Selective targeting of avidin/mannose 6-phosphate receptor chimeras to early or late endosomes.

In this study we have used the Semliki forest virus expression system to transiently express chimeric proteins that contain transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) fused to chicken avidin. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy studies showed that the chimeric protein with the entire cytoplasmic domain of CI-MPR was transported to late endosomes, where it accumulated. We made use of the biotin-binding capacity of lumenal avidin, and found that, in agreement with this distribution, the chimeric protein could be labelled with biotinylated HRP endocytosed for a long, but not a brief, period of time. However, truncation of the C-terminal tail distal to the rapid endocytosis motif (YKYSKV), caused the truncated chimera to be transported to, and accumulated within, early endosomes. This truncated chimera did not reach recycling early endosomes labelled with internalised transferrin, to any significant extent, but was accessible to biotinylated HRP internalised for 5 min (or for longer periods at 19 degrees C). Coinfection of these chimeras showed that they follow the same route from the TGN to the early endosomes. We conclude that the sequence distal to the endocytosis motif contains the signals which are required for efficient transport to late endosomes. Our results also suggest that the YKYSKV sequence close to the CI-MPR transmembrane segment is sufficient for targeting to sorting early endosomes.

Isoproterenol inhibits fluid-phase endocytosis from early to late endosomes.

We have shown recently that isoproterenol affects both the cellular location and the morphology of late endosomes in a pH-dependent manner [Marjomäki et al., Eur. J. Cell Biol. 65, 1-13 (1994)]. In this study, using fluorescence and quantitative electron microscopy, we wanted to examine further what is the fate of internalized markers during their translocation from early to late endosomes under isoproterenol treatment. Fluorescein dextran internalized for 30 min (10-min pulse followed by a 20-min chase) showed accumulation in the cellular periphery during isoproterenol treatment in contrast to the control cells, which accumulated dextran in the perinuclear region. Quantitative electron microscopy showed that the markers accumulated in the early endosomes and putative carrier vesicles. In addition, different particulate markers that were internalized sequentially accumulated in similar structures due to the isoproterenol treatment, altogether suggesting that isoproterenol retards the translocation of markers to the later structures. Prelabelling of the late endosomes with fluorescent dextran or BSA-coated gold particles showed that isoproterenol causes a reduction of the mean size of the prelabelled late endosomes as well as a shift of these vesicles to the cellular periphery. Isoproterenol had no apparent effect on the morphology nor on the location of lysosomes. Percoll fractionation showed that the changes in late endosomal location and morphology did not change their characteristic density. Furthermore, electron microscopy showed that, in the cellular periphery, these late endosomal elements did not fuse with early endosomal structures, which is in agreement with the results of biochemical in vitro cell-free assays carried out by others. In conclusion, the results show that isoproterenol inhibits transport from early to late endosomes in a manner that may be pH- and/or Ca(2+)-dependent. Simultaneously, isoproterenol causes fragmentation of the late endosomal compartment and the shift of these fragments to the cellular periphery, where they have a restricted ability to fuse with earlier endosomal structures.

Normal lysosomal morphology and function in LAMP-1-deficient mice.

Lysosomal membranes contain two highly glycosylated proteins, designated LAMP-1 and LAMP-2, as major components. LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 are structurally related. To investigate the physiological role of LAMP-1, we have generated mice deficient for this protein. LAMP-1-deficient mice are viable and fertile. In LAMP-1-deficient brain, a mild regional astrogliosis and altered immunoreactivity against cathepsin-D was observed. Histological and ultrastructural analyses of all other tissues did not reveal abnormalities. Lysosomal properties, such as enzyme activities, lysosomal pH, osmotic stability, density, shape, and subcellular distribution were not changed in comparison with controls. Western blot analyses of LAMP-1-deficient and heterozygote tissues revealed an up-regulation of the LAMP-2 protein pointing to a compensatory effect of LAMP-2 in response to the LAMP-1 deficiency. The increase of LAMP-2 was neither correlated with an increase in the level of lamp-2 mRNAs nor with increased half-life time of LAMP-2. This findings suggest a translational regulation of LAMP-2 expression.

Ultrastructural localization of beta-actin and amphoterin mRNA in cultured cells: application of tyramide signal amplification and comparison of detection methods.

We describe a nonradioactive preembedding in situ hybridization protocol using digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes and tyramide signal amplification to increase the sensitivity of detection. The protocol is sensitive enough for electron microscopic localization of endogenous messenger RNAs encoding beta-actin and amphoterin. Three visualization methods were compared: diaminobenzidine enhanced by nickel, Nanogold enhanced by silver and gold toning, and fluorescently labeled tyramides. Diaminobenzidine and Nanogold can be used in both light and electron microscopy. The nickel-enhanced diaminobenzidine was the most sensitive visualization method. It is easy to accomplish but a drawback is poor spatial resolution, which restricts its use at high magnifications. Nanogold visualization has considerably better spatial resolution and is therefore recommended for electron microscopy. Fluorescent tyramides, especially TRITC-tyramide, offer a good detection method for fluorescence and confocal microscopy. The methods were used to localize amphoterin and beta-actin mRNAs in motile cells. Both mRNAs were found in the soma and cell processes. In double labeling experiments, beta-actin mRNA localized to filamentous structures that also contained ribosomal proteins. Especially in the cortical cytoplasm, beta-actin mRNA was associated with actin filaments. Direct localization to microtubules was only rarely seen. (J Histochem Cytochem 47:99-112, 1999)

Regulation of mRNA localization by transmembrane signalling: local interaction of HB-GAM (heparin-binding growth-associated molecule) with the cell surface localizes beta-actin mRNA.

Localization of mRNAs is currently thought to be partially responsible for molecular sorting to specific compartments within the cell. In mammalian cells the best-studied example is the beta-actin mRNA that is localized to the cell processes, and its localization is necessary in migratory responses of cells. It is reasonable to assume that mRNA localization within cells is coupled to transmembrane signalling due to extracellular factors, but little is known about such putative mechanisms. We show here that HB-GAM, an extracellular matrix-associated factor that enhances migratory responses in cells, is able to localize beta-actin mRNA when locally applied to cells via microbeads. The HB-GAM-induced mRNA localization is specifically inhibited by low concentrations of heparin and by heparitinase treatment of cells, showing that cell-surface heparin-type glycans are required for the effect. The finding that soluble N-syndecan is also inhibitory suggests that the transmembrane proteoglycan N-syndecan, previously identified as an HB-GAM receptor, is involved in the mRNA-localizing effect of HB-GAM. Inhibition of the mRNA localization by the src-kinase inhibitor PP1 is compatible with an N-syndecan-mediated effect since the receptor function of N-syndecan has been recently found to depend on the src-kinase signalling pathway. The mRNA-localizing activity of N-syndecan is also suggested by the finding that affinity-purified anti-N-syndecan antibodies coated on microbeads are able to localize beta-actin mRNA.

At reduced temperature, endocytic membrane traffic is blocked in multivesicular carrier endosomes in rat cardiac myocytes.

Temperatures around 20 degrees C are known to block degradation of endocytosed material by preventing its transport to lysosomes, accordingly reduced temperature has been widely used to define endosomes. Newer studies have revealed that the low temperature block is proximal to perinuclear late endosomes, but it is not clear whether the block is already in early endosomes, or whether the traffic proceeds to multivesicular carrier endosomes which mediate transport from early to late compartments. We have now focused on this problem using rat cardiac myocytes. First, cell fractionation on Percoll gradients showed that at reduced temperatures (22 degrees C and 26 degrees C), with prolonged chase periods, endocytosed horseradish peroxidase was able to proceed from early endosomes to later compartments but not up to lysosomes. Further, microscopic experiments with fluorescent endocytic marker FITC-dextran showed that the marker did not accumulate in the perinuclear area, as was the case at 37 degrees C, but stayed in peripheral cytoplasm at reduced temperatures, even after 16-h chase. Second, electron microscopic pulse labeling showed that, at 22 degrees C, endocytosed gold particles (BSA-gold) are transported to compartments not accessible to HRP internalised later to early endosomes. Thus, these gold particles had reached a later compartment. Morphologically these vesicles were multivesicular bodies of 0.5-1 microm in diameter. Third, we used fluorescence microscopy to study the effect of reduced temperature on transferrin uptake and recycling. At 17 degrees C and 22 degrees C, transferrin was internalized normally to peripheral (sorting) and perinuclear (recycling) vesicles. If transferrin was first taken up at 37 degrees C, and the cells were then chased at various temperatures from 37 degrees C to 17 degrees C, the recycling was slowed down but not entirely blocked at the reduced temperatures. From these results we can conclude that (1) endocytic traffic is blocked in multivesicular carrier endosomes at and below 26 degrees C, and that (2) reduced temperature slows down transport in the recycling pathway, without a complete block.

