Tiam1 encodes an exchange factor for the Rho-like guanosine triphosphatase Rac. Both Tiam1 and activated RacV12 promote invasiveness of T lymphoma cells. In epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, Tiam1 localized to adherens junctions. Ectopic expression of Tiam1 or RacV12 inhibited hepatocyte growth factor-induced scattering by increasing E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion accompanied by actin polymerization at cell-cell contacts. In Ras-transformed MDCK cells, expression of Tiam1 or RacV12 restored E-cadherin-mediated adhesion, resulting in phenotypic reversion and loss of invasiveness. These data suggest an invasion-suppressor role for Tiam1 and Rac in epithelial cells.

Histatin 5 is a human basic salivary peptide with strong fungicidal properties in vitro. To elucidate the mechanism of action, the effect of histatin 5 on the viability of Candida albicans cells was studied in relation to its membrane perturbing properties. It was found that both the killing activity and the membrane perturbing activity, studied by the influx of a DNA-specific marker propidium iodide, were inhibited by high salt conditions and by metabolic inhibitors, like sodium azide. In addition, exposure to histatin 5 resulted in a loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential in situ, measured by the release of the potential-dependent distributional probe rhodamine 123. Localization studies using tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate-labeled histatin 5 or fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled histatin 5 showed a granular intracellular distribution of the peptide, which co-localized with mitotracker orange, a permeant mitochondria-specific probe. Like the biological effects, uptake of labeled histatin 5 was inhibited by mitochondrial inhibitors and high salt conditions. Our data indicate that histatin 5 is internalized, and targets to the energized mitochondrion.

CD151 is a cell surface protein that belongs to the tetraspan superfamily. It associates with other tetraspan molecules and certain integrins to form large complexes at the cell surface. CD151 is expressed by a variety of epithelia and mesenchymal cells. We demonstrate here that in human skin CD151 is codistributed with α3β1 and α6β4 at the basolateral surface of basal keratinocytes. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that CD151 is concentrated in hemidesmosomes. By immunoprecipitation from transfected K562 cells, we established that CD151 associates with α3β1 and α6β4. In β4-deficient pyloric atresia associated with junctional epidermolysis bullosa (PA-JEB) keratinocytes, CD151 and α3β1 are clustered together at the basal cell surface in association with patches of laminin-5. Focal adhesions are present at the periphery of these clusters, connected with actin filaments, and they contain both CD151 and α3β1. Transient transfection studies of PA-JEB cells with β4 revealed that the integrin α6β4 becomes incorporated into the α3β1-CD151 clusters where it induces the formation of hemidesmosomes. As a result, the amount of α3β1 in the clusters diminishes and the protein becomes restricted to the peripheral focal adhesions. Furthermore, CD151 becomes predominantly associated with α6β4 in hemidesmosomes, whereas its codistribution with α3β1 in focal adhesions becomes partial. The localization of α6β4 in the pre-hemidesmosomal clusters is accompanied by a strong upregulation of CD151, which is at least partly due to increased cell surface expression. Using β4 chimeras containing the extracellular and transmembrane domain of the IL-2 receptor and the cytoplasmic domain of β4, we found that for recruitment of CD151 into hemidesmosomes, the β4 subunit must be associated with α6, confirming that integrins associate with tetraspans via their α subunits. CD151 is the only tetraspan identified in hemidesmosomal structures. Others, such as CD9 and CD81, remain diffusely distributed at the cell surface.In conclusion, we show that CD151 is a major component of (pre)-hemidesmosomal structures and that its recruitment into hemidesmosomes is regulated by the integrin α6β4. We suggest that CD151 plays a role in the formation and stability of hemidesmosomes by providing a framework for the spatial organization of the different hemidesmosomal components.

The human multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP confers resistance to various cytotoxic drugs by lowering the intracellular drug concentration. Recent evidence indicates that MRP can also transport glutathione S-conjugates across membranes. To study the transport properties of MRP in intact cells, we have expressed human MRP cDNA in the polarized pig kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1. MRP mainly localized to the basolateral plasma membrane of these cells, and not to the apical membrane, as determined by immunocytochemistry using confocal laser scanning and electron microscopy. In accordance with this localization, MRP caused increased transport of the glutathione S -conjugate S -(2, 4-dinitrophenyl)-glutathione and of the anticancer drug daunorubicin to the basal side of the epithelial cell layer. Sulfinpyrazone and probenecid, known inhibitors of multispecific organic anion transport, inhibited this basolateral transport, but not the apical transport of daunorubicin mediated by the apically localized human MDR1 P-glycoprotein in MDR1 -transfected LLC-PK1 cells. Probenecid and sulfinpyrazone may therefore be useful lead compounds for the development of clinical reversal agents specific for MRP-mediated drug resistance. ( J. Clin. Invest. 1996.

