Challenges in Using Cultured Primary Rodent Hepatocytes or Cell Lines to Study Hepatic HDL Receptor SR-BI Regulation by Its Cytoplasmic Adaptor PDZK1

Background: PDZK1 is a four PDZ-domain containing cytoplasmic protein that binds to a variety of membrane proteins via their C-termini and can influence the abundance, localization and/or function of its target proteins. One of these targets in hepatocytes in vivo is the HDL receptor SR-BI. Normal hepatic expression of SR-BI protein requires PDZK1 - <5% of normal hepatic SR-BI is seen in the livers of PDZK1 knockout mice. Progress has been made in identifying features of PDZK1 required to control hepatic SR-BI in vivo using hepatic expression of wild-type and mutant forms of PDZK1 in wild-type and PDZK1 KO transgenic mice. Such in vivo studies are time consuming and expensive, and cannot readily be used to explore many features of the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we have explored the potential to use either primary rodent hepatocytes in culture using 2D collagen gels with newly developed optimized conditions or PDZK1/SR-BI co-transfected cultured cell lines (COS, HEK293) for such studies. SR-BI and PDZK1 protein and mRNA expression levels fell rapidly in primary hepatocyte cultures, indicating this system does not adequately mimic hepatocytes in vivo for analysis of the PDZK1 dependence of SR-BI. Although PDZK1 did alter SR-BI protein expression in the cell lines, its influence was independent of SR-BI’s C-terminus, and thus is not likely to occur via the same mechanism as that which occurs in hepatocytes in vivo. Conclusions/Significance: Caution must be exercised in using primary hepatocytes or cultured cell lines when studying the mechanism underlying the regulation of hepatic SR-BI by PDZK1. It may be possible to use SR-BI and PDZK1 expression as sensitive markers for the in vivo-like state of hepatocytes to further improve primary hepatocyte cell culture conditions.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant HL052212)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant HL066105)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant ES015241)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM068762

An Integrated Transcriptomic and Meta-Analysis of Hepatoma Cells Reveals Factors That Influence Susceptibility to HCV Infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global problem. To better understand HCV infection researchers employ in vitro HCV cell-culture (HCVcc) systems that use Huh-7 derived hepatoma cells that are particularly permissive to HCV infection. A variety of hyper-permissive cells have been subcloned for this purpose. In addition, subclones of Huh-7 which have evolved resistance to HCV are available. However, the mechanisms of susceptibility or resistance to infection among these cells have not been fully determined. In order to elucidate mechanisms by which hepatoma cells are susceptible or resistant to HCV infection we performed genome-wide expression analyses of six Huh-7 derived cell cultures that have different levels of permissiveness to infection. A great number of genes, representing a wide spectrum of functions are differentially expressed between cells. To focus our investigation, we identify host proteins from HCV replicase complexes, perform gene expression analysis of three HCV infected cells and conduct a detailed analysis of differentially expressed host factors by integrating a variety of data sources. Our results demonstrate that changes relating to susceptibility to HCV infection in hepatoma cells are linked to the innate immune response, secreted signal peptides and host factors that have a role in virus entry and replication. This work identifies both known and novel host factors that may influence HCV infection. Our findings build upon current knowledge of the complex interplay between HCV and the host cell, which could aid development of new antiviral strategies

Oxa1 Directly Interacts with Atp9 and Mediates Its Assembly into the Mitochondrial F(1)F(o)-ATP Synthase Complex

The yeast Oxa1 protein is involved in the biogenesis of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) machinery. The involvement of Oxa1 in the assembly of the cytochrome oxidase (COX) complex, where it facilitates the cotranslational membrane insertion of mitochondrially encoded COX subunits, is well documented. In this study we have addressed the role of Oxa1, and its sequence-related protein Cox18/Oxa2, in the biogenesis of the F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase complex. We demonstrate that Oxa1, but not Cox18/Oxa2, directly supports the assembly of the membrane embedded F(o)-sector of the ATP synthase. Oxa1 was found to physically interact with newly synthesized mitochondrially encoded Atp9 protein in a posttranslational manner and in a manner that is not dependent on the C-terminal, matrix-localized region of Oxa1. The stable manner of the Atp9-Oxa1 interaction is in contrast to the cotranslational and transient interaction previously observed for the mitochondrially encoded COX subunits with Oxa1. In the absence of Oxa1, Atp9 was observed to assemble into an oligomeric complex containing F(1)-subunits, but its further assembly with subunit 6 (Atp6) of the F(o)-sector was perturbed. We propose that by directly interacting with newly synthesized Atp9 in a posttranslational manner, Oxa1 is required to maintain the assembly competence of the Atp9-F(1)-subcomplex for its association with Atp6

Contributions of a disulfide bond and a reduced cysteine side chain to the intrinsic activity of the HDL receptor SR-BI

The high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor, scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), binds HDL and mediates selective cholesteryl ester uptake. SR-BI's structure and mechanism are poorly understood. We used mass spectrometry to assign the two disulfide bonds in SR-BI that connect cysteines within the conserved Cys[superscript 321]-Pro[superscript 322]-Cys[superscript 323] (CPC) motif and connect Cys[superscript 280] to Cys[superscript 334]. We used site-specific mutagenesis to evaluate the contributions of the CPC motif and the side chain of extracellular Cys[superscript 384] to HDL binding and lipid uptake. The effects of CPC mutations on activity were context dependent. Full wild-type (WT) activity required Pro[superscript 322] and Cys[superscript 323] only when Cys[superscript 321] was present. Reduced intrinsic activities were observed for CXC and CPX, but not XXC, XPX or XXX mutants (X≠WT residue). Apparently, a free thiol side chain at position 321 that cannot form an intra-CPC disulfide bond with Cys[superscript 323] is deleterious, perhaps because of aberrant disulfide bond formation. Pro[superscript 322] may stabilize an otherwise strained CPC disulfide bond, thus supporting WT activity, but this disulfide bond is not absolutely required for activity. C[superscript 384]X (X=S,T,L,Y,G,A) mutants exhibited altered activities that varied with the side chain's size: larger side chains phenocopied WT SR-BI treated with its thiosemicarbazone inhibitor BLT-1 (increased binding, decreased uptake); smaller side chains produced almost inverse effects (increased uptake:binding ratio). C[superscript 384]X mutants were BLT-1 resistant, supporting the proposal that Cys[superscript 384]'s thiol interacts with BLT-1. We discuss the implications of our findings on the functions of the extracellular loop cysteines in SR-BI and compare our results to those presented by other laboratories.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant HL052212)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant HL066105)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Graduate Student Training Grant 5-T32-GM007287)Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundatio