Marine cnidarian-microalgal endosymbiosis is an ecologically important intracellular association. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms are essentially unknown. In light of the critical roles of host phagocytosis in intracellular fates of a variety of microbes, and the Rab small GTPases as key mediators of host-symbiont interaction, we set out to investigate the potential involvement of Aiptasia Rab proteins in the model photosynthetic endosymbiosis between the sea anemone, Aiptasia pulchella and the symbiotic dinoflagellate (commonly called zooxanthellae), Symbiodinium spp. Many Aiptasia Rab homologue-encoding cDNA fragments were first cloned through our degenerate RT-PCR and RACE reactions. Significantly, Aiptasia homologues of Rab5 and Rab7 (ApRab5 and ApRab7), two Rabs known to be critical regulators of phagosome maturation were also identified in the screen. The overall sequence identities of ApRab5 and ApRab7 to those of human Rab5C and Rab7 were very extensive, and EGFP reporter, protein fractionation, and immuno-fluorescence studies all suggested that the similarity of the Aiptasia Rabs to their human counterparts extended to the functional levels. Finally, although the phagosomes enclosing latex beads stained positive for ApRab5 and ApRab7 with kinetics characteristics of normal phagosomal maturation, the phagosomes housing zooxanthellae only stained positive for ApRab5. Furthermore, the association of ApRab5 with and the exclusion of ApRab7 from the zooxanthellae-containing phagosomes could be reversed by the heat-killed or photosynthesis-impaired symbionts. Overall, our present study has identified ApRab5 and ApRab7 as potential key regulators of the Aiptasia-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis

No description available.

O aumento dos casos de diarreia causados por EPECa evoca a sua capacidade de adaptação e patogenicidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o comportamento da EPECa na interação com macrófagos (fagocitose e antifagocitose). O estudo da fagocitose das cepas LB7 (O55:H7), LB13 (O111:abH9) e BA487 (O55:H7) em macrófagos J774A1 mostrou sobrevivência intracelular em presença de NO. EPECa impede a maturação do vacúolo parasitóforo. A sobrevivência em macrófago derivado de C3H/HeJ, mutante do tlr4, foi reduzida e em macrófago de C57BL/6 não foi observada. O fator antigagocítico (Fa) secretado pela LB7, já detectado pelo grupo, apresenta natureza peptídica e a sua ação não é específica de EPEC, pois inibe também a fagocitose de Shigella e látex. A secreção do Fa foi avaliada em M9 e DMEM. O produto do fracionamento do sobrenadante do cultivo por SPE apresentou Fa em ambos meios. No entanto, a secreção em M9 é baixa e não foi detectada por HPLC. O Fa do DMEM obtido por HPLC mostrou-se citotóxico. Novos meios de cultivo deverão ser estudados para a identificação do Fa. / The increase in the numbers of diarrhea cases caused by aEPEC denotes its adaptability and pathogenicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the behavior of aEPEC in the interaction with macrophages (phagocytosis and anti-phagocytosis). Strains LB7 (O55:H7), LB13 (O111:abH9) and BA487 (O55:H7) were shown to survive within J774A1 macrophages in the presence of NO. aEPEC prevents maturation of the parasitophorus vacuole. Survival inside C3H/HeJ derived macrophages, mutant for tlr4, decreased and was not observed in C57BL/6 derived macrophages. The anti-phagocytic factor (AF), secreted by LB7 and previously detected by our group, is peptidic and its action is not specific to EPEC as it also inhibits phagocytosis of Shigella and latex. Secretion of AF was evaluated in M9 and DMEM. AF was detected after SPE fractionation of both culture media. However, the secretion in M9 is low and was not detected by HPLC. The DMEM HPLC fraction containing AF was cytotoxic. New culture media will be studied for the identification of AF.

La protéine Bcl xL, membre de la famille de Bcl 2, est essentiellement décrite pour son rôle dans l'inhibition de la mort des cellules. Récemment, un nouveau rôle lui a été attribué dans la régulation de la macro-autophagie, processus principalement décrit pour promouvoir la survie des cellules. Bcl xL exerce donc ses fonctions de survie à travers la régulation d'au moins deux processus différents.Si les fonctions anti-apoptotiques de Bcl xL ne sont plus à démontrer, ses fonctions dans la régulation de l'autophagie sont davantage débattues. Ainsi, nous avons centré ce travail sur la caractérisation des fonctions pro-autophagiques de Bcl xL afin de mieux comprendre ses fonctions de survie. Nos résultats suggèrent que Bcl xL subit in vivo et dans des cellules en culture une modification de type déamidation. Nous montrons que cette modification renforce les fonctions pro-autophagiques de Bcl xL sans affecter ses fonctions anti-apoptotiques. Par ailleurs, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'interaction entre Bcl xL et la petite GTPase Rab7, une protéine essentielle au processus autophagique et endocytique. Nous avons généré, et analysé d'un point de vue fonctionnel, des mutants de Bcl xL de type perte ou gain d'interaction avec Rab7. Notre principale conclusion est que Bcl xL stimule le trafic des vésicules médié par Rab7, et nous proposons que les fonctions pro-autophagiques de Bcl xL sont majoritairement dépendantes de son interaction avec Rab7. Cette étude contribue ainsi à mieux définir les fonctions pro-autophagiques de Bcl xL ainsi que les processus qui les régulent. Par ailleurs, elle approfondit nos connaissances des fonctions oncogéniques de Bcl xL en intégrant la composante supplémentaire de ses fonctions pro-autophagiques, et ouvre ainsi des perspectives pour l'élaboration de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques anti-cancéreuses notamment. / Bcl xL, a member of the Bcl-2 family, is mainly described for its role in the inhibition of cell death. Recently, Bcl xL was attributed a new role in the regulation of macro-autophagy, a process described mainly for its contribution to cell survival. Hence, Bcl xL wields its survival functions through the regulation of at least two different processes. If the anti-apoptotic functions of Bcl xL are now well established, its role in the regulation of autophagy is more debated. Therefore we focused this work on the characterization of Bcl xL pro-autophagic functions in order to get a better understanding of its survival functions. Our results suggest that Bcl xL undergoes in vivo and in cultured cells a modification called deamidation. We show that this modification enhances its pro-autophagic functions without affecting its anti-apoptotic functions. In addition, we characterized an interaction between Bcl xL and the small GTPase Rab7 which is essential for autophagy and endocytosis. We generated mutants of Bcl xL either gaining or loosing interaction with Rab7. The functional analysis of these mutants suggested that Bcl xL stimulates the vesicle trafficking mediated by Rab7, and prompts us to hypothesize that Bcl xL pro-autophagic functions are mainly dependent on its interaction with Rab7. This study helps to better define the pro-autophagic functions of Bcl xL and the processes regulating them. It provides further insights in the oncogenic functions of Bcl xL by implementing additional component of its pro-autophagic functions, and opens perspectives for the development of new therapeutic strategies against cancer progression.

The vesicle-mediated degradation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is an essential cellular function due to its role in cellular biosynthesis of membranes and steroids. Using multi-color single particle tracking fluorescence microscopy, the intracellular degradation of LDL was probed in live, intact cells. Unique to these experiments is the direct observation of LDL degradation using an LDL-based probe that increases fluorescence intensity upon degradation. Specifically, individual LDL particles were labeled with multiple fluorophores resulting in a quenched fluorescent signal. The characteristics of the vesicle responsible for degradation were determined and the vesicle dynamics involved in LDL degradation were quantified. Visualization of early endosomes, late endosomes and lysosomes was accomplished by fluorescently labeling vesicles with variants of GFP. Transient colocalization of LDL with specific vesicles and the intensity of the LDL particle were measured simultaneously. These studies, which are the first to directly observe the degradation of LDL within a cell, strive to completely describe the endo-lysosomal pathway and quantify the dynamics of LDL degradation in cells.

The first dynein mutation found in humans that caused disease was a cytoplasmic dynein 1 heavy chain (DYNC1H1 in humans) p.His306Arg mutation, first described by Weedon et al. in 2011. This mutation caused Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) subtype 2O. CMT has a prevalence of approximately 1 in 2500 people, making it the most common hereditary neuromuscular disorder. Cytoplasmic dynein 1 is used by eukaryotic cells for minus-end directed microtubule-based transport of cargo. One such cargo is Rab7, a late endosomal marker. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of this mutation on the transport of GFP-tagged Rab7 cargo in neurons from wild type (HH), heterozygous mutant (HR), and homozygous mutant (RR) mice harboring a DYNC1HI His306Arg mutation. Mouse embryos were euthanized, dissected to collect the hippocampal and cortical brain tissues, and these tissues were digested to isolate neurons. Nucleofection was used to introduce the exogenous GFP-Rab7 gene construct. These neurons were plated and imaged at 10 days in vitro using wide-field epifluorescence microscopy to generate image stacks of fluorescent GFP-Rab7 vesicles. Kymograph analysis was performed on the image stacks using MetaMorph software to measure several characteristics of movement. Statistical analysis of the data from each of the three genotypes shows there is no significant difference in Rab-7 transport between the three genotypes.

The parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes the most virulent form of human malaria and is responsible for the vast majority of malaria-related deaths. During the asexual intraerythrocytic stage, the parasite must transport newly synthesized proteins and endocytosed cargo to a variety of organelles, many of which are formed de novo and have no human equivalent. This process in mammalian cells would utilize an endosomal protein trafficking system, but no endosomal structures or proteins have been described in the parasite. Prior work on the parasite genome indicated that several proteins, which could potentially coordinate an endosomal network, were encoded in the genome and expressed during the asexual parasite stages. In this study, we have localized and attempted to further characterize these proteins in the context of the endosomal system. Two well-conserved protein components of the late endosome, the retromer cargo-selective complex and Rab7, were found on a previously un-described inherited structure adjacent to the parasite Golgi apparatus and in close opposition to nascent rhoptries (specialized secretory organelles required for invasion). The retromer cargo-selective complex was also in close proximity to its putative cargo, a P. falciparum homolog of the sortilin family of protein sorting receptors, PfSortilin. Another protein, PfFCP, the sole FYVE domain-containing protein in the P. falciparum genome, was localized to the membrane of a specialized acidic organelle, known as the food vacuole, where the parasite catabolizes the majority of its host cell hemoglobin. We analyzed the effects of a PfFCP dominant negative mutant and found that it altered food vacuole morphology and trafficking. A previous report localized the early endosome phosphoinositide, phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, to the food vacuole membrane, and in conjunction with our studies on PfFCP, this has raised doubts about the food vacuole as a lysosome equivalent in the parasite. The combination of both early and late endosome protein homologs in the parasite, and their potential function, has led to a new model of protein trafficking within the parasite that includes the food vacuole as a terminal early endosome and the apical organelles as lysosome equivalents. / Ph. D.

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) are critical for learning and memory. Profound and early BFCN degeneration is a hallmark of aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). BFCNs depend for their survival on the retrograde axonal transport of neurotrophins, proteins critical for neuronal function. Neurotrophins like brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) are retrogradely transported to BFCNs from their synaptic targets. In AD, neurotrophin levels are increased within BFCN target areas and reduced in the basal forebrain, implicating dysfunctional neurotrophin transport in AD pathogenesis. However, neurotrophin transport within this highly susceptible neuronal population is currently poorly understood. We began by establishing protocols for the accurate quantification of axonal transport in BFCNs using microfluidic culture. We then determined the effect of age on neurotrophin transport. BFCNs were left in culture for up to 3 weeks to model aging in vitro. BFCNs initially displayed robust neurotrophin transport, which diminished with in vitro age. We observed that the levels of proNGF receptor tropomyosin-related kinase-A (TrkA) were reduced in aged neurons. Additionally, neurotrophin transport in BFCNs derived from 3xTg-AD mice, an AD model, was also impaired. Next, we sought to determine a mechanism for these transport deficits. First, we determined that proNGF transport was solely contingent upon the levels of TrkA. We then found that elevation of oxidative stress, an established AD contributor, significantly reduced both TrkA levels and proNGF retrograde transport. TrkA levels are partially regulated by protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B), an enzyme whose activity is reduced by oxidation. PTP1B antagonism significantly reduced TrkA levels and proNGF retrograde transport in BFCNs. Treatment of BFCNs with PTP1B-activating antioxidants rescued TrkA levels, proNGF transport, and proNGF-mediated axonal degeneration. Our results suggest that oxidative stress contributes to BFCN degeneration in aging and AD by impairing retrograde neurotrophin transport via oxidative PTP1B-mediated TrkA loss. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / During aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the connections between neurons, a type of brain cell, break down, causing memory loss. This breakdown begins in a brain area called the basal forebrain. Basal forebrain neurons rely upon the transport of nutrients along their connections with other neurons, called axons, for proper function. This transport process becomes impaired in AD. Our goal was to understand why this happens. First, we determined that axonal transport was impaired with age and in basal forebrain neurons of mice genetically predisposed to develop AD. We recreated these impairments by increasing the levels of harmful molecules called reactive oxidative species (ROS). ROS levels increase with age and become abnormally high during AD. We found that increased ROS impair axonal transport and contribute to the breakdown of basal forebrain neurons. Our work suggests that reducing ROS will help prevent the breakdown of basal forebrain neurons in AD.