The oligomeric state of 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor does not change upon intracellular recycling and binding of ligands.

46-kDa mannose-6-phosphate receptor forms homooligomers in cell membranes and in detergent solution. The quaternary structure of detergent-solubilized 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor is regulated by the presence of ligands, pH and receptor concentration [Waheed, A. & von Figura, K. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 193, 47-54). To find out whether the intracellular recycling of 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor is accompanied by changes in its quaternary structure, we have performed chemical cross-linking in membranes of intact cells. In all conditions tested, the dimer was the predominating form (more than 67% of total 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor). The amount of trimeric and tetrameric forms varied among cell lines and contributed up to 20% of total endogenous 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor in human and mouse fibroblasts. Within a given cell line, the ratio of the oligomers was not significantly changed upon elevating endosomal pH by bafilomycin A1, upon changes in receptor occupancy (treatment of cells with tunicamycin or use of mouse fibroblasts deficient in 300-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor), nor upon depletion of adaptors from clathrin-coated vesicles of the trans Golgi network by brefeldin A. At the cell surface, where 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor does not bind ligands, the percentage of dimer was similar to that observed intracellularly. Thus, the oligomeric state of 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor apparently does not change during recycling as well as binding and dissociation of ligands. In view of the abundance of the dimer of 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor in situ, our data suggest that it represents the main physiologically active form of the receptor, and therefore present indirect evidence that binding of ligands to 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor is probably regulated by conformational changes of receptor or ligand rather than by changes in the quaternary structure.

3-Methyladenine inhibits transport from late endosomes to lysosomes in cultured rat and mouse fibroblasts.

The effect of 3-methyladenine on transport from endosomes to lysosomes was studied in rat embryonic and mouse 3T3 fibroblasts. Subcellular fractionation in 27% Percoll gradients showed that the pre-endocytosed (5 min pulse) horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was not transported from endosomes to dense lysosomes in cells chased in the presence of 10 mM 3-methyladenine. However, fractionation in 20% Percoll gradients, which separated early endosomes from late endosomes and lysosomes, as well as light and electron microscopic experiments, showed that HRP was transported from early endosomes to the perinuclear late endosomes. Immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cells was used to study the biosynthetic processing of a lysosomal proteinase, cathepsin L. The results showed that the early processing of the precursor to the intermediate form was not affected by 3-methyladenine, while the late processing of the intermediate to the mature form was retarded. In addition, immunofluorescence labeling showed that 3-methyladenine treatment caused accumulation of cathepsin L in the perinuclear area. Another lysosomal enzyme, beta-glucuronidase, was normally distributed in both perinuclear and peripheral vesicles which indicated that the localization of lysosomes was not altered. The results thus suggest that the late processing of cathepsin L was inhibited because transport from perinuclear endosomes to lysosomes was retarded. In conclusion, both endocytic pulse-chase experiments and immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cathepsin L indicate that 3-methyladenine inhibits transport from late endosomes to mature lysosomes in both rat and mouse fibroblasts.

Production of recombinant avidin in Escherichia coli.

A recombinant avidin (re-Avd), containing amino acids (aa) 1-123 of the native chicken egg-white Avd, was produced in Escherichia coli. When cells were grown at 37 degrees C production was over 1 microgram/ml, due to altering the codon preference of the first ten codons. The re-Avd was recovered as a soluble protein from cells grown at 25 or 30 degrees C, whereas at 37 degrees C it was mostly insoluble in inclusion bodies. Our results indicated that, despite the potentially harmful biotin-binding activity of Avd, it is possible to produce biologically active Avd in E. coli which then can easily be purified by affinity chromatography on a biotin column in a single step.

Autophagic vacuoles fuse with the prelysosomal compartment in cultured rat fibroblasts.

