Numerous studies implicate proteasomes in the regulation of EGF receptor (EGFR) endocytosis on the basis of the ability of inhibitors to decrease EGFR degradation, but the exact mechanisms remain obscure. We demonstrated that EGFR itself is not a direct target for proteasome, since it is delivered to lysosomes intact. Evidence is presented that the inhibitory effect of MG132 on EGF degradation is due mostly to free ubiquitin depletion resultant from the suppression of proteasomal functioning by MG132. By subcellular fractionation, we show two MG132-sensitive steps in the EGFR degradation pathway: sorting from early (EE) to late (LE) endosomes, and late stage of LE maturation. MG132 treatment resulted in stabilization of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with c-Cbl. Nevertheless, ubiquitination of EGFR at late stages of endocytosis was significantly lower than that in control cells. Highly ubiquitinated forms of EGFR demonstrated more sensitivity to MG132 treatment.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate cell source-dependent nucleic acids repertoire of diverse subpopulations of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs). Blood plasma from nine healthy volunteers was used for the analysis. Samples of EVs were obtained by differential centrifugation of plasma. The application of high-sensitivity fluorescence-activated vesicles sorting (hs-FAVS) using fluorophore-conjugated anti-CD41-FITC (Fluorescein isothiocyanate) and anti-CD235a-PE antibodies allowed the isolation of three subpopulations of EVs, namely CD41+ CD235a-, CD41-CD235a+ and CD41-CD235a dim. The high purity (>97%) of the sorted subpopulations was verified by highsensitivity flow cytometry. Presence of nanosized objects in sorted samples was confirmed by combination of low-voltage scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The amount of material in sorted samples was enough to perform Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based nucleic acid quantification. The most prominent differences in the nucleic acid repertoire were noted between CD41+ CD235-vs. CD41-CD235a+ vesicles: the former contained significantly (p = 0.004) higher amount of mitochondrial DNA, and platelet enriched miR-21-5p (4-fold), miR-223-3p (38-fold) and miR-199a-3p (187-fold), but lower amount of erythrocyte enriched miR-451a (90-fold). CD41-CD235a+ and CD41-CD235a dim vesicles differed in levels of miR-451a (p = 0.016) and miR-21-5p (p = 0.031). Nuclear DNA was below the limit of detection in all EV subpopulations. The hs-FCM-based determination of the number of sorted EVs allowed the calculation of per single-event miRNA concentrations. It was demonstrated that the most abundant marker in CD41+ CD235a-subpopulation was miR-223-3p, reaching 38.2 molecules per event. In the CD41-CD235+ subpopulation, the most abundant marker was miR-451a, reaching 24.7 molecules per event. Taken together, our findings indicate that erythrocyte-and platelet-derived EVs carry different repertoires of nucleic acids, which were similar to the composition of their cellular sources.

No abstract

Graphical abstract

(UiO) in 2015. There I have met many fantastic people whose openness, enthusiasm, and disposition toward risky investments made this work possible. I will first greatly acknowledge Professor Jarle Vaage for inviting me to UiO and being my permanent co-supervisor. Thank you for invaluable help and for sharing your realistic optimism during all these exciting and challenging years. I am especially thankful for introducing me to Professor Guro Valen. Professor Guro Valen was a bright and inspiring supervisor under whose guidance we charted the blueprint of this work. She passed away in September 2014. I see no better way to express gratitude to her than being an active researcher. Professor Kåre-Olav Stensløkken has navigated me through the most challenging part of Ph.D., the final one. Thank you for the wise combination of understanding, proactive motivation, and especially for your patience! The triumvirate of Guro, Jarle, and Kåre-Olav fostered a unique working environmentour research group was always international, open, inclusive, and creative. It is my pleasure to name my colleagues from whom I have learned a lot: Arkady Rutkovsky, Lars Henrik Mariero, Marte Bliksøen, Apple Lei, and Fred Haugen were those with whom I have worked most with. Many thanks to doctor Rutkovsky for informal and all-purpose guidance during my first years in Norway. My special thanks to Torun Flatebø for numerous Westerns and PCRs you run for me. I would also like to give a tribute to all my previous colleagues:

Tyrphostin AG1478 is known as a specific and reversible inhibitor of TK (tyrosine kinase) activity of the EGFR [EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor]. It is attractive as an anticancer agent for cancers with elevated EGFR TK levels. However, post-application effects of AG1478 are not well studied. We have analysed EGFR phosphorylation after termination of AG1478 application using human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. It was found that AG1478 inhibitory action is fast, but not fully reversible: removal of tyrphostin resulted in incomplete restoration of the overall EGFR phosphorylation. Analysing the state of two individual autophosphorylation sites of internalized EGFR, Tyr1045 and Tyr1173, we demonstrated that phosphorylation of Tyr1173 involved in stimulation of the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) cascade was restored much more efficiently than that in position 1045, which binds the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl and is necessary for targeting the receptor for lysosomal degradation. c-Cbl association with EGFR abolished by AG1478 was not reestablished after tyrphostin cessation. As a consequence, ubiquitination-dependent EGFR delivery to lysosomes was blocked, while phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2) was even increased. Thus, after termination of AG1478, the intracellular level of the inhibitor can be reached at which mitogenic signalling will be restored, whereas the EGFR negative regulation due to lysosomal degradation will not.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is an important component of the natriuretic peptide system. A great role in many regulatory systems is played by mast cells. Meanwhile involvement of these cells in ANP activity is poorly studied. In this work, we have shown the presence of ANP in rat peritoneal mast cells. Pure fraction of mast cells was obtained by separation of rat peritoneal cells on a Percoll density gradient. By Western blotting, two ANP-immunoreactive proteins of molecular masses of 2.5 kDa and 16.9 kDa were detected in lysates from these mast cells. Electron microscope immunogold labeling has revealed the presence of ANP-immunoreactive material in storage, secreting and released granules of mast cells. Our findings indicate the rat peritoneal mast cells to contain both ANP prohormone and ANP. These both peptides are located in mast cell secretory granules and released by mechanism of degranulation. It is discussed that many mast cell functions might be due to production of natriuretic peptides by these cells.