photon in the UV or visible range. Following some
energy dissipation, a single photon is emitted at a higher wavelength (red-shift). Two- and
three-photon excitation: the same energy gap is filled by two or three photons respectively,
which have half or a third of the energy required for single photon excitation (NIR or IR
light). Second and third harmonic generation (SHG and THG): two or three photons interact
with the fluorophore and recombine generating a photon with half or a third of the
wavelength of the incident ones.
2.2 Multiphoton microscopy (MPM)
Multiphoton emission is based on the fact that a fluorophore can be excited by the almost
simultaneous absorption (within femto or atto seconds) of two or three photons that have a
half or a third of the energy required to fill the energy gap in the fluorophore (Fig. 2). This
requires the use of infrared (IR) light which has a lower intrinsic scattering in biological
specimen when compared to UV or visible light. The non-linear nature of multi-photon
excitation and the low probability for a multiphoton transition to occur, require that a high
number of photons are focused in a restricted volume (1 fl1 m3). This is achieved with
pulsed lasers, such as the tunable titanium:sapphire laser, which generates high power
beams (in the order of 2-4 W), that are focused in the focal point with high numerical
aperture lenses (McMullen and Zipfel, 2010). This implies that all the emitted light
generated from the focal point can be utilized to generate the image without the need for a
pinhole. This simplifies the geometry of multiphoton microscopes, which require detectors
with high sensitivity placed as close as possible to the specimen. Another implication of the
fact that photons are absorbed in a confined volume is that photobleaching and
phototoxicity are reduced, extending the duration of the experimental observations without
any tissue damage, and enabling the realization of long term longitudinal studies that are
fundamental in fields such as tumor biology. In terms of depth, MPM enables to extend the
range of observation when compared with CM. For example, by using high numerical

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

507

aperture objectives, subcellular structures can be resolved up to a depth of 100-150 m.

Lowering the level of resolution and using lenses with longer working distances cellular
structures can be routinely resolved at a depth of 300-500 m. Furthermore, some tissues,
such as the brain, exhibit lower light scattering enabling imaging up to a 1 mm depth.
Recently, alternative approaches based on the use of either longer excitation wavelengths
through the use of optical parametric oscillators (OPO) or regenerative amplifiers, have
extended the limits of imaging depth (Andresen et al., 2009; Theer et al., 2003). Two final
advantages of multiphoton excitation are: first, the fact that several endogenous molecules
can be easily excited providing a contrast that provides numerous information on tissue and
cell architecture (Campagnola and Loew, 2003; Dela Cruz et al., 2010; Weigert et al., 2010;
Zipfel et al., 2003a), and second, that due to their broad multiphoton absorption spectra,
multiple fluorophores can be excited simultaneously using a single excitation wavelength.
This avoids the use of multiple lasers, thus reducing further the risk of photodamage.
2.3 Second and third harmonic generation (SHG and THG)
SHG and THG do not involve energy absorption since the incident photons are scattered
and recombined into a single photon in a process without energy loss (Campagnola and
Loew, 2003; Schenke-Layland et al., 2008; Zoumi et al., 2002). Molecules that generate
second harmonic signals such as, collagen, microtubules, and muscle myosin are usually
assembled in highly ordered and repeated structures with non-centrosymmetric
symmetries, whereas third harmonic signals are typically generated at the interface between
optically heterogeneous biological materials (Campagnola and Loew, 2003; Debarre et al.,
2006; Gualda et al., 2008). SHG has been extensively utilized to study the properties of the
extracellular matrix under both physiological and pathological conditions, and shows also
an incredible potential for diagnostic purposes. THG has been used to image lipid bodies in
small organisms, to study early embryogenesis dynamics in zebrafish, and to study the
process of demyelination in models for neurodegenerative disorders. SHG and THG have
the advantage of being nontoxic since no energy is absorbed by the specimen during
imaging (Fig. 2), and they can be combined with MPM providing with the opportunity to
perform multimodal imaging (Campagnola and Loew, 2003; Chen et al., 2009; Debarre et al.,
2006; Farrar et al., 2011; Radosevich et al., 2008).

3. The salivary glands as a versatile model to perform intravital microscopy

and to manipulate cellular pathways
3.1 Architecture and physiology of the salivary glands
Salivary glands (SGs) are major exocrine glands responsible for the production and secretion
of saliva into the oral cavity (Gorr et al., 2005; Melvin et al., 2005). In mammals there are two
kinds of SGs: the major and the minor glands. The major SGs include: parotid glands, which
secrete primarily enzymes involved in digestion (e.g. amylase), submandibular glands,
which secrete enzymes required to defend the oral cavity from pathogens (e.g. peroxidases,
kallikrein), and sublingual glands, which secrete molecules required to protect the oral
cavity (e.g. mucins). Saliva is a mixture of water, proteins, and electrolytes that is primarily
released from the acini, the main secretory units of the SGs, into the acinar canaliculi and
from there discharged into the ductal system (Fig. 3). Acini are formed by polarized acinar
cells, with the apical plasma membrane (APM) facing the lumen of the acinar canaliculi, and

508

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

the basolateral membrane facing the basement membrane and the stroma. The secretion of
water and proteins is under the control of G protein-coupled receptors: muscarinic
stimulation is the primary signal regulating water secretion, whereas protein secretion is
regulated by either the beta-adrenergic (submandibular and parotid) or the muscarinic
receptors (sublingual) (Gorr et al., 2005; Melvin et al., 2005). The ductal system is also
formed by polarized cells and its main function is to modify the electrolyte composition of
the primary saliva and convey it into the oral cavity. In rodents, a subpopulation of the
ductal cells, the granular convoluted tubules, secrete large amount of growth factors (such
as EGF and NGF) that are stored in large secretory granules (Peter et al., 1995).

Fig. 3. Diagram of rodent submandibular salivary glands.

The SGs are formed by interconnected lobules, which contain both acini and ductal
structures. Acini are formed by polarized epithelial cells, which contain secretory granules
that fuse with the apical plasma membrane and release their content in the acinar canaliculi.
The canaliculi merge in larger ducts, the intercalated ducts, than enlarge forming the
granular convoluted tubules and later the striated ducts. The striated ducts merge with the
major excretory duct
3.2 Delivery of molecules, drugs and gene transduction in the salivary glands
SGs are ideal organs to perform IVM for various reasons. First, in rodents the glands are
located in the neck area, where the motion artifacts due to the heartbeat and the respiration
are significantly reduced (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008). Second, the SGs can be exposed
with relatively minor surgical procedures, which do not involve the exposure of the body
cavity, which may effect the overall health status of the animal. Finally, the epithelium of the
SGs can be easily accessed from the oral cavity by introducing fine polyethylene tubings into
the major excretory ducts (called Whartons duct in the submandibular glands and Stensens
duct in the parotid glands) that can be utilized to selectively deliver various molecules into
the ductal system (Masedunskas et al., 2011; Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008; Sramkova et
al., 2009) (Fig. 4A). We have shown that fluorescent dyes can be delivered into the ductal
system through injection or by gravity diffusion, and utilized to study endocytosis,
exocytosis or various aspects of water secretion (Fig. 4B) (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008;
Sramkova et al., 2009, Masedunskas et al., 2011). The same route has been utilized to
selectively deliver drugs to the SGs. This approach offers two advantages: 1) to specifically

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

509

target the SGs avoiding the side effects due to systemic injections, and second, to precisely
control the doses of the drugs administered (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008).
SGs have been widely used as a target organ for the viral-mediated expression and gene
delivery of various transgenes both in live animals and in humans (Baum et al., 2010; Cotrim
and Baum, 2008). Indeed, these organs have the potential to be utilized for gene therapy to
correct various diseases including Sjogrens syndrome and protein deficiencies (Baum et al.,
2004; Voutetakis et al., 2004). Notably, for viral-mediated gene therapy in humans, the SGs
offer several advantages with respect to other organs: i) the encapsulation of the SG tissue
prevents the dissemination of the virus in the rest of the body (Baum et al., 2004; Voutetakis
et al., 2004), ii) in case of potential health issues the SGs can be removed since they are not
essential for life, iii) the differentiation of the cells provides a relatively stable cell
populations for non-integrating vectors, and iv) duacrine (both exocrine and endocrine)
protein secretion allows to direct the expressed molecules into either the saliva or the blood
stream (Baum et al., 2004). Numerous studies have shown successful gene transfer into both
rat and mouse submandibular glands using viral-based approaches, which offer the
advantage of a more robust expression of the transgenes (Andresen et al., 2009; Baum and
Tran, 2006; Delporte et al., 1996; Honigman et al., 2001; Mastrangeli et al., 1994; Morita et al.,
2011; Palaniyandi et al., 2011; Perez et al., 2011; Samuni et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2000; Zheng
et al., 2009). However, non viral-mediated approaches have also been utilized, although
limited to a small percentage of the cells in the parenchyma (Goldfine et al., 1997; Honigman
et al., 2001; Niedzinski et al., 2003a; Niedzinski et al., 2003b; Passineau et al., 2010; Sramkova
et al., 2009). Furthermore, the majority of the studies on rodent SGs were focused on
submandibular glands and only few studies were performed in parotid glands. Recent
studies demonstrated efficient gene transfer into rat parotid glands, as shown by the
effective delivery of human erythropoietin and human parathyroid hormone (Adriaansen et
al., 2010; Kagami et al., 1998; Mastrangeli et al., 1994; Zheng et al., 2009). The rationale
behind developing strategies to deliver transgene into parotid glands is their use in humans
as main target for clinical applications (Zheng et al., 2011).

Fig. 4. Non viral-mediated gene transfer in the submandibular SGs of live rats.

510

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

A. Fine polyethylene cannulae are introduced in the oral cavity in the Whartons duct of live
rats. B 10 kDa Texas Red-dextran is injected in the SGs and the ductal system is highlighted.
C-F. Plasmid DNAs encoding for the fluorescent protein pVenus (B), GFP-ribonuclases (D),
Aquaporin 5-GFP (E), and GFP-Clathrin (F) were injected in the submandibular glands. After
16 hrs, the glands were exposed and imaged by two-photon IVM (C and D) or excised, fixed,
labeled with rhodamine-phalloidin, and imaged by CM (E and F). C. Cluster of pVenus
expressing-cells (green) localized below the surface of the glands as shown by SHG, which
reveals the collagen fibers (cyan). Excitation 930 nm. D. GFP-ribonuclease is localized in
intracellular vesicles. Excitation 930 nm. E,F. GFP-Acquaporin is expressed in large ducts (E)
and GFP-clathrin in acini (F) as revealed by labeling for the actin cytoskeleton (red).
We have utilized plasmid DNA in live rats and shown that the transgenes under the
appropriate conditions can be targeted to specific subpopulations of the SGs (Sramkova et al.,
2009). The main advantage in using naked DNA vs. viral-based vectors is the possibility to
screen very rapidly for multiple genes without dealing with the time-consuming steps of
designing, cloning and preparing the viral particles. We have injected plasmid DNA encoding
for various fluorescent proteins into the Whartons duct of rat submandibular glands, and after
16 hours we have observed their expression in the SGs epithelium (Fig 4C-F). Specifically, we
have found that when plasmid DNA is injected alone, the reporter molecule is expressed in
approximately 0.05% of the cells of the parenchyma, which we have identified as intercalated
ducts. The addition of empty replication-defective adeno-viral (rAd5) particles increases the
level of transduction up to 0.5-2% of the cells and notably, the fluorescent reporter is expressed
primarily in the large striated and granular ducts and to a lesser extent in the acinar cells (Fig.
4C, 4E and 5) . In both instances, the expression of the reporter molecule is transient and lasts
for 72 hrs, a window of time sufficient to be utilized for IVM. Furthermore, since our goal is to
transduce genes primarily into acinar structures, we sought to find a more specific way to
target these cells. We reasoned that plasmid DNA might be internalized by the acinar cells via
the endocytic pathways and for this reason we stimulated compensatory endocytosis by
activating the beta-adrenergic receptors during plasmid DNA injection (see below). Notably,
under these conditions, the reporter molecule is expressed in 1% of the cells of the parenchyma
and primarily in the acinar cells (Fig. 4D, 4F and 5) (Sramkova et al., 2009). It is important to
emphasize, that although the efficiency of gene expression is low, the absolute number of cells
that can be imaged by IVM is still very high. This implies that viral-based approaches may still
have to be utilized whenever a different readout, such as a biochemical assay, needs to be
used.

Fig. 5. Naked DNA is targeted to different cell populations of the salivary glands.

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

511

When naked DNA is injected in the absence of any other manipulation the transgene is
expressed in the intercalated ducts. When naked DNA is pre-mixed with empty adenoviral
particles, the transgene is expressed primarily in the large ducts but also in some acinar
cells. When naked DNA is injected and compensatory endocytosis is elicited by stimulation
of the beta-adrenergic receptor (sub-cutaneous injections of isoproterenol) the transgene is
expressed in acinar cells.
This approach can be utilized to express any fluorescently tagged protein, enabling the
expansion of the repertoire of compartments that can be visualized in a short period of time
(Fig. 4C-F). Moreover, this strategy has provided us with a powerful tool to interfere with
specific molecular machineries by introducing molecules acting as positive or negative
regulators of the specific processes of interest. Finally, this approach can be used to
genetically modify the target tissue by silencing certain genes. Small interfering RNA
(siRNA) has been successfully delivered in live rats. siRNA targeting the cystic fibrosis
transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) were injected intraductallly into rat
submandibular glands resulting in the effective silencing of CFTR (Ishibashi et al., 2008;
Ishibashi et al., 2006). Notably, in order to complement and confirm the results with the
siRNA, a specific inhibitor of CFTR (CFTRinh- 172) and suramin, a non-specific P2 receptor
antagonist, were also injected, further highlighting the power of this approach. Although the
efficiency in siRNA delivery is low, novel approached has been introduced to overcome this
issue. For example, silencing of GAPDH in rat parotid glands was performed in
combination with microbubble-enhanced sonoporation, improving the efficiency of siRNA
transfer by 10-50% (Sakai et al., 2009).

4. Imaging membrane trafficking and the actin cytoskeleton in salivary

glands by intravital microscopy
Membrane traffic is an important field in cell biology that studies the processes and the
machineries involved in the transport of various molecules among different compartments
within the cell. Transport steps are mediated by membranous containers, termed transport
intermediates, which are very heterogeneous in size, shape, contents and modality of
transport. Their biogenesis, trafficking, delivery to the target compartments, and dynamic
behavior are dictated by the architecture of the cells and by the organization of the
cytoskeletal elements (e.g. microtubules and microfilaments). Most of the data on the
dynamics of the transports steps have been derived from cell culture models. As, previously
discussed, the architecture of the cells in a living organism differs considerably from the
architecture of cells in culture. Although IVM offers a very powerful opportunity to study
membrane trafficking in physiological conditions, the challenges in controlling the motion
artifacts have discouraged several investigators from pursuing this approach and only few
labs have invested in high resolution imaging of live animals. For example, submicron
structures were imaged dynamically in the brain of live mice, where structural changes in
the architecture of dendritic spines were observed under conditions such as epileptic
seizures (Mizrahi et al., 2004; Pan and Gan, 2008; Svoboda and Yasuda, 2006). In kidney,
various subcellular processes were analyzed, such as endocytosis of selected molecules
(Dunn et al., 2002; Dunn et al., 2003; Molitoris and Sandoval, 2006; Sandoval et al., 2004;
Sandoval and Molitoris, 2008), exocytosis of renin (Toma et al., 2006), and mitochondrial
function (Hall et al., 2009). Recently, mitochondrial dynamics and lipid bodies have been
analyzed in live animals (Debarre et al., 2006; Roberts et al., 2008; Zhong et al., 2008).

512

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Another area where imaging membrane trafficking in vivo has provided novel information
is tumor biology. Very recently, nuclear dynamics and mitotis were observed using in
murine xenograft model of human cancer and compared to cells in culture (Orth et al., 2011)
with profound implications for drug development and cancer therapy (Amornphimoltham
et al., 2011). Furthermore, using QD conjugated either to an anti-HER2 antibody or to EGFconjugated nanotubes the delivery and the uptake of these molecules by tumor cells was
analyzed (Bhirde et al., 2009; Tada et al., 2007).
Here, we review our work using the SGs, which represent a robust model to study several
aspects of membrane trafficking, particularly because the motion artifacts can be easily
reduced using various strategies described in detail elsewhere (Masedunskas et al. 2011b).
Although the SGs are exocrine glands, which represent a perfect model system to study
exocytosis, they are also a powerful model to study endocytic processes, such as receptormediated endocytosis, which occur at the basolateral plasma membrane of the epithelium,
compensatory endocytosis that is triggered upon exocytosis at APM, fluid phase
endocytosis in stromal cells, polarized trafficking of plasma membrane proteins in the
epithelium, and mitochondrial dynamics.
4.1 Endocytosis
The endosomal system is utilized as a transport route, to shuffle proteins, lipids and
membranes to and from the cell surface, and towards other sub-cellular organelles.
Endocytosis occurs in every cell and is involved in several processes such as nutrient
uptake, cell adhesion, migration, cytokinesis, polarity and signaling (Maxfield and McGraw,
2004; Mellman, 1996). Endocytosis and recycling mediate the removal and retrieval of
membrane components from the cell surface and these tightly coupled processes are highly
regulated. Notably, endocytic pathways are very diversified in terms of molecular
machinery, as shown by the fact that multiple endocytic routes have been described (Conner
and Schmid, 2003; Doherty and McMahon, 2009; Grant and Donaldson, 2009; Mayor and
Pagano, 2007). Much of our understanding of the endosomal system is derived from studies
performed in cell cultures and few studies have been performed in live organisms such as
rodents. The first attempt to image endocytosis in vivo was realized in the kidney of live rats
and mice, where fluorescently labeled dextrans of different molecular weight were injected
systemically (Dunn et al., 2002). Similar studies were performed imaging the receptormediated endocytosis of the antibiotic gentamicin and the internalization of the folatereceptor (Dunn et al., 2002; Sandoval et al., 2004). Although the diffusion of the injected
probes along the tubular system in the kidney was imaged, their internalization could be
followed only for short period of times due to the high levels of the motion artifacts. In this
respect, the SGs provide with a more controlled experimental system. Indeed, we injected
fluorescently-labeled molecules in the tail artery and tracked the dynamics of the endosomal
compartments for over 60 minutes (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008) (Fig. 6A). To further
distinguish among the different endocytic sub-compartments, Texas red-dextran (TXR-D)
was injected systemically and allowed to accumulate into the lysosomes (Fig. 6B). After 24
hours, Alexa-488 dextran (488-D) was injected and imaged in time-lapse mode. 488-D was
first internalized into small vesicles, and then delivered to early endosomes that grew over
time due to homotypic fusion events. Later, 488-D was delivered to late endosomes and
lysosomes and the process was imaged providing novel insight on the dynamics of the
endo-lysosomal system (Fig. 6B) (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008). In a separate study

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

513

lysosomal fusion events were captured at a higher resolution, almost comparable to that
achieved in cell culture (Weigert et al., 2010).
Interestingly, Cytochalasin D and Latrunculin A, two actin-disrupting agents significantly
reduced the uptake of fluorescent dextran in SGs, suggesting for a role of actin during
internalization (Fig. 6C and 6D) (Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008). The requirement for
actin during endocytosis has been demonstrated in yeast but has been controversial in
mammalian cells (Galletta et al., 2010). The conflicting results could be due to differences in
the organization of the actin cytoskeleton or to a different organization of the endocytic
pathways. Additional work is required to address these fundamental questions and
particularly in defining the endocytic routes in vivo and their reciprocal relationship.
Another important issue is the fact that different cell populations within the same organ
exhibit different rate of internalization. For example we found that in the SGs, fibroblasts
and dendritic cells internalized molecules at a much faster rates than the acinar or the ductal
cells in the parenchyma (Fig. 6E). This may reflect the presence of barriers such as the
basement membrane and the tight junctions that controls the delivery of molecules from the
blood stream.

Fig. 6. Endocytosis of systemically-injected fluorescently-labeled probes in the salivary

glands of live rats

514

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

A. Diagram of the experimental design to study endocytosis in SGs. The fluorescent probes
are injected into the tail artery, reach the SGs through the circulation, and diffuse out of the
vasculature from the fenestrated capillaries. B. TXR-D (red) is accumulated into the
lysosomes after 24 hrs from the injection (time 0:00). Alexa 488-dextran is first internalized
into early endosomes (time 5:00 and 10:00) and later reach the lysosome (time 15:00 and
inset). C,D. TXR-D was injected and the SGs were imaged after 20 min. C. Control glands D.
SGs treated with latrunculin A. E. Lower magnification of the SGs after the injection of
TXR-D. The probe is accumulated in the stroma, internalized in stromal cells, and was
excluded from the acini that are revealed by two-photon-stimulated intrinsic emission
(Masedunskas and Weigert, 2008; Weigert et al., 2010).
Endocytosis from the APM of the SGs was also analyzed by either injection or slow gravitymediated infusion of small molecular weight dextrans though the Whartons duct. Under
resting conditions most of the probes underwent a low but detectable level of endocytosis in
both the ducts and the acinar cells. However, upon stimulation of protein but not water
secretion, the probes were primarily internalized into the acini, most likely by the activation
of a process known as compensatory endocytosis (Masedunskas et al., 2011; Sramkova et al.,
2009). Interestingly, this process did not involve any of the currently characterized endocytic
processes and studies are undergoing to further elucidate this it s machinery. Finally, in
order to study receptor-mediated endocytosis at the basolateral plasma membrane we have
transfected in the acinar cells of live rats, transferrin receptor, as a model for constitutive
endocytosis and beta2-adrenergic receptor, as a model for agonist-induced endocytosis. The
ectopically expressed receptors are properly targeted to the acinar cells and at the plasma
membrane as predicted (Fig. 7C and 7D).

Fig. 7. Endocytosis from the apical and the basolateral plasma membrane of the salivary
glands

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

515

A,B. 10 kDa TXR-D was injected into the Whartons duct to fill the acinar canaliculi. After 20
minutes, minimal internalization of the probe was observed (A). Five minutes after the SC
injection of isoproterenol smaller endocytic vesicles formed from the APM (B). C,D. GFPTransferrin receptor (C) and YFP-beta2-adrenergic receptor were transfected in the acinar
cells of live rats and imaged by using IVM. Maximal projections of Z-stacks are shown.
Transferrin receptor is primarily localized in intracellular vesicles, whereas beta2-adrenergic
receptor is primarily localized at the basolateral plasma membrane.
4.2 Exocytosis
SGs are a well-established model for exocrine secretion. Proteins destined to secretion are
synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and transported through the Golgi apparatus to the
trans-Golgi network (TGN) where they are packed in large vesicles, secretory granules (SCGs),
which are released into the cytoplasm, and transported to the cell periphery. Here, upon
stimulation of the appropriate G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the SCGs fuse with the
APM, releasing their content into the lumen of the canaliculi. Although, exocytosis in SGs has
been extensively studied in ex-vivo models (Castle et al., 2002; Castle, 1998; Gorr et al., 2005),
very little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating this process. Several studies
have reported contradicting findings about the stimuli triggering exocytosis, the modalities of
fusion, and the requirement for the actin cytoskeleton in this process (Eitzen, 2003; Nashida et
al., 2004; Segawa et al., 1998; Segawa and Riva, 1996; Segawa et al., 1991; Sokac and Bement,
2006; Warner et al., 2008). This variability probably reflects the different experimental
conditions utilized to isolate and culture ex-vivo the acinar cells. To overcome this issue, we
have utilized IVM and studied the dynamics of the SCGs in live animals. To this aim, we used
a series of transgenic mouse models expressing selected fluorescently labeled molecules,
combined with the ability to transduce genes, and selectively deliver molecules and
pharmacological agents, as described above and elsewhere (Masedunskas et al., 2011b). This
approach has provided novel and valuable information on the structure and the physiology of
the acinar cells (Masedunskas et al., 2011). We estimated that in resting conditions, the major
SGs contain approximately 2500-3000 granules per acinus, most of them accumulated in the
sub apical area of the PM. Our analysis on the effect of various agonists of GPCRs has revealed
three major differences between in vivo and ex-vivo models: 1) the stimulation of the betaadrenergic but not the muscarinic receptors, enhances the mobility of the secretory granules
promoting their docking and subsequent fusion at the APM; 2) muscarinic receptors do not
play any synergistic role with the adrenergic receptor during exocytosis; and 3) the maximal
rate of fusion of the secretory granules in live animal (10-15 granules/cell/min) is 3-4 times
faster than previously reported for ex-vivo systems. Furthermore, by using another mouse
model, which expresses the Tomato fluorescent protein fused with a di-palmitoylated peptide
(m-Tomato), a well-established marker for the plasma membrane, we discovered that the
secretory granules after fusing with the plasma membrane completely collapse within 30-40
seconds (Masedunskas et al., 2011). This result underscores another major difference between
in vivo and ex-vivo models, in which compound exocytosis (i.e. the sequential fusion of strings
of SCGs), has been described as the primary modality of fusion (Warner et al., 2008). Notably,
we also observed that the granules in close proximity of the APM recruit a series of cytosolic
proteins including actin, suggesting a role for the cytoskeleton during granule exocytosis. To
address this issue we have transduced the salivary glands of live rats with the small peptide
Lifeact fused with GFP, a novel tool to label dynamically F-actin (Riedl et al., 2008). We
determined that F-actin filaments are polymerized onto the surface of the granules only after

516

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

fusion has occurred, and persisted until their complete collapse. The impairment of the
dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, using pharmacological agents such as cytochalasin D (cyto
D) or latrunculin A (lat A), did not affect the fusion of the secretory granules with the APM,
but it blocked substantially their collapse leading to the accumulation of fused granules which
often expanded in size. Finally, we found that myosin IIa and IIb, two actin-based motor
proteins are recruited on the fused secretory granules and that their motor activity is required
to drive the gradual collapse of the granules. These results suggest that the acto-myosin
complex provides a contractile scaffold around the secretory granules that facilitates the
completion of the fusion at the APM and preventing an aberrant influx of membrane inside
the cell (Masedunskas et al., 2011). This novel approach provided new insights into the
molecular mechanisms of exocytosis in SGs, captured the exocytosis process dynamically and
established important tools to study this process. This approach can be extended to study
exocytosis in other exocrine glands such as pancreas, lacrimal glands, and mammary glands

Fig. 8. Regulated exocytosis in the salivary glands of live rodents.

A. SGs of mice expressing cytoplasmic GFP. GFP is excluded from the large SCGs that appear
as dark vesicles in the cytoplasm. Upon stimulation with isoproterenol, SCGs fuse with the
APM. Fusing SCGs are characterized by an accumulation of GFP on the limiting membranes of
the SCGs (arrow), as previously described (Masedunskas et al., 2011). B. SGs in the m-Tomato
mice. The m-Tomato probe labels all the cellular membranes. Upon stimulation with
isoproterenol, the m-Tomato diffuses into the membrane of the SCGs (arrows). C. The SGs of a
live rat were labeled with rhodamine-phalloidin to reveal the actin cytoskeleton. The left panel
shows the enrichment of actin at the APM in control conditions. The right panel shows the
recruitment of actin around the SCGs upon stimulation with isoproterenol. D. A GFP mouse
was stimulated with isoproterenol and labeled with rhodamine-phalloidin. Arrows point to
the SCGs at the plasma membrane that are enriched in GFP and actin. E. The effect on
exocytosis of actin-disrupting agents. The SGs of a live m-Tomato mouse were treated with

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

517

latrunculin A and stimulated with isoproterenol (right panel). SCGs fail to collapse at the
plasma membrane and increase in size forming large vacuolar structures.
4.3 Actin cytoskeleton
The actin cytoskeleton plays a fundamental role in many cellular events. We have recently
shown a role for actin in endocytosis and a novel role for actin and the actin motor protein
myosin II in exocytosis in the SGs of live animals (Masedunskas et al., 2011; Masedunskas
and Weigert, 2008). Notably, by using IVM we revealed a novel function for the actomyosin
complex that was not completely appreciate in cell cultures. Specifically, we found that actin
serves: 1) as a barrier preventing the unwanted homotypic fusion between the SCGs, 2) as a
scaffold to prevent the hydrostatic pressure generated by fluid secretion to disrupt the
exocytic events, and 3) as a platform to generate a contractile scaffold that facilitate the
collapse of the SCGs with the apical plasma membrane (Masedunskas et al., 2011). We took
an advantage of the methodology reviewed here to pharmacologically disrupt the actin
cytoskeleton and fluorescently tag proteins for labeling the cytoskeleton in vivo. Specifically,
we have used GFP-lifeact as a tool to follow the dynamics of F-actin (Riedl et al., 2008). This
tool is more effective and less toxic than GFP-actin (Fig. 9A and 9C). However, one of the
drawbacks of our transfection system is that the expression of the protein of interest is
limited to one or two cells per acinus, limiting the possibility to study the behavior of the
actin cytoskeleton in groups of cell. Recently, a transgenic mouse expressing GFP-life act has
been generated (Riedl et al., 2010). These mice are superior to the GFP-actin transgenic mice
in terms of viability, level of protein expression and cellular toxicity and represent a
formidable tool to study several aspect of the involvement of actin in various cellular
processes. These mice are nicely complemented by other transgenic mice expressing the
GFP-tagged versions of the actin motor proteins myosin IIa and IIb (Bao et al., 2007).

Fig. 9. Imaging the actin cytoskeleton in the salivary glands of live animals.
A, B. GFP-actin or GFP-lifeact were transfected in the SGs of live rats. Both molecules were
expressed in acinar cells and exhibited filamentous cortical localization. However, the
precise localization of the two probes with respect to the apical or the basolateral pole

518

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

cannot be assessed in a single cell. C, D. Transgenic mice expressing GFP-actin (C) or GFPlifeact (D). The acinar structure in the salivary glands show the typical enrichment at the
apical plasma membrane. E. Transgenic mouse expressing GFP-myosin IIb. In the acini of
the SGs, GFP-myosin IIb is localized at the apical plasma membrane as previously described
for the endogenous myosins (Masedunskas et al., 2011).

5. Conclusions
We have provided several examples from our recent work that the combination of IVM as
imaging technique, and the SGs as a model organ is a very versatile tool that can be
successfully used to address several biological questions under physiological conditions.
The possibility to either express or down regulate proteins in an acute fashion, combined
with the plethora of available transgenic and knockdown mouse models, offer a unique set
of opportunities to study processes in live animals at a molecular level. Furthermore, the
ability to image at a subcellular level in a live animal has opened the possibility to study
several aspects of cell biology in a dynamic fashion. We have utilized this approach to study
membrane trafficking and the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, which represent only a
fraction of the fields that can be studied in vivo. We envision that soon IVM will be extended
to study other processes, such as cell cycle, signal transduction, mitochondrial dynamics and
metabolisms to name a few.

6. Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

7. References
Adriaansen, J., Zheng, C., Perez, P., and Baum, B.J. (2010). Production and sorting of
transgenic, modified human parathyroid hormone in vivo in rat salivary glands.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun 391, 768-772.
Amornphimoltham, P., Masedunskas, A., and Weigert, R. (2011). Intravital microscopy as a
tool to study drug delivery in preclinical studies. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 63, 119-128.
Andresen, V., Alexander, S., Heupel, W.M., Hirschberg, M., Hoffman, R.M., and Friedl, P.
(2009). Infrared multiphoton microscopy: subcellular-resolved deep tissue imaging.
Curr Opin Biotechnol 20, 54-62.
Bao, J., Ma, X., Liu, C., and Adelstein, R.S. (2007). Replacement of nonmuscle myosin II-B
with II-A rescues brain but not cardiac defects in mice. J Biol Chem 282, 2210222111.
Baum, B.J., Adriaansen, J., Cotrim, A.P., Goldsmith, C.M., Perez, P., Qi, S., Rowzee, A.M.,
and Zheng, C. (2010). Gene therapy of salivary diseases. Methods Mol Biol 666, 320.
Baum, B.J., and Tran, S.D. (2006). Synergy between genetic and tissue engineering: creating
an artificial salivary gland. Periodontol 2000 41, 218-223.
Baum, B.J., Voutetakis, A., and Wang, J. (2004). Salivary glands: novel target sites for gene
therapeutics. Trends Mol Med 10, 585-590.

