The PDZ2 domain of zonula occludens-1 and -2 is a phosphoinositide binding domain

Zonula occludens proteins (ZO) are postsynaptic density protein-95 discs large-zonula occludens (PDZ) domain-containing proteins that play a fundamental role in the assembly of tight junctions and establishment of cell polarity. Here, we show that the second PDZ domain of ZO-1 and ZO-2 binds phosphoinositides (PtdInsP) and we identified critical residues involved in the interaction. Furthermore, peptide and PtdInsP binding of ZO PDZ2 domains are mutually exclusive. Although lipid binding does not seem to be required for plasma membrane localisation of ZO-1, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P ₂) binding to the PDZ2 domain of ZO-2 regulates ZO-2 recruitment to nuclear speckles. Knockdown of ZO-2 expression disrupts speckle morphology, indicating that ZO-2 might play an active role in formation and stabilisation of these subnuclear structures. This study shows for the first time that ZO isoforms bind PtdInsPs and offers an alternative regulatory mechanism for the formation and stabilisation of protein complexes in the nucleus.     

Metabolism and signaling activities of nuclear lipids

Apart from the lipids present in the nuclear envelope, the nucleus also contains lipids which are located further inside and are resistant to treatment with nonionic detergents. Evidence is being accumulated on the importance of internal nuclear lipid metabolism. Nuclear lipid metabolism gives rise to several lipid second messengers that function within the nucleus. Moreover, it is beginning to emerge that nuclear lipids not only act as precursors of bioactive second messengers but may be directly involved in regulation of nuclear structure and gene expression. Over the last 10years, especially the role of the inositol lipid cycle in nuclear signal transduction has been extensively studied. This cycle is activated following a variety of stimuli and is regulated independently from the inositide cycle located at the plasma membrane. However, the nucleus contain other lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, fatty acids and eicosanoids. There are numerous reports which suggest that these classes of nuclear lipids may play roles in the nucleus as important as those of phosphoinositides. This review aims at highlighting the most important aspects regarding the metabolism and signaling activities of nuclear phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, fatty acids and eicosanoids.Received 7 November 2003; received after revision 18 December 2003; accepted 29 December 2003     

Implication of phosphoinositide phosphatases in genetic diseases: the case of myotubularin

Phosphoinositides play a central role in the control of major eukaryotic cell signaling mechanisms. Accordingly, the list of phosphoinositide-metabolizing enzymes implicated in human diseases has considerably increased these last years. Here we will focus on myotubularin, the protein mutated in the X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) and the founding member of a family of 13 related proteins. Recent data demonstrate that myotubularin and several other members of the family are potent lipid phosphatases showing a marked specificity for phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P]. This finding has raised considerable interest as PtdIns(3)P is implicated in vesicular trafficking and sorting through its binding to specific protein domains. The structure of myotubularin, the molecular mechanisms of its function and its implication in the etiology of XLMTM will be discussed, as well as the potential function and role of the other members of the family.Received 14 February 2003; received after revision 10 April 2003; accepted 14 April 2003     

Many mechanisms, one entrance: membrane protein translocation into the nucleus

The inner nuclear membrane harbors a unique set of membrane proteins, many of which interact with nuclear intermediate filaments and chromatin components and thus play an important role in nuclear organization and gene expression regulation. These membrane proteins have to be constantly transported into the nucleus from their sites of synthesis in the ER to match the growth of the nuclear membrane during interphase. Many mechanisms have evolved to enable translocation of these proteins to the nucleus. The full range of mechanisms goes from rare autophagy events to regulated translocation using the nuclear pore complexes. Though mechanisms involving nuclear pores are predominant, within this group an enormous mechanistic range is observed from free diffusion through the peripheral channels to many distinct mechanisms involving different nucleoporins and other components of the soluble protein transport machinery in the central channels. This review aims to provide a comprehensive insight into this mechanistic diversity.     

核受体LXRa靶基因研究进展

核受体的研究近几年已有飞速的发展。LXRa(Liver X Receptor a)是一种与脂类代谢有关的核受体。研究发现LXRa的靶基因具有调节脂类的吸收、运输、转化和生物合成的功能,此外,LXRa在糖类的代谢等方面也有重要的调控作用。研究结果表明LXRa与动脉粥样硬化的发生有非常密切的关系。目前利用LXRa为靶标进行抗动脉粥样硬化药物筛选已经成为一个重要的研究方法。     

Activation and inactivation of thyroid hormone by deiodinases: Local action with general consequences

The thyroid hormone plays a fundamental role in the development, growth, and metabolic homeostasis in all vertebrates by affecting the expression of different sets of genes. A group of thioredoxin fold-containing selenoproteins known as deiodinases control thyroid hormone action by activating or inactivating the precursor molecule thyroxine that is secreted by the thyroid gland. These pathways ensure regulation of the availability of the biologically active molecule T3, which occurs in a time-and tissue-specific fashion. In addition, because cells and plasma are in equilibrium and deiodination affects central thyroid hormone regulation, these local deiodinase-mediated events can also affect systemic thyroid hormone economy, such as in the case of non-thyroidal illness. Heightened interest in the field has been generated following the discovery that the deiodinases can be a component in both the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway and the TGR-5 signaling cascade, a G-protein-coupled receptor for bile acids. These new mechanisms involved in deiodinase regulation indicate that local thyroid hormone activation and inactivation play a much broader role than previously thought. Received 29 August 2007; received after revision 11 October 2007; accepted 16 October 2007     

Telomeres and meiosis in health and disease

Beyond their role in replication and chromosome end capping, telomeres are also thought to function in meiotic chromosome pairing, meiotic and mitotic chromosome segregation as well as in nuclear organization. Observations in both somatic and meiotic cells suggest that the positioning of telomeres within the nucleus is highly specific and believed to be dependent mainly on telomere interactions with the nuclear envelope either directly or through chromatin interacting proteins. Although little is known about the mechanism of telomere clustering, some studies show that it is an active process. Recent data have suggested a regulatory role for telomere chromatin structure in telomere movement. This review will summarize recent studies on telomere interactions with the nuclear matrix, telomere chromatin structure and factors that modify telomere chromatin structure as related to regulation of telomere movement.     

Diacylglycerol kinases in nuclear lipid-dependent signal transduction pathways

Several independent groups have shown that lipid-dependent signal transduction systems operate in the nucleus and that they are regulated independently from their membrane and cytosolic counterparts. A sizable body of evidence suggests that nuclear lipid signaling controls critical biological functions such as cell proliferation and differentiation. Diacylglycerol is a fundamental lipid second messenger which is produced in the nucleus. The levels of nuclear diacylglycerol fluctuate during the cell cycle progression, suggesting that such a molecule has important regulatory roles. Most likely, nuclear diacylglycerol serves as a chemoattractant for some isoforms of protein kinase C that migrate to the nucleus in response to a variety of agonists. The nucleus also contains diacylglycerol kinases, i.e. the enzymes that, by converting diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid, terminate diacylglycerol-dependent events. A number of diacylglycerol kinases encoded by separate genes are present in the mammalian genome. This review aims at highlighting the different isotypes of diacylglycerol kinases identified at the nuclear level as well as at discussing their potential function and regulation. Received 4 December 2001; received after revision 28 January 2002; accepted 31 January 2002     

Inner nuclear membrane proteins: functions and targeting

We summarize the properties of integral membrane proteins that reside in the inner nuclear membrane, including lamin B receptor (LBR), lamina-associated polypeptide (LAP) 1, LAP2, emerin, MAN1 and nurim. Most of these proteins interact with lamins and chromatin. Some data also suggest more speculative functions such as gene regulation and possibly sterol metabolism. Mutations in emerin and nuclear lamins have been associated with muscular dystrophies and lipodystrophy, raising new questions about the functions of inner nuclear membrane proteins. Integral proteins of the inner nuclear membrane are synthesized on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and reach the inner nuclear membrane by lateral diffusion in the connected ER and nuclear envelope membranes. Associations with nuclear ligands retain them in the inner nuclear membrane. Further investigation of the functions and targeting of inner nuclear membrane proteins are needed to determine how they are involved in human disease.