PRC1 is a microtubule binding and bundling protein essential to maintain the mitotic spindle midzone

Midzone microtubules of mammalian cells play an essential role in the induction of cell cleavage, serving as a platform for a number of proteins that play a part in cytokinesis. We demonstrate that PRC1, a mitotic spindle-associated Cdk substrate that is essential to cell cleavage, is a microtubule binding and bundling protein both in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of PRC1 extensively bundles interphase microtubules, but does not affect early mitotic spindle organization. PRC1 contains two Cdk phosphorylation motifs, and phosphorylation is possibly important to mitotic suppression of bundling, as a Cdk phosphorylation-null mutant causes extensive bundling of the prometaphase spindle. Complete suppression of PRC1 by siRNA causes failure of microtubule interdigitation between half spindles and the absence of a spindle midzone. Truncation mutants demonstrate that the NH2-terminal region of PRC1, rich in α-helical sequence, is important for localization to the cleavage furrow and to the center of the midbody, whereas the central region, with the highest sequence homology between species, is required for microtubule binding and bundling activity. We conclude that PRC1 is a microtubule-associated protein required to maintain the spindle midzone, and that distinct functions are associated with modular elements of the primary sequence

The Fibrillar Collagen Family

Collagens, or more precisely collagen-based extracellular matrices, are often considered as a metazoan hallmark. Among the collagens, fibrillar collagens are present from sponges to humans, and are involved in the formation of the well-known striated fibrils. In this review we discuss the different steps in the evolution of this protein family, from the formation of an ancestral fibrillar collagen gene to the formation of different clades. Genomic data from the choanoflagellate (sister group of Metazoa) Monosiga brevicollis, and from diploblast animals, have suggested that the formation of an ancestral α chain occurred before the metazoan radiation. Phylogenetic studies have suggested an early emergence of the three clades that were first described in mammals. Hence the duplication events leading to the formation of the A, B and C clades occurred before the eumetazoan radiation. Another important event has been the two rounds of “whole genome duplication” leading to the amplification of fibrillar collagen gene numbers, and the importance of this diversification in developmental processes. We will also discuss some other aspects of fibrillar collagen evolution such as the development of the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of procollagen molecules and of striated fibrils

Reconnaissance et phagocytose des cellules apoptotiques "Rôle de C1q et de la calréticuline"

La mort cellulaire par apoptose est un processus biologique fondamental, nécessitant des interactions fines avec le système immunitaire pour une reconnaissance et une élimination efficace des cellules mortes. C'est ainsi que C1q, une molécule du complément, essentielle dans le système immunitaire inné, a été mise en évidence comme fortement impliquée dans le mécanisme de reconnaissance et d'élimination des cellules apoptotiques, notamment via sa région globulaire (C1qGR). Récemment, la translocation de la calréticuline (CRT) au niveau externe de la membrane plasmique des cellules cancéreuses a été identifiée comme un signal eat-me pouvant être immunogène. Initialement, l'interaction entre la CRT et C1q a été caractérisée à la surface des phagocytes et la CRT a été considérée comme un récepteur pour les queues collagènes de C1q (C1qCLF). L'ensemble de ces observations est en faveur d'un double rôle de la CRT, à la surface des phagocytes et des cellules apoptotiques. Dans un premier temps, l'élaboration d'une stratégie de FRET a permis de détecter une interaction directe entre la CRT et C1qGR à la surface de la cellule HeLa en apoptose précoce. Dans un second temps, la mise en place de tests de phagocytose a permis de montrer que la calréticuline exposée à la surface des cellules apoptotiques peut moduler la phagocytose : des effets opposés ont été observés selon le modèle cellulaire utilisé (HeLa traitées par des ARNi ou MEF CRT-/-) et dans certaines conditions, une modulation combinée de la calréticuline et de C1q a été observée sur la réponse inflammatoire (production de cytokines).Cell death by apoptosis is a fundamental biological process, requiring fine interactions with the immune system for the effective recognition and removal of the apoptotic cells. C1q, a complement molecule, essential in the innate immune system, has been shown to be strongly involved in the mechanism of recognition and elimination of apoptotic cells, mainly through its globular region (C1qGR). Recently, the translocation of calreticulin (CRT) at the surface of cancer cells has been identified as an eat-me signal, which can be immunogenic. Initially, the interaction between CRT and C1q was characterized on phagocytes surface and CRT was described as a receptor for the collagenous tails of C1q (C1qCLF). All these observations support a dual role of CRT at the surface of phagocytes and their targets. At first, using a FRET strategy we achieve to detect a direct interaction between CRT and C1qGR at the surface of early apoptotic HeLa cells. Second, the establishment of phagocytosis assays showed that calreticulin exposed at the surface of apoptotic cells could modulate phagocytosis: opposite effects were observed depending on the cellular model used (RNAi treated HeLa or MEF CRT-/-) and under certain conditions, a combined modulation of calreticulin and C1q was observed on the inflammatory response (cytokine production).SAVOIE-SCD - Bib.électronique (730659901) / SudocGRENOBLE1/INP-Bib.électronique (384210012) / SudocGRENOBLE2/3-Bib.électronique (384219901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Systèmes effecteurs de l'immunité innée (reconnaissance et voies de signalisation)

Le système immunitaire inné génère des réponses inflammatoires contre les pathogènes ou les cellules dangereuses mais est aussi impliqué dans l'élimination tolérogène des cellules apoptotiques. La reconnaissance des cibles est médiée par un grand nombre de protéines membranaires et solubles. Parmi celles-ci, on trouve les protéines de reconnaissance du complément : C1q, MBL ( mannose-binding lectin) et ficolines. Bien que les propriétés structurales de reconnaissances de la MBL aient été extensivement étudiées, celles des ficolines et du C1q restent à établir. Ceci était l'objectif de la première partie du projet présenté ici. Nous avons analysé par cristallographie aux rayons X la structure des domaines de reconnaissance de ces protéines en présence ou en absence de plusieurs ligands connus. Nous avons montré que les ficolines H et M possédaient un seul site de fixation, conservé au sein des domaines de type fibrinogène. Ce site conservé ne semble pas actif dans la ficoline L, mais de nouveaux sites ont été mis en évidence, créant une surface de reconnaissance étendue favorable à la fixation de larges polymères. Nous avons également trouvé un nouveau site de fixation de la phosphosérine sur C1q. Des propriétés particulières de la ficoline M ont été mises en évidence : la fixation de Neu5Ac, un marqueur du soi, et un changement conformationnel dépendent du pH. Comme l'étude des propriétés de reconnaissance de quelques récepteurs isolés ne lève pas le voile sur le comportement particulier des phagocytes en présence de débris cellulaires, nous avons commencé un nouveau projet afin de comprendre les voies de signalisations activées dans le phagocyte en réponse aux cellules apoptotiques. De nombreuses données suggèrent que le complexe GEF : DOCK/ELMO est commun à de nombreuses voies de signalisation mais aussi un point de régulation. Mon travail dans ce second projet était d'initier la mise en place d'outils cellulaires afin d'étudier le comportement de ce complexe dans différentes lignées cellulaires modèles. J'ai développé un test quantitatif de phagocytose ainsi que des outils pour détecter et sur-exprimer ELMO1. Nous avons également observé la re-localisation de cette protéine dans les coupes phagocytiques.The innate immune system triggers inflammatory defences against pathogens or dangerous cells but is also involved in the tolerogenic removal of apoptotic cells. Target recognition is mediated by a wide range of soluble or membrane proteins. Among them are the essential complement recognition proteins: mannose-binding lactin, C1q and ficolins. Whereas the structural recognition properties of mannose-binding lectin BL have been extensively studied, the corresponding properties of ficolins and C1q with their ligands had to be deciphered at the atomic level. This was thus the aim of the first part of the project presented here. This was experimentally studied through the X-ray structural analysis of the corresponding ficolins and C1q recognition domains, alone or in complex with several cognate ligands. We have shown that H- and M- ficolins possess only one binding site, conserved among fibrinogen-like domains. This conserved site does not seem to be active in L-ficolin, but new binding sites were discovered instead, defining a larger surface of recognition more suitable to the binding of elongated polymers. Interestingly, we also found a new binding site for phosphoserine in C1q. We also provided evidence for two unique properties of M-ficolin: the binding of Neu5Ac, a classical self-marker, and a pH-dependent conformational switch of the binding site. As recognition properties of a few recognition proteins do not explain the different behaviour of immune cells with altered-self debris, we initiated a new project to understand signalling pathways in phagocytes during apoptotic cells removal. Many data suggest that a GEF complex: ELMO/DOCK is common to many pathways activated by apoptotic cells recognition and is also a point of regulation. My work in this second project was to initiate the setup of cellular tools to study the behaviour of this complex in different model cell lines. I developed quantitative phagocytic tests and also tools for detection and surexpression of ELMO1 in different cells lines. We also observed the re-localisation of cellular ELMO1 in the phagocytic cup.GRENOBLE1-BU Sciences (384212103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Caractérisations physicochimiques et structurales du complexe calmoduline/protéine F-STOP

