The Eye Lens Cytoskeleton

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Eye Lens Cytoskeleton R.A. QUINLAN, A. SANDI LANDS, The eye lens J.E. PROCTER, A.R. PRESCOTT, A.M. HUTCHESON, R. DAHM, cytoskeleton C. GRIBBON, P. WALLACE, LM. CARTER Abstract During lens cell differentiation there are a number of very characteristic morphological changes that occur. These include a 50- to 100- fold increase in cell length as the equatorial lens epithelial cells differentiate into fibre cells and the loss of the cellular organelles such as mitochondria, nuclei, Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Coincident with these changes are dramatic alterations in the organisation of the lens fibre cell cytoskeleton and in particular the lens-specific intermediate filament network comprising CP49 and filensin. Cell shape and cell polarisation as well as tissue integrity are all processes that depend upon the cytoskeleton and are therefore important to the lens. The unique aspects of the lenticular cytoskeleton are the subject of this review. RA Quinlan A. Sandi lands Key words CP49, Cytoskeleton, Differentiation, !.E. Procter Filensin, Intermediate filaments, Lens A.R. Prescott A.M. Hutcheson R. Dahm C Gribbon P. Wallace J.M. Carter The lenticular cytoskeleton Department of Biochemistry In common with other cells, lens cells possess Medical Sciences Institute microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate The University Dundee, Scotland, UK filaments (Fig. 1). It is expected that they also perform equivalent functions in the lens as Dr RAQuinlan � found in other cell types. Thus, the actin Department of Biochemistry The University cytoskeleton, through the actions of actin­ Dundee DD1 5EH binding proteins and motor proteins, will Scotland, UK facilitate changes in cell shape, strengthen Tel: +44 (0)1382344752 cell-cell contacts and cell-extracellular matrix Fax: +44 (0)1382201603 interactions, and define plasma membrane e-mail: compartments. Likewise the microtubule [email protected] cytoskeleton will direct intracellular transport RAQ and JM.C processes as well as contributing to the acknowledge the financial distribution of organelles. Intermediate support of the Wellcome filaments are major structural elements of cells Trust J.E.P. and R.D. are supported by MRC and helping them to resist physical stresses, which BBSRC-CASE studentships in the context of the primate lens will include respectively. The support of lens accommodation. Of all these cytoskeletal Pharmacia-Upjohn as the systems it is the intermediate filaments of the industrial sponsor of the Fig. 1. Cultured human lens epithelial cells labelled BBSRC -CASE studentship is eye lens that are the most distinct and for which with an antibody to a-tubulin (A), phalloidin to actin acknowledged. CG. is a direct link with cataract has recently been (B) and an antibody to vimentin (C). Scale bars represent supported by a Fight for suggested. 10/Lm. Sight studentship Eye (1999) 13, 409-416 © 1999 Royal College of Ophthalmologists 409 Table 1. The intermediate filament protein family Intermediate filament type Protein name Molecular weight (x 10-3) Cell/tissue location I Keratin 9-20 40-64 Epithelial cells II Keratin 1-8 52-68 Epithelial cells III Vimentin 55 Mesenchymal cells Desmin 53 Muscle cells GFAP 51 Glia and astrocytes Peripherin 54 Neuronal cells IV Neurofilament proteins: NF-L/NF-Ma /NF-H" 70-160 Neurons a-internexin" 56 Neurons Nestina 240 Neuroepithelial stem cells and muscle V Nuclear lamins: A-type 55-72 Differentiated cells B-type 55-68 All cells "The apparent mobility of these proteins by SDS-PAGE is quite different from the calculated molecular weights determined from the amino acid sequence. Intermediate filaments of the eye lens Diseases caused by intermediate filaments and their associated proteins Our own studies have concentrated on the intermediate filament proteins found in the lens, which have led to a Intermediate filaments are some of the most resilient number of important discoveries. Firstly, through the structures present in the cell?O A number of inherited cloning and sequencing of the two lens-specific proteins, diseases have been discovered which are due to CP49I-6 and filensin/-12 the homology of these proteins mutations in intermediate filament proteins or their to the intermediate filament protein family was associated proteins.21 These include skin blistering established. Secondly, CP49 and filensin were found in a diseases (reviewed in21), muscular dystrophy,22 complex with two other major lens proteins, aA- and aB­ myopathies,23,24 corneal dystrophies2s and also lens cataract.18,26 A defective intermediate filament network crystallin}3,14 which are protein chaperones and which severely compromises the structural integrity of the cell are essential for lens transparency. This complex of as well as the tissue comprising these cells.27 For chaperones and intermediate filaments forms a specific instance, the first diseases attributed to mutations in structure with a very distinctive morphology called the intermediate filament proteins were the skin blistering beaded filament. It is found only in the lens.IS Thirdly, diseases. Here, mutations in the keratins, the the mechanism of assembly for CP49 proteins and intermediate filament proteins found in epithelial cells, filensin is apparently different from that observed for caused collapse of the filament network in the epidermal other intermediate filament proteins, which has cells. The barrier function of the epidermis is lost which, challenged several of the central dogmas concerning depending on the mutation, can present a range of intermediate filament assembly.14,16,17 Lastly, the phenotypes from skin blistering, in response to mild discovery that mutations in aB-crystallin can induce the stress, to the shedding of large areas of epidermis in the collapse of intermediate filament networksI8 shows most severe cases. More recently, mutations in the intermediate and beaded filaments to be important muscle-specific intermediate filament protein, desmin, physiological targets for the chaperone function of aB­ have been found to cause desmin related myopathy crystallinI9 and suggests the beaded filament is a key (DRM23,24). This disease can also be caused by a mutation structural element required for lens transparency. in aB-crystallin,18 demonstrating the importance of non a-helical non a-helical N-terrninal C-tenninal ROD DOMAIN ---------f domain domain HELIX I LIllI HELIX II MOTIF FORMS A PARALLEL AND IN REGISTER COILED-COIL WITH ASSEMBLY PART VIA THESE o:-HELCAL DOMAINS ESSENTIAL FOR ER CONTRIBUTES FILAMENT TO FILAMENT ASSEMBLY AS EMBLY Fig. 2. Schematic representation of the structural features common to the intermediate protein family. 410 associated proteins to intermediate filament function. which are essential for assembly (Fig. 2). These are the Patients with DRM caused by aB-crystallin mutations LNDR- and TYRKLLEGE-motifs found at the N- and C­ also present with cataract, suggesting an important role terminal ends of the central rod domain.36,37 for intermediate filaments in lens transparency. In mouse Intermediate filaments themselves are apolar models of cataractogenesis, disruption of the normal polymers, unlike actin filaments and microtubules which expression pattern and levels of intermediate filament are polar. Soluble intermediate filament subunits can proteins occurs in the lenses of these mice?8-31 therefore exchange directly with the filament along its length. Tubulin and actin are restricted to exchange events at the ends of microtubules and microfilaments, Intermediate filament family respectively.38,39 There are over 60 different gene products attributed to the intermediate filament protein family on the basis of Intermediate filament proteins present in the lens their primary amino acid sequence similarities, assembly In the adult vertebrate lens there are at least three characteristics and gene structure (Table 1). These different intermediate filament proteins. These include proteins are arranged into five major classes. The type I vimentin, CP49 and filensin.37 The lens has often been and II proteins comprise the keratins, which cover those used as a source for the purification of vimentin, as it was intermediate filament proteins found in epithelia. The considered for a long time to be the only intermediate type III proteins are GFAP, desmin, peripherin and filament protein present in the mature lens.4o Early in vimentin, which are specific for astrocytes, muscle, development, though, keratins are expressed in the peripheral nerves and cells of mesenchymal origin, primary lens fibre cells, although these are then 10St.41 respectively. The type IV proteins are the neurofilament Vimentin itself is found in the epithelial cells and the proteins, including a-internexin, which are all found secondary fibre cells but here the expression is restricted largely in neurons. Lastly type V are the nuclear lamins, to the younger fibre cells.42,43 There is a distinct transition which are found in all cells that possess a nucleus. More during lens fibre cell differentiation when vimentin is recently, the discovery of additional vertebrate apparently lost from the secondary fibre cells. This point intermediate filament proteins such as CP49 (see below), is far deeper in the lens beyond the stage where the cell filensin (see below), synemin32 and paranemin,33 which organelles are 10st.43.44 The lens-specific proteins, CP49 do not fit easily into either one of the established protein and filensin, are found at all stages of lens fibre cell types, may mean that this categorisation
Recommended publications
  • Cyclin D1/Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 Interacts with Filamin a and Affects the Migration and Invasion Potential of Breast Cancer Cells
