Polarized epithelial cells separate two extremely different cellular milieus. The tight junction (TJ) is the most apical component of the junctional complex and serves as the permeability barrier between these environments. The tight junctional complex appears to be a dynamic and regulated structure. Some of its protein components have been identified and include the transmembrane protein occludin. Nontransmembrane proteins on the cytosolic leaflet including ZO-1, ZO-2, cingulin, 7H6, and several unidentified phosphoproteins are also believed to be part of the TJ. Interactions of some of these proteins with the actin cytoskeleton are a major determinant of TJ structure and may also play a role in the regulation of TJ assembly. Recent progress using the “calcium switch” and the “ATP depletion-repletion” model of TJ formation offers new insight regarding how these structures form. TJ biogenesis appears to be regulated, in part, by classic signal transduction pathways involving heterotrimeric G proteins, release of intracellular Ca2+, and activation of protein kinase C. Although many of the details of the signaling pathways have yet to be defined, these observations may provide insight into how TJs form during tubular development. Furthermore, it may be possible to suggest potential therapeutic targets for intervention in a variety of diseases (e.g., ischemia, toxic injury to the kidney and other epithelial tissue) where TJ integrity has been compromised and reassembly is required.

␣-Actinin-4 is a widely expressed protein that employs an actinbinding site with two calponin homology domains to crosslink actin filaments (F-actin) in a Ca 2؉ -sensitive manner in vitro. An inherited, late-onset form of kidney failure is caused by point mutations in the ␣-actinin-4 actin-binding domain. Here we show that ␣-actinin-4/F-actin aggregates, observed in vivo in podocytes of humans and mice with disease, likely form as a direct result of the increased actin-binding affinity of the protein. We document that exposure of a buried actin-binding site 1 in mutant ␣-actinin-4 causes an increase in its actin-binding affinity, abolishes its Ca 2؉ regulation in vitro, and diverts its normal localization from actin stress fibers and focal adhesions in vivo. Inactivation of this buried actin-binding site returns the affinity of the mutant to that of the WT protein and abolishes aggregate formation in cells. In vitro, actin filaments crosslinked by the mutant ␣-actinin-4 exhibit profound changes of structural and biomechanical properties compared with WT ␣-actinin-4. On a molecular level, our findings elucidate the physiological importance of a dynamic interaction of ␣-actinin with F-actin in podocytes in vivo. We propose that a conformational change with full exposure of actin-binding site 1 could function as a switch mechanism to regulate the actin-binding affinity of ␣-actinin and possibly other calponin homology domain proteins under physiological conditions. cytoskeleton ͉ kidney ͉ podocyte ͉ glomerulosclerosis

Regulation and assembly of the epithelial cell junctional complex involve multiple signaling mechanisms, including heterotrimeric G proteins. Recently, we demonstrated that Gα12 binds to the tight junction scaffolding protein ZO-1 through the SH3 domain and that activated Gα12 increases paracellular permeability in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells (Meyer et al. J Biol Chem 277: 24855-24858, 2002). In the present studies, we explore the effects of Gα12 expression on tight and adherens junction proteins and examine downstream signaling pathways. By confocal microscopy, we detect disrupted tight and adherens junction proteins with increased actin stress fibers in constitutively active Gα12 (QLα12)-expressing MDCK cells. The normal distribution of ZO-1 and Na-K-ATPase was altered in QLα12-expressing MDCK cells, consistent with loss of polarity. We found that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein and the Src-specific inhibitor PP-2 reversibly abrogated the QLα12 phenotype on the junctional complex. Junctional protein localization was preserved in PP-2- or genistein-treated QLα12-expressing cells, and the increase in paracellular permeability as measured by transepithelial resistance and [3H]mannitol flux was prevented by the inhibitors. Src activity was increased in QLα12-expressing MDCK cells as assessed by Src autophosphorylation, and β-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation was also increased, although there was no detectable increase in Rho activity. Taken together, these results indicate that Gα12 regulates MDCK cell junctions, in part through Src tyrosine kinase pathways.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common pattern of renal injury, seen as both a primary disorder and as a consequence of underlying insults such as diabetes, HIV infection, and hypertension. Point mutations in theα-actinin-4 gene ACTN4 cause an autosomal dominant form of human FSGS. We characterized the biological effect of these mutations by biochemical assays, cell-based studies, and the development of a new mouse model. We found that a fraction of the mutant protein forms large aggregates with a high sedimentation coefficient. Localization of mutant α-actinin-4 in transfected and injected cells, as well as in situ glomeruli, showed aggregates of the mutant protein. Video microscopy showed the mutant α-actinin-4 to be markedly less dynamic than the wild-type protein. We developed a “knockin” mouse model by replacing Actn4 with a copy of the gene bearing an FSGS-associated point mutation. We used cells from these mice to show increased degradation of mutant α-actinin-4, mediated, at least in part, by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. We correlate these findings with studies of α-actinin-4 expression in human samples. “Knockin” mice with a disease-associated Actn4 mutation develop a phenotype similar to that observed in humans. Comparison of the phenotype in wild-type, heterozygous, and homozygous Actn4 “knockin” and “knockout” mice, together with our in vitro data, suggests that the phenotypes in mice and humans involve both gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms.