PX domains are found in a variety of proteins that associate with cell membranes, but their molecular function has remained obscure. We show here that the PX domains in p47phox and p40phox subunits of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase bind to phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P(2)) and phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P), respectively. We also show that an Arg-to-Gln mutation in the PX domain of p47phox, which is found in patients with chronic granulomatous disease, eliminates phosphoinositide binding, as does the analogous mutation in the PX domain of p40phox. The PX domain of p40phox localizes specifically to PtdIns(3)P-enriched early endosomes, and this localization is disrupted by inhibition of phosphoinositide-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) or by the Arg-to-Gln point mutation. These findings provide a molecular foundation to understand the role of PI(3)K in regulating neutrophil function and inflammation, and to identify PX domains as specific phosphoinositide-binding modules involved in signal transduction events in eukaryotic cells.

Phagosomes acquire their microbicidal properties by fusion with lysosomes. Products of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) are required for phagosome formation, but their role in maturation is unknown. Using chimeric fluorescent proteins encoding tandem FYVE domains, we found that phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI[3]P) accumulates greatly but transiently on the phagosomal membrane. Unlike the 3′-phosphoinositides generated by class I PI 3-kinases which are evident in the nascent phagosomal cup, PI(3)P is only detectable after the phagosome has sealed. The class III PI 3-kinase VPS34 was found to be responsible for PI(3)P synthesis and essential for phagolysosome formation. In contrast, selective ablation of class I PI 3-kinase revealed that optimal phagocytosis, but not maturation, requires this type of enzyme. These results highlight the differential functional role of the two families of kinases, and raise the possibility that PI(3)P production by VPS34 may be targeted during the maturation arrest induced by some intracellular parasites.

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor (LGR)-4 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with a seven-transmembrane domain structure. LGRs are evolutionally and structurally phylogenetic, classified into three subgroups and are members of the so-called orphan receptors whose ligands have yet to be identified. We generated knockout mice lacking Lgr4(Gpr48) by targeted deletion of part of exon 18, which codes for the transmembrane and signal-transducing domains of the receptor. Lgr4 null mice were born at much less than the 25% expected frequency from crosses of Lgr4 heterozygous mice (Lgr4^+/–). Lgr4 null mice that survived in utero died shortly after birth in almost all cases. We observed striking renal hypoplasia in the null mice, accompanied by elevated concentration of plasma creatinine. Histological analysis of the P0 null mouse kidney showed a notable decrease in the total number and density of the glomerulus. Thus, the function of Lgr4 is essential to regulate renal development in the mouse. This study suggests that the Lgr4 gene is a new and important member of LGRs involved in a group of genes responsible for hereditary disease in the kidney.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae can be internalized by mammalian cells through interactions between bacterial opacity-associated (Opa) adhesins and members of the human carcinoembryonic antigen-related cellular adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family. We examined the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) in gonococcal invasion of epithelial cell lines expressing either CEACAM1 or CEACAM3. CEACAM3-mediated internalization, but not that mediated by CEACAM1, was accompanied by localized and transient accumulation of the class I PI3K product phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate at sites of bacterial engulfment. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases reduced CEACAM3-mediated uptake but, paradoxically, led to an increase in intracellular survival of bacteria internalized via either CEACAM1 or CEACAM3, suggesting additional roles for PI3K products. Consistent with this finding, the class III PI3K product phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate accumulated and persisted in the membrane of gonococcal phagosomes after internalization. Inhibition of PI3K blocked phagosomal acquisition of the late endosomal marker lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 and reduced phagosomal acidification. Inhibiting phagosomal acidification with concanamycin A also increased survival of intracellular gonococci. These results suggest two modes of action of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases during internalization of gonococci: synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate is important for CEACAM3-mediated uptake, while phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate is needed for phagosomal maturation and acidification, which are required for optimal bacterial killing.

Salmonella typhimurium invades mammalian cells and replicates within a vacuole that protects it from the host's microbicidal weapons. The Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) undergoes a remodelling akin to that of the host cell's endocytic pathway, but SCV progression is arrested prior to fusion with lysosomes. We studied the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) in SCV maturation within HeLa cells. Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P), monitored in situ using fluorescent conjugates of FYVE or PX domains, was found to accumulate transiently on the SCV. Wortmannin prevented PI3P accumulation and the recruitment of EEA1 but did not affect the association of Rab5 with the SCV. Importantly, inhibition of PI3-K also impaired fusion of the SCV with vesicles containing LAMP-1. Rab7, which is thought to be required for association of LAMP-1 with the SCV, still associated with SCV in wortmannintreated cells. We have therefore concluded that a 3-phosphoinositide-dependent step exists following recruitment of Rab7 to the SCV. The data also imply that 3-phosphoinositide-dependent effectors of Rab5 are not an absolute requirement for recruitment of Rab7. Despite failure to acquire LAMP-1, the SCV persists and allows effective replication of Salmonella within wortmannin-treated host cells. These findings imply that PI3-K is involved in the development of the SCV but is not essential for intracellular survival and proliferation of Salmonella.

We observed a consistent eye-open at birth (EOB) phenotype in mouse pups homozygous for a leucine-rich repeat containing G-protein coupled receptor 4 (Lgr4) allele deleting the whole transmembrane domain coding region. An in vitro wound-healing scratch assay showed notably reduced keratinocyte motility in the null mice. Phalloidin staining of F-actin in the eyelid epidermis was also reduced. We also generated keratinocyte-specific Lgr4 deficient mice, circumventing the embryonic/neonatal lethality and kidney abnormalities. Most of the conditional Lgr4 knockout mice showed the EOB phenotype. Thus, Lgr4 might be a novel gene class regulating cell motility.

No abstract

Stimulation of monocytic THP-1 cells by a lectin, concanavalin A (Con A), resulted in protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and association of some of the thus phosphorylated proteins with the 85 kDa regulatory subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase. Both actions of Con A were not inhibited by wortmannin, a PtdIns 3-kinase inhibitor, or by prior exposure of cells to pertussis toxin which uncouples certain G-proteins from receptors. The binding of PtdIns 3-kinase to the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins increased upon Con A stimulation; there was a marked increase in the enzymic activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immuno-precipitates from Con A-treated cells. The increase was abolished by wortmannin but not affected by pertussis toxin. The incorporation of 32P into PtdInsP3 also increased during incubation of [32P]P(i)-prelabelled cells with Con A, reflecting activation of whole-cell PtdIns 3-kinase which could not be accounted for solely by the increase in the phosphotyrosine-bound enzyme activity from the following aspects: (1) different concentration dependencies for Con A; and (2) almost total susceptibility of the incorporation to pertussis toxin. This notion appears to be supported by different time courses between increases in PtdInsP3 production and the phosphotyrosine-bound activity. The susceptibility to the toxin may reflect involvement of the toxin-sensitive G-proteins. In contrast, insulin-induced increases in PtdInsP3 production, as well as increases in phosphotyrosine-bound PtdIns 3-kinase activity, were blocked by wortmannin, but never affected by prior exposure of cells to pertussis toxin, excluding a possible involvement of G-proteins in the insulin-induced activation. Con-A-induced O2- production was almost inhibited by either pertussis toxin or wortmannin. These results suggest that oligomerization of cell-surface glycoproteins with Con A gives rise to activation of G-protein(s) and certain tyrosine kinase(s), both of which were responsible for PtdIns 3-kinase activation; the G-protein-mediated activation led to the respiratory burst.