    Published OnlineFirst February 28, 2010; DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-1108 Tumor and Stem Cell Biology Cancer Research Cyclin D1/Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 Interacts with Filamin A and Affects the Migration and Invasion Potential of Breast Cancer Cells Zhijiu Zhong, Wen-Shuz Yeow, Chunhua Zou, Richard Wassell, Chenguang Wang, Richard G. Pestell, Judy N. Quong, and Andrew A. Quong Abstract Cyclin D1 belongs to a family of proteins that regulate progression through the G1-S phase of the cell cycle by binding to cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)-4 to phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein and release E2F transcription factors for progression through cell cycle. Several cancers, including breast, colon, and prostate, overexpress the cyclin D1 gene. However, the correlation of cyclin D1 overexpression with E2F target gene regulation or of cdk-dependent cyclin D1 activity with tumor development has not been identified. This suggests that the role of cyclin D1 in oncogenesis may be independent of its function as a cell cycle regulator. One such function is the role of cyclin D1 in cell adhesion and motility. Filamin A (FLNa), a member of the actin-binding filamin protein family, regulates signaling events involved in cell motility and invasion. FLNa has also been associated with a variety of cancers including lung cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, human bladder cancer, and neuroblastoma. We hypothesized that elevated cyclin D1 facilitates motility in the invasive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. We show that MDA-MB-231 motility is affected by disturbing cyclin D1 levels or cyclin D1-cdk4/6 kinase activity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Desmoplakin Carboxyl Terminus Coaligns with and Specifically Disrupts Intermediate Filament Networks When Expressed in Cultured Cells Thaddeus S
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by PubMed Central The Desmoplakin Carboxyl Terminus Coaligns with and Specifically Disrupts Intermediate Filament Networks When Expressed in Cultured Cells Thaddeus S. Stappenbeck and Kathleen J. Green Department of Pathology and the Cancer Center, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611 Abstract. Specific interactions between desmoplakins tides including the 90-kD carboxy-terminal globular I and 11 (DP I and II) and other desmosomal or cyto- domain of DP I specifically colocalized with and ulti- skeletal molecules have been difficult to determine in mately resulted in the complete disruption of IF in part because of the complexity and insolubility of the both cell lines. This effect was specific for IF as micro- desmosome and its constituents . We have used a mo- tubule and microfilament networks were unaltered . lecular genetic approach to investigate the role that This effect was also specific for the carboxyl terminus DP I and 11 may play in the association of the desmo- of DP, as the expression of the 95-kD rod domain of somal plaque with cytoplasmic intermediate filaments DP I did not visibly alter IF networks. Immunogold (IF) . A series of mammalian expression vectors en- localization of COS-7 cells transfected with constructs coding specific predicted domains of DP I were tran- including the carboxyl terminus of DP demonstrated siently expressed in cultured cells that form (COS-7) an accumulation of mutant protein in perinuclear aggre- and do not form (NIH-3T3) desmosomes. Sequence gates within which IF subunits were sequestered.
    [Show full text]
  • Blood Neurofilament Light Chain: the Neurologist's Troponin?
    biomedicines Review Blood Neurofilament Light Chain: The Neurologist’s Troponin? Simon Thebault 1,*, Ronald A. Booth 2 and Mark S. Freedman 1,* 1 Department of Medicine and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H8L6, Canada 2 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa & The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H8L6, Canada; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (S.T.); [email protected] (M.S.F.) Received: 4 November 2020; Accepted: 18 November 2020; Published: 21 November 2020 Abstract: Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a marker of neuro-axonal injury showing promising associations with outcomes of interest in several neurological conditions. Although initially discovered and investigated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the recent development of ultrasensitive digital immunoassay technologies has enabled reliable detection in serum/plasma, obviating the need for invasive lumbar punctures for longitudinal assessment. The most evidence for utility relates to multiple sclerosis (MS) where it serves as an objective measure of both the inflammatory and degenerative pathologies that characterise this disease. In this review, we summarise the physiology and pathophysiology of neurofilaments before focusing on the technological advancements that have enabled reliable quantification of NfL in blood. As the test case for clinical translation, we then highlight important recent developments linking blood NfL levels to outcomes in MS and the next steps to be overcome before this test is adopted on a routine clinical basis. Keywords: neurofilament light chain; biomarkers; multiple sclerosis 1. Neurofilament Structure and Function Neurofilaments are neuronal-specific heteropolymers conventionally considered to consist of a triplet of light (NfL), medium (NfM) and heavy (NfH) chains according to their molecular mass [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Actin Cytoskeleton of Spread Fibroblasts Appears to Assemble at the Cell Edges
