Cathepsin D interacts with adenosine A2A receptors in mouse macrophages to modulate cell surface localization and inflammatory signaling.

Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)-dependent signaling in macrophages plays a key role in the regulation of inflammation. However, the processes regulating A2AR targeting to the cell surface and degradation in macrophages are incompletely understood. For example, the C-terminal domain of the A2AR and proteins interacting with it are known to regulate receptor recycling, although it is unclear what role potential A2AR-interacting partners have in macrophages. Here, we aimed to identify A2AR-interacting partners in macrophages that may effect receptor trafficking and activity. To this end, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using the C-terminal tail of A2AR as the "bait" and a macrophage expression library as the "prey." We found that the lysosomal protease cathepsin D (CtsD) was a robust hit. The A2AR-CtsD interaction was validated in vitro and in cellular models, including RAW 264.7 and mouse peritoneal macrophage (IPMΦ) cells. We also demonstrated that the A2AR is a substrate of CtsD and that the blockade of CtsD activity increases the density and cell surface targeting of A2AR in macrophages. Conversely, we demonstrate that A2AR activation prompts the maturation and enzymatic activity of CtsD in macrophages. In summary, we conclude that CtsD is a novel A2AR-interacting partner and thus describe molecular and functional interplay that may be crucial for adenosine-mediated macrophage regulation in inflammatory processes.

European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn., Lepidoptera: Crambidae): comparing the performance of a new bisexual lure with that of synthetic sex pheromone in five countries.

BACKGROUND: Phenylacetaldehyde is a flower volatile and attractant for among others the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis. The addition of 4-methoxyphenethyl alcohol has recently been reported to increase O. nubilalis catches four to five times, yielding a bisexual lure for the species. RESULTS: The bisexual lure significantly outperformed synthetic pheromone lures of O. nubilalis at 11 out of 13 experiments conducted in Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey. CONCLUSION: The bisexual lure will provide growers with a new and efficient method for detection and monitoring of O. nubilalis. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.