Grb2-Mediated Recruitment of USP9X to LAT Enhances Themis Stability following Thymic Selection.

Themis is a new component of the TCR signaling machinery that plays a critical role during T cell development. The positive selection of immature CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes and their commitment to the CD4+CD8- single-positive stage are impaired in Themis-/- mice, suggesting that Themis might be important to sustain TCR signals during these key developmental processes. However, the analysis of Themis mRNA levels revealed that Themis gene expression is rapidly extinguished during positive selection. We show in this article that Themis protein expression is increased in double-positive thymocytes undergoing positive selection and is sustained in immature single-positive thymocytes, despite the strong decrease in Themis mRNA levels in these subsets. We found that Themis stability is controlled by the ubiquitin-specific protease USP9X, which removes ubiquitin K48-linked chains on Themis following TCR engagement. Biochemical analyses indicate that USP9X binds directly to the N-terminal CABIT domain of Themis and indirectly to the adaptor protein Grb2, with the latter interaction enabling recruitment of Themis/USP9X complexes to LAT, thereby sustaining Themis expression following positive selection. Together, these data suggest that TCR-mediated signals enhance Themis stability upon T cell development and identify USP9X as a key regulator of Themis protein turnover.

NMR secondary structure and interactions of recombinant human MOZART1 protein, a component of the gamma-tubulin complex.

Mitotic-spindle organizing protein associated with a ring of γ-tubulin 1 (MOZART1) is an 8.5 kDa protein linked to regulation of γ-tubulin ring complexes (γTuRCs), which are involved in nucleation of microtubules. Despite its small size, MOZART1 represents a challenging target for detailed characterization in vitro. We described herein a protocol for efficient production of recombinant human MOZART1 in Escherichia coli and assessed the properties of the purified protein using a combination of size exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle light scattering (SEC-MALS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. MOZART1 forms heterogeneous oligomers in solution. We identified optimal detergent and buffer conditions for recording well resolved NMR experiments allowing nearly full protein assignment and identification of three distinct alpha-helical structured regions. Finally, using NMR, we showed that MOZART1 interacts with the N-terminus (residues 1-250) of GCP3 (γ-tubulin complex protein 3). Our data illustrate the capacity of MOZART1 to form oligomers, promoting multiple contacts with a subset of protein partners in the context of microtubule nucleation.

Frequent PTEN genomic alterations and activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway in basal-like breast cancer cells.

INTRODUCTION: Basal-like carcinomas (BLCs) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpressing (HER2+) carcinomas are the subgroups of breast cancers that have the most aggressive clinical behaviour. In contrast to HER2+ carcinomas, no targeted therapy is currently available for the treatment of patients with BLCs. In order to discover potential therapeutic targets, we aimed to discover deregulated signalling pathways in human BLCs. METHODS: In this study, we focused on the oncogenic phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway in 13 BLCs, and compared it with a control series of 11 hormonal receptor negative- and grade III-matched HER2+ carcinomas. The two tumour populations were first characterised by immunohistochemistry and gene expression. The PI3K pathway was then investigated by gene copy-number analysis, gene expression profiling and at a proteomic level using reverse-phase protein array technology and tissue microarray. The effects of the PI3K inhibition pathway on proliferation and apoptosis was further analysed in three human basal-like cell lines. RESULTS: The PI3K pathway was found to be activated in BLCs and up-regulated compared with HER2+ tumours as shown by a significantly increased activation of the downstream targets Akt and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). BLCs expressed significantly lower levels of the tumour suppressor PTEN and PTEN levels were significantly negatively correlated with Akt activity within that population. PTEN protein expression correlated significantly with PTEN DNA copy number and more importantly, reduced PTEN DNA copy numbers were observed specifically in BLCs. Similar to human samples, basal-like cell lines exhibited an activation of PI3K/Akt pathway and low/lack PTEN expression. Both PI3K and mTOR inhibitors led to basal-like cell growth arrest. However, apoptosis was specifically observed after PI3K inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of BLCs and implicate the PTEN-dependent activated Akt signalling pathway as a potential therapeutic target for the management of patients with poor prognosis BLCs.