    J. Cell Sd. 82, 235-248 (1986) 235 Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1986 ACTIN CYTOSKELETON OF SPREAD FIBROBLASTS APPEARS TO ASSEMBLE AT THE CELL EDGES TATJANA M. SVITKINA, ALEXANDER A. NEYFAKH, JR Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899, USSR AND ALEXANDER D. BERSHADSKY All-Union Cancer Research Center, Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow 115478, USSR SUMMARY The action of metabolic inhibitors on actin cytoskeleton of cultured quail embryo fibroblasts has been studied using electron microscopy of platinum replicas and immunofluorescence microscopy. Sodium azide as well as other inhibitors (oligomycin and dinitrophenol) caused the disassembly of all types of actin structures: actin meshwork at the cell active edges, microfilament sheath underlying the cell surface, and microfilament bundles. Studying the time- and dose-dependence of the destruction process we have found that the active edge meshwork and microfilament sheath are much more labile than microfilament bundles. After the removal of metabolic inhibitors actin cytoskeleton restoration begins at the cell edges. The first sign of this process is the formation of actin meshwork along the whole cell perimeter (l-10min of recovery). Sometimes fragments of this meshwork bend upwards forming ruffles. Later (10-20 min of recovery) the microfilament sheath appears at the cell periphery as a narrow band. The sheath seems to be formed from the edge meshwork, since ruffles in the process of transformation to sheath could be seen. During the following restoration the microfilament sheath gradually expands towards the cell centre. The last step of actin cytoskeleton restoration (60—120 min of recovery) is the formation of bundles.
    [Show full text]
  • Differential Expression of Two Neuronal Intermediate-Filament Proteins, Peripherin and the Low-Molecular-Mass Neurofilament Prot
    The Journal of Neuroscience, March 1990, fO(3): 764-764 Differential Expression of Two Neuronal Intermediate-Filament Proteins, Peripherin and the Low-Molecular-Mass Neurofilament Protein (NF-L), During the Development of the Rat Michel Escurat,’ Karima Djabali,’ Madeleine Gumpel,2 Franqois Gras,’ and Marie-Madeleine Portier’ lCollBne de France, Biochimie Cellulaire, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France, *HBpital de la Salpktricke, Unite INSERM 134, 75651Paris Cedex 13, France The expression of peripherin, an intermediate filament pro- and Freeman, 1978), now more generally referred to respectively tein, had been shown by biochemical methods to be local- as high-, middle-, and low-molecular-mass NFP (NF-H, NF-M, ized in the neurons of the PNS. Using immunohistochemical and NF-L). These proteins are expressed in most mature neu- methods, we analyzed this expression more extensively dur- ronal populations belonging either to the CNS or to the PNS; ing the development of the rat and compared it with that of developing neurons generally do not express any of them until the low-molecular-mass neurofilament protein (NF-L), which they become postmitotic (Tapscott et al., 198 la). is expressed in every neuron of the CNS and PNS. We, however, described another IFP with a molecular weight The immunoreactivity of NF-L is first apparent at the 25 of about 57 kDa, which we had first observed in mouse neu- somite stage (about 11 d) in the ventral horn of the spinal roblastoma cell lines and which was also expressed in rat pheo- medulla and in the posterior part of the rhombencephalon. chromocytoma PC1 2 cell line.
    [Show full text]
  • HTS-Tubulin Polymerization Assay Biochem Kit™
    The Protein Manual Experts Cytoskeleton, Inc. V 8.0 HTS-Tubulin Polymerization Assay Biochem Kit™ (>97% pure tubulin, Porcine Tubulin) Cat. # BK004P Phone: (303) 322.2254 Fax: (303) 322.2257 Customer Service: [email protected] cytoskeleton.com Technical Support: [email protected] cytoskeleton.com Page 2 Manual Contents Section I: Introduction About Tubulin -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 About the BK004P polymerization Assay -------------------------------------- 6-7 Comparison of Polymerization Assays ----------------------------------------- 8-9 Section II: Purchaser Notification ------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Section III: Kit Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11-12 Section V: Reconstitution and Storage of Components ----------------------------- 13 Section IV: Important Technical Notes Notes on Updated version --------------------------------------------------------- 14 Spectrophotometer settings ------------------------------------------------------- 14 Spectrophotometer pathlength---------------------------------------------------- 15 Temperature & time dependence of polymerization ------------------------ 15 Recommended pipetting technique --------------------------------------------- 15-16 Tubulin protein stability ------------------------------------------------------------- 16 Test compound or protein preparation ------------------------------------------ 16-17 Section VI: Assay Protocol
    [Show full text]
  • Associated Palmoplantar Keratoderma