La protéine F-STOP (Fibroblastic Stable Tubule Only Polypeptide) est l'isoforme la plus courte de la famille des STOPs, un membre de la superfamille des protéines associées aux microtubules (MAPs). Cette isoforme est physiologiquement localisée sur le fuseau mitotique, ce qui suggère un rôle particulier au cours de la division cellulaire. En présence de F-STOP, les microtubules restent stables à basse température (4.C). Cette propriété est inhibée par la liaison de F-STOP à la calmoduline. Les données récentes de la littérature décrivent deux types principaux de sites potentiels de liaison à la calmoduline sur la protéine F-STOP (Mc et Mn). Ce travail de thèse est consacré à la caractérisation de l'interaction de la calmoduline avec ces deux motifs isolés ou dans le contexte de la protéine native. Bien qu'ayant des séquences primaires distinctes, ces motifs possèdent des propriétés physisochimiques et structurales d'interaction avec la calmoduline similaires et représentatives de celles du complexe calmoduline/F-STOP. Nous avons montré que ce mode d'interaction est atypique et affecte principalement le domaine C-terminal de la calmoduline. Au cours de la liaison, les motifs liés ne présentent pas la structuration typique en hélice alpha des ligands calcium-dépendant de la calmoduline. De plus, l'interaction est en partie de nature électrostatique, puisqu'elle est sensible à la force ionique. Ce travail apporte de nouveaux éléments pour la compréhension des mécanismes de liaison de la calmoduline à ses ligands spécifiques. Les résultats obtenus soulèvent également des questions sur les raisons physiologiques de ce mode particulier d'interaction calmoduline/F-STOP.GRENOBLE1-BU Sciences (384212103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Calreticulin Release at an Early Stage of Death Modulates the Clearance by Macrophages of Apoptotic Cells

International audienceCalreticulin (CRT) is a well-known "eat-me" signal harbored by dying cells participating in their recognition by phagocytes. CRT is also recognized to deeply impact the immune response to altered self-cells. In this study, we focus on the role of the newly exposed CRT following cell death induction. We show that if CRT increases at the outer face of the plasma membrane and is well recognized by C1q even when phosphatidylserine is not yet detected, CRT is also released in the surrounding milieu and is able to interact with phagocytes. We observed that exogenous CRT is endocytosed by THP1 macrophages through macropinocytosis and that internalization is associated with a particular phenotype characterized by an increase of cell spreading and migration, an upregulation of CD14, an increase of interleukin-8 release, and a decrease of early apoptotic cell uptake. Importantly, CRT-induced pro-inflammatory phenotype was confirmed on human monocytes-derived macrophages by the overexpression of CD40 and CD274, and we found that monocyte-derived macrophages exposed to CRT display a peculiar polarization notably associated with a downregulation of the histocompatibility complex of class II molecules hampering its description through the classical M1/M2 dichotomy. Altogether our results highlight the role of soluble CRT with strong possible consequences on the macrophage-mediated immune response to dying cell

Surviving salt fluctuations: stress and recovery in Halobacterium salinarum, an extreme halophilic Archaeon

International audienceHalophilic proteins subjected to below about 15% salt in vitro denature through misfolding, aggregation and/or precipitation. Halobacteria, however, have been detected in environments of fluctuating salinity such as coastal salterns and even around fresh water springs in the depths of the Dead Sea. In order to identify the underlying mechanisms of low salt survival, we explored the reactivation capacity of Halobacterium (Hbt) salinarum sub-populations after incubation in low salt media and recovery in physiological salt. Respiratory oxygen consumption was assessed in stressed cells and cell viability was estimated by Live/Dead staining and flow cytometry. In vivo neutron scattering experiments showed that the recovery of Hbt salinarum sub-populations exposed to severe low salt conditions is related to a rapid retrieval of functional molecular dynamics in the proteome. In the hypothesis that the observations on Hbt salinarum have wider relevance, they could be of key ecological significance for the dispersion of extremophiles when environmental fluctuations become severe

Nanoscale imaging of CD47 informs how plasma membrane modifications shape apoptotic cell recognition

International audienceCD47 recognized by its macrophage receptor SIRPα serves as a “don’t eat-me” signal protecting viable cells from phagocytosis. How this is abrogated by apoptosis-induced changes in the plasma membrane, concomitantly with exposure of phosphatidylserine and calreticulin “eat-me“ signals, is not well understood. Using STORM imaging and single-particle tracking, we interrogate how the distribution of these molecules on the cell surface correlates with plasma membrane alteration, SIRPα binding, and cell engulfment by macrophages. Apoptosis induces calreticulin clustering into blebs and CD47 mobility. Modulation of integrin affinity impacts CD47 mobility on the plasma membrane but not the SIRPα binding, whereas CD47/SIRPα interaction is suppressed by cholesterol destabilization. SIRPα no longer recognizes CD47 localized on apoptotic blebs. Overall, the data suggest that disorganization of the lipid bilayer at the plasma membrane, by inducing inaccessibility of CD47 possibly due to a conformational change, is central to the phagocytosis process

Relative contribution of c1q and apoptotic cell-surface calreticulin to macrophage phagocytosis.

International audienceC1q has been shown to recognize apoptotic cells, to enhance their uptake and to modulate cytokine release by phagocytes and thus promote immune tolerance. Surface-exposed calreticulin (CRT), known as a C1q receptor, is also considered to be an early eat-me signal that enhances the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and is capable of eliciting an immunogenic response. However, the molecular mechanisms that trigger these functions are not clear. We hypothesized that CRT and C1q might act together in these processes. We first showed, by means of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), that CRT interacts with the C1q globular region at the surface of early apoptotic cells. Next, we pointed out that knockdown of CRT on early apoptotic HeLa cells impairs the enhancement effect of C1q on their uptake by THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages. Furthermore, a deficiency of CRT induces contrasting effects on cytokine release by THP-1 macrophages, increasing interleukin (IL)-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1/CCL2 and decreasing IL-8. Remarkably, these effects were greatly reduced when apoptotic cells were opsonized by C1q, which counterbalanced the effect of the CRT deficiency. These results demonstrate that CRT-C1q interaction is involved in the C1q bridging function and they highlight the particular ability of C1q to control the phagocyte inflammatory status, i.e. by integrating the molecular changes that could occur at the surface of dying cells