Publications

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91 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 91

Abstract (Expand)

Chaperone-assisted selective autophagy (CASA) initiated by the cochaperone Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) represents an important mechanism for the disposal of misfolded and damaged proteins in mammalian cells. Under mechanical stress, the cochaperone cooperates with the small heat shock protein HSPB8 and the cytoskeleton-associated protein SYNPO2 to degrade force-unfolded forms of the actin-crosslinking protein filamin. This is essential for muscle maintenance in flies, fish, mice and men. Here, we identify the serine/threonine protein kinase 38 (STK38), which is part of the Hippo signaling network, as a novel interactor of BAG3. STK38 was previously shown to facilitate cytoskeleton assembly and to promote mitophagy as well as starvation and detachment induced autophagy. Significantly, our study reveals that STK38 exerts an inhibitory activity on BAG3-mediated autophagy. Inhibition relies on a disruption of the functional interplay of BAG3 with HSPB8 and SYNPO2 upon binding of STK38 to the cochaperone. Of note, STK38 attenuates CASA independently of its kinase activity, whereas previously established regulatory functions of STK38 involve target phosphorylation. The ability to exert different modes of regulation on central protein homeostasis (proteostasis) machineries apparently allows STK38 to coordinate the execution of diverse macroautophagy pathways and to balance cytoskeleton assembly and degradation.

Authors: C. Klimek, R. Jahnke, J. Wordehoff, B. Kathage, D. Stadel, C. Behrends, A. Hergovich, J. Hohfeld

Date Published: 22nd Jul 2019

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

The human lysosomal polypeptide ABC transporter TAPL (ABC subfamily B member 9, ABCB9) transports 6-59-amino-acid-long polypeptides from the cytosol into lysosomes. The subcellular localization of TAPL depends solely on its N-terminal transmembrane domain, TMD0, which lacks conventional targeting sequences. However, the intracellular route and the molecular mechanisms that control TAPL localization remain unclear. Here, we delineated the route of TAPL to lysosomes and investigated the determinants of single trafficking steps. By synchronizing trafficking events by a retention using selective hooks (RUSH) assay and visualizing individual intermediate steps through immunostaining and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that TAPL takes the direct route to lysosomes. We further identified conserved charged residues within TMD0 transmembrane helices that are essential for individual steps of lysosomal targeting. Substitutions of these residues retained TAPL in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or Golgi. We also observed that for release from the ER, a salt bridge between Asp-17 and Arg-57 is essential. An interactome analysis revealed that Yip1-interacting factor homolog B membrane-trafficking protein (YIF1B) interacts with TAPL. We also found that YIF1B is involved in ER-to-Golgi trafficking and interacts with TMD0 of TAPL via its transmembrane domain and that this interaction strongly depends on the newly identified salt bridge within TMD0. These results expand our knowledge about lysosomal trafficking of TAPL and the general function of extra transmembrane domains of ABC transporters.

Authors: P. Graab, C. Bock, K. Weiss, A. Hirth, N. Koller, M. Braner, J. Jung, F. Loehr, R. Tampe, C. Behrends, R. Abele

Date Published: 3rd May 2019

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

The metalloprotease ADAM10 is a drug target in Alzheimer's disease, where it cleaves the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and lowers amyloid-beta. Yet, ADAM10 has additional substrates, which may cause mechanism-based side effects upon therapeutic ADAM10 activation. However, they may also serve-in addition to APP-as biomarkers to monitor ADAM10 activity in patients and to develop APP-selective ADAM10 activators. Our study demonstrates that one such substrate is the neuronal cell adhesion protein NrCAM ADAM10 controlled NrCAM surface levels and regulated neurite outgrowth in vitro in an NrCAM-dependent manner. However, ADAM10 cleavage of NrCAM, in contrast to APP, was not stimulated by the ADAM10 activator acitretin, suggesting that substrate-selective ADAM10 activation may be feasible. Indeed, a whole proteome analysis of human CSF from a phase II clinical trial showed that acitretin, which enhanced APP cleavage by ADAM10, spared most other ADAM10 substrates in brain, including NrCAM Taken together, this study demonstrates an NrCAM-dependent function for ADAM10 in neurite outgrowth and reveals that a substrate-selective, therapeutic ADAM10 activation is possible and may be monitored with NrCAM.

Authors: T. Brummer, S. A. Muller, F. Pan-Montojo, F. Yoshida, A. Fellgiebel, T. Tomita, K. Endres, S. F. Lichtenthaler

Date Published: 6th Mar 2019

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Members of the GxGD-type intramembrane aspartyl proteases have emerged as key players not only in fundamental cellular processes such as B-cell development or protein glycosylation, but also in development of pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease or hepatitis virus infections. However, one member of this protease family, signal peptide peptidase-like 2c (SPPL2c), remains orphan and its capability of proteolysis as well as its physiological function is still enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that SPPL2c is catalytically active and identify a variety of SPPL2c candidate substrates using proteomics. The majority of the SPPL2c candidate substrates cluster to the biological process of vesicular trafficking. Analysis of selected SNARE proteins reveals proteolytic processing by SPPL2c that impairs vesicular transport and causes retention of cargo proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. As a consequence, the integrity of subcellular compartments, in particular the Golgi, is disturbed. Together with a strikingly high physiological SPPL2c expression in testis, our data suggest involvement of SPPL2c in acrosome formation during spermatogenesis.

Authors: A. A. Papadopoulou, S. A. Muller, T. Mentrup, M. D. Shmueli, J. Niemeyer, M. Haug-Kroper, J. von Blume, A. Mayerhofer, R. Feederle, B. Schroder, S. F. Lichtenthaler, R. Fluhrer

Date Published: 9th Feb 2019

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Signal peptide peptidase (SPP) and the four homologous SPP-like (SPPL) proteases constitute a family of intramembrane aspartyl proteases with selectivity for type II-oriented transmembrane segments. Here, we analyse the physiological function of the orphan protease SPPL2c, previously considered to represent a non-expressed pseudogene. We demonstrate proteolytic activity of SPPL2c towards selected tail-anchored proteins. Despite shared ER localisation, SPPL2c and SPP exhibit distinct, though partially overlapping substrate spectra and inhibitory profiles, and are organised in different high molecular weight complexes. Interestingly, SPPL2c is specifically expressed in murine and human testis where it is primarily localised in spermatids. In mice, SPPL2c deficiency leads to a partial loss of elongated spermatids and reduced motility of mature spermatozoa, but preserved fertility. However, matings of male and female SPPL2c(-/-) mice exhibit reduced litter sizes. Using proteomics we identify the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA2)-regulating protein phospholamban (PLN) as a physiological SPPL2c substrate. Accumulation of PLN correlates with a decrease in intracellular Ca(2+) levels in elongated spermatids that likely contribute to the compromised male germ cell differentiation and function of SPPL2c(-/-) mice.

Authors: J. Niemeyer, T. Mentrup, R. Heidasch, S. A. Muller, U. Biswas, R. Meyer, A. A. Papadopoulou, V. Dederer, M. Haug-Kroper, V. Adamski, R. Lullmann-Rauch, M. Bergmann, A. Mayerhofer, P. Saftig, G. Wennemuth, R. Jessberger, R. Fluhrer, S. F. Lichtenthaler, M. K. Lemberg, B. Schroder

Date Published: 9th Feb 2019

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Macroautophagy can regulate cell signalling and tumorigenesis via elusive molecular mechanisms. We establish a RAS mutant cancer cell model where the autophagy gene ATG5 is dispensable in A549 cells in vitro, yet promotes tumorigenesis in mice. ATG5 represses transcriptional activation by the TGFbeta-SMAD gene regulatory pathway. However, autophagy does not terminate cytosolic signal transduction by TGFbeta. Instead, we use proteomics to identify selective degradation of the signalling scaffold TRAF3. TRAF3 autophagy is driven by RAS and results in activation of the NF-kappaB family member RELB. We show that RELB represses TGFbeta target promoters independently of DNA binding at NF-kappaB recognition sequences, instead binding with SMAD family member(s) at SMAD-response elements. Thus, autophagy antagonises TGFbeta gene expression. Finally, autophagy-deficient A549 cells regain tumorigenicity upon SMAD4 knockdown. Thus, at least in this setting, a physiologic function for autophagic regulation of gene expression is tumour growth.

Authors: A. C. Newman, A. J. Kemp, Y. Drabsch, C. Behrends, S. Wilkinson

Date Published: 16th Nov 2017

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Autophagy allows the degradation of cytosolic endogenous and exogenous material in the lysosome. Substrates are engulfed by double-membrane vesicles, coined autophagosomes, which subsequently fuse with lysosomes. Depending on the involvement of specific receptor proteins, autophagy occurs in a selective or nonselective manner. While this process is well understood at the level of bulky cargo such as mitochondria and bacteria, we know very little about individual proteins and protein complexes that are engulfed and degraded by autophagy. In contrast to the critical role of autophagy in balancing proteostasis, our current knowledge of the autophagic degradome is very limited. Here, we combined proximity labeling with quantitative proteomics to systematically map the protein inventory of autophagosomes. Using this strategy, we uncovered a basal, housekeeping mitophagy pathway that involves piecemeal degradation of mitochondrial proteins in a LC3C- and p62-dependent manner and contributes to mitochondrial homeostasis maintenance when cells rely on oxidative phosphorylation.

Authors: F. Le Guerroue, F. Eck, J. Jung, T. Starzetz, M. Mittelbronn, M. Kaulich, C. Behrends

Date Published: 16th Nov 2017

Publication Type: Journal

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