We previously demonstrated both mannose 6-phosphate receptor (MPR) and cathepsin L in early autophagic vacuoles of cultured rat fibroblasts. This suggested that the enzyme may originate either from the receptor-enriched prelysosomal compartment (PLC) or from the trans-Golgi network (TGN). In the present ultrastructural study, we elucidated the roles of the PLC and TGN in lysosomal enzyme delivery to autophagic vacuoles. Firstly, we studied whether endocytic markers, cationized ferritin (CF), bovine serum albumin-gold or horseradish peroxidase (HRP), can be detected in autophagic vacuoles. Autophagy was induced by serum removal from the medium with or without leupeptin, an inhibitor of cysteine proteinases. Endocytic markers were not detected in autophagic vacuoles after short uptake which filled the early endosome, but only after longer labeling which filled the PLC. The markers were usually found in advanced autophagic vacuoles containing partially degraded cytoplasm and complex internal membranes which are the characteristic of the PLC. HRP-positive vesicles were also observed in continuity with early autophagic vacuoles containing intact cytoplasm. After uptake and transport of CF and HRP to the PLC, these markers were delivered to autophagic vacuoles even if microtubules were disrupted in vinblastine before the induction of autophagy. Secondly, we studied whether MPRs transport cathepsin L to autophagic vacuoles directly from the TGN. Two inhibitors of MPR-mediated enzyme transport, tunicamycin and chloroquine, were used. Quantitative immunocytochemistry showed that neither of these drugs prevented cathepsin L delivery to autophagic vacuoles. The results suggest that a large proportion of lysosomal enzymes is delivered to autophagic vacuoles from the PLC by a microtubule-independent manner. The first enzymes may be transported in small PLC-derived vesicles or tubules which are reached by HRP but not by CF and gold. Later, the autophaged cytoplasm is delivered to larger vacuolar parts of the PLC. Mannose 6-phosphate receptors transport no or only trace amounts of lysosomal enzymes to autophagic vacuoles directly from the TGN.

Autophagy, cathepsin L transport, and acidification in cultured rat fibroblasts.

The mechanisms of enzyme delivery to and acidification of early autophagic vacuoles in cultured fibroblasts were elucidated by cryoimmunoelectron microscopic methods. The cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR) was used as a marker of the pre-lysosomal compartment, and cathepsin L and an acidotropic amine (3-(2,4-dinitroanilino)-3'-amino-N-methyl-dipropylamine (DAMP), a cytochemical probe for low-pH organelles) as markers of both pre-lysosomal and lysosomal compartments. In addition, cationized ferritin was used as an endocytic marker. In ultrastructural double labeling experiments, the bulk of all the antigens was found in vesicles containing tightly packed membrane material. These vesicles also contained small amounts of endocytosed ferritin and probably correspond to the MPR-enriched pre-lysosomal compartment. Some immunolabeling was also visible in the trans-Golgi network. In addition, cathepsin L, DAMP, and large amounts of ferritin were found in smaller vesicles which can be classified as mature lysosomes. Early autophagic vacuoles were defined as vesicles containing recognizable cytoplasm. MPR, cathepsin L, and DAMP, but not ferritin, were detected in the early vacuoles. Inhibition of the acidification in the early vacuoles by monensin did not prevent the delivery of MPR and cathepsin L. The presence of MPR in the vacuoles suggests that cathepsin L is not delivered to early autophagic vacuoles solely by fusion with mature, MPR-deficient lysosomes. Furthermore, although lysosomes were loaded with endocytosed ferritin, it was not detected in autophagic vacuoles. Either the trans-Golgi network or the MPR-enriched pre-lysosomes may be the main source of enzymes and acidification machinery for the autophagic vacuoles in fibroblasts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of vinblastine, leucine, and histidine, and 3-methyladenine on autophagy in Ehrlich ascites cells.

The microtubule inhibitor vinblastine causes accumulation of autophagic vacuoles in many cell types. In hepatocytes, many of the accumulated vacuoles are nascent, which has been interpreted to suggest that vinblastine acts by inhibiting the fusion of hydrolase-containing lysosomes with early autophagic vacuoles. However, our previous results suggested that, in Ehrlich ascites cells, vinblastine causes accumulation mainly of older autophagic vacuoles (AVs). This study was undertaken to further characterize the mode of action of vinblastine in these cells. The vinblastine-accumulated AVs were quantified by electron-microscopic morphometry. In addition, the effects of inhibitors of autophagic segregation (leucine, histidine, and 3-methyladenine) on the vinblastine-induced accumulation of autophagic vacuoles were studied. Protein degradation was measured using [14C]valine. Vinblastine caused accumulation of advanced autophagic vacuoles but did not increase the rate of protein degradation. The volume density of early vacuoles remained at the control level. The amino acids retarded but did not prevent the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles, whereas 3-methyladenine almost completely prevented the accumulation. The results suggest that in Ehrlich ascites cells vinblastine acts by inhibiting the maturation of advanced autophagic vacuoles into residual bodies and by stimulating the formation of new autophagic vacuoles. However, 3-methyladenine almost completely prevents the formation of new autophagic vacuoles in the presence of vinblastine. In conclusion, in Ehrlich ascites cells, vinblastine does not prevent the entry of hydrolases into autophagic vacuoles. This calls into question the importance of microtubules in the transport of lysosomal enzymes into autophagic vacuoles.