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

519

Beck, J.S., and Berg, B.N. (1931). The Circulatory Pattern in the Islands of Langerhans. Am J
Pathol 7, 31-36 31.
Beerling, E., Ritsma, L., Vrisekoop, N., Derksen, P.W., and van Rheenen, J. (2011). Intravital
microscopy: new insights into metastasis of tumors. J Cell Sci 124, 299-310.
Bhirde, A.A., Patel, V., Gavard, J., Zhang, G., Sousa, A.A., Masedunskas, A., Leapman, R.D.,
Weigert, R., Gutkind, J.S., and Rusling, J.F. (2009). Targeted killing of cancer cells in
vivo and in vitro with EGF-directed carbon nanotube-based drug delivery. ACS
Nano 3, 307-316.
Cahalan, M.D., and Parker, I. (2008). Choreography of cell motility and interaction dynamics
imaged by two-photon microscopy in lymphoid organs. Annu Rev Immunol 26,
585-626.
Campagnola, P.J., and Loew, L.M. (2003). Second-harmonic imaging microscopy for
visualizing biomolecular arrays in cells, tissues and organisms. Nat Biotechnol 21,
1356-1360.
Castle, A.M., Huang, A.Y., and Castle, J.D. (2002). The minor regulated pathway, a rapid
component of salivary secretion, may provide docking/fusion sites for granule
exocytosis at the apical surface of acinar cells. J Cell Sci 115, 2963-2973.
Castle, J.D. (1998). Protein secretion by rat parotid acinar cells. Pathways and regulation.
Ann N Y Acad Sci 842, 115-124.
Chalfie, M., Tu, Y., Euskirchen, G., Ward, W.W., and Prasher, D.C. (1994). Green fluorescent
protein as a marker for gene expression. Science 263, 802-805.
Chen, H., Wang, H., Slipchenko, M.N., Jung, Y., Shi, Y., Zhu, J., Buhman, K.K., and Cheng,
J.X. (2009). A multimodal platform for nonlinear optical microscopy and
microspectroscopy. Opt Express 17, 1282-1290.
Conner, S.D., and Schmid, S.L. (2003). Regulated portals of entry into the cell. Nature 422,
37-44.
Cotrim, A.P., and Baum, B.J. (2008). Gene therapy: some history, applications, problems, and
prospects. Toxicol Pathol 36, 97-103.
Cukierman, E., Pankov, R., Stevens, D.R., and Yamada, K.M. (2001). Taking cell-matrix
adhesions to the third dimension. Science 294, 1708-1712.
Debarre, D., Supatto, W., Pena, A.M., Fabre, A., Tordjmann, T., Combettes, L., SchanneKlein, M.C., and Beaurepaire, E. (2006). Imaging lipid bodies in cells and tissues
using third-harmonic generation microscopy. Nat Methods 3, 47-53.
Dela Cruz, J.M., McMullen, J.D., Williams, R.M., and Zipfel, W.R. (2010). Feasibility of using
multiphoton excited tissue autofluorescence for in vivo human histopathology.
Biomed Opt Express 1, 1320-1330.
Delporte, C., O'Connell, B.C., He, X., Ambudkar, I.S., Agre, P., and Baum, B.J. (1996).
Adenovirus-mediated expression of aquaporin-5 in epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 271,
22070-22075.
Denk, W., Strickler, J.H., and Webb, W.W. (1990). Two-photon laser scanning fluorescence
microscopy. Science 248, 73-76.
Diaspro (2002). Confocal and Two-Photon Microscopy. Foundations, Applications, and
Advances.
Doherty, G.J., and McMahon, H.T. (2009). Mechanisms of endocytosis. Annu Rev Biochem
78, 857-902.

520

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Dunn, K.W., Sandoval, R.M., Kelly, K.J., Dagher, P.C., Tanner, G.A., Atkinson, S.J., Bacallao,
R.L., and Molitoris, B.A. (2002). Functional studies of the kidney of living animals
using multicolor two-photon microscopy. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 283, C905-916.
Dunn, K.W., Sandoval, R.M., and Molitoris, B.A. (2003). Intravital imaging of the kidney
using multiparameter multiphoton microscopy. Nephron Exp Nephrol 94, e7-11.
Eitzen, G. (2003). Actin remodeling to facilitate membrane fusion. Biochim Biophys Acta
1641, 175-181.
Farrar, M.J., Wise, F.W., Fetcho, J.R., and Schaffer, C.B. (2011). In vivo imaging of myelin in
the vertebrate central nervous system using third harmonic generation microscopy.
Biophys J 100, 1362-1371.
Fukumura, D., Duda, D.G., Munn, L.L., and Jain, R.K. (2010). Tumor microvasculature and
microenvironment: novel insights through intravital imaging in pre-clinical
models. Microcirculation 17, 206-225.
Fukumura, D., and Jain, R.K. (2008). Imaging angiogenesis and the microenvironment.
APMIS 116, 695-715.
Galletta, B.J., Mooren, O.L., and Cooper, J.A. (2010). Actin dynamics and endocytosis in
yeast and mammals. Curr Opin Biotechnol 21, 604-610.
Germain, R.N., Castellino, F., Chieppa, M., Egen, J.G., Huang, A.Y., Koo, L.Y., and Qi, H.
(2005). An extended vision for dynamic high-resolution intravital immune imaging.
Semin Immunol 17, 431-441.
Ghajar, C.M., and Bissell, M.J. (2008). Extracellular matrix control of mammary gland
morphogenesis and tumorigenesis: insights from imaging. Histochem Cell Biol 130,
1105-1118.
Goldfine, I.D., German, M.S., Tseng, H.C., Wang, J., Bolaffi, J.L., Chen, J.W., Olson, D.C., and
Rothman, S.S. (1997). The endocrine secretion of human insulin and growth
hormone by exocrine glands of the gastrointestinal tract. Nat Biotechnol 15, 13781382.
Gorr, S.U., Venkatesh, S.G., and Darling, D.S. (2005). Parotid secretory granules: crossroads
of secretory pathways and protein storage. J Dent Res 84, 500-509.
Grant, B.D., and Donaldson, J.G. (2009). Pathways and mechanisms of endocytic recycling.
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 10, 597-608.
Gualda, E.J., Filippidis, G., Voglis, G., Mari, M., Fotakis, C., and Tavernarakis, N. (2008). In
vivo imaging of cellular structures in Caenorhabditis elegans by combined TPEF,
SHG and THG microscopy. J Microsc 229, 141-150.
Guan, Y., Worrell, R.T., Pritts, T.A., and Montrose, M.H. (2009). Intestinal ischemiareperfusion injury: reversible and irreversible damage imaged in vivo. Am J
Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 297, G187-196.
Hall, A.M., Unwin, R.J., Parker, N., and Duchen, M.R. (2009). Multiphoton imaging reveals
differences in mitochondrial function between nephron segments. J Am Soc
Nephrol 20, 1293-1302.
Honigman, A., Zeira, E., Ohana, P., Abramovitz, R., Tavor, E., Bar, I., Zilberman, Y.,
Rabinovsky, R., Gazit, D., Joseph, A., et al. (2001). Imaging transgene expression in
live animals. Mol Ther 4, 239-249.
Ishibashi, K., Okamura, K., and Yamazaki, J. (2008). Involvement of apical P2Y2 receptorregulated CFTR activity in muscarinic stimulation of Cl(-) reabsorption in rat
submandibular gland. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 294, R1729-1736.

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

521

Ishibashi, K., Yamazaki, J., Okamura, K., Teng, Y., Kitamura, K., and Abe, K. (2006). Roles of
CLCA and CFTR in electrolyte re-absorption from rat saliva. J Dent Res 85, 11011105.
Kagami, H., Atkinson, J.C., Michalek, S.M., Handelman, B., Yu, S., Baum, B.J., and
O'Connell, B. (1998). Repetitive adenovirus administration to the parotid gland:
role of immunological barriers and induction of oral tolerance. Hum Gene Ther 9,
305-313.
Lippincott-Schwartz, J. (2011a). Bridging structure and process in developmental biology
through new imaging technologies. Dev Cell 21, 5-10.
Lippincott-Schwartz, J. (2011b). Emerging in vivo analyses of cell function using
fluorescence imaging (*). Annu Rev Biochem 80, 327-332.
Masedunskas, A., Sramkova, M., Parente, L. and Weigert, R. (2011b). Intravital microscopy
to image membrane trafficking in live rats. Method in Mol Biol. (in press)
Masedunskas, A., Sramkova, M., Parente, L., Sales, K.U., Amornphimoltham, P., Bugge,
T.H., and Weigert, R. (2011). Role for the actomyosin complex in regulated
exocytosis revealed by intravital microscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108, 1355213557.
Masedunskas, A., and Weigert, R. (2008). Intravital two-photon microscopy for studying the
uptake and trafficking of fluorescently conjugated molecules in live rodents. Traffic
9, 1801-1810.
Mastrangeli, A., O'Connell, B., Aladib, W., Fox, P.C., Baum, B.J., and Crystal, R.G. (1994).
Direct in vivo adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to salivary glands. Am J Physiol
266, G1146-1155.
Maxfield, F.R., and McGraw, T.E. (2004). Endocytic recycling. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 5, 121132.
Mayor, S., and Pagano, R.E. (2007). Pathways of clathrin-independent endocytosis. Nat Rev
Mol Cell Biol 8, 603-612.
McMullen, J.D., and Zipfel, W.R. (2010). A multiphoton objective design with incorporated
beam splitter for enhanced fluorescence collection. Opt Express 18, 5390-5398.
Mellman, I. (1996). Endocytosis and molecular sorting. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 12, 575-625.
Melvin, J.E., Yule, D., Shuttleworth, T., and Begenisich, T. (2005). Regulation of fluid and
electrolyte secretion in salivary gland acinar cells. Annu Rev Physiol 67, 445-469.
Mertz, J. (2004). Nonlinear microscopy: new techniques and applications. Curr Opin
Neurobiol 14, 610-616.
Miller, M.J., Wei, S.H., Parker, I., and Cahalan, M.D. (2002). Two-photon imaging of
lymphocyte motility and antigen response in intact lymph node. Science 296, 18691873.
Mizrahi, A., Crowley, J.C., Shtoyerman, E., and Katz, L.C. (2004). High-resolution in vivo
imaging of hippocampal dendrites and spines. J Neurosci 24, 3147-3151.
Molitoris, B.A., and Sandoval, R.M. (2006). Pharmacophotonics: utilizing multi-photon
microscopy to quantify drug delivery and intracellular trafficking in the kidney.
Adv Drug Deliv Rev 58, 809-823.
Morita, T., Tanimura, A., Shitara, A., Suzuki, Y., Nezu, A., Takuma, T., and Tojyo, Y. (2011).
Expression of functional Stim1-mKO1 in rat submandibular acinar cells by
retrograde ductal injection of an adenoviral vector. Arch Oral Biol.

522

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Nashida, T., Yoshie, S., Imai, A., and Shimomura, H. (2004). Presence of cytoskeleton
proteins in parotid glands and their roles during secretion. Arch Oral Biol 49, 975982.
Niedzinski, E.J., Chen, Y.J., Olson, D.C., Parker, E.A., Park, H., Udove, J.A., Scollay, R.,
McMahon, B.M., and Bennett, M.J. (2003a). Enhanced systemic transgene
expression after nonviral salivary gland transfection using a novel endonuclease
inhibitor/DNA formulation. Gene Ther 10, 2133-2138.
Niedzinski, E.J., Olson, D.C., Chen, Y.J., Udove, J.A., Nantz, M.H., Tseng, H.C., Bolaffi, J.L.,
and Bennett, M.J. (2003b). Zinc enhancement of nonviral salivary gland
transfection. Mol Ther 7, 396-400.
Orth, J.D., Kohler, R.H., Foijer, F., Sorger, P.K., Weissleder, R., and Mitchison, T.J. (2011).
Analysis of mitosis and antimitotic drug responses in tumors by in vivo
microscopy and single-cell pharmacodynamics. Cancer Res 71, 4608-4616.
Palaniyandi, S., Odaka, Y., Green, W., Abreo, F., Caldito, G., De Benedetti, A., and SunavalaDossabhoy, G. (2011). Adenoviral delivery of Tousled kinase for the protection of
salivary glands against ionizing radiation damage. Gene Ther 18, 275-282.
Pan, F., and Gan, W.B. (2008). Two-photon imaging of dendritic spine development in the
mouse cortex. Dev Neurobiol 68, 771-778.
Passineau, M.J., Zourelias, L., Machen, L., Edwards, P.C., and Benza, R.L. (2010).
Ultrasound-assisted non-viral gene transfer to the salivary glands. Gene Ther 17,
1318-1324.
Perez, P., Adriaansen, J., Goldsmith, C.M., Zheng, C., and Baum, B.J. (2011). Transgenic
alpha-1-antitrypsin secreted into the bloodstream from salivary glands is
biologically active. Oral Dis 17, 476-483.
Peter, B., Van Waarde, M.A., Vissink, A., s-Gravenmade, E.J., and Konings, A.W. (1995).
Degranulation of rat salivary glands following treatment with receptor-selective
agonists. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 22, 330-336.
Radosevich, A.J., Bouchard, M.B., Burgess, S.A., Chen, B.R., and Hillman, E.M. (2008).
Hyperspectral in vivo two-photon microscopy of intrinsic contrast. Opt Lett 33,
2164-2166.
Riedl, J., Crevenna, A.H., Kessenbrock, K., Yu, J.H., Neukirchen, D., Bista, M., Bradke, F.,
Jenne, D., Holak, T.A., Werb, Z., et al. (2008). Lifeact: a versatile marker to visualize
F-actin. Nat Methods 5, 605-607.
Riedl, J., Flynn, K.C., Raducanu, A., Gartner, F., Beck, G., Bosl, M., Bradke, F., Massberg, S.,
Aszodi, A., Sixt, M., et al. (2010). Lifeact mice for studying F-actin dynamics. Nat
Methods 7, 168-169.
Roberts, M.S., Roberts, M.J., Robertson, T.A., Sanchez, W., Thorling, C., Zou, Y., Zhao, X.,
Becker, W., and Zvyagin, A.V. (2008). In vitro and in vivo imaging of xenobiotic
transport in human skin and in the rat liver. J Biophotonics 1, 478-493.
Sakai, T., Kawaguchi, M., and Kosuge, Y. (2009). siRNA-mediated gene silencing in the
salivary gland using in vivo microbubble-enhanced sonoporation. Oral Dis 15, 505511.
Samuni, Y., Zheng, C., Cawley, N.X., Cotrim, A.P., Loh, Y.P., and Baum, B.J. (2008). Sorting
of growth hormone-erythropoietin fusion proteins in rat salivary glands. Biochem
Biophys Res Commun 373, 136-139.

Salivary Glands: A Powerful Experimental System to

Study Cell Biology in Live Animals by Intravital Microscopy

523

Sandoval, R.M., Kennedy, M.D., Low, P.S., and Molitoris, B.A. (2004). Uptake and trafficking
of fluorescent conjugates of folic acid in intact kidney determined using intravital
two-photon microscopy. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 287, C517-526.
Sandoval, R.M., and Molitoris, B.A. (2008). Quantifying endocytosis in vivo using intravital
two-photon microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 440, 389-402.
Schenke-Layland, K., Xie, J., Angelis, E., Starcher, B., Wu, K., Riemann, I., MacLellan, W.R.,
and Hamm-Alvarez, S.F. (2008). Increased degradation of extracellular matrix
structures of lacrimal glands implicated in the pathogenesis of Sjogren's syndrome.
Matrix Biol 27, 53-66.
Segawa, A., Loffredo, F., Puxeddu, R., Yamashina, S., Testa Riva, F., and Riva, A. (1998).
Exocytosis in human salivary glands visualized by high-resolution scanning
electron microscopy. Cell Tissue Res 291, 325-336.
Segawa, A., and Riva, A. (1996). Dynamics of salivary secretion studied by confocal laser
and scanning electron microscopy. Eur J Morphol 34, 215-219.
Segawa, A., Terakawa, S., Yamashina, S., and Hopkins, C.R. (1991). Exocytosis in living
salivary glands: direct visualization by video-enhanced microscopy and confocal
laser microscopy. Eur J Cell Biol 54, 322-330.
Serrano-Pozo, A., Mielke, M.L., Gomez-Isla, T., Betensky, R.A., Growdon, J.H., Frosch, M.P.,
and Hyman, B.T. (2011). Reactive Glia not only Associates with Plaques but also
Parallels Tangles in Alzheimer's Disease. Am J Pathol 179, 1373-1384.
Sokac, A.M., and Bement, W.M. (2006). Kiss-and-coat and compartment mixing: coupling
exocytosis to signal generation and local actin assembly. Mol Biol Cell 17, 14951502.
Sramkova, M., Masedunskas, A., Parente, L., Molinolo, A., and Weigert, R. (2009).
Expression of plasmid DNA in the salivary gland epithelium: novel approaches to
study dynamic cellular processes in live animals. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 297,
C1347-1357.
Svoboda, K., and Yasuda, R. (2006). Principles of two-photon excitation microscopy and its
applications to neuroscience. Neuron 50, 823-839.
Tada, H., Higuchi, H., Wanatabe, T.M., and Ohuchi, N. (2007). In vivo real-time tracking of
single quantum dots conjugated with monoclonal anti-HER2 antibody in tumors of
mice. Cancer Res 67, 1138-1144.
Textor, J., Peixoto, A., Henrickson, S.E., Sinn, M., von Andrian, U.H., and Westermann, J.
(2011). Defining the quantitative limits of intravital two-photon lymphocyte
tracking. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108, 12401-12406.
Theer, P., Hasan, M.T., and Denk, W. (2003). Two-photon imaging to a depth of 1000
microm in living brains by use of a Ti:Al2O3 regenerative amplifier. Opt Lett 28,
1022-1024.
Toma, I., Kang, J.J., and Peti-Peterdi, J. (2006). Imaging renin content and release in the
living kidney. Nephron Physiol 103, p71-74.
Voutetakis, A., Kok, M.R., Zheng, C., Bossis, I., Wang, J., Cotrim, A.P., Marracino, N.,
Goldsmith, C.M., Chiorini, J.A., Loh, Y.P., et al. (2004). Reengineered salivary
glands are stable endogenous bioreactors for systemic gene therapeutics. Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A 101, 3053-3058.

524

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Wang, S., Baum, B.J., Yamano, S., Mankani, M.H., Sun, D., Jonsson, M., Davis, C., Graham,
F.L., Gauldie, J., and Atkinson, J.C. (2000). Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer to
mouse salivary glands. J Dent Res 79, 701-708.
Warner, J.D., Peters, C.G., Saunders, R., Won, J.H., Betzenhauser, M.J., Gunning, W.T., 3rd,
Yule, D.I., and Giovannucci, D.R. (2008). Visualizing form and function in
organotypic slices of the adult mouse parotid gland. Am J Physiol Gastrointest
Liver Physiol 295, G629-640.
Weigert, R., Sramkova, M., Parente, L., Amornphimoltham, P., and Masedunskas, A. (2010).
Intravital microscopy: a novel tool to study cell biology in living animals.
Histochem Cell Biol 133, 481-491.
Xu, R., Boudreau, A., and Bissell, M.J. (2009). Tissue architecture and function: dynamic
reciprocity via extra- and intra-cellular matrices. Cancer Metastasis Rev 28, 167-176.
Zhang, S., and Murphy, T.H. (2007). Imaging the impact of cortical microcirculation on
synaptic structure and sensory-evoked hemodynamic responses in vivo. PLoS Biol
5, e119.
Zheng, C., Cotrim, A.P., Sunshine, A.N., Sugito, T., Liu, L., Sowers, A., Mitchell, J.B., and
Baum, B.J. (2009). Prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis after adenoviral
vector-mediated transfer of the keratinocyte growth factor cDNA to mouse
submandibular glands. Clin Cancer Res 15, 4641-4648.
Zheng, C., Shinomiya, T., Goldsmith, C.M., Di Pasquale, G., and Baum, B.J. (2011).
Convenient and reproducible in vivo gene transfer to mouse parotid glands. Oral
Dis 17, 77-82.
Zhong, Z., Ramshesh, V.K., Rehman, H., Currin, R.T., Sridharan, V., Theruvath, T.P., Kim, I.,
Wright, G.L., and Lemasters, J.J. (2008). Activation of the oxygen-sensing signal
cascade prevents mitochondrial injury after mouse liver ischemia-reperfusion. Am
J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 295, G823-832.
Zipfel, W.R., Williams, R.M., Christie, R., Nikitin, A.Y., Hyman, B.T., and Webb, W.W.
(2003a). Live tissue intrinsic emission microscopy using multiphoton-excited native
fluorescence and second harmonic generation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100, 70757080.
Zipfel, W.R., Williams, R.M., and Webb, W.W. (2003b). Nonlinear magic: multiphoton
microscopy in the biosciences. Nat Biotechnol 21, 1369-1377.
Zoumi, A., Yeh, A., and Tromberg, B.J. (2002). Imaging cells and extracellular matrix in vivo
by using second-harmonic generation and two-photon excited fluorescence. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A 99, 11014-11019.

23
Evaluation of Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics
Using Fluorescence Correlation Analysis
Yasutomo Nomura

Department of Systems Life Engineering, Maebashi Institute of Technology,

Japan
1. Introduction
Mitochondria are the sites of oxidative phosphorylation and generate ATP when electron is
transferred from respiratory substrates to oxygen by a series of redox reaction in which
respiratory enzymes pump protons across the mitochondrial inner membrane from the
matrix space[1]. In isolated mitochondria as well as in intact cells, respiration frequently
produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). Especially, ROS increased if respiration is
perturbed, e.g., ischemia-reperfusion injury [2]. ROS can attack almost all biomolecules
unspecifically. In case of DNA, ROS causes single- and double strand breaks, and base
damage[3]. Nevertheless mitochondria metabolize them only partially. Due to the defense
system, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA, ~17 kbp) that mitochondria contain independently of
nucleus is particularly vulnerable because it is partially associated with the inner
mitochondrial membrane as shown in Fig.(1A) [4]. Moreover, mtDNA repair system is
weaker than that of nucleus[5]. Since mtDNA codes a part of respiratory enzymes[6], the
damages would be harmful to mitochondrial function. On the other hand, because mtDNA
forms a complex with proteins and is not naked, a concept that mtDNA have a resistance
against ROS is also favored[7]. Therefore, one may need to reconsider mtDNA damage
using a newly developed methodology which is able to detect symptoms failed to be found
in the previous studies. Among symptoms, the changes in mtDNA dynamics are noticed.

2. mtDNA nucleoid
As shown in Fig.(1B), mtDNA molecules are usually clustered within mitochondria as
protein-DNA complexes called nucleoid[8]. Cells contain tens to hundreds of nucleoid
dependent on the species, growth conditions, differentiation, developmental stage and so
on. Each nucleoid contains several mtDNA copies. Among nucleoid proteins reported
previously, main proteins were (i) transcription factor A of mitochondria, TFAM[9], (ii)
mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein, mtSSB[10], (iii) mtDNA helicase,
Twinkle[11], and (iv) mtDNA polymerase, POLG[8]. These proteins would participate in the
maintenance of mtDNA. When a cell divides during cell cycle, daughter cells need to receive
mtDNA. However, since mtDNA damage probably affects the interaction with nucleoid
proteins, transmission of damaged mtDNA may differ from that of intact mtDNA as
discussed in heteroplasmy[15]. Indeed, in contrast to neutral polymorphisms, severe
mtDNA mutations responsible for diseases in a heteroplasmic state, almost never returned

526

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 1. Structural organization of mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA. (A) Mitochondria have own
genetic materials within the matrix. (B) mtDNA nucleoid structure. Several mtDNA
molecules within a nucleoid associate to mitochondrial inner membrane through the
complex formed with nucleoid proteins such as TFAM, mtSSB, Twinkle, POLG and so on
(see text).
to homoplasmy[16]. Large deletions (~5 kb) of mtDNA were very rarely transmitted to the
offspring[17]. It was reported that deleterious heteroplasmic mtDNA mutation occurred in
early stage of development of primary oocytes from a woman carrying a mtDNA mutation
responsible for MELAS, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes[18].
Moreover, mitochondria itself are dynamic organelles in post mitotic state as well [12].
When mitochondria move along cytoskeletal tracks, each mitochondrion encounters and
undergoes fusion[13]. Consequently, mitochondrial networks spread within an entire cell in
some cases. On the other hand, each mitochondrion yields two or more shorter
mitochondria when fission occurs[14]. Therefore, in addition to mtDNA damage, mutations
in nuclear-encoded genes that play an important role in mitochondria dynamics would also
cause changes in mtDNA dynamics. For example, heterozygous mutations in optic atrophy
gene 1 product, OPA1, caused autosomal dominant optic atrophy, the most common
heritable form of optic neuropathy[19]. Mutations in gene encoding Twinkle or POLG cause
the autosomal dominant progressive external opthalmoplegia[11, 20]. Although the
organization of nucleoid proteins in fixed cells was revealed by immunocytochemistry,
effects of the organization on mtDNA dynamics remained fully unclear. Methods by which
mtDNA dynamics can be evaluated would permit to diagnose biopsy samples from patients
suspected of having these diseases. Moreover, when we search candidates for compounds
that modulate mtDNA dynamics by high throughput screening, image correlation method
is one of the useful methods.

3. Direct measurement of mtDNA dynamics

Time-lapse fluorescence microscopy was successfully used to study mtDNA dynamics.
When nucleoids were observed in cells that expressed GFP-Twinkle, the average
displacement velocity of GFP-Twinkle spots was 0.01 m/s [21]. However, in this method,

Evaluation of Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics Using Fluorescence Correlation Analysis

527

because only a few mtDNAs selected within a cell were analyzed, it is probably hard to
determine mtDNA dynamics in a whole cell. In order to analyze mtDNA dynamics in wide
area of cytoplasm, image correlation spectroscopy (ICS) are proper because fluorescent
particles, namely mtDNAs, are not selected. ICS is an imaging analog of fluorescence
correlation spectroscopy (FCS)[22]. Therefore, prior to ICS, principles of FCS are described.
In FCS, fluorescent molecules entering a tiny detection area generated by confocal optics
emit photons and those exiting the area due to Brownian motion cease to emit them[23, 24].
Based on the fluctuations of fluorescence intensity, the motion of fluorescent molecules is
evaluated as diffusion constant. As shown in Fig.(2), the fluctuation signal is dependent on
molecular weight and the number of molecules.

Fig. 2. Effect of molecule number and molecular weight on fluorescence fluctuation. (A)
When fluorescent molecules enter and exit tiny detection area (confocal volume element)
due to Brownian motion, fluorescence intensity fluctuates. (B) When the fluorescent
molecules decrease, the relative fluctuation of fluorescence intensity against the average
value increases. (C) When the fluorescent molecules become larger, the fluctuation become
slower.
Since fluorescence intensity fluctuates with only a few fluorescent molecules diffusing in
and out of the volume element, the intensity at time t, I(t), changes into I(t+), seconds
later. The normalized autocorrelation function commonly used is calculated from the
random fluctuation of fluorescence intensity:

G ( ) =

I (t ) I (t + )
I (t )

(1)

To evaluate the experimentally obtained autocorrelation function, the following analytical

expression has been derived [25]:

528

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

G ( ) = 1 + 1 +
N
d

s 2
1 +

1
2

(2)

In fact, the equation indicates simple diffusion properties, and then represents the timedependent correlation function for translational diffusion based on fluorescence fluctuation
due to Brownian motion of three dimensions, where N is the average number of molecules
in the volume element. d is the diffusion time that the molecules take to traverse the
detection area in the radial direction. s is the ratio of the axial half-axis to the lateral halfwidth of the detection area and it can be previously obtained with an authentic material
such as rhodamine 6G. When Eq. (2) is fitted to the experimentally obtained autocorrelation
function, d and N can be obtained. Although Eq. (2) represents a one-component model for
the autocorrelation function, depending on the application, practically, a two-component
[26-28] or multicomponent model [29, 30], or even analytical expression for the crosscorrelation function [31, 32] is also adopted.

Fig. 3. Fluorescence correlation analysis of mtDNA damage in vitro. (A) Changes in

normalized autocorrelation functions of long PCR products (~17 kbp) for mtDNA isolated
from the cells exposed to H2O2 (0 ~ 0.4 mM). For comparison, normalized autocorrelation
function of primer is also shown. A decrease in fraction of slow-moving components (long
PCR products) shifted normalized autocorrelation function to the left hand side. (B) Effect of
restriction digestion on the normalized autocorrelation function of long PCR products for
mtDNA. An increase in fluorescent molecules due to the fragmentation resulted in the
decrease in amplitude of autocorrelation function.

Evaluation of Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics Using Fluorescence Correlation Analysis

529

In order to estimate the vulnerability of mtDNA to oxidative stress, using FCS, the complete
mtDNA genome isolated from the cells exposed to H2O2 was amplified by long PCR and the
product (~17 kbp) was fluorescently labeled with an intercalating dye, YOYO-1 [34]. As shown
in Fig.(3A), normalized autocorrelation function (normalized (G()-1)) of long PCR for mtDNA
product was shifted to the left with the increment of H2O2 concentration. When the data were
analyzed by a 2-component model, a decrease in the slow component due to mtDNA damage
was revealed. In further study, we quantified size distribution of restriction fragments in long
PCR product for mtDNA with Hga I and Hae III [30] (Fig.(3B)), which indicated changes in
molecular number due to fragmentation. Using a multi-component model which was
considered as a fragment length-weighted correlation function, we calculated the correlation
amplitude expected theoretically and compared it to that measured by FCS (refer [30]). Since
these were coincident well, the amplitude measured by FCS would be a very useful index for
primary screening for alterations in the entire mitochondrial genome using restriction
enzymes that have several polymorphic restriction sites.

4. Image correlation spectroscopy

In ICS which is an imaging analog of FCS, the raw data for image correlation analyses is an
image series which is recorded as a function of space and time. The images are usually
obtained from a confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM), two-photon LSM or evanescent
wave imaging[35]. A generalized spatiotemporal correlation function is defined as:
r ( , , ) =

I ( x , y , t ) I ( x + , y + , t + )
I (x, y,t )

(3)

where a fluctuation in fluorescence, I(x, y, t), is given by:

I (x, y ,t ) = I (x, y ,t ) I (x, y,t )

(4)

where I(x,y,t) is the intensity at pixel (x, y) in the image recorded at time t, and <I(x,y,t)> is
the average intensity of that image at time t. Every image acquired on a LSM is a
convolution of point spread function (PSF) for the microscope with the point-source
emission from the fluorophores due to diffraction [36]. This convolution causes the signal
from a point-emitter to be spread over a number of pixels. Correlation of fluctuations arising
from fluorescent particles within the microscope PSF also confers some critical limitations
on ICS approaches. In ICS introduced here, the spatial correlation function is firstly
computed and then number of particle is obtained. Next, using the value, when the
temporal correlation function is fitted to an analytical model derived from diffusion theory,
diffusion coefficient is calculated.
With spatial ICS, a spatial autocorrelation function is calculated from the intensities
recorded in the pixels of individual images (Fig.(4A)) As shown in the colored surface of
Fig.(4B), the spatial autocorrelation function of the image is given by Eq. 3 when = 0:
r ( , ,0 ) =

I ( x , y , t ) I ( x + , y + , t )
I (x, y,t )

(5)

530

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

where the angular brackets denote spatial averaging over the image, and and are spatial
lag variables corresponding to pixel shifts of the image relative to itself in the x and y
directions. The correlation function is then fitted to a 2D Gaussian using a nonlinear least
squares algorithm (the grey mesh in Fig.(4B)):
2 +2
r ( , ,0 ) = g ( 0,0,0 ) exp
+ g
02

(6)

where g(0,0,0) is the zero-lags amplitude, and g is the long-spatial lag offset to account for
an incomplete decay of the correlation function. Fitted parameters are g(0,0,0) and g. In
Eq.(6), a Gaussian function is used because the laser beam acts as the spatial correlator and
has a Gaussian intensity profile. The zero-lags amplitude of the correlation function is
inversely proportional to the number of independent fluorescent particles per beam area.
The beam radius of the microscope PSF (0) can be determined using methods such as
imaging of fluorescent microspheres with diameter less than diffraction limit [36]. Because
the size of 0 is wavelength-dependent, the PSF should be measured at excitation
wavelength same as the ICS experiment.

Fig. 4. Image correlation analysis of computer-generated simulations in the case of d = 0.001

m2/s, 0.1 particles/m2 and 0 = 0.4 m. (A) Temporal image series with 5 m 5 m / 2
s. (B) The raw correlation function is denoted by the colored surface, and the fitted 2D
Gaussian function is denoted by the grey mesh. (C) Intensity at a pixel fluctuates with
number of frames separated 2 s interval. (D) Temporal image correlation function derived
from temporal image series (A).

Evaluation of Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics Using Fluorescence Correlation Analysis

531

Next, as shown in Figs.(4C and D), temporal autocorrelation function of an image series as a
function of time lag is obtained from Eq. 3 when and = 0:
r ( 0,0, ) =

I ( x , y , t ) I ( x , y , t + t )
I (x, y,t )

(7)

where the angular brackets denote spatial and temporal averaging. Experimentally, values
are determined by the time between subsequent images in the image series. Depending on
the microscope system used, sampling time of image acquisition is usually between 0.03 and
10 s. Here, because it can be assumed that mtDNA in cytoplasm of cells attached strongly on
a culture dish behaves as 2D diffusion, the correlation function r(0,0,) was fitted to a simple
one component model which was diffusing freely:

r ( 0,0, ) =

g ( 0,0,0 )

1 +

+ g

(8)

where g(0,0,0) is the zero-lags amplitude dependent on number of fluorescent particles, and

g.is the long-time offset. For confocal excitation, the characteristic diffusion time, d is
related to the diffusion coefficient, D by:
D=

0
4 d

(9)

where 0 is e-2 radius of the focused beam of the microscope.

5. mtDNA dynamics
Prior to analysis of mtDNA dynamics in living cells, mtDNA localization was determined
by cross-correlation analysis of dual-labeled images with specific dyes for mtDNA
(PicoGreen [37], PG) and mitochondria (MitoTracker Deep Red, MT) as shown in Fig.(5A).
The cross-correlation function was calculated by shifting the red image over a distance in
the x-direction with respect the green image with -4 4m [38]. For each value of ,
Pearsons correlation coefficient rp() was calculated according to:

rp ( ) =

( x ,y )

( x ,y )

(x, y )

I g I r ( x + ,y ) - I r

I x , y ) Ig
g(

( x ,y )

I r ( x,y ) - I r

(10)

where Ig(x,y) and Ir(x,y) are the intensity of green and red channel at pixel (x,y), and <Ig> and
<Ir> are average intensity, respectively. As shown in Fig.(5B), the cross-correlation function
was obtained by plotting rp() against . In principle, a cross-correlation function can be
determined for shifts in any direction of the x, y, z-space, but shifts in the x,y-plane are

532

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 5. Localization of mtDNA within mitochondria. (A) fluorescence spectra of suspension of

cells dual-stained with PicoGreen (ex. 488 nm) for mtDNA and MitoTracker Deep Red (ex. 633
nm) for mitochondria. A solid line shows each excitation spectrum. Using LSM, the hatched
area of emission spectra (broken line) was observed. (B) Confocal images of mtDNA (PG) and
mitochondria (MT) are merged. In right panel, cross-correlation analysis of a dual-labeled
image is shown in cytoplasmic (filled squares) and nuclear area (open circles).
preferred because of the limited z-resolution of LSM. For simplicity, cross-correlation
function for shifts in the x-direction was analyzed here. As shown in Fig.(5B), in contrast to
nucleus, PG signals in cytoplasm was partially localized within mitochondria, as confirmed
by rp(0). Therefore, PG signal would show mtDNA.
As shown in Fig.(6), temporal autocorrelation function of mtDNA in living cells could be
fitted well using Eq.8. Average of diffusion coefficient of mtDNA was 9.4 x 10-3 m2/s (25
cells), was stable among 0.2~2 s of sampling time, and was comparable to that of
mitochondria (8.2 x 10-3 m2/s) although graphical data are not shown. Therefore, using
sequential frames acquired by a LSM, ICS allowed evaluating both dynamics
simultaneously. Diffusion coefficient of mtDNA in single living cells was two digits smaller
than that in vitro [34], and was comparable to that of mitochondria. This suggests that
mtDNA would be bound to an internal structure of mitochondria matrix.

Evaluation of Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics Using Fluorescence Correlation Analysis

533

Fig. 6. Typical dynamics of mtDNA analyzed by ICS. In upper panel, temporal image
correlation function of raw data (open circles) and fitted analytical model (solid line) are
shown. Lower panel is the residuals.

6. Concluding remarks
Because diffusion coefficient depends on molecular weight and/or molecular interaction,
diffusion coefficient of mtDNA would allow detecting large deletion of ~5 kb and abnormal
transmission. In contrast to recent methods studying mitochondrial genetics such as its RNA
expression (e.g., [39]), the present technique is useful for quantifying mtDNA dynamics in
single living cells.

7. Acknowledgments
This study was financially supported in part by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (2)
(17500299) and Knowledge Cluster Initiative (Hakodate Marine Bio-Industrial Cluster) from
the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan, and Research for Promoting
Technological Seeds (02-297) from Japan Science and Technology Agency.

8. References
[1] Santos, J.H.; Hunakova, L.; Chen, Y.; Bortner, C., and Van Houten, B. (2003) J Biol Chem,
278(3): 1728.
[2] Das, D.K. and Maulik, N. (2003) Arch Biochem Biophys, 420(2): 305.
[3] Demple, B. and Harrison, L. (1994) Annu Rev Biochem, 63: 915.
[4] Iborra, F.J.; Kimura, H., and Cook, P.R. (2004) BMC Biol, 2: 9.
[5] Yakes, F.M. and Van Houten, B. (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 94(2): 514.
[6] Wallace, D.C. (1999) Science, 283(5407): 1482.
[7] Spelbrink, J.N. (2010) IUBMB Life, 62(1): 19.
[8] Bogenhagen, D.F.; Rousseau, D., and Burke, S. (2008) J Biol Chem, 283(6): 3665.
[9] Alam, T.I.; Kanki, T.; Muta, T.; Ukaji, K.; Abe, Y.; Nakayama, H.; Takio, K.; Hamasaki,
N., and Kang, D. (2003) Nucleic Acids Res, 31(6): 1640.
[10] Maier, D.; Farr, C.L.; Poeck, B.; Alahari, A.; Vogel, M.; Fischer, S.; Kaguni, L.S., and
Schneuwly, S. (2001) Mol Biol Cell, 12(4): 821.

534

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

[11] Spelbrink, J.N.; Li, F.Y.; Tiranti, V.; Nikali, K.; Yuan, Q.P.; Tariq, M.; Wanrooij, S.;
Garrido, N.; Comi, G.; Morandi, L.; Santoro, L.; Toscano, A.; Fabrizi, G.M.; Somer,
H.; Croxen, R.; Beeson, D.; Poulton, J.; Suomalainen, A.; Jacobs, H.T.; Zeviani, M.,
and Larsson, C. (2001) Nat Genet, 28(3): 223.
[12] Liesa, M.; Palacin, M., and Zorzano, A. (2009) Physiol Rev, 89(3): 799.
[13] Detmer, S.A. and Chan, D.C. (2007) Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 8(11): 870.
[14] Berman, S.B.; Pineda, F.J., and Hardwick, J.M. (2008) Cell Death Differ, 15(7): 1147.
[15] Malka, F.; Lombes, A., and Rojo, M. (2006) Biochim Biophys Acta, 1763(5-6): 463.
[16] Chinnery, P.F.; Thorburn, D.R.; Samuels, D.C.; White, S.L.; Dahl, H.M.; Turnbull, D.M.;
Lightowlers, R.N., and Howell, N. (2000) Trends Genet, 16(11): 500.
[17] Chinnery, P.F.; DiMauro, S.; Shanske, S.; Schon, E.A.; Zeviani, M.; Mariotti, C.; Carrara,
F.; Lombes, A.; Laforet, P.; Ogier, H.; Jaksch, M.; Lochmuller, H.; Horvath, R.;
Deschauer, M.; Thorburn, D.R.; Bindoff, L.A.; Poulton, J.; Taylor, R.W.; Matthews,
J.N., and Turnbull, D.M. (2004) Lancet, 364(9434): 592.
[18] Brown, D.T.; Samuels, D.C.; Michael, E.M.; Turnbull, D.M., and Chinnery, P.F. (2001)
Am J Hum Genet, 68(2): 533.
[19] Alexander, C.; Votruba, M.; Pesch, U.E.; Thiselton, D.L.; Mayer, S.; Moore, A.;
Rodriguez, M.; Kellner, U.; Leo-Kottler, B.; Auburger, G.; Bhattacharya, S.S., and
Wissinger, B. (2000) Nat Genet, 26(2): 211.
[20] Van Goethem, G.; Dermaut, B.; Lofgren, A.; Martin, J.J., and Van Broeckhoven, C. (2001)
Nat Genet, 28(3): 211.
[21] Garrido, N.; Griparic, L.; Jokitalo, E.; Wartiovaara, J.; van der Bliek, A.M., and
Spelbrink, J.N. (2003) Mol Biol Cell, 14(4): 1583.
[22] Wiseman, P.W.; Brown, C.M.; Webb, D.J.; Hebert, B.; Johnson, N.L.; Squier, J.A.;
Ellisman, M.H., and Horwitz, A.F. (2004) J Cell Sci, 117(Pt 23): 5521.
[23] Nomura, Y.; Nakamura, T.; Feng, Z., and Kinjo, M. (2007) Curr Pharm Biotechnol, 8(5): 286.
[24] Rigler, R.; Mets, U.; Widengren, J., and Kask, P. (1993) Eur. Biopys. J. , 22: 166.
[25] Maiti, S.; Haupts, U., and Webb, W.W. (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 94(22): 11753.
[26] Kinjo, M. and Rigler, R. (1995) Nucleic Acids Res, 23(10): 1795.
[27] Saito, K.; Ito, E.; Takakuwa, Y.; Tamura, M., and Kinjo, M. (2003) FEBS Lett, 541(1-3): 126.
[28] Walter, N.G.; Schwille, P., and Eigen, M. (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 93(23): 12805.
[29] Kinjo, M.; Nishimura, G.; Koyama, T.; Mets, and Rigler, R. (1998) Anal Biochem,
[30] Nomura, Y.; Fuchigami, H.; Kii, H.; Feng, Z.; Nakamura, T., and Kinjo, M. (2006) Exp
Mol Pathol, 80(3): 275.
[31] Eigen, M. and Rigler, R. (1994) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 91(13): 5740.
[32] Saito, K.; Wada, I.; Tamura, M., and Kinjo, M. (2004) Biochem Biophys Res Commun,
324(2): 849.
[33] Driggers, W.J.; LeDoux, S.P., and Wilson, G.L. (1993) J Biol Chem, 268(29): 22042.
[34] Nomura, Y.; Fuchigami, H.; Kii, H.; Feng, Z.; Nakamura, T., and Kinjo, M. (2006) Anal
Biochem, 350(2): 196.
[35] Kolin, D.L. and Wiseman, P.W. (2007) Cell Biochem Biophys, 49(3): 141.
[36] Yoo, H.; Song, I., and Gweon, D.G. (2006) J Microsc, 221(Pt 3): 172.
[37] Ashley, N.; Harris, D., and Poulton, J. (2005) Exp Cell Res, 303(2): 432.
[38] van Steensel, B.; van Binnendijk, E.P.; Hornsby, C.D.; van der Voort, H.T.; Krozowski,
Z.S.; de Kloet, E.R., and van Driel, R. (1996) J Cell Sci, 109 ( Pt 4): 787.
[39] Ozawa, T.; Natori, Y.; Sato, M., and Umezawa, Y. (2007) Nat Methods, 4(5): 413.

24
Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for
Biological Macromolecules Purification
Marcello Tagliavia1 and Aldo Nicosia2
2IAMC-CNR,

1BioNat

Italia S.r.l., Palermo,

U.O.S. Capo Granitola, Torretta Granitola,
Italy

1. Introduction
Great evolution and improvement in biological molecules purification have been achieved
in the last 20 years, giving advantages in both product quality and yield, and speed of
purification methods. Purity levels, once poorly suitable for large scale production, as well
as requiring long and very expensive procedures, are today achievable using simple
procedures. For example, till few decades ago, the only way to obtain ultrapure nucleic
acids was the ultracentrifugation on cesium chloride gradient; today, the same -if not
higher- purity is easily achieved using solid-phase anion-exchange separations. The
purification of recombinant proteins has also been dramatically improved by using more
precise affinity techniques.
However, despite their routine use, these procedures are often quite expensive, making it
very convenient the possibility of using the same purification devices several times, instead
of wasting them after one use only.
The possibility of recycling purification matrices has to be considered desiderable and
convenient not only in the laboratory research field, where most purifications are anyway
performed on small-medium scale, but also in large scale production. Several attempts to
reuse purification systems have been made in the last years, showing how many critical
points have to be considered.
In fact, most of the previous procedures tested, especially on DNA purification columns, failed
to fully decontaminate them (Chang et al.,1999; Fogel and McNally, 2000; Kim et al., 2000),
resulting in a substantial carry-over contamination, because of the remaining of substantial
amounts of material into the matrix after elution (Esser et al., 2005), so that the main challenge
in every regeneration procedure is the complete removal of any detectable trace of the
previously purified molecules, to avoid the presence of contaminating molecules in
downstream applications. Moreover, the use of very sensitive analysis systems (like PCR)
reduced dramatically the threshold of acceptable contamination levels. Only in recent years
reliable decontamination methods have been proposed, as it will be discussed in the chapter.
Regeneration procedures of columns used in nucleic acids purification are based on nucleic
acids hydrolysis, and take advantage of DNA and RNA chemical properties, so that
different protocols may be needed for DNA and RNA efficient removal, depending on the
decontamination procedure used. To this aim, the proper knowledge of the basis of binding

536

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

and elution (including the incomplete release of sample molecules), chemical properties and
tolerance of both binding matrices and biomolecules to different reagents is needed, to
ensure the proper management and improvement of decontamination procedures without
impairing the matrix performances.
1.1 DNA columns
DNA purification strategies using columns take advantage of the chemical nature of the
molecule, an highly negatively charged polyanion. Silica, glassfiber and silica-based anion
exchange supports are among the most used DNA purification systems, ensuring rapid
procedures with good yields and quality without any organic extraction. Such columns are
commercially available for the purification of either small molecules (PCR fragments,
plasmids, etc.) and genomic DNA, suitable for most applications. Anion-exchange matrices
are usually based on polysaccharidic or mineral (silica) derivatized supports, where the
active chemical group on resin surface is usually the DEAE (DiEthyl-AminoEthyl). The
density of DEAE groups, much higher in silica based matrices (as found in Qiagen resins,
Fig. 1A), seems to strongly affect not only the column capacity, but also the binding
properties and the selective release of different molecules, each in specific conditions.

Fig. 1. Structure of anion-exchange DEAE resins (A) and elution profiles (B) (from Qiagen,
Purification Technologies)
Such devices have a very broad range of separation, and allow the highly selective binding of
nucleic acids, due to the negatively charged phosphate backbone, to the positively charged
DEAE groups. Different column suppliers propose various purification conditions, using

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

537

either changes of both pH and ionic strength or constant pH (usually at neutral values) and
different saline concentration to achieve binding (sometimes in the presence of some amount
of ethanol or isopropanol) and elution. These parameters are also tuned to sequentially purify
DNA and RNA, or nucleic acid molecules of different sizes (Fig. 1B)
The DNA purification by means of silica gel, proposed first in batch and later in column, has
been the most largely used method to recover DNA from both dissolved gel bands and cell
lysates, giving high quality DNA without time consuming procedures.
Silica and glassfiber matrices bind DNA because of its negative charge. However, the
interactions between silica and nucleic acids occur in different ways depending on
chemical conditions.
Binding properties of silica surface depend on its hydratation status (silica-gel) and on the
pH value.
In particular, acidic or neutral pH combined with high ionic strength (Fig. 2) allows the
silica surface to be positively charged and the DNA to tightly bind silica particles. Binding
occurs in the presence of high concentrations of chaotropic salts (usually guanidinium
hydrochloride or thiocyanate, sometimes sodium perchlorate). These chemicals alter the
hydratation status of macromolecules and facilitate silica-nucleic acid interactions. Under
these conditions, DNA remains selectively bound to the matrix, while other molecules
(RNA, proteins, polysaccharides and other biological molecules) flow through. Such
interaction is still strong under low ionic strength in the presence of high alcohol
concentrations, so that this condition is used to perform one or more washes, allowing any
trace of salts or soluble contaminants to flush out. Finally, DNA is recovered by elution in
pure water or very low salt buffer (frequently Tris-HCl 10 mM, pH 7.5-8.5). In most
columns, the maximum DNA release occurs above pH 8.

Fig. 2. Interactions between nucleic acids and silica in conditions employed for binding and
elution (from Esser et al., 2006)
1.2 RNA columns
Devices for fast total RNA purification are based on the same principles described above. In
these columns, a guanidinium salt is always used to protect RNA from degradation, besides
promoting its binding to the resin.
Columns can be employed which allow the purification of DNA or RNA, or both (silicaDEAE resins in particular), simply using different buffers. Some silica-based columns, like
silica gel itself, show an enhanced RNA binding capacity when the chaotropic, high salt

538

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

binding buffer is supplemented with ethanol and/or 2-propanol; in these conditions, DNA
binds the silica with low efficiency. Due to the different supports and/or binding and
elution conditions, molecules shorter than 200 nucleotides usually fail to bind or are lost
during washes, although recently columns allowing the recovery of the whole RNA
population, including molecules few tens of nucleotides long, became commercially
available.
Affinity columns are largely used to purify the poly-A+ fraction of eukaryotic mRNA. Such
purifications can be performed either in batch or in columns, although the mechanism is the
same. The resin employed consists of polymeric, hydrophilic beads (often agarose) whose
surface is coated of covalently linked oligo-dT. The interaction with target RNAs occur
because of the complementarity between the mRNA poly-A tail and the resin-linked oligodT, leaving other molecules unbound. The following elution allows the recovery of the polyA+ fraction (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Purification of the eukaryotic poly-A+ mRNA fraction. (modified from Invitrogen)
All the systems described above are largely used in most molecular biology laboratories and
in many biotechnological companies for both research applications and large scale
productions, as they offer the possibility to get large quantities of high quality products
using short and simple procedures.

2. Limits
The major disadvantage of the purification systems and devices described above is the cost,
as they can only be used once because of the substantial amount of DNA which remains into
the matrix after elution.
In fact, the nucleic acids recovery has been estimated to be not more than 90-95% of the
input. The remaining part is lost during purification (because of binding failure or leakage

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

539

during washes) or remains inside the matrix. The incomplete elution may have various
explanations:
1.
2.
3.
4.

some molecules are not released from the resin;

a small volume of eluent is always retained by the resin, leaving free molecules inside;
some molecules might be included into unsolubilized protein particles;
some molecules might be associated with cellular fragments, especially of bacterial origin.

Whatever the cause, after the elution (even if sequential rounds are performed) the resin
contains relatively large amounts of sample (Fig. 4), making it impossible to reuse the same
matrix for further purifications, especially of different samples, because of the high risk of
cross-contamination and reduction in the column binding capacity due to trapped particles
(especially when a crude lysate had passed trough the column).
All these conditions require particular attention for any attempt of recycling purification
columns, so that only methods whose reliability has been proven should be employed.

Fig. 4. Residual DNA into the column after elution (modified from Esser et al., 2006).

3. Regeneration
Whereas working with a large number of DNA samples (or large volumes) could represent
a problem because of the columns or, in general, purification matrices cost, the possibility of
recycling them becomes attractive. The main challenge in every regeneration procedure is
the complete elimination of any detectable DNA trace.
In the last years several attempts have been made to set fast and safe procedures ensuring a
true complete decontamination without impairing the resin binding properties.
Thus, chemical procedures are needed that could ensure the complete hydrolysis or
functional/chemical inactivation of nucleic acids. Moreover, the treatment should be able to
remove, at least partially, particles (mainly composed of proteins) trapped into the matrices.
The methods proposed earlier did not avoid carry-over contamination (Chang et al.,1999;
Fogel and McNally, 2000; Kim et al., 2000).
The first reliable method has been proposed (Esser et al., 2005) and became commercially
available as a kit (patented in USA in 2009).

540

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

It is based on the hydrolysis (single and double strand breaks) of nucleic acids in the
presence of ferric salts in a reducing, buffered acidic environment. Other biomolecules,
including lipids and proteins are damaged by the treatment, too. This procedure is claimed
to be effective within minutes or hours, ensuring the complete decontamination (assessed by
PCR assay) of columns used to purify plasmids or PCR products. Moreover, the
composition of the two active solutions included in the kit is claimed to be safe and not
hazardous. In fact, the first solution presumably consist of ferric chloride, citric acid,
ascorbic acid (as reducing agent), detergents and phosphate buffer at mild acidic pH.
The ability of iron salts (and other transition elements salts, like those of copper, zinc, cobalt,
etc.) to damage DNA and RNA is well known since a long time, so that Fe2+-mediated DNA
hydrolysis has been used in earlier studies on chromatin structure (Hertzberg and Dervan,
1982) and even today for the footprinting of DNA-protein complexes (Swapan and Tullius,
2008).
Several reactions have been hypothesized to occur, and the so called Fenton's reaction is the
most widely recognized and used up today in several fields where fast and efficient
oxydative degradation of organic compounds is required.
Fenton's reaction (see below) consists in the iron(II) salt-dependent decomposition of
hydrogen peroxide (hypothesized to occur via an oxoiron(IV) intermediate), which
generates the highly reactive hydroxyl radical. When a reducing agent is added, it leads to a
cycle which greatly enhance the damage to biomolecules.
Fe2+ + H2O2 Fe3+ + OH. + OH
This reaction is believed to occur together with the Haber-Weiss reaction, which triggers the
following cycle:
H2O2 + OH. H2O + O2 + H+
H2O2 + O2 O2 + OH + OH.
Although the exact sequence of these reactions and the identity of the reactive species
involved in the various conditions (i.e. presence or absence of chelating agents and/or
reducing agents) is still controversal (for a discussion, see Barbusiski, 2009), it's widely
accepted that the formation of the hydroxyl radical is determinant for the subsequent DNA
damage.
Besides the reactions reported above, the presence of chelated Fe(III) instead of Fe(II), together
with reducing agents, can lead to strong DNA damage resulting in multiple strand breaks. For
example, it has been reported that Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetate (NTA) in the presence of either H2O2
(able to act both as reductant and oxidizing agent (Buettner and Jurkiewica, 1996), ascorbate
(which in certain conditions can act as pro-oxidizing) or cysteine, produced DNA single and
double strand breaks as a function of reductant concentration, via a mechanism involving the
reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) and the formation of H2O2. The latter, in turn, enters in the
Fenton/Haber-Weiss reactions, where the presence of a reducing agent supports the iron
redox cycle. In all these cases, H2O2 seems to be a common intermediate (in fact, catalase
activity is able to block these events, leading to the reduction of DNA damage), while the OH
hydroxyl radical is the reactive species which attacks DNA (Toyokuni and Sagripanti, 1992).
Moreover, the auto-oxidation of ascorbate in the presence of Fe(II) ions, chelating agents and

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

541

phosphate buffer, with the concurrent formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH) has been reported
(Prabhu and Krishnamurthy, 1993). Figure 5 shows the chemical reaction resulting in DNA (or
RNA) multiple breaks, although other reactions may occur simultaneously, which result in
direct bases damage caused by the OH radical.

Fig. 5. DNA break by exposure to hydroxyl radicals (modified from Swapan and Tullius, 2008)
Thus, this method makes use of relatively non-toxic and environmental friendly chemicals,
allowing the virtually complete removal of small nucleic acid molecules from purification
columns. A disadvantage is that the solutions are guaranteed for 18 months only, because
reagents undergo chemical modifications making them ineffective. The supplier of the
recycling kit claims that resins can undergo about 20 regeneration cycles. Unfortunately, no
data are available on the possibility of efficiently decontaminate devices used for genomic
DNA purification, whose features are expected to make it more resistant to chemical
treatmets, thus leading to the possibility of DNA carry-over.
The first report of a simple and efficient home-made decontamination method has been
published in 2008. It achieves the nucleic acids removal by acidic hydrolysis, but its major
limits were the need of very long incubation times (Siddappa et al., 2007), and the secure
efficacy on low molecular weight nucleic acids only.
The principle used in that method was the DNA and RNA degradation by a treatment with
strong acids. In particular, nucleic acids are known to be susceptible to acid catalyzed
hydrolysis, which involves the cleavage of the N-glycosidic bond of purine nucleosides. As
shown in Fig. 6, the reaction results in the formation of an AP-site (apurinic or abasic sites),
which causes DNA or RNA break. In fact, the hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond unmasks
the latent aldehyde functionality at the C1 position, rendering the 3-phosphate group
susceptible to -elimination (1), which results in strand break. Moreovever, such products
are highly sensitive to further alkaline hydrolysis (Fig. 6), so that depurinate molecules can
easily undergo fragmentation following exposure to bases (2). These are, for example,
reactions used for the controlled, partial DNA hydrolysis in molecular biology protocols,
where the short exposure to relatively low concentrations of HCl lead to DNA
fragmentation.
However, when the acid concentration is high and/or the exposure time is extended, the
depurination extent is so high that, after alkaline treatment, very short DNA fragments or
even nucleotides are obtained.
The column regeneration method proposed by Siddappa et al. (2007) consisted in a 24 hours
incubation of used columns in a HCl solution, followed by several washes. Data reported
showed that no detectable nucleic acids were still present in the column, whose binding
capacity were claimed to be mantained.

542

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Fig. 6. DNA strand break resulting from H+ catalyzed depurination and subsequent elimination at the AP site. Hydrolysis results in release of the purinic nucleotide and
formation of an AP site (1). The - and -hemiacetals are in equilibrium with the open chain
aldehyde, which is susceptible to -elimination that results in cleavage of the adjacent 3
phosphoester (2). This product in turn undergoes cleavage of the 5 phosphoester under
alkaline conditions. (modified from Sheppard et al., 2000).
The lack of evidences about the efficacy of the method even on columns contaminated by
genomic DNA and the time-expensiveness of the procedure prompted further tests to
improve the procedure.
In fact, if silica columns are used to purify small molecules, contaminating DNA can be
virtually completely eliminated by commercial kits (Esser et al., 2005) or using the procedure
reported in Siddappa et al. (2007), as they make any trace of the previous sample undetectable.
However, the efficacy of both methods in eliminating genomic DNA remains uncertain.
The fastest and most effective home-made procedure available up today for the
decontamination of silica-based columns consist in an improvement of that described above,
as it's also based on DNA depurination and hydrolysis, and addresses the main limits of
previously proposed protocols.
Silica-bound DNA could be expected to be efficiently depurinated and removed by
treatments with strong acids even after short exposures. However, after such a regeneration
procedure small amounts of amplifiable DNA are actually still detectable.
Such failure might be hypothesized to be due to an incomplete permeation of the acidic
solution into the silica matrix, where the nucleic acid might be still bound to silica or trapped
because of its high molecular weight (Esser et al., 2005). Moreover, any molecules included into
aggregates might be somewhat resistant to chemical treatments. All these conditions might
allow variable amounts of DNA to escape the depurinating agent, resulting in residual
amplifiable traces, making it necessary a very long incubation in HCl solutions.

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

543

These limitations have been overcome by the procedure described by Tagliavia et al. (2009) and
reported below. It can be completed in about 45 (instead of more than 24 hours), and allows
not only to regenerate silica columns contaminated by DNA of any size, but also to save time.
The method consists in sequential alkaline and acidic treatments which denature and
depurinate, respectively, any DNA still present into the column (depurination rate in
denaturated DNA is higher than in native DNA (Lindahl and Nyberg, 1972). A further
alkaline treatment hydrolyzes long depurinated DNA molecules reducing them into very
small fragments (Siddappa et al., 2007). These chemical treatments are performed in the
presence of a non-ionic detergent at low concentration, which seems to enhance their action.
In fact, given the structure of the column resins, the detergent is supposed to allow a more
even permeation of the solutions employed in the treatment, as it modifies their surface
tension. Moreover the tensioactive (which is important to be non-ionic to reduce any
dependence of its action on pH and ionic strength), along with the initial alkaline treatment,
helps dissolving aggregates, making trapped molecules more exposed to NaOH and HCl.
The efficacy of the method has been demonstrated both by assays using radiolabeled DNA
and by PCR, using columns contaminated by large amounts of either genomic DNA or short
PCR products.
The protocol steps are briefly reported in box 1.

The use of the regeneration systems described above is safer on silica-based columns, but
not on those supports consisting of polysaccharidic compounds, as they might be
hydrolysed or their structure impaired by chemicals employed. Alternative methods, some
of which based on radical-driven nucleic acids degradation different from that described
above, are under investigation.

544

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Regeneration methods, besides their first application in reusing purification supports, might
become of wider use, even for the pre-treatment of new columns before first use. There are
many commercially available kits that rely on DNA binding columns to extract and purify
DNA from tissues or cultured cells, and a recent paper (Erlwein et al., 2011) reported that, in
independent tests, some DNA purification columns from different kits were contaminated
with DNA of diverse provenance, including human and murine DNA. Although further
investigations are needed, the need of a preliminar columns decontamination step should be
considered, at least for particular experiments or analyses have to be carried out.
3.1 RNA columns
Total RNA purification is carried out using columns working exactly like those employed in
DNA purification. As discussed earlier, different conditions used for binding and/or elution
allow the selective recovery of RNA only.
The same problems described for DNA columns occur in RNA columns, too. However,
RNA is well known to be very sensitive to a variety of conditions and chemicals, but
treatments are needed that ensure not only the complete degradation of any residual RNA,
but also the maintainance of the columns RNase-free state.
The commercial system based on the earlier discussed iron-mediated degradation is effective,
but a home-made, simple and inexpensive method is available (Nicosia et al., 2010).
In fact, the methods described in two previous reports (Siddappa et al., 2008; Tagliavia et al.,
2009) are time expensive or include steps not required for RNA hydrolysis, so that a faster
and more efficient protocol has been set up. It is based on the RNA high sensitivity to alkali,
omitting acidic treatments. Indeed, the exposure of RNA to high pH is able to completely
hydrolyse RNA, since it is directly cleavable by the OH- due to the presence of the 2'-OH
group in the molecule (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7. Alkali catalyzed RNA hydrolysis. The 2'-OH group, present in RNA only, makes it
OH- sensitive. Besides a 5'-OH end, a cyclic 2',3'-P intermediate is released, which in turn
produces a 3'-P or 2'-P end (modified from Vengrova and Dalgaard, 2005).

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

545

Thus, a strong base like NaOH is employed in the presence of low concentrations of a nonionic surfactant, whose role has been earlier discussed. Treatments are performed using
prewarmed solutions, so as to allow the reduction of both alkali concentration and exposure
time. Indeed, it should be remembered that silica does not tolerate high alkali concentrations,
as it forms silicates, resulting in matrix destruction and loss of binding properties. This is the
reason why time of exposure to NaOH, its concentration and the temperature, as described in
Nicosia et al. (2010), are crucial for the successful decontamination without impairing the
columns integrity and efficieny, making it possible to reuse them several times.
The regeneration protocol is briefly reported below.

A different strategy is used to purify the poly-A+ fraction of eukaryotic mRNAs, aiming to
exclude the most abundant RNA classes like rRNAs, where oligo-dT covalently linked on the
surface of polysaccharidic beads or similar solid supports are employed, as described earlier.
Many suppliers indicate, in instruction of such kits, that oligo-dT supports may be reused,
and provide regeneration protocols always based on RNA hydrolysis by NaOH treatments,
which will destroy any RNA traces, leaving unmodified the DNA component (oligo-dT).

4. Protein purification resins

4.1 IMAC
The use of immobilized-metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) for protein purification was
firstly described and showed by Porath et al. (1975). Initially developed for purification of
native proteins with an intrinsic affinity to metal ions, IMAC shows numerous application
fields spanning from chromatographic purification of metallo and phosphorylated proteins,
antibodies and recombinant His-tagged proteins. IMAC is also used in proteomics
approaches where fractions of the cellular protein pool are enriched and analyzed
differentially (phosphoproteome and metalloproteome).
IMAC is a chromatography method that can simply be scaled up linearly from milliliter to liter
volumes (Block et al., 2008; Hochuli et al., 1988; Kaslow and Shiloach, 1994; Schfer et al., 2000)
and Ni-NTA Superflow columns are in use for biopharmaceutical production processes.

