Chronic hyperglycemia is one of the main characteristics of diabetes. Persistent exposure to elevated glucose levels has been recognized as one of the major causal factors of diabetic complications. In pathologies, li...Chronic hyperglycemia is one of the main characteristics of diabetes. Persistent exposure to elevated glucose levels has been recognized as one of the major causal factors of diabetic complications. In pathologies, like type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), mechanical and biochemical stimuli activate profibrotic signaling cascades resulting in myocardial fibrosis and subsequent impaired cardiac performance due to ventricular stiffness. High levels of glucose nonenzymatically react with long-lived proteins, such as collagen, to form advanced glycation end products(AGEs). AGE-modified collagen increase matrix stiffness making it resistant to hydrolytic turnover, resulting in an accumulation of extracellular matrix(ECM) proteins. AGEs account for many of the diabetic cardiovascular complications through their engagement of the receptor for AGE(RAGE). AGE/RAGE activation stimulates the secretion of numerous profibrotic growth factors, promotes increased collagen deposition leading to tissue fibrosis, as well as increased RAGE expression. To date, the AGE/RAGE cascade is not fully understood. In this review, we willdiscuss one of the major fibrotic signaling pathways, the AGE/RAGE signaling cascade, as well as propose an alternate pathway via Rap1 a that may offer insight into cardiovascular ECM remodeling in T2 DM. In a series of studies, we demonstrate a role for Rap1 a in the regulation of fibrosis and myofibroblast differentiation in isolated diabetic and non-diabetic fibroblasts. While these studies are still in a preliminary stage, inhibiting Rap1 a protein expression appears to down-regulate the molecular switch used to activate the ζ isotype of protein kinase C thereby promote AGE/RAGE-mediated fibrosis.展开更多
目的探讨鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子C3G/Rap1酶和鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子Dock180/Rac1酶信号通路在卵巢癌浸润中的可能作用。方法 Western blot检测Dock180沉默的卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中C3G的表达,验证上皮性卵巢癌组织中Dock180与C3G的表达相关性;...目的探讨鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子C3G/Rap1酶和鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子Dock180/Rac1酶信号通路在卵巢癌浸润中的可能作用。方法 Western blot检测Dock180沉默的卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中C3G的表达,验证上皮性卵巢癌组织中Dock180与C3G的表达相关性;免疫组化比较卵巢癌组织中Dock180与C3G的表达趋势;免疫荧光观察SKOV3中Dock180与C3G及它们各自的下游蛋白Rac1/Rap1的定位。结果 Dock180基因沉默的细胞中C3G表达明显增强(P<0.05);Dock180与C3G在卵巢癌组织中的表达呈现相反趋势(P<0.05);C3G/Dock180均主要分布于细胞质,下游效应蛋白Rap1/Rac1在细胞膜和细胞质都有表达,但Rap1以细胞质为主,而Rac1可以伸展至细胞膜及细胞膜皱褶。结论卵巢癌细胞和组织中C3G与Dock180表达呈相反趋势,下游蛋白Rap1与Rac1在细胞内的定位分布差异,可能与C3G/Rap1和Dock180/Rac1信号通路在卵巢肿瘤浸润中的不同作用有关。展开更多
Ras-associated protein-1 （Rapl）, a small GTPase in the Ras-related protein family, is an important regulator of basic cellular functions （e.g., formation and control of cell adhesions and junctions）, cellular migr...Ras-associated protein-1 （Rapl）, a small GTPase in the Ras-related protein family, is an important regulator of basic cellular functions （e.g., formation and control of cell adhesions and junctions）, cellular migration, and polarization. Through its interaction with other proteins, Rapl plays many roles during cell invasion and metastasis in different cancers. The basic function of Rapl is straightforward; it acts as a switch during cellular signaling transduction and regulated by its binding to either guanosine triphosphate （GTP） or guanosine diphosphate （GDP）. However, its remarkably diverse function is rendered by its interplay with a large number of distinct Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factors and Rap GTPase activating proteins. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which Rap 1 signaling can regulate cell invasion and metastasis, focusing on its roles in integrin and cadherin regulation, Rho GTPase control, and matrix metalloproteinase expression.展开更多
Rapl is expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs）. Rapl-GTPase activating protein （RaplGAP）, with its specific target, Rapl, has been shown to be important in the regulation of many physiologica...Rapl is expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs）. Rapl-GTPase activating protein （RaplGAP）, with its specific target, Rapl, has been shown to be important in the regulation of many physiological and certain pathological processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of RaplGAP expression on endothelial cell function, or, more specifically, proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. HUVECs were transfected with pcDNA3.1 （empty vector）, pcDNA3.1 containing Flag-tagged-RaplGAP or Myc-tagged-RaplN17. The proliferation, migration and tube formation were examined and compared among the 3 groups. Expression of Rapl, RaplGAP, extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）, phospho-ERK, Akt, phosphor-Akt was detected by Western blotting. The results showed that the proliferation, migration and tube formation were significantly reduced in RaplGAP- and RaplN17-transfected HUVECs as compared with empty vector-transfected control. These changes were coincident with increased expression of Rap 1GAP and decreased expression of activated Rap l, phospho-ERK and -Akt. After treatment of Rap l GAP-transfected HUVECs with a stimulator of Rapl guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor （RaplGEF） 8CPT-2＇OMe-cAMP, it was found that Rapl activity was decreased as compared with empty vector-transfected control. Pretreatment of HU- VECs with an ERK inhibitor PD98059 or a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 prior to stimulation not only blocked 8CPT-2＇OMe-cAMP-induced phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, but also significantly reduced cell proliferation and migration. Finally, we examined the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） on HUVECs overexpressing RaplGAP. VEGF-stimulated Rapl activity, phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation were repressed in HUVECs overexpressing RaplGAP as compared to empty vector-transfected Control. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that RaplGAP/Rapl and their downstream effectors regulate proliferation and migration of HU展开更多
RAP1 is a well-known telomere-binding protein, but its functions in human stem cells have remained unclea匚 Here we generated RAP1 -deficient human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by using CRISPR/Cas9 technique and obtai...RAP1 is a well-known telomere-binding protein, but its functions in human stem cells have remained unclea匚 Here we generated RAP1 -deficient human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by using CRISPR/Cas9 technique and obtained RAP1-deficient human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and neural stem cells (hNSCs) via directed differentiation. In both hMSCs and hNSCs, RAP1 not only negatively regulated telomere length but also acted as a transcriptional regulator of RELN by tuning the methylation status of its gene promoter. RAP1 deficiency enhanced self-renewal and delayed senescence in hMSCs, but not in hNSCs, suggesting complicated lineage-specific effects of RAP1 in adult stem cells.Altogether, these results demonstrate for the first time that RAP1 plays both telomeric and nontelomeric roles in regulating human stem cell homeostasis.展开更多
Aim: To evaluate the Rap1A mRNA expression and its significance in the testes of normal and azoospermic subjects. Methods: A cDNA microarray that contained Rap1A and some other genes such as RBM, EIF1 AY was used to i...Aim: To evaluate the Rap1A mRNA expression and its significance in the testes of normal and azoospermic subjects. Methods: A cDNA microarray that contained Rap1A and some other genes such as RBM, EIF1 AY was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles between the normal and azoospermic testes. cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from azoospermic and normal testicular tissues through reverse transcription with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP, respectively. The mixed cDNA probes were then hybridized with cDNA microarray (each containing 4096 unique human cDNA sequences). The fluorescent signals were scanned and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were analyzed and calculated. In situ hybridization was employed to detect the expression of RaplA in the testes of 10 fertile and 39 azoospermic subjects. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight differentially expressed genes were found to be possibly related to azoospermia, of which 56 were up-regulated and 72, down-regulated genes. The mRNA expression of RaplA in the spermatogenic cells of azoospermic was stronger than that in those of the fertile testes. Conclusion: Rap1A may play certain roles in the development of azoospermia.展开更多
Despite the expanding knowledge on feedback regulation of Toll-like receptor （TLR） signaling, the feedforward regulation of TLR signaling for the proper innate response to invading microbes is not fully understood. ...Despite the expanding knowledge on feedback regulation of Toll-like receptor （TLR） signaling, the feedforward regulation of TLR signaling for the proper innate response to invading microbes is not fully understood. Here, we report that extracellular calcium can coordinate the activation of the small GTPases Ras and Ras-proximate-1 （Rap1） upon TLR stimulation which favors activation of macrophages through a feedforward mechanism. We show that different doses of TLR agonists can trigger different levels of cytokine production, which can be potentiated by extracellular calcium but are impaired by the chelating reagent ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid （EGTA） or by knockdown of stromal interaction molecule 1 （STIM1）. Upon TLR engagement, GTP-bound Ras levels are increased and GTP-bound Rap1 is decreased, which can be reversed by EGTA-mediated removal of extracellular calcium. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Rap1 knockdown rescues the inhibitory effects of EGTA on the TLR-triggered innate response. Examination of the TLR signaling pathway reveals that extracellular calcium may regulate the TLR response via feedforward activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Our data suggest that an influx of extracellular calcium, mediated by STIM 1-operated calcium channels, may transmit the information about the intensity of extracellular TLR stimuli to initiate innate responses at an appropriate level. Our study may provide mechanistic insight into the feedforward regulation of the TLR-triggered innate immune response.展开更多
The small GTPase Rap1 induces integrin activation via an inside-out signaling pathway mediated by the Rapl-interacting adaptor mol- ecule （RIAM）. Blocking this pathway may suppress tumor metastasis and other disease...The small GTPase Rap1 induces integrin activation via an inside-out signaling pathway mediated by the Rapl-interacting adaptor mol- ecule （RIAM）. Blocking this pathway may suppress tumor metastasis and other diseases that are related to hyperactive integrins. However, the molecular basis for the specific recognition of RIAM by Rap1 remains largely unknown. Herein we present the crystal structure of an active, GTP-bound GTPase domain of Rap1 in complex with the Ras association （RA）-pleckstrin homology （PH） structural module of RIAM at 1.65 A. The structure reveals that the recognition of RIAM by Rap1 is governed by side-chain interactions. Several side chains are critical in determining specificity of this recognition, particularly the Lys31 residue in Rap1 that is oppositely charged compared with the Glu31/Asp31 residue in other Ras GTPases. Lys31 forms a salt bridge with RIAM residue Glu212, making it the key specificity determinant of the interaction. We also show that disruption of these interactions results in reduction of Rapl：RIAM association, leadingto a loss of co-clustering and cell adhesion. Our findings elucidate the molecular mechanism by which RIAM med- iates Rapl-induced integrin activation. The crystal structure also offers new insight into the structural basis for the specific recruitment of RA-PH module-containing effector proteins by their smaU GTPase partners.展开更多
基金Supported by Grants from the American Heart Association,No.SDG5310006(JAS)and No.BGIA4150122(JAS)
文摘Chronic hyperglycemia is one of the main characteristics of diabetes. Persistent exposure to elevated glucose levels has been recognized as one of the major causal factors of diabetic complications. In pathologies, like type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), mechanical and biochemical stimuli activate profibrotic signaling cascades resulting in myocardial fibrosis and subsequent impaired cardiac performance due to ventricular stiffness. High levels of glucose nonenzymatically react with long-lived proteins, such as collagen, to form advanced glycation end products(AGEs). AGE-modified collagen increase matrix stiffness making it resistant to hydrolytic turnover, resulting in an accumulation of extracellular matrix(ECM) proteins. AGEs account for many of the diabetic cardiovascular complications through their engagement of the receptor for AGE(RAGE). AGE/RAGE activation stimulates the secretion of numerous profibrotic growth factors, promotes increased collagen deposition leading to tissue fibrosis, as well as increased RAGE expression. To date, the AGE/RAGE cascade is not fully understood. In this review, we willdiscuss one of the major fibrotic signaling pathways, the AGE/RAGE signaling cascade, as well as propose an alternate pathway via Rap1 a that may offer insight into cardiovascular ECM remodeling in T2 DM. In a series of studies, we demonstrate a role for Rap1 a in the regulation of fibrosis and myofibroblast differentiation in isolated diabetic and non-diabetic fibroblasts. While these studies are still in a preliminary stage, inhibiting Rap1 a protein expression appears to down-regulate the molecular switch used to activate the ζ isotype of protein kinase C thereby promote AGE/RAGE-mediated fibrosis.
文摘目的探讨鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子C3G/Rap1酶和鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子Dock180/Rac1酶信号通路在卵巢癌浸润中的可能作用。方法 Western blot检测Dock180沉默的卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中C3G的表达,验证上皮性卵巢癌组织中Dock180与C3G的表达相关性;免疫组化比较卵巢癌组织中Dock180与C3G的表达趋势;免疫荧光观察SKOV3中Dock180与C3G及它们各自的下游蛋白Rac1/Rap1的定位。结果 Dock180基因沉默的细胞中C3G表达明显增强(P<0.05);Dock180与C3G在卵巢癌组织中的表达呈现相反趋势(P<0.05);C3G/Dock180均主要分布于细胞质,下游效应蛋白Rap1/Rac1在细胞膜和细胞质都有表达,但Rap1以细胞质为主,而Rac1可以伸展至细胞膜及细胞膜皱褶。结论卵巢癌细胞和组织中C3G与Dock180表达呈相反趋势,下游蛋白Rap1与Rac1在细胞内的定位分布差异,可能与C3G/Rap1和Dock180/Rac1信号通路在卵巢肿瘤浸润中的不同作用有关。
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31271504 and 31471310)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee,China(Grant No.JCYJ2013040 1144744187)
文摘Ras-associated protein-1 （Rapl）, a small GTPase in the Ras-related protein family, is an important regulator of basic cellular functions （e.g., formation and control of cell adhesions and junctions）, cellular migration, and polarization. Through its interaction with other proteins, Rapl plays many roles during cell invasion and metastasis in different cancers. The basic function of Rapl is straightforward; it acts as a switch during cellular signaling transduction and regulated by its binding to either guanosine triphosphate （GTP） or guanosine diphosphate （GDP）. However, its remarkably diverse function is rendered by its interplay with a large number of distinct Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factors and Rap GTPase activating proteins. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which Rap 1 signaling can regulate cell invasion and metastasis, focusing on its roles in integrin and cadherin regulation, Rho GTPase control, and matrix metalloproteinase expression.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30971207)Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province,China(No.2009CBD-386)
文摘Rapl is expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs）. Rapl-GTPase activating protein （RaplGAP）, with its specific target, Rapl, has been shown to be important in the regulation of many physiological and certain pathological processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of RaplGAP expression on endothelial cell function, or, more specifically, proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. HUVECs were transfected with pcDNA3.1 （empty vector）, pcDNA3.1 containing Flag-tagged-RaplGAP or Myc-tagged-RaplN17. The proliferation, migration and tube formation were examined and compared among the 3 groups. Expression of Rapl, RaplGAP, extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）, phospho-ERK, Akt, phosphor-Akt was detected by Western blotting. The results showed that the proliferation, migration and tube formation were significantly reduced in RaplGAP- and RaplN17-transfected HUVECs as compared with empty vector-transfected control. These changes were coincident with increased expression of Rap 1GAP and decreased expression of activated Rap l, phospho-ERK and -Akt. After treatment of Rap l GAP-transfected HUVECs with a stimulator of Rapl guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor （RaplGEF） 8CPT-2＇OMe-cAMP, it was found that Rapl activity was decreased as compared with empty vector-transfected control. Pretreatment of HU- VECs with an ERK inhibitor PD98059 or a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 prior to stimulation not only blocked 8CPT-2＇OMe-cAMP-induced phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, but also significantly reduced cell proliferation and migration. Finally, we examined the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） on HUVECs overexpressing RaplGAP. VEGF-stimulated Rapl activity, phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation were repressed in HUVECs overexpressing RaplGAP as compared to empty vector-transfected Control. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that RaplGAP/Rapl and their downstream effectors regulate proliferation and migration of HU
基金This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFA0107001)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA16010100)+5 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC2000100,2018YFA0107203,2017YFA0103304,2017 YFA0102802,2015CB964800,2014CB910503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81625009,81330008,91749202, 91749123,31671429,81671377,81771515,31601109,31601158, 81701388,81422017,81601233,81471414,81870228,81822018, 81801399,31801010,81801370 and 81861168034)Program of Beijing Mun icipal Science and Technology Commission (Z151100003915072)Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJZDEWTZ-L05)Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (PXM2018_026283_ 000002)Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection (117212) and the State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology.
文摘RAP1 is a well-known telomere-binding protein, but its functions in human stem cells have remained unclea匚 Here we generated RAP1 -deficient human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by using CRISPR/Cas9 technique and obtained RAP1-deficient human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and neural stem cells (hNSCs) via directed differentiation. In both hMSCs and hNSCs, RAP1 not only negatively regulated telomere length but also acted as a transcriptional regulator of RELN by tuning the methylation status of its gene promoter. RAP1 deficiency enhanced self-renewal and delayed senescence in hMSCs, but not in hNSCs, suggesting complicated lineage-specific effects of RAP1 in adult stem cells.Altogether, these results demonstrate for the first time that RAP1 plays both telomeric and nontelomeric roles in regulating human stem cell homeostasis.
文摘Aim: To evaluate the Rap1A mRNA expression and its significance in the testes of normal and azoospermic subjects. Methods: A cDNA microarray that contained Rap1A and some other genes such as RBM, EIF1 AY was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles between the normal and azoospermic testes. cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from azoospermic and normal testicular tissues through reverse transcription with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP, respectively. The mixed cDNA probes were then hybridized with cDNA microarray (each containing 4096 unique human cDNA sequences). The fluorescent signals were scanned and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were analyzed and calculated. In situ hybridization was employed to detect the expression of RaplA in the testes of 10 fertile and 39 azoospermic subjects. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight differentially expressed genes were found to be possibly related to azoospermia, of which 56 were up-regulated and 72, down-regulated genes. The mRNA expression of RaplA in the spermatogenic cells of azoospermic was stronger than that in those of the fertile testes. Conclusion: Rap1A may play certain roles in the development of azoospermia.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Key Basic Research Program of China （2010CB911903 and 2013CB530502）, the National Natural Science Foundation of China （81172851, 81222039, 31270944, and 31370902）, and the National High Technology Research and Development Program （2012AA020900）. We thank Dr. Xingguang Liu for helpful discussion and assistance with manuscript writing, and Ms. Mei Jin and Ms. Hao Shen for their excellent technical assistance.
文摘Despite the expanding knowledge on feedback regulation of Toll-like receptor （TLR） signaling, the feedforward regulation of TLR signaling for the proper innate response to invading microbes is not fully understood. Here, we report that extracellular calcium can coordinate the activation of the small GTPases Ras and Ras-proximate-1 （Rap1） upon TLR stimulation which favors activation of macrophages through a feedforward mechanism. We show that different doses of TLR agonists can trigger different levels of cytokine production, which can be potentiated by extracellular calcium but are impaired by the chelating reagent ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid （EGTA） or by knockdown of stromal interaction molecule 1 （STIM1）. Upon TLR engagement, GTP-bound Ras levels are increased and GTP-bound Rap1 is decreased, which can be reversed by EGTA-mediated removal of extracellular calcium. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Rap1 knockdown rescues the inhibitory effects of EGTA on the TLR-triggered innate response. Examination of the TLR signaling pathway reveals that extracellular calcium may regulate the TLR response via feedforward activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Our data suggest that an influx of extracellular calcium, mediated by STIM 1-operated calcium channels, may transmit the information about the intensity of extracellular TLR stimuli to initiate innate responses at an appropriate level. Our study may provide mechanistic insight into the feedforward regulation of the TLR-triggered innate immune response.
文摘The small GTPase Rap1 induces integrin activation via an inside-out signaling pathway mediated by the Rapl-interacting adaptor mol- ecule （RIAM）. Blocking this pathway may suppress tumor metastasis and other diseases that are related to hyperactive integrins. However, the molecular basis for the specific recognition of RIAM by Rap1 remains largely unknown. Herein we present the crystal structure of an active, GTP-bound GTPase domain of Rap1 in complex with the Ras association （RA）-pleckstrin homology （PH） structural module of RIAM at 1.65 A. The structure reveals that the recognition of RIAM by Rap1 is governed by side-chain interactions. Several side chains are critical in determining specificity of this recognition, particularly the Lys31 residue in Rap1 that is oppositely charged compared with the Glu31/Asp31 residue in other Ras GTPases. Lys31 forms a salt bridge with RIAM residue Glu212, making it the key specificity determinant of the interaction. We also show that disruption of these interactions results in reduction of Rapl：RIAM association, leadingto a loss of co-clustering and cell adhesion. Our findings elucidate the molecular mechanism by which RIAM med- iates Rapl-induced integrin activation. The crystal structure also offers new insight into the structural basis for the specific recruitment of RA-PH module-containing effector proteins by their smaU GTPase partners.
