Diverse Roles of Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Protein PITPβ in Eukaryotic Cells

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) provide a dynamic interface between membrane dynamics and lipid signaling. PITPα and PITPβ encode for two soluble class I, metazoan specific PITPs. However, despite the fact that PITPα and PITPβ share 77 and 95% primary sequence identity and similarity (respectively), PITPα and PITPβ are functionally distinct and play nonredundant functions in cells. Whereas PITPα knockout mice have been created, and these mice display neuronal, intestinal, and liver pathologies, PITPβ functionality remains largely unknown. In this work, I addressed the distinguishing properties of PITPβ and its role in mammalian and zebrafish cells. We identified regions of PITPβ that contributed to its unique properties: Golgi localization and sphingomyelin (SM) binding. Two single point mutations are sufficient to ablate the SM binding properties of PITPβ, and the Golgi localization was attributed to the combination of two regions of the protein. Next, siRNA and morpholino analyses, in mammalian cells and zebrafish respectively, were developed to understand the physiological role of PITPβ in cells. In mammalian cells, PITPβ was essential for cell survival. Particularly, PITPβ-depleted cells displayed disorganized Golgi networks and anterograde trafficking defects. Surprisingly, PITPβ was not required for cell survival or early development in zebrafish. Instead, PITPβ maintains the outer segment of the double cone cells of the eye - a cell type required for detection of red and green light. The lack of a housekeeping role for PITPβ led us to examine the roles of other PITPs in zebrafish. A novel third soluble PITP in zebrafish, PITPγ, was identified, though its function is not yet determined because we have no means of detecting the protein levels to ascertain knockdown. PITPα, however, had an unexpected role in early development: reduction of PITPα led to an arrest at an early stage of development (about 12 hpf), ultimately leading to embryonic lethality. Together, this dissertation presents novel roles for class I PITPs in zebrafish, and represents the first functional characterization of PITPβ.Doctor of Philosoph

Compartmentalizing the embryo: Lipids and septate junction mediated barrier function

Lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs) are a class of enzymes that can dephosphorylate a number of lysophopholipids in vitro. Analysis of knockouts of LPP family members has demonstrated striking but diverse developmental roles for these enzymes. LPP3 is required for mouse vascular development while the Drosophila LPPs Wunen (Wun) and Wunen2 (Wun2) are required during embryogenesis for germ cell migration and survival. In a recent publication we examined if these fly LPPs have further developmental roles and found that Wun is required for proper tracheal formation. In particular we highlight a role for Wun in septate junction mediated barrier function in the tracheal system. In this paper we discuss further the possible mechanisms by which LPPs may influence barrier activity. © 2013 Landes Bioscience

Sensitivity and fidelity of DNA microarray improved with integration of Amplified Differential Gene Expression (ADGE)

BACKGROUND: The ADGE technique is a method designed to magnify the ratios of gene expression before detection. It improves the detection sensitivity to small change of gene expression and requires small amount of starting material. However, the throughput of ADGE is low. We integrated ADGE with DNA microarray (ADGE microarray) and compared it with regular microarray. RESULTS: When ADGE was integrated with DNA microarray, a quantitative relationship of a power function between detected and input ratios was found. Because of ratio magnification, ADGE microarray was better able to detect small changes in gene expression in a drug resistant model cell line system. The PCR amplification of templates and efficient labeling reduced the requirement of starting material to as little as 125 ng of total RNA for one slide hybridization and enhanced the signal intensity. Integration of ratio magnification, template amplification and efficient labeling in ADGE microarray reduced artifacts in microarray data and improved detection fidelity. The results of ADGE microarray were less variable and more reproducible than those of regular microarray. A gene expression profile generated with ADGE microarray characterized the drug resistant phenotype, particularly with reference to glutathione, proliferation and kinase pathways. CONCLUSION: ADGE microarray magnified the ratios of differential gene expression in a power function, improved the detection sensitivity and fidelity and reduced the requirement for starting material while maintaining high throughput. ADGE microarray generated a more informative expression pattern than regular microarray

Specific and Nonspecific Membrane-binding Determinants Cooperate in Targeting Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Protein beta-Isoform to the Mammalian Trans-Golgi Network

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) regulate the interface between lipid metabolism and specific steps in membrane trafficking through the secretory pathway in eukaryotes. Herein, we describe the cis-acting information that controls PITPβ localization in mammalian cells. We demonstrate PITPβ localizes predominantly to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and that this localization is independent of the phospholipid-bound state of PITPβ. Domain mapping analyses show the targeting information within PITPβ consists of three short C-terminal specificity elements and a nonspecific membrane-binding element defined by a small motif consisting of adjacent tryptophan residues (the W202W203 motif). Combination of the specificity elements with the W202W203 motif is necessary and sufficient to generate an efficient TGN-targeting module. Finally, we demonstrate that PITPβ association with the TGN is tolerant to a range of missense mutations at residue serine 262, we describe the TGN localization of a novel PITPβ isoform with a naturally occurring S262Q polymorphism, and we find no other genetic or pharmacological evidence to support the concept that PITPβ localization to the TGN is obligately regulated by conventional protein kinase C (PKC) or the Golgi-localized PKC isoforms δ or ε. These latter findings are at odds with a previous report that conventional PKC-mediated phosphorylation of residue Ser262 is required for PITPβ targeting to Golgi membranes