546

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

It is based on the known affinity of transition metal ions such as Zn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ to
certain amino acid in aqueous solutions (Hearon, 1948). Amino acids as histidine, cysteine,
tryptophan, tyrosine, or phenylalanine, working as electron donors on the surface of
proteins, are able to reversibly bind transition metal ions that have been immobilized by a
chelating group covalently bound to a solid support. Histidine represents the preferential
choice in protein purification using IMAC since it binds selectively immobilized metal ions
even in presence of free metal ions excess (Hutchens and Yip, 1990b); additionally, copper
and nickel ions have the greatest affinity for histidine.
Great improvement in development of IMAC chromatographic procedures was achieved by
the introduction of DNA engineering techniques allowing the construction of fusion
proteins in which specific affinity tags as 6xHis tag are added to the N-terminal or Cterminal protein sequence; the use of these strategies simplifies purification of the
recombinant fusion proteins (Hochuli et al., 1988). Moreover the identification or invention
of chelating agent able to be both covalently bound to a support and interact with
transitional metal ions contributed to the definition of IMAC for high-quality protein
purification.
The chelating group that has been first used for IMAC proteins purification is iminodiacetic
acid (IDA) (Porath et al., 1975). IDA was charged with metal ions such as Zn2+, Cu2+, or Ni2+,
and then used to purify a variety of different proteins and peptides (Sulkowski, 1985 )
The tridentate IDA group binds to three sites within the coordination sphere of divalent
metal ions such as copper, nickel, zinc, and cobalt (Fig. 8). When copper ions (coordination
number of 4) are bound to IDA, only one site remains available for interaction with proteins
(Hochuli et al., 1987). For nickel ions (coordination number of 6) bound to IDA, three
valencies are available for imidazole ring interaction while it is unclear whether the third is
sterically able to participate in the interaction binding to proteins. Thus Cu2+-IDA complexes
are stable on the column but have lower capacity for protein binding. Conversely, Ni2+-IDA
complexes bind proteins more avidly, but Ni2+-protein complexes are more likely to
dissociate from the solid support.

Fig. 8. Model of the interaction between residues in the His tag and the metal ion in
tridentate (IDA) IMAC ligand.
The development of a new metal-chelating adsorbent, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), has
provided a convenient and inexpensive tool for purification of proteins containing histidine
residues (Hochuli et al., 1987). The NTA chelating agent coordinates Ni2+ with four valencies

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

547

(tetradentate, coordination number 4) leaving two valencies available for binding to electron
donor groups (i.e., histidine) on the surface of proteins (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9. Model of the interaction between residues in the His tag and the metal ion in
tetradentate (NTA) IMAC ligand.
The coordination number plays an important role regarding to the quality of the purified
protein fraction but not in protein yield. IDA has only 3 metal-chelating sites and cannot
tightly bind metal ions, a relative weak binding leads to ion leaching after loading with
strongly chelating proteins or during washing steps. This results in impure products, and
metal-ion contamination of isolated proteins; meanwhile protein recovery is usually similar
between the two chelating agent. Thus the advantage of NTA over IDA is that the divalent
ion is bound by four rather than three of its coordination sites. This minimizes leaching of
the metal from the solid support and allows for more stringent purification conditions
(Hochuli, 1989).
The NTA also binds Cu2+ ions with high affinity, but this occupies all of the coordination
sites, rendering the resulting complex ineffective for IMAC. Another tetradentate ligand is a
chelating agent commercially known as Talon resin, consisting in carboxymethyl aspartate
(CM-Asp), available as cobalt-charged (Chaga et al., 1999).
The lowest metal leaching is obtained using N,N,N-tris(carboxymethyl)ethylenediamine
(TED), a pentadentate ligand (Fig.10). Because TED coordinates ions extremely tightly, such
chelators represent a valid alternative expecially if low metal ion contamination is needed;
nevertheless only one coordination site is avalaible for His tag binding and protein recovery
is substantially lower than IDA or NTA

Fig. 10. Model of the interaction between residues in the His tag and the metal ion in
pentadentate (TED) IMAC ligand.

548

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

The choice of the metal ion immobilized on the IMAC ligand depends on the application.
Whereas trivalent cations such as Al3+, Ga3+, and Fe3+(Andersson and Porath, 1986;
Muszynska et al., 1986; Posewitz and Tempst, 1999) or tetravalent Zr4+ usually immobilized
to IDA (Zhou et al., 2006) are preferred for phosphoproteins and phosphopeptides
capturing, divalent Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and Co2+ ions are preferentially used for purification of
His-tagged proteins. Combinations of a tetradentate ligand that ensure strong
immobilization, and a metal ion that leaves two coordination sites available free for
imidazole interaction (Ni2+ and Co2+) allow similar recovery yield and eluted proteins
quality. Immobilized copper or nickel ions bind native proteins with a Kd of 1x10-5 M and
1.7x10-4 M, respectively (Hutchens and Yip, 1990a). The Kd value is reduced for protein
produced, using recombinant DNA technology, as chimeric constructs with an epitope
containing six or more histidine residues. Addition of six histidines to the protein results
only in 0.84 kDa protein mass excess whereas other fusion protein systems utilize much
larger affinity groups that must be often removed to allow normal protein function (e.g.,
glutathione-S-transferase, protein A, Maltose Binding Protein). Furthermore the lack of Histag immunogenic activity allows injection into animals for antibody production without tag
removal. Addition of a His-tag results in an enhanced affinity for Ni2+-NTA complex
binding due to Kd value of 10-13 M at pH 8.0 even in the presence of detergent, ethanol, 2 M
KCl (Hoffmann and Roeder, 1991), 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (Hochuli et al., 1988), or 8
M urea (Stber et al., 1990) allowing protein purification under both native and denaturing
conditions, as well as both oxidizing and reducing conditions providing a stringent
environment avoiding host strain proteins co-purification (Jungbauer et al., 2004).
Nevertheless proteins intrinsically expressing chelating amino acids, such as histidine on
their surface, are able to interact with an IMAC support and, although usually with lower
affinity than a His-tagged protein, co-purify. In E. coli, proteins observed to copurify with
His-tagged target proteins, especially in native conditions, can be classified into four groups
(Bolanos-Garcia and Davies, 2006):
1.
2.
3.
4.

proteins with natural metal-binding motifs,

proteins displaying histidine clusters or stretches on their surfaces,
proteins interacting directly or not with heterologously expressed His-tagged proteins,
proteins showing affinity to IMAC support such agarose or sepharose based supports.

Furthermore, some copurifying proteins seem to have a binding preference for Co2+ over
Ni2+ (or other ions) and others vice versa. Several options have been developed in order to
reduce the contaminating amount of copurified quote or avoiding their adsorption to the
matrix, including additional purification steps, adjusting the His-tagged protein to resin
ratio, to using an engineered host strain that does not express certain proteins, using an
alternative support, tag cleavage followed by reverse chromatography and reduction of non
specific binding by including imidazole in the lysis and washing buffer.
Since there is an higher potential of binding background contaminants under native
conditions than under denaturing conditions, low concentrations of imidazole in lysis and
wash buffers (1020 mM) could be used. The imidazole ring is part of histidine structure
and its responsible for Ni-NTA interaction (Fig. 11).
At low imidazole concentrations, non specific binding is prevented, while 6xHis-tagged
proteins, because of the Kd value derived, still bind strongly to the Ni-NTA matrix allowing
greater purity in fewer steps.

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

549

Fig. 11. Chemical structures of histidine and imidazole.

Binding of tagged proteins to Ni-NTA resin is not conformation-dependent and is relatively
not affected, within a certain concentration range, by most detergents and denaturants, so
Triton X-100 and Tween 20 (up to 2%), or high salt concentrations (up to 2 M NaCl) can be
used, resulting in nonspecific binding reduction without affecting specific interaction.
As previously described, purification of tagged proteins under native conditions is often
associated with copurification of coupled proteins such as enzyme subunits and binding
proteins present in the expressing host (Le Grice and Grueninger-Leitch, 1990; Flachmann and
Khlbrandt 1996). Purification in denaturing condition is performed in presence of strong
chaotropic agents such as 6 M GuHCl or 8 M Urea. Under these conditions the 6xHis tag on
the protein surface is fully exposed so that binding to the Ni-NTA matrix will improve, and
the efficiency of the purification procedure will be maximized by reducing the potential of non
specific binding. The histidine tail binds to the Ni2+-NTA resin via the imidazole ring of the
histidine residues. At pH 7.0, the imidazole side chain is deprotonated, leading to a net
negative charge interacting with Ni2+-NTA; at pH 5.97 (corresponding to imidazole pKa), 50%
of the histidines are protonated; finally, within pH values 4.5, almost all of the histidines are
protonated and unable to interact with Ni2+-NTA. Thus, there are, generally, three different
methods for His-tagged proteins recovery after washing steps based on chemical and cinetical
counterpart features that can be used for both native or denaturing purifications.
Acompetition derived approachbased on Ni2+-NTA affinity for imidazole, working as
competitor, increasing imidazole concentrations results in protein displacement from the
support at constant pH. Under these conditions the 6xHis-tagged protein can no longer bind
to the nickel ions and will dissociate from the Ni-NTA resin.
An alternative procedure uses buffers of decreasing pH to elute the histidine tail ensuring
efficient recovery from Ni2+-NTA (Hochuli et al., 1988). Disadvantages are that the pH must
be maintained accurately at all temperatures and that some proteins may not be able to
withstand the extreme pH change required for protein elution.
An optional method is based on the stripping ability of certain reagents such as EDTA or
EGTA in chelation of nickel ions and their removal from the NTA groups. This results in the
6xHis-tagged protein elution as a proteinmetal complex. NTA resins, so stripped, appear
white in color because they have lost their nickel ions and must be recharged if additional
purification steps have to been performed.
Whereas all elution methods (imidazole, pH, and EDTA) are equally effective, imidazole is
recommended under native conditions, when the protein would be damaged by a pH
reduction or when the presence of metal ions in the eluate needs to be avoided

550

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

4.2 Cleaning and regeneration of Ni-NTA resins

The suitability of IMAC for industrial production purposes has been largely demonstrated
and it can be expected that IMAC-based procedures will acquire increasing application
because of its robustness and relatively low requirements for individual optimization. In
contrast to these facilities its noteworthy the production of a large amount of discarted
materials consisting in metal-chelating groups, IMAC supports such as agarose and
sepharose ones and, above all, considerable metal transition amounts to be disposed.
In order to reduce the environmental impact of such wastes, several IMAC commercially
manufacturers have introduced and developed protocols allowing to reuse the same resin
after regeneration and equilibration step cycles. Regeneration methods, enabling the flush
out of any contaminating materials from previously purified samples, can be divided into 2
different classes:
1.
2.

CIP (cleaning-in-place) protocols;

Stripping and recharging.

A simple and effective cleaning procedure for Ni-NTA resins used to purify proteins from
different samples is represented by the incubation of such resins with a non-flammable,
bacteriostat 0.5M NaOH solution for 30 min in 15 column volumes (Schfer et al., 2000)
allowing denaturation and desorption of unspecifically resin-attached proteins.

Resins stored for long terms in up to 1 M NaOH do not show any significant effect on metalleaching rates corresponding to 1 ppm under any conditions without compromising its
performance.

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

551

For repeated reuse of a Ni-NTA column, the CIP procedures had to be followed by a
reequilibration step. Furthermore for long-term storage, resin may be kept in 30% (v/v)
ethanol to inhibit microbial growth. No significant changes of metal-ion leaching were
observed during five CIP runs, moreover the binding capacities for 6xHis-tagged protein of
Ni-NTA resins remained unchanged from run 1 to run 5 (Schfer et al., 2000).
Due to the high chelating strength and the resulting low metal-leaching rate of all Ni-NTA
IMAC resins, stripping is not required even after repeated reuse or long-term storage.
However, reduction in binding capacity or resin damages for example, by repeated
purification of samples containing chelating agents, could happens. In this cases Ni-NTA
may be stripped and recharged with nickel or a different metal ion using combination of
chelating steps (EDTA treatments) ensuring a Ni2+ free medium, followed by nickel salts
incubation. Metal chloride and sulfate salts, (e.g. 0.1 M NiSO4) are commonly used. Here we
report (box 3)a stripping and recharging protocol based on Qiagen instruction for relative
Ni-NTA agarose resins
4.3 IMAC for industrial-scale protein production and Ni2+ environmental impact
IMAC for production of proteins in industrial scale, has not been used until quite recently due
to worries regarding allergenic effects of nickel leaching from an IMAC matrix. During protein
purification 1ml or resins is usually used for each 30-40 mg recombinant proteins. Several data
describing nickel leaching from resins show that nickel concentrations in the peak elution
fractions is below 1 ppm under all conditions, including denaturant or native conditions. More
specifically even after several purification steps followed by CIP, the level of nickel
contamination in the peak elution fractions is comprised between 0.3 and 0.6 ppm for native
and denaturing conditions, respectively (Schfer et al., 2005). The discarded cations are
released as liquid or dry waste into the environment where its just present under many forms.
Nickel, occurs naturally in the earth's crust, in various forms such as nickel sulphides and
oxides, its sources arise from earths molten core where it is trapped and unusable to
volcanic eruptions, soils, ocean floors, and ocean water (Stimola, 2007).
Such divalent cation is used not only in metallurgic industries to make stainless steel but
also in other application fields such as in coinage in various forms of 'costume' or 'fashion'
jewellery. The different forms of nickel include elemental nickel (Ni), nickel oxide (NiO),
nickel chloride (NiCl2), nickel sulphate (NiSO4), nickel carbonate (NiCO3), nickel
monosulfide (NiS), and nickel subsulfide (Ni3S2) (ATSDR, 2005).
Human exposure to nickel is associated with drinking water, food, or smoking tobacco
containing nickel or direct contact with nickel-containing products, such as jewelry, stainless
steel and coins. The average concentration of nickel in different categories of soil span from
4 to 80 ppm, but this number has increased significantly (up to 9,000 ppm) around nickel
producing industries (ATSDR, 2005). Skin contact is the usual source of contamination from
the ground unless for children who are more likely to ingest soil particles. Foods such as tea,
coffee, chocolate, cabbage, spinach and potatoes contain high levels of nickel, making these
foods a major source of exposure. The average amount of nickel introduced is 70
micrograms of nickel per day.
This rapid analysis suggests nickel concentrations typically observed in protein preparations
obtained from tetradentate IMAC resins are low and content in expected daily doses of
protein used such as biopharmaceutical will be far below the typical daily intake of nickel.

552

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

4.4 Amylose affinity chromatography

The expression and purification of recombinant proteins compared to native ones represent
an efficient system to product any protein. As previously described for IMAC tag,
recombinant DNA techniques allow the construction of fusion proteins in which specific
affinity tags are added to the protein sequence of interest, facilitating the recombinant fusion
proteins purification by the use of affinity chromatography methods.
Maltose-binding protein (MBP) is one of the older and more popular fusion partners used
for recombinant proteins production in bacterial cells; its coded by the malE gene of
Escherichia coli as part of maltose/maltodextrin system (Nikaido, 1994). MBP, despite the
molecular weight (42.5 kDa) is considered one of the best choises to solve problems related
to heterologous protein expression since it acts as protein production and solubilisation
enhancer by mechanisms far to be completely understood (Randall et al., 1998; Nomine et al.,
2001; Sachdev and Chirgwin, 1998). Several commercial plasmid DNA vectors have been
constructed allowing expression of a cloned protein or peptide by fusing it to MBP (Guan et
al., 1988; Bedouelle and Duplay, 1988; Maina et al., 1988). The isolation and purification of
recombinant proteins MBP fused can be performed using an easy affinity column procedure
amylose based resins dependeding on MBP affinity for maltose packaged in the amylose
resins (Kd value of MBP for maltose is 3.5 M) (Kellerman and Ferenci, 1982). A crude cell
extract, in absence of detergent or chaotropic agents, is prepared and passed over a column
containing an agarose resin derivatized with amylose, a polysaccharide consisting of
maltose subunits.
B

A
Fig. 12. Chemical structures of amylose (A) and maltose (B). Glucose monomers (2 units in
maltose, several hundreds in amylose) are joined with an (14) bond.
Such resin can be purchased from commercial suppliers in its original form (amylose based)
or in an maltoheptaose version similar to amylose one, but with lower molecular weight
glucose polymers resulting in a theorical larger number of potential binding sites. Three
amylose affinity chromatography matrices are manufactured by New England BioLabs
(Cattoli and Sarti, 2002):
1.
2.
3.

Amylose magnetic beads;

Amylose agarose resin;
High flow support matrix.

Amylose magnetic beads have a binding capacity up to 10 g/mg (supplied as a 10 mg/ml

suspension). Amylose agarose has a binding capacity of 3 mg/mL for MBP and 6 mg/ml for
an MBP--galactosidase protein. The typical flow velocity of the amylose resin is 1 ml/min
in a 2.5 cm x 10 cm column, and the matrix can withstand small manifold vacuums
(universally known as piglet). The amylose matrix can suffer from flow restrictions. So
that total protein loading should be 2.5 mg/ml. Amylose high flow has a binding capacity
of approximately 7 mg/ml for an MBP-paramyosin protein. The exact chemical nature of the

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

553

matrix is not described but has a pressure limit of 0.5 MPa (75 psi), a maximum flow
velocity of 300 cm/h, and recommended velocities are below 60 cm/h being 1025 ml/min
(for 1.6-cm and 2.5-cm columns respectively).
Alternatively, home-made amylose-agarose resin can be prepared following procedures
described by Lee et al. (1990). Pratically, sepharose beads are washed with water and then
incubated with 1M sodium carbonate pH 11 allowing to react in presence of vinyl sulfonic
acid. Activated resin is derivatized by mixing, in 1 M sodium carbonate pH 11 environment,
with an amylose solution. The resulting matrix can be freshly used or in 20% ethanol stored.
In contrast with an IMAC conformation-independent binding of tagged proteins to Ni-NTA
resin, MBPs affinity to amylose and maltose depends on hydrogen bonds patterns derived
from the three-dimensional structure of the protein; agents interfering with hydrogen bonds
or the protein structure interfere with binding as well. For these reasons protein purification
of tagged proteins can be performed under native conditions only, (Tris-HCl, MOPS,
HEPES, and phosphate, buffers at pH values between 6.5 and 8.5) in presence or absence of
optional additives as 1 mM sodium azide, 10 mM -mercaptoethanol or 1 mM DTT. Such
reducing agents can be added to mantein reduced cysteins avoiding non specific disulphide
bridges formation resulting in tedious aggregations. Moreover higher ionic strength does
not adversely affect MBP binding to amylose, so that 1M NaCl can be used to reduce non
specific protein binding to resin.
Despite MBPs affinity of some fusions to amylose is dramatically reduced in presence of
nonionic detergents (0.2% Triton X100 or 0.25% Tween 20) resulting in<5% binding, other
fusions are unaffected. Binding is efficient in the presence of 5% ethanol or acetonitrile, as
well as in 10% glycerol. 0.1% SDS completely eliminates binding.
Furthermore low levels of residual detergents, especially from regeneration solutions, (see
below) can still remain; removal of detergent and mixed micelles can be achieved using
dilute methanol-containing solutions
After several washing steps, protein elution and recovery is performed in a competition
derived approach based on MBP affinity for maltose. Maltose working as competitor at 10
mM concentration, results in protein displacement from amylose at constant pH value.
Because the presence of substantial amounts of amylases in the crude extracts interferes with
binding, by cutting the fusion off the column or by releasing maltose that elutes the fusion
from the column, the amylose resin half-life depends on incubation time with trace amounts
of contaminant. Manufacturers instructions and recommendations explain (e.g. NEB): Under
normal conditions defined as 15 ml of amylose agarose matrix processing, 1 liter of LB media
supplemented with 0.2% glucose (producing 40 mg MBP fusion protein); a matrix binding
capacity reduction of 13% after each purification step is reported. It is stated that such a
column may be used up to 5 times before a decrease in yield is detectable (515% lost binding
capacity), and up to 10 times to achieve an evident reduction (1030% lost binding capacity).
Column reuse and regeneration can be performed according to New England BioLabs
following sequence of washes in water, saline buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, 200 mM NaCl and 1
mM EDTA), and 0.1% SDS, or by a very short treatment using 0.1 N NaOH followed by a
neutralization step.
Alternatively Pattenden et al. (2008) proposed a regeneration procedure based on sequential
amylose resin treatments with two different regeneration solutions:

554
1.
2.

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

Regeneration 1: 50 mM HEPES, 4 M Urea, 0.5% w/v SDS pH 7.4.

Regeneration 2: 50 mM HEPES, 150 mM (NH4)2SO4, 2 mM EDTA, 2 mM EGTA pH 7.4.

Regenerated resin can be stored in 20% ethanol at 4 C

5. References
[1] Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (2005). Toxicological Profile
for Nickel (Update). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Public Health and Human
Services, Public Health Service. Available at: http:/www.atsdr.cdc.gov
[2] Andersson, L. and Porath, J. (1986). Isolation of phosphoproteins by immobilized metal
(Fe3+) affinity chromatography. Anal. Biochem.154:250-254.
[3] Baneyx, F., Mujacic, M. (2004).Recombinant protein folding and misfolding in Escherichia
coli. Nat Biotechnol. Nov; 22(11):1399-408.
[4] Barbusiski, K. (2009). Fenton reaction-controversy concerning the chemistry. Ecological
Chemistry and Engineering. Vol. 16 (3), pp. 347-358.
[5] Bedouelle, H. and Duplay, P. (1988). Production in Escherichia coli and one-step purification
of bifunctional hybrid proteins which bind maltose. Eur. J. Biochem. 171:541-549.
[6] Block, H., Kubicek, J., Labahn, J., Roth, U., and Schfer, F. (2008). Production and
comprehensive quality control of recombinant human Interleukin-1b: A case study
for a process development strategy. Protein Expr. Purif. 27, 244254.
[7] Bolanos-Garcia, V. M., and Davies, O. R. (2006). Structural analysis and classification of
native proteins from E. coli commonly co-purified by immobilized metal affinity
chromatography. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1760, 13041313.
[8] Buettner, G.R., Jurkiewica, B. A. (1996). Catalytic metals, ascorbate and free radicals:
combinations to avoid. Radiat. Res. 145:532-541)
[9] Cattoli, F., and Sarti, G. C. (2002). Separation of MBP fusion proteins through affinity
membranes, Biotechnol. Prog. 18, 94.
[10] Chaga, G., Hopp, J., and Nelson, P. (1999). Immobilized metal ion affinity
chromatography on Co2+ -carboxymethylaspartateagarose Superflow, as
demonstrated by one-step purification of lactate dehydrogenase from chicken
breast muscle. Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 29, 1924.
[11] Chang, V.W., Wu, R., and Ho, Y.S. (1999). Recycling of anion-exchange resins for
plasmid DNA purification. Biotechniques 26(6):1056
[12] Duplay, P., Bedouelle, H., Fowler, A., Zabin, I., Saurin, W., and Hofnung, M. (1984).
Sequences of the malE gene and of its product, the maltosebinding protein of
Escherichia coli K12. J. Biol. Chem. 259:10606-10613.
[13] Erlwein, O., Robinson, M.J., Dustan, S., Weber, J., Kaye, S., McClure, M.O. (2011). DNA
Extraction Columns Contaminated with Murine Sequences. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23484.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023484
[14] Esser, K.H., Marx,W. H., and Lisowsky, T. (2005).Nucleic acid-free matrix: Regeneration
of DNA binding columns. Biotechniques 39(2):270-271
[15] Esser, K.H., Marx, W. H., and Lisowsky, T. (2006). maxXbond: first regeneration system
for DNA binding silica matrices. Nat. Met. Jan, i-ii, DOI:0.1038/NMETH845
[16] Flachmann, R., and Khlbrandt, W. (1996). Crystallization and assembly defect of
recombinant antenna complexes produced in transgenic tobacco plants. Proc. Nat.
Acad. Sci. USA 93, 1496614971.
[17] Fogel, B.L., and McNally, M.T. (2000). Trace contamination following reuse of anionexchange DNA purification resins. Biotechniques 28(2):299-302

Regeneration and Recycling of Supports for Biological Macromolecules Purification

555

[18] Guan, C., Li, P., Riggs, P.D., and Inouye, H. (1987). Vectors that facilitate the expression
and purification of foreign peptides in Escherichia coli by fusion to maltose-binding
protein. Gene 67:21- 30.
[19] Hearon, J. (1948). The configuration of cobaltihistidine and oxy-bis (cobalthistidine). J.
Natl. Cancer Inst. 9, 111.
[20] Hertzberg, R.P., and Dervan, P.B. (1982) Cleavage of double-helical DNA by
(Methidiumpropyl- EDTA) iron(II). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 104: 313-315.
[21] Hochuli, E. (1990). Purification of recombinant proteins with metal chelate adsorbent. In
Genetic Engineering, Principles and Practice, Vol. 12 (J. Setlow, ed.) pp. 87-98.
Plenum, New York.
[22] Hochuli, E., Dobeli, H., and Schacher, A. (1987). New metal chelate adsorbent selective
for proteins and peptides containing neighbouring histidine residues. J.
Chromatogr. 411:177-184.
[23] Hochuli, E., Bannwarth, W., Dobeli, H., Gentz, R., and Stber, D. (1988). Genetic
approach to facilitate purification of recombinant proteins with a novel metal
chelate adsorbent. Bio/Technology 6:1321-1325
[24] Hochuli, E. (1989) Genetically designed affinity chromatography using a novel metal
chelate absorbent, Biologically Active Molecules 217239.
[25] Hoffmann, A. and Roeder, R. (1991). Purification of His-tagged proteins in
nondenaturing conditions suggests a convenient method for protein interaction
studies. Nucl. Acids Res. 19:6337-6338
[26] Hutchens, T.W. and Yip, T.-T. (1990a). Protein interactions with immobilized transition
metal ions: Quantitative evaluations of variations in affinity and binding capacity.
Anal. Biochem. 191:160-168.
[27] Hutchens, T.W. and Yip, T.-T. (1990b). Differential interaction of peptides and protein
surface structures with free metal ions and surface-immobilized metal ions. J.
Chromatogr. 500:531-542
[28] Jungbauer, A., Kaar, W., and Schlegl, R. (2004). Folding and refolding of proteins in
chromatographic beds. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 15, 487494.
[29] Kaslow, D. C., and Shiloach, J. (1994). Production, purification and immunogenicity of a
Malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidate: TBV25H expressed in yeast and
purified using Ni-NTA Agarose. Biotechnology 12, 494499.
[30] Kellerman, O.K. and Ferenci, T. (1982). Maltose binding protein from E. coli. Methods
Enzymol. 90:459-463.
[31] Kim, A.I., Hebert, S.P. and Denny, C.T. (2000). Cross-contamination limits the use of
recycled anion exchange resins for preparing plasmid DNA. Biotechniques 28(2):298
[32] Lee, R.T., Ichikawa, Y., Allen, H.J,, Lee, Y.C. (1990). Binding characteristics of
galactoside-binding lectin (galaptin) from human spleen.J Biol Chem. May
15;265(14):7864-71.
[33] Le Grice, S.F.J. and Grueninger-Leitch, F. (1990). Rapid purification of homodimer HIV-I
reverse transcriptase by metal chelate affinity chromatography. Eur. J. Biochem.
187, 307314.
[34] Lindahl, T. and Nyberg, B. (1972) Rate of depurination of native deoxyribonucleic acid.
Biochemistry, 11 (19), pp 36103618
[35] Maina, C.V., Riggs, P.D., Grandea, A.G. III, Slatko, B.E., Moran, L.S., Tagliamonte, J.A.,
McReynolds, L.A., and Guan, C. (1988). A vector to express and purify foreign
proteins in Escherichia coli by fusion to, and separation from, maltose binding
protein. Gene 74:365-373.

556

Current Frontiers and Perspectives in Cell Biology

[36] Muszynska, G., Dobrowolska, G., Medin, A., Ekman, P., and Porath, J.O. (1992). Model
studies on iron(III) affinity chromatography. II. Interaction of immobilized iron (III) ions
with phosphorylated amino acids, peptides and proteins. J. Chromatogr. 604:19-28.
[37] Nicosia, A., Tagliavia, M., Costa, S. (2010). Regeneration and recycling of total RNA
purification silica columns. Biomed. Chrom. 24(12):1263-4
[38] Nikaido H. (1994). Maltose transport system of Escherichia coli: an ABC-type
transporter. FEBS Lett. Jun 6;346(1):55-8.
[39] Nomin, Y., Ristriani, T., Laurent, C., Lefvre, J.F., Weiss, E., Trav, G. (2001). A strategy
for optimizing the monodispersity of fusion proteins: application to purification of
recombinant HPV E6 oncoprotein. Protein Eng. Apr; 14(4):297-305.
[40] Pattenden, L.K., Thomas, W.G. (2008) Amylose affinity chromatography of maltosebinding protein: purification by both native and novel matrix-assisted dialysis
refolding methods. Methods Mol Biol.;421:169-89.
[41] Prabhu, H.R. and Krishnamurthy, S. (1993). Ascorbate-dependent formation of hydroxyl
radicals in the presence of iron chelates. Indian J. Biochem. Biophys. 30(5):289-92.
[42] Porath, J., Carlsson, J., Olsson, I., and Belfrage, G. (1975). Metal chelate affinity
chromatography, a new approach to protein fractionation. Nature 258:598-599
[43] Posewitz, M. C., and Tempst, P. (1999). Immobilized gallium (III) affinity
chromatography of phosphopeptides. Anal. Chem. 71, 28832892.
[44] Randall, L.L., Topping, T.B., Smith, V.F., Diamond, D.L., Hardy, S.J. (1998). SecB: a
chaperone from Escherichia coli. Methods Enzymol.; 290:444-59.
[45] Sachdev, D., and Chirgwin, J.M., (1998). Solubility of proteins isolated from inclusion
bodies is enhanced by fusion to maltose-binding protein or thioredoxin. Protein Expr.
Purif. 12, 122.
[46] Schfer, F., Blmer, J., Rmer, U., and Steinert, K. (2000). Ni-NTA for large-scale
processessystematic investigation of separation characteristics, storage and CIP
conditions, and leaching. QIAGEN. QIAGEN News 4, 1115.
[47] Sheppard, T.L., Ordoukhanian, P. and Joyce G.F. (2000). A DNA enzyme with Nglycosylase activity. PNAS 97(14): 7802-7807)
[48] Siddappa, N.B., Avinash, A., Venkatramanan, M. and Ranga, U. (2007). Regeneration of
commercial nucleic acid extraction columns without the risk of carry-over
contamination. Biotechniques 42:186-192
[49] Stimola, A. (2007). Understanding the elements of the periodic table. 1. New York: The
Rosen Publishing Group;
[50] Stber, D., Matile, H., and Garotta, G. (1990). System for high-level production in
Escherichia coli and rapid purification of recombinant proteins: Application to epitope
mapping, preparation of antibodies, and structure-function analysis. Immunol.
Methods 4:121-152.
[51] Sulkowski, E. (1985). Purification of proteins by IMAC. Trends Biotechnol. 3, 17.
[52] Swapan, S.J. and Tullius T.D. (2008). Footprinting protein-DNA complexes using the
hydroxyl radical. Nature Protocols 3, 1092 - 1100
[53] Tagliavia, M., Nicosia, A., Gianguzza, F. (2009). Complete decontamination and
regeneration of DNA purification silica columns. Anal. Biochem. 1;385(1):182-3
[54] Toyokuni, S. and Sagripanti J.L. (1992). Iron-mediated DNA damage: Sensitive detection
of DNA strand breakage catalyzed by iron. J. Inorg. Biochem. 47(1):241-248
[55] Zhou, H., Xu, S., Ye, M., Feng, S., Pan, C., Jiang, X., Li, X., Han, G., Fu, Y., and Zou, H.
(2006). Zirconium phosphonate-modified porous silicon for highly specific capture
of phosphopeptide and MALDI-TOF MS analysis. J. Proteome Res. 5, 24312437.