Intramembrane particles and filipin labelling on the membranes of autophagic vacuoles and lysosomes in mouse liver.

Morphologically detectable protein (intramembrane particles) and cholesterol (filipin labelling) in the membranes of autophagic vacuoles and lysosomes were studied in mouse hepatocytes using thin-section and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Both isolated autophagic vacuoles and lysosomes, and intact tissue blocks were used due to the facts (i) that lysosomes are difficult to recognize in freeze-fracture replicas of intact hepatocytes, and (i) that filipin penetration into the tissue blocks is unsatisfactory. Intramembrane particle density was low in the membranes of early autophagic vacuoles (defined as round-shaped vacuoles in which an inner membrane parallel with the outer limiting membrane was clearly visible). The lysosomal membranes contained considerably more intramembrane particles. Particle-rich lysosomes or other vesicles were observed to fuse with the early autophagic vacuoles. The membranes of nascent autophagic vacuoles with morphologically intact contents were usually not labelled by filipin, whereas the membranes of all other autophagic vacuoles and lysosomes were heavily labelled. The increased cholesterol in the membranes of slightly older autophagic vacuoles is presumably derived from cholesterol-rich lysosomes or other vesicles fusing with the vacuoles and from the degrading organelles inside the autophagic vacuoles.

Cytochemical studies on induced autophagocytosis in mouse exocrine pancreas.

1. The origin of the limiting membranes of autophagic vacuoles (AVs) in mouse pancreatic acinar cells was studied in vinblastine-induced autophagocytosis. 2. The marker enzymes used were adenosine triphosphatase, lipase, inosine diphosphatase and thiamine pyrophosphatase. The following impregnation techniques were used: unbuffered osmium tetroxide impregnation, imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide impregnation and uranyl-lead-copper impregnation. 3. Only a weak lipase activity was observed between the limiting membranes of a few AVs. The AV membranes were stained heavily with all impregnation techniques used. 4. The origin of AV membranes seems to be same in mouse liver and exocrine pancreas in vinblastine-induced autophagocytosis.

Filipin labelling and intramembrane particles on the membranes of early and later autophagic vacuoles in Ehrlich ascites cells.

Cholesterol and intramembrane particle distribution on autophagic vacuole membranes was studied in Ehrlich ascites cells using filipin labelling and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Unsaturated fatty acids were stained using imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide. Autophagocytosis was induced with vinblastine, and early autophagic vacuoles were accumulated by lowering the ATP level in the cells with iodoacetate. Filipin labelling was observed in the limiting membranes of later, apparently hydrolase-containing autophagic vacuoles, whereas the most newly-formed, double-membrane limited vacuoles were not labelled. The limiting membranes of late, residual body-type vacuoles either showed patchy filipin-induced deformation or were completely smooth. Imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide stained the membranes of newly-formed or developing autophagic vacuoles partly or entirely. The membranes of older vacuoles stained more weakly. Intramembrane particle density on the P-face of the outer limiting membranes of newly-formed autophagic vacuoles was similar to that on endoplasmic reticulum, and the density seemed to increase slightly later on. The size of the P-face particles increased when the vacuoles became older. The limiting membranes of late, residual body-type vacuoles were almost smooth. The inner limiting membranes and the membranes inside the autophagic were always almost particle-free. In conclusion, the amount of cholesterol, unsaturated fatty acids and protein in autophagic vacuole membranes changes during vacuole maturation.

Studies on vinblastine-induced autophagocytosis in mouse liver. V. A cytochemical study on the origin of membranes.

The origin and the structure of the limiting membranes of autophagic vacuoles (AV) in mouse hepatocytes was studied using cytochemical techniques. Autophagocytosis was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of vinblastine (50 mg/kg). Imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide impregnation was used as a marker for unsaturated fatty acids, and uranyl-lead-copper impregnation for the determination of possible connections of AV membranes with the other cellular membranes. AV membranes stained strongly with both techniques. The staining pattern of AV membranes differed from that of the other cellular membranes. AV's were frequently seen to fuse with vesicles containing very low density lipoprotein particles. No other connections of AV membranes with other cellular membranes were observed. The results suggest that if pre-existing cellular membranes are used in AV formation some kind of transformation must occur in these membranes during AV formation. The content of unsaturated fatty acids appears to be high in AV membranes.