Cell Structure and Function Vol. 42(2017) No. 2

Accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). The ATF6 pathway is one of the three major pathways in vertebrates. Although ATF6, a transmembrane-type glycoprotein in the ER, functions as a UPR sensor/transducer, it is an unstable protein with a half-life of approximately 2 h and is constitutively subjected to the ER-associated degradation system with the location of the misfolded part in the ER lumen (ERAD-L). ERAD-L substrates are delivered to the cytosol through the retrotranslocon, which likely contains HRD1 (E3), gp78 (E3), SEL1L (a partner of HRD1), Derlin1/2/3 and Herp1/2. We previously showed that ATF6 represents a novel transmembrane-type ERAD-L substrate requiring both EDEM1/2/3-mediated mannose trimming and SEL1L. Here, by constructing and analyzing chicken DT40 cells deficient in various components of the retrotranslocon, we show that degradation of ATF6 requires Derlin2 or Derlin3 and that Derlin2 and Derlin3 are redundant for ERAD-L of ATF6. We further show that degradation of ATF6 requires Herp1 or Herp2 and that Herp1 and Herp2 are redundant for ERAD-L of ATF6. Furthermore, by investigating five more ERAD-L substrates, we show that SEL1L-dependent substrates require Derlin2/3 and Herp1/2 regardless of their soluble or transmembrane nature. Our results suggest that ERAD-L substrates take several routes to the cytosol. The HRD1-engaged route 1 requires SEL1L, Derlin2 or Derlin3, and Herp1 or Herp2, whereas the HRD1-engaged route 2 does not require them functionally. It remains to be determined whether the latter requires Derlin1 and whether these two routes are compositionally distinct.

Key words: endoplasmic reticulum, proteasome, protein degradation, protein misfolding, ubiquitin

Background: Liver fibrosis is the response of liver diseases that puzzles patients. MiRNAs were involved in the regulating processes of liver fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the effects of ARRB1 mediated by miR-29a and miR-652 on liver fibrosis and its possible mechanism. Methods: Liver fibrosis of mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄. Liver function was observed by the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Flow cytometry was used to detect the percent of T helper17 (Th17). ELISA (Enzyme linked immunoassay) was used to detect the levels of Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and Interleukin-22 (IL-22). Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of IL-17A, IL-22, miR-29a, miR-652 and β-Arrestin 1 Gene (ARRB1). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of ARRB1. Results: CCl₄ supplementation significantly increased the level of ALT and AST, the percent of Th17, the level of IL-17A, IL-22, miR-29a and miR-652, but decreased ARRB1. Overexpression of miR-29a/miR-652 prominently decreased Th17, IL-17A, IL-22 and ARRB1 in the normal CD4+ T cells. Both miR-29a and miR-652 targeted ARRB1 to regulate its expression. The effects of miR-29a/miR-652 overexpression on CD4+ T cells were reversed by ARRB1 overexpression. In vivo experiments demonstrated the protective role of miR-29a/miR-652 overexpression on liver fibrosis. Conclusion: ARRB1 mediated by miR-29a and miR-652 probably involved in the CD4+ T cells differentiation in patients with liver fibrosis, and functioned as a biomarker of fibrosis liver.

Key words: liver fibrosis, miR-29a, miR-652, ARRB1, CD4+ T cells

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) are isolated from the dental pulp tissue of primary teeth and can differentiate into neuronal cells. Although SHED are a desirable type of stem cells for transplantation therapy and for the study of neurological diseases, a large part of the neuronal differentiation machinery of SHED remains unclear. Recent studies have suggested that mitochondrial activity is involved in the differentiation of stem cells. In the present work, we investigated the neuronal differentiation machinery of SHED by focusing on mitochondrial activity. During neuronal differentiation of SHED, we observed increased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased mitochondrial DNA, and elongated mitochondria. Furthermore, to examine the demand for mitochondrial activity in neuronal differentiation, we then differentiated SHED into neuronal cells in the presence of rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), a mitochondrial uncoupler, and found that neuronal differentiation was inhibited by treatment with rotenone and CCCP. These results indicated that increased mitochondrial activity was crucial for the neuronal differentiation of SHED.

Key words: mitochondria, differentiation, stem cells, dental pulp, exfoliated deciduous teeth

The dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK) family proteins are known as one of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), that contribute to cellular signaling processes by activating small G proteins. Although mammalian Zizimin is known to be a GEF for Cdc42 of Rho family small GTPase, its role in vivo is not well understood. Here we studied in vivo function of Drosophila Zizimin (Ziz). Knockdown of Ziz in eye imaginal discs induced the rough eye phenotype accompanied with fusion of ommatidia, loss of bristles and loss of pigments. Immunostaining analyses revealed that Ziz mainly localizes in the secondary pigment cells (SPCs) and tertiary pigment cells (TPCs) in pupal retinae. Ziz-knockdown induced SPC- and TPC-like cells with aberrant morphology in the pupal retina. Delta (Dl), a downstream target of EGFR signaling is known to regulate pigment cell differentiation. Loss-of-function mutation of Dl suppressed the rough eye phenotype and the defect in differentiation of SPCs and TPCs in Ziz-knockdown flies. Moreover, Ziz-knockdown increased Dl expression level especially in SPCs and TPCs. In addition, mutations of rhomboid-1 and roughoid that are activators of EGFR signaling pathway also suppressed both the rough eye phenotype and the defect in differentiation of SPCs and TPCs in Ziz-knockdown flies. Activation of EGFR signaling in Ziz-knockdown flies were further confirmed by immunostaining with anti-diphospho ERK IgG. These results indicate that Ziz negatively regulates the Dl expression in SPCs and TPCs to control differentiation of pigment cells and this regulation is mediated by EGFR signaling pathway.

Key words: Zizimin, DOCK, EGFR signaling pathway, pigment cell, Drosophila

Actin, a major component of microfilaments, is involved in various eukaryotic cellular functions. Over the past two decades, actin fused with fluorescent protein has been used as a probe to detect the organization and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton in living eukaryotic cells. It is generally assumed that the expression of fusion protein of fluorescent protein does not disturb the distribution of endogenous actin throughout the cell, and that the distribution of the fusion protein reflects that of endogenous actin. However, we noticed that EGFP-β-actin caused the excessive formation of microfilaments in several mammalian cell lines. To investigate whether the position of the EGFP tag on actin affected the formation of filaments, we constructed an expression vector harboring a β-actin-EGFP gene. In contrast to EGFP-β-actin, cells expressing β-actin-EGFP showed actin filaments in a high background from the monomer actin in cytosol. Additionally, the detergent insoluble assay revealed that the majority of the detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton from cells expressing EGFP-β-actin was recovered in the pellet. Furthermore, we found that the expression of EGFP-β-actin affects the migration of NBT-L2b cells and the mechanical stiffness of U2OS cells. These results indicate that EGFP fused to the N-terminus of actin tend to form excessive actin filaments. In addition, EGFP-actin affects both the cellular morphological and physiological phenotypes as compared to actin-EGFP.

Key words: actin, GFP, cytoskeleton and probe