    DR ABIGAIL ZIEMAN (Orcid ID : 0000-0001-8236-207X) Article type : Review Article Pathophysiology of pachyonychia congenita-associated palmoplantar keratoderma: New insight into skin epithelial homeostasis and avenues for treatment Authors: A. G. Zieman1 and P. A. Coulombe1,2 # Affiliations: 1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; 2Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA #Corresponding author: Pierre A. Coulombe, PhD, 3071 Biomedical Sciences Research Building, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Tel: 734-615-7509. Email: [email protected]. Funding Sources: These studies were supported by grant AR044232 issued to P.A.C. from the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS). A.G.Z. received support from grant T32 CA009110 from the National Cancer Institute. Author Manuscript This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1111/BJD.18033 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved Conflict of interest disclosures: None declared. Bulleted statements: What’s already known about this topic? Pachyonychia congenita is a rare genodermatosis caused by mutations in KRT6A, KRT6B, KRT6C, KRT16, KRT17, which are normally expressed in skin appendages and induced following injury. Individuals with PC present with multiple clinical symptoms that usually include thickened and dystrophic nails, palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK), glandular cysts, and oral leukokeratosis.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Mutations and Mechanisms in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
    Genetic mutations and mechanisms in dilated cardiomyopathy Elizabeth M. McNally, … , Jessica R. Golbus, Megan J. Puckelwartz J Clin Invest. 2013;123(1):19-26. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI62862. Review Series Genetic mutations account for a significant percentage of cardiomyopathies, which are a leading cause of congestive heart failure. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), cardiac output is limited by the thickened myocardium through impaired filling and outflow. Mutations in the genes encoding the thick filament components myosin heavy chain and myosin binding protein C (MYH7 and MYBPC3) together explain 75% of inherited HCMs, leading to the observation that HCM is a disease of the sarcomere. Many mutations are “private” or rare variants, often unique to families. In contrast, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is far more genetically heterogeneous, with mutations in genes encoding cytoskeletal, nucleoskeletal, mitochondrial, and calcium-handling proteins. DCM is characterized by enlarged ventricular dimensions and impaired systolic and diastolic function. Private mutations account for most DCMs, with few hotspots or recurring mutations. More than 50 single genes are linked to inherited DCM, including many genes that also link to HCM. Relatively few clinical clues guide the diagnosis of inherited DCM, but emerging evidence supports the use of genetic testing to identify those patients at risk for faster disease progression, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmia. Find the latest version: https://jci.me/62862/pdf Review series Genetic mutations and mechanisms in dilated cardiomyopathy Elizabeth M. McNally, Jessica R. Golbus, and Megan J. Puckelwartz Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Genetic mutations account for a significant percentage of cardiomyopathies, which are a leading cause of conges- tive heart failure.
    [Show full text]
  • A Cell Line P53 Mutation Type UM
    A Cell line p53 mutation Type UM-SCC 1 wt UM-SCC5 Exon 5, 157 GTC --> TTC Missense mutation by transversion (Valine --> Phenylalanine UM-SCC6 wt UM-SCC9 wt UM-SCC11A wt UM-SCC11B Exon 7, 242 TGC --> TCC Missense mutation by transversion (Cysteine --> Serine) UM-SCC22A Exon 6, 220 TAT --> TGT Missense mutation by transition (Tyrosine --> Cysteine) UM-SCC22B Exon 6, 220 TAT --> TGT Missense mutation by transition (Tyrosine --> Cysteine) UM-SCC38 Exon 5, 132 AAG --> AAT Missense mutation by transversion (Lysine --> Asparagine) UM-SCC46 Exon 8, 278 CCT --> CGT Missense mutation by transversion (Proline --> Alanine) B 1 Supplementary Methods Cell Lines and Cell Culture A panel of ten established HNSCC cell lines from the University of Michigan series (UM-SCC) was obtained from Dr. T. E. Carey at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The UM-SCC cell lines were derived from eight patients with SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract (supplemental Table 1). Patient age at tumor diagnosis ranged from 37 to 72 years. The cell lines selected were obtained from patients with stage I-IV tumors, distributed among oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal sites. All the patients had aggressive disease, with early recurrence and death within two years of therapy. Cell lines established from single isolates of a patient specimen are designated by a numeric designation, and where isolates from two time points or anatomical sites were obtained, the designation includes an alphabetical suffix (i.e., "A" or "B"). The cell lines were maintained in Eagle's minimal essential media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and penicillin/streptomycin.
    [Show full text]
  • Localization of the Lens Intermediate Filament Switch by Imaging Mass Spectrometry
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.21.053793; this version posted April 23, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Localization of the Lens Intermediate Filament Switch by Imaging Mass Spectrometry Zhen Wang, Daniel J. Ryan, and Kevin L Schey* Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 * To whom correspondence should be addressed Current address: Mass Spectrometry Research Center Vanderbilt University 465 21st Ave. So., Suite 9160 MRB III Nashville, TN 37232-8575 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 615.936.6861 Fax: 615.343.8372 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.21.053793; this version posted April 23, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Abstract Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) enables targeted and untargeted visualization of the spatial localization of molecules in tissues with great specificity. The lens is a unique tissue that contains fiber cells corresponding to various stages of differentiation that are packed in a highly spatial order. The application of IMS to lens tissue localizes molecular features that are spatially related to the fiber cell organization. Such spatially resolved molecular information assists our understanding of lens structure and physiology; however, protein IMS studies are typically limited to abundant, soluble, low molecular weight proteins. In this study, a method was developed for imaging low solubility cytoskeletal proteins in the lens; a tissue that is filled with high concentrations of soluble crystallins.
    [Show full text]
  • Absence of NEFL in Patient-Specific Neurons in Early-Onset Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Markus T
    ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS Absence of NEFL in patient-specific neurons in early-onset Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy Markus T. Sainio, MSc, Emil Ylikallio, MD, PhD, Laura M¨aenp¨a¨a, MSc, Jenni Lahtela, PhD, Pirkko Mattila, PhD, Correspondence Mari Auranen, MD, PhD, Johanna Palmio, MD, PhD, and Henna Tyynismaa, PhD Dr. Tyynismaa [email protected] Neurol Genet 2018;4:e244. doi:10.1212/NXG.0000000000000244 Abstract Objective We used patient-specific neuronal cultures to characterize the molecular genetic mechanism of recessive nonsense mutations in neurofilament light (NEFL) underlying early-onset Charcot- Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Methods Motor neurons were differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells of a patient with early- onset CMT carrying a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in NEFL. Quantitative PCR, protein analytics, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and single-cell transcriptomics were used to investigate patient and control neurons. Results We show that the recessive nonsense mutation causes a nearly total loss of NEFL messenger RNA (mRNA), leading to the complete absence of NEFL protein in patient’s cultured neurons. Yet the cultured neurons were able to differentiate and form neuronal networks and neuro- filaments. Single-neuron gene expression fingerprinting pinpointed NEFL as the most down- regulated gene in the patient neurons and provided data of intermediate filament transcript abundancy and dynamics in cultured neurons. Blocking of nonsense-mediated decay partially rescued the loss of NEFL mRNA. Conclusions The strict neuronal specificity of neurofilament has hindered the mechanistic studies of re- cessive NEFL nonsense mutations. Here, we show that such mutation leads to the absence of NEFL, causing childhood-onset neuropathy through a loss-of-function mechanism.
    [Show full text]
  • Tropomodulin Isoform-Specific Regulation of Dendrite Development and Synapse Formation
    This Accepted Manuscript has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. Research Articles: Cellular/Molecular Tropomodulin Isoform-Specific Regulation of Dendrite Development and Synapse Formation Omotola F. Omotade1,3, Yanfang Rui1,3, Wenliang Lei1,3, Kuai Yu1, H. Criss Hartzell1, Velia M. Fowler4 and James Q. Zheng1,2,3 1Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322. 2Department of Neurology 3Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322. 4Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3325-17.2018 Received: 22 November 2017 Revised: 25 September 2018 Accepted: 2 October 2018 Published: 9 October 2018 Author contributions: O.F.O. and J.Q.Z. designed research; O.F.O., Y.R., W.L., and K.Y. performed research; O.F.O. and J.Q.Z. analyzed data; O.F.O. and J.Q.Z. wrote the paper; Y.R., H.C.H., V.M.F., and J.Q.Z. edited the paper; V.M.F. contributed unpublished reagents/analytic tools. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing financial interests. This research project was supported in part by research grants from National Institutes of Health to JQZ (GM083889, MH104632, and MH108025), OFO (5F31NS092437-03), VMF (EY017724) and HCH (EY014852, AR067786), as well as by the Emory University Integrated Cellular Imaging Microscopy Core of the Emory Neuroscience NINDS Core Facilities grant (5P30NS055077). We would like to thank Dr. Kenneth Myers for his technical expertise and help throughout the project. We also thank Drs.
    [Show full text]