The transcriptional activator NF-Y is a heterotrimeric complex composed of NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC, which specifically binds the CCAAT consensus present in about 30% of eukaryotic promoters. All three subunits contain evolutionarily conserved core regions, which comprise a histone fold motif (HFM) in the case of NF-YB and NF-YC. Our results of in vitro binding studies and nuclear import assays reveal two different transport mechanisms for NF-Y subunits. While NF-YA is imported by an importin ␤-mediated pathway, the NF-YB/NF-YC heterodimer is translocated into the nucleus in an importin 13-dependent manner. We define a nonclassical nuclear localization signal (ncNLS) in NF-YA, and mutational analysis indicates that positively charged amino acid residues in the ncNLS are required for nuclear targeting of NF-YA. Importin ␤ binding is restricted to the monomeric, uncomplexed NF-YA subunit. In contrast, the nuclear import of NF-YB and NF-YC requires dimer formation. Only the NF-YB/NF-YC dimer, but not the monomeric components, are recognized by importin 13 and are imported into the nucleus. Importin 13 competes with NF-YA for binding to the NF-YB/NF-YC dimer. Our data suggest that a distinct binding platform derived from the HFM of both subunits, NF-YB/NF-YC, mediates those interactions.The existence of a cell nucleus in eukaryotes implies the spatial separation of transcription and translation and therefore requires bidirectional intracellular trafficking of macromolecules. The site of exchange is the nuclear pore complex (NPC), one of the largest macromolecular assemblies in a eukaryotic cell, which can be traversed in a passive or a facilitated manner. The passive mode applies for small molecules but becomes ineffective for proteins with a molecular mass greater than 40 kDa. In addition, molecules which may potentially passively diffuse are often actively translocated, since this allows a more efficient and regulated transport (for reviews, see references 17, 25, 47, 64, and 77).Most nuclear transport processes are mediated by soluble transport receptors that recognize specific sequences or structural characteristics of their cargoes and facilitate the passage of receptor-cargo complexes through the NPC. Transport receptors constantly shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm, thereby rapidly crossing the permeability barrier of nuclear pores (59). The largest class of nuclear transport receptors is the superfamily of importin ␤-like factors (also named karyopherins) that can be classified as importins (import karyopherin) and exportins (export karyopherin) depending on the direction in which they transport the cargo (reviewed in references 25, 32, 43, 72, and 80). Cargo binding and release of importins and exportins is controlled by a steep RanGTP gradient, which is maintained across the nuclear envelope through the asymmetric distribution of factors that regulate the guanine nucleotide-bound state of Ran (25,41,43,47,76). The exchange factor, RanGEF (also called RCC1), is exclusively nuclear, while the GTPase-ac...

Key Points• C1 domain antibodies with low inhibitor titers by the Bethesda assay are pathogenic in mice due to increased fVIII clearance.• Monoclonal and patientderived polyclonal anti-fVIII C1 domain antibodies recognize similar B-cell epitopes.Inhibitor formation in hemophilia A is the most feared treatment-related complication of factor VIII (fVIII) therapy. Most inhibitor patients with hemophilia A develop antibodies against the fVIII A2 and C2 domains. Recent evidence demonstrates that the C1 domain contributes to the inhibitor response. Inhibitory anti-C1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been identified that bind to putative phospholipid and von Willebrand factor (VWF) binding epitopes and block endocytosis of fVIII by antigen presenting cells. We now demonstrate by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and hydrogendeuterium exchange mass spectrometry that 7 of 9 anti-human C1 mAbs tested recognize an epitope distinct from the C1 phospholipid binding site. These mAbs, designated group A, display high binding affinities for fVIII, weakly inhibit fVIII procoagulant activity, poorly inhibit fVIII binding to phospholipid, and exhibit heterogeneity with respect to blocking fVIII binding to VWF. Another mAb, designated group B, inhibits fVIII procoagulant activity, fVIII binding to VWF and phospholipid, fVIIIa incorporation into the intrinsic Xase complex, thrombin generation in plasma, and fVIII uptake by dendritic cells. Group A and B epitopes are distinct from the epitope recognized by the canonical, human-derived inhibitory anti-C1 mAb, KM33, whose epitope overlaps both groups A and B. Antibodies recognizing group A and B epitopes are present in inhibitor plasmas from patients with hemophilia A. Additionally, group A and B mAbs increase fVIII clearance and are pathogenic in a hemophilia A mouse tail snip bleeding model. Group A anti-C1 mAbs represent the first identification of pathogenic, weakly inhibitory antibodies that increase fVIII clearance. (Blood. 2016;128(16):2055-2067

The lysosomal compartment plays a pivotal role in the degradation of macromolecules within the cell. To date, over 60 soluble lysosomal hydrolases and accessory proteins and 25 lysosomal membrane proteins have been identified [1][2][3]. Defects in the lysosomal proteins mostly result in one of about 50 lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) which are characterized by the accumulation of undigested materials in the lysosomes. As a result of the clinical relevance of soluble lysosomal proteins in LSDs and a notable number of LSD-like diseases of unknown etiology, there is a common interest in the identification of the proteome of the lysosomal compartment and of the soluble luminal lysosomal mannose 6-phosphate (M6P)-containing The retinoid-inducible serine carboxypeptidase 1 (Scpep1; formerly RISC) is a lysosomal matrix protein that was initially identified in a screen for genes induced by retinoic acid. Recently, it has been spotlighted by several proteome analyses of the lysosomal compartment, but its cellular function and properties remain unknown to date. In this study, Scpep1 from mice was analysed with regard to its intracellular processing into a mature dimer consisting of a 35 kDa N-terminal fragment and a so far unknown 18 kDa C-terminal fragment and the glycosylation status of the mature Scpep1 fragment. Although Scpep1 shares notable homology and a number of structural hallmarks with the well-described lysosomal carboxypeptidase protective protein ⁄ cathepsin A, the purified recombinant 55 kDa precursor and the homogenates of Scpep1-overexpressing cells do not show proteolytic activity or increased serine carboxypeptidase activity towards artificial serine carboxypeptidase substrates. Hence, we disrupted the Scpep1 gene in mice by a gene trap cassette, resulting in a Scpep1 ⁄ b-galactosidase ⁄ neomycin phosphotransferase fusion protein. The fusion protein is devoid of the C-terminal half of Scpep1, including two amino acids of the assumed catalytic triad which is indispensable for its predicted serine carboxypeptidase activity. However, Scpep1-deficient mice were viable and fertile, and did not exhibit either lysosomal storage or reduced lysosomal SC activity under any tested condition.Abbreviations AEBSF, 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride; CBZ, benzyloxycarbonyl; Cpvl, carboxypeptidase vitellogenic-like; CPY, carboxypeptidase Y; Ctsa, protective protein ⁄ cathepsin A; FA, furylacryloyl; geo, b-galactosidase ⁄ neomycin phosphotransferase; Lamp1, lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; LSD, lysosomal storage disease; M6P, mannose 6-phosphate; MEFs, mouse embryonic fibroblasts; MPR, mannose 6-phosphate receptor; PNGase F, peptide N-glycosidase F; RISC, retinoid-inducible serine carboxypeptidase; SC, serine carboxypeptidase; Scpep1, serine carboxypeptidase 1; Scpep1-gt, Scpep1 gene trap.

Several studies showed that neutralizing anti-factor VIII (anti-fVIII) antibodies (inhibitors) in patients with acquired hemophilia A (AHA) and congenital hemophilia A (HA) are primarily directed to the A2 and C2 domains. In this study, the frequency and epitope specificity of anti-C1 antibodies were analyzed in acquired and congenital hemophilia inhibitor patients (n = 178). The domain specificity of antibodies was studied by homolog-scanning mutagenesis (HSM) with single human domain human/porcine fVIII proteins and antibody binding to human A2, C1, and C2 domains presented as human serum albumin (HSA) fusion proteins. The analysis with HSA-fVIII domain proteins confirmed the results of the HSM approach but resulted in higher detection levels. The higher detection levels with HSA-fVIII domain proteins are a result of antibody cross-reactivity with human and porcine fVIII leading to false-negative HSM results. Overall, A2-, C1-, and C2-specific antibodies were detected in 23%, 78%, and 68% of patients with AHA (n = 115) and in 52%, 57%, and 81% of HA inhibitor patients (n = 63). Competitive binding of the human monoclonal antibody (mAb) LE2E9 revealed overlapping epitopes with murine C1-specific group A mAbs including 2A9. Mutational analyses identified distinct crucial binding residues for LE2E9 (E2066) and 2A9 (F2068) that are also recognized by anti-C1 antibodies present in patients with hemophilia. A strong contribution of LE2E9- and 2A9-like antibodies was particularly observed in patients with AHA. Overall, our study demonstrates that the C1 domain, in addition to the A2 and C2 domains, contributes significantly to the humoral anti-fVIII immune response in acquired and congenital hemophilia inhibitor patients.