Distinct roles for ADAM10 and ADAM17 in ectodomain shedding of six EGFR ligands

All ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which has important roles in development and disease, are released from the membrane by proteases. In several instances, ectodomain release is critical for activation of EGFR ligands, highlighting the importance of identifying EGFR ligand sheddases. Here, we uncovered the sheddases for six EGFR ligands using mouse embryonic cells lacking candidate-releasing enzymes (a disintegrin and metalloprotease [ADAM] 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, and 19). ADAM10 emerged as the main sheddase of EGF and betacellulin, and ADAM17 as the major convertase of epiregulin, transforming growth factor α, amphiregulin, and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor in these cells. Analysis of adam9/12/15/17−/− knockout mice corroborated the essential role of adam17−/− in activating the EGFR in vivo. This comprehensive evaluation of EGFR ligand shedding in a defined experimental system demonstrates that ADAMs have critical roles in releasing all EGFR ligands tested here. Identification of EGFR ligand sheddases is a crucial step toward understanding the mechanism underlying ectodomain release, and has implications for designing novel inhibitors of EGFR-dependent tumors

The effect of the oil resin on the properties of solution of the petroleum wax treated in an ultrasonic field

It was found that the complex treatment of ultrasonic followed by the addition of 0.3% by weight. petroleum resins, a more efficient method of inhibiting sedimentation processes than just ultrasonic or addition of 0,3% by weight. petroleum resins. According to the obtained data, fragments of aliphatic petroleum resins are adsorbed on the high molecular hydrocarbons of normal structure and prevent their aggregation thus the inhibition of sedimentation occurs

Cathepsin K Null Mice Show Reduced Adiposity during the Rapid Accumulation of Fat Stores

Growing evidences indicate that proteases are implicated in adipogenesis and in the onset of obesity. We previously reported that the cysteine protease cathepsin K (ctsk) is overexpressed in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of obese individuals. We herein characterized the WAT and the metabolic phenotype of ctsk deficient animals (ctsk−/−). When the growth rate of ctsk−/− was compared to that of the wild type animals (WT), we could establish a time window (5–8 weeks of age) within which ctsk−/−display significantly lower body weight and WAT size as compared to WT. Such a difference was not observable in older mice. Upon treatment with high fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks ctsk−/− gained significantly less weight than WT and showed reduced brown adipose tissue, liver mass and a lower percentage of body fat. Plasma triglycerides, cholesterol and leptin were significantly lower in HFD-fed-ctsk−/− as compared to HFD-fed WT animals. Adipocyte lipolysis rates were increased in both young and HFD-fed-ctsk−/−, as compared to WT. Carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 activity, was higher in mitochondria isolated from the WAT of HFD treated ctsk−/− as compared to WT. Together, these data indicate that ctsk ablation in mice results in reduced body fat content under conditions requiring a rapid accumulation of fat stores. This observation could be partly explained by an increased release and/or utilization of FFA and by an augmented ratio of lipolysis/lipogenesis. These results also demonstrate that under a HFD, ctsk deficiency confers a partial resistance to the development of dyslipidemia

Deficiency of mannose 6-phosphate receptors and lysosomal storage: a morphometric analysis of hepatocytes of neonatal mice

Transport of lysosomal enzymes is mediated by two mannose 6-phosphate receptors: a cation dependent (CD-MPR) and a cation independent receptor (CI-MPR). In the present study the effect of MPR-deficiency on the lysosomal system of neonatal mouse hepatocytes was studied by ultrastructural morphometric analyses. The volume density of the lysosomal system in hepatocytes of mice that lack both receptors was significantly increased in comparison with controls and with mice deficient for CI-MPR only. This higher volume density was due to a nine-fold increase of residual bodies. In CI-MPR-deficient mice the volume density of the lysosomal system was not different from controls and no increase of residual bodies was observed. It is concluded that in hepatocytes of MPR-deficient neonatal mice lysosomal storage occurs when both MPRs are lacking, whereas deficiency of CI-MPR only has no effect on the ultrastructure of the lysosomal system. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve

Deletion of Adam10 in endothelial cells leads to defects in organ-specific vascular structures

During vertebrate angiogenesis, Notch regulates the cell-fate decision between vascular tip cells versus stalk cells. Canonical Notch signaling depends on sequential proteolytic events, whereby interaction of Notch with membrane-anchored ligands triggers proteolytic processing, first by Adam10 and then presenilins. This liberates the Notch intracellular domain, allowing it to enter the nucleus and activate Notch-dependent genes. Here we report that conditional inactivation of Adam10 in endothelial cells (A10ΔEC) recapitulates the increased branching and density of the retinal vasculature that is also caused by interfering with Notch signaling. Moreover, A10ΔEC mice have additional vascular abnormalities, including aberrant subcapsular hepatic veins, enlarged glomeruli, intestinal polyps containing endothelial cell masses, abnormal endochondral ossification, leading to stunted long bone growth and increased pathological neovascularization following oxygen-induced retinopathy. Our findings support a model in which Adam10 is a crucial regulator of endothelial cell-fate decisions, most likely because of its essential role in canonical Notch signaling.status: publishe

Substrate Selectivity of Epidermal Growth Factor-Receptor Ligand Sheddases and their Regulation by Phorbol Esters and Calcium Influx

Signaling via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which has critical roles in development and diseases such as cancer, is regulated by proteolytic shedding of its membrane-tethered ligands. Sheddases for EGFR-ligands are therefore key signaling switches in the EGFR pathway. Here, we determined which ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) can shed various EGFR-ligands, and we analyzed the regulation of EGFR-ligand shedding by two commonly used stimuli, phorbol esters and calcium influx. Phorbol esters predominantly activate ADAM17, thereby triggering a burst of shedding of EGFR-ligands from a late secretory pathway compartment. Calcium influx stimulates ADAM10, requiring its cytoplasmic domain. However, calcium influx-stimulated shedding of transforming growth factor α and amphiregulin does not require ADAM17, even though ADAM17 is essential for phorbol ester-stimulated shedding of these EGFR-ligands. This study provides new insight into the machinery responsible for EGFR-ligand release and thus EGFR signaling and demonstrates that dysregulated EGFR-ligand shedding may be caused by increased expression of constitutively active sheddases or activation of different sheddases by distinct stimuli