Abstract. Newly synthesized MHC class II molecules are sorted to lysosomal structures where peptide loading can occur. Beyond this point in biosynthesis, no MHC class II molecules have been detected at locations other than the cell surface. We studied this step in intracellular transport by visualizing MHC class II molecules in living cells. For this purpose we stably expressed a modified HLA-DR1 13 chain with the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) coupled to its cytoplasmic tail (13-GFP) in class II-expressing Mel JuSo cells. This modification of the class II 13 chain does not affect assembly, intracellular distribution, and peptide loading of the MHC class II complex. Transport of the class II/ 13-GFP chimera was studied in living cells at 37°C. We visualize rapid movement of acidic class II/13-GFP containing vesicles from lysosomal compartments to the plasma membrane and show that fusion of these vesicles with the plasma membrane occurs. Furthermore, we show that this transport route does not intersect the earlier endosomal pathway. MHC class II molecules present peptides to CD4 ÷ T cells. Most bound peptides are derived from antigens degraded in the endosomal pathway. To allow association with these peptides, class II molecules are targeted to endosomal compartments by the invariant chain (or Ii) 1 (7,8). Here, Ii is degraded and Ii-degradation products are exchanged with antigenic peptides, a process catalyzed by 41,47,48). The endosomal compartments where class II molecules are loaded with peptide may be considered "special" lysosomes with a multilamellar and/or multivesicular appearance and were originally termed MIIC for MHC class II--containing compartments (31). This "unique" morphology appears to be induced by the expression of class II molecules (4). Although earlier endosomal compartments have been noted as "specialized class II loading compartments" as well (1, 50), HLA-DM and class II molecules are generally located in compartments with lysosomal proteins like CD63, lamp-l, and cathepsin D (13,24,32,42).

Background : Transforming growth factor-β β β β (TGF-β β β β ) initiates intracellular signalling by inducing the formation of a heteromeric complex between TGF-β β β β type I (T β β β β R-I) and TGF-β β β β type II serine/threonine kinase receptors (T β β β β R-II). After the activation of T β β β β R-I kinase by T β β β β R-II kinase, specific receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads) are phosphorylated by T β β β β R-I kinase. Smad anchor for receptor activation (SARA), which contains a FYVE finger domain, regulates the subcellular localization of R-Smads and presents them to T β β β β R-I. However, it is unclear where SARA is localized in the cell and which phospholipid(s) interacts with its FYVE domain.

Dendritic cells (DC) efficiently take up antigens by macropinocytosis and mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. Here we show that endocytosis of mannose receptor-antigen complexes takes place via small coated vesicles, while non-mannosylated antigens were mainly present in larger vesicles. Shortly after internalization the mannose receptor and its ligand appeared in the larger vesicles. Within 10 min, the mannosylated and non-mannosylated antigens co-localized with typical markers for major histocompatibility complex class II-enriched compartments and lysosomes. In contrast, the mannose receptor appeared not to reach these compartments, suggesting that it releases its ligand in an earlier endosomal structure. Moreover, we demonstrate that mannosylation of protein antigen and peptides resulted in a 200-10,000-fold enhanced potency to stimulate HLA class II-restricted peptide-specific T cell clones compared to non-mannosylated peptides. Our results indicate that mannosylation of antigen leads to selective targeting and subsequent superior presentation by DC which may be applicable in vaccine design.

Phosphoinositides are localized in various intracellular compartments and can regulate a number of intracellular functions, such as cytoskeletal dynamics and membrane traf®cking. Phospholipase Ds (PLDs) are regulated enzymes that hydrolyse phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) to generate the putative second messenger phosphatidic acid (PtdOH). In vitro, PLDs have an absolute requirement for higher phosphorylated inositides, such as phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P 2 ]. Whether this lipid is able to regulate the activity of PLD in vivo is contentious. To examine this hypothesis we studied the relationship between PLD and an enzyme critical for the intracellular synthesis of PtdIns(4,5)P 2 : phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase a (Type Ia PIPkinase). We ®nd that both PLD1 and PLD2 interact with the Type Ia PIPkinase and that PLD2 activity in vivo can be regulated solely by the expression of this lipid kinase. Moreover, PLD2 is able to recruit the Type Ia PIPkinase to its intracellular location. We show that the physiological requirement of PLD enzymes for PtdIns(4,5)P 2 is critical and that PLD2 activity can be regulated solely by the levels of this key intracellular lipid.