Phosphatidylinositol synthase is required for lens structural integrity and photoreceptor cell survival in the zebrafish eye

The zebrafish lens opaque (lop) mutant was previously isolated in a genetic screen and shown to lack rod and cone photoreceptors and exhibit lens opacity, or cataract, at 7 days post-fertilization (dpf). In this manuscript, we provide four different lines of evidence demonstrating that the lop phenotype results from a defect in the cdipt (phosphatidylinositol (PI) synthase; CDP-diacylglycerol--inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase) gene. First, DNA sequence analysis revealed that the lop mutant contained a missense mutation in the lop open reading frame, which yields a nonconservative amino acid substitution (Ser-111-Cys) within the PI synthase catalytic domain. Second, morpholino-mediated knockdown of the cdipt-encoded PI synthase protein phenocopied the cdiptlop/lop mutant, with abnormal lens epithelial and secondary fiber cell morphologies and reduced numbers of photoreceptors. Third, microinjection of in vitro transcribed, wild-type cdipt mRNA into 1-4 cell stage cdiptlop/lop embryos significantly reduced the percentage of larvae displaying lens opacity at 7 dpf. Fourth, a cdipt retroviral-insertion allele, cdipthi559, exhibited similar lens and retinal abnormalities and failed to complement the cdiptlop mutant phenotype

Zebrafish Class 1 Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Proteins: PITPβ and Double Cone Cell Outer Segment Integrity in Retina

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) in yeast coordinate lipid metabolism with the activities of specific membrane trafficking pathways. The structurally unrelated metazoan-specific PITPs (mPITPs), on the other hand, are an under-investigated class of proteins. It remains unclear what biological activities mPITPs discharge, and the mechanisms by which these proteins function are also not understood. The soluble class 1 mPITPs include the PITPα and PITPβ isoforms. Of these, the β-isoforms are particularly poorly characterized. Herein, we report the use of zebrafish as a model vertebrate for the study of class 1 mPITP biological function. Zebrafish express PITPα and PITPβ-isoforms (Pitpna and Pitpnb, respectively) and a novel PITPβ-like isoform (Pitpng). Pitpnb expression is particularly robust in double cone cells of the zebrafish retina. Morpholino-mediated protein knockdown experiments demonstrate Pitpnb activity is primarily required for biogenesis/maintenance of the double cone photoreceptor cell outer segments in the developing retina. By contrast, Pitpna activity is essential for successful navigation of early developmental programs. This study reports the initial description of the zebrafish class 1 mPITP family, and the first analysis of PITPβ function in a vertebrate

Compartmentalizing the embryo

Lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs) are a class of enzymes that can dephosphorylate a number of lysophopholipids in vitro. Analysis of knockouts of LPP family members has demonstrated striking but diverse developmental roles for these enzymes. LPP3 is required for mouse vascular development while the Drosophila LPPs Wunen (Wun) and Wunen2 (Wun2) are required during embryogenesis for germ cell migration and survival. In a recent publication we examined if these fly LPPs have further developmental roles and found that Wun is required for proper tracheal formation. In particular we highlight a role for Wun in septate junction mediated barrier function in the tracheal system. In this paper we discuss further the possible mechanisms by which LPPs may influence barrier activity

Wunen, a Drosophila lipid phosphate phosphatase, is required for septate junction-mediated barrier function

Lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs) are integral membrane enzymes that regulate the levels of bioactive lipids such as sphingosine 1-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid. The Drosophila LPPs Wunen (Wun) and Wunen-2 (Wun2) have a well-established role in regulating the survival and migration of germ cells. We now show that wun has an essential tissue-autonomous role in development of the trachea: the catalytic activity of Wun is required to maintain septate junction (SJ) paracellular barrier function, loss of which causes failure to accumulate crucial luminal components, suggesting a role for phospholipids in SJ function. We find that the integrity of the blood-brain barrier is also lost in wun mutants, indicating that loss of SJ function is not restricted to the tracheal system. Furthermore, by comparing the rescue ability of different LPP homologs we show that wun function in the trachea is distinct from its role in germ cell migration

Trans-Golgi Network and Endosome Dynamics Connect Ceramide Homeostasis with Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response and TOR Signaling in Yeast

Synthetic genetic array analyses identify powerful genetic interactions between a thermosensitive allele (sec14-1ts) of the structural gene for the major yeast phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (SEC14) and a structural gene deletion allele (tlg2Δ) for the Tlg2 target membrane-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor. The data further demonstrate Sec14 is required for proper trans-Golgi network (TGN)/endosomal dynamics in yeast. Paradoxically, combinatorial depletion of Sec14 and Tlg2 activities elicits trafficking defects from the endoplasmic reticulum, and these defects are accompanied by compromise of the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR failure occurs downstream of Hac1 mRNA splicing, and it is further accompanied by defects in TOR signaling. The data link TGN/endosomal dynamics with ceramide homeostasis, UPR activity, and TOR signaling in yeast, and they identify the Sit4 protein phosphatase as a primary conduit through which ceramides link to the UPR. We suggest combinatorial Sec14/Tlg2 dysfunction evokes inappropriate turnover of complex sphingolipids in endosomes. One result of this turnover is potentiation of ceramide-activated phosphatase-mediated down-regulation of the UPR. These results provide new insight into Sec14 function, and they emphasize the TGN/endosomal system as a central hub for homeostatic regulation in eukaryotes