No description available.

Le tri et le transport efficace des hydrolases acides vers le lysosome jouent un rôle critique pour la fonction des cellules. Plus de 50 maladies humaines sont dues à des mutations des enzymes lysosomales, des protéines régulant des processus-clés du transport vers le lysosome ou des enzymes effectuant des modifications posttraductionnelles importantes pour la fonction du lysosome. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’identifier des protéines et des mécanismes permettant à la cellule de réguler le transport des enzymes vers le lysosome. Nous avons formulé l’hypothèse que des protéines mutées dans des maladies lysosomales et dont les fonctions étaient inconnues pouvaient jouer un rôle dans le transport vers le lysosome. Les céroïdes-lipofuscinoses neuronales forment une famille de maladies lysosomales rares mais sont aussi les maladies neurodégénératives infantiles les plus fréquentes. Plusieurs gènes impliqués dans les NCL encodent des protéines aux fonctions inconnues. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont identifié la protéine « ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal-5 » (CLN5) qui est localisée à l’endosome et au lysosome comme élément nécessaire au recrutement et à l’activation de rab7. Rab7 est une protéine Rab-clé qui contrôle le trafic à l’endosome tardif. Cette petite GTPase est impliquée dans le recrutement de retromer, un complexe protéique qui régule le trafic de l’endosome vers l’appareil de Golgi des récepteurs de tri lysosomal comme sortilin et le récepteur du mannose-6-phosphate. Dans les cellules où CLN5 est déplété, les récepteurs de tri lysosomal sont moins recyclés plus rapidement dégradés. En utilisant des expériences de photomarquage nous avons aussi pu démontrer que Rab7 est moins activées en l’absence de CLN5. Pour exécuter leur fonction les protéines rabs doivent être recrutée à la membrane et activées par l’échange d’une molécule de GDP pour une molécule de GTP. Le recrutement des Rabs à la membrane nécessite une modification posttraductionnelle lipidique pour être facilités. En utilisant un modèle de levures nous avons démontré que l’homologue de Rab7, Ypt7 est palmitoylée. Nous avons aussi démontré que la palmitoyltransférase Swif1 est nécessaire au recrutement de Ypt7 à la membrane. Nous avons aussi remarqué que les sous- unités de retromer chez la levure sont moins recrutées lorsque les palmitoyltransférases sont déplétées. Dans les cellules de mammifères nous avons démontré que Rab7 est également palmitoylé et que cette palmitoylation est possiblement effectuée par les palmitoyltransférases DHHC1 et DHHC8. La palmitoylation de Rab7 a lieu sur les cystéines en C-terminal qui sont nécessaires au recrutement membranaire et qui auparavant étaient uniquement décrites comme prénylées. En utilisant la méthode de « click chemistry » nous avons découvert que lorsque la prénylation de Rab7 est bloquée le niveau de palmitoylation augmente. Pour caractériser l’interaction entre CLN5 et Rab7 nous avons performé des expériences afin d’établir définitivement la topologie de cette protéine. Nous avons ainsi démontré que CLN5 est une protéine hautement glycosylée qui est initialement traduite en protéine transmembranaire et subséquemment clivée par un membre de la famille des peptidase de peptide signal (SPP). Cette protéine soluble peut alors possiblement interagir avec CLN3 qui est aussi palmitoylée pour recruter et activer Rab7. Nos études suggèrent pour la première fois que CLN5 pourrait être un recruteur et un activateur de Rab7 qui agirait avec la protéine CLN3 pour séquestrer Rab7 avec les autres récepteurs palmitoylés et permettre leur recyclage vers l’appareil de Golgi. / The proper sorting and trafficking of acid hydrolases plays a critical role in the normal function of cells. Over 50 known human diseases are caused by mutations of lysosomal enzymes, of proteins that regulate key processes of transport to the lysosome or of enzymes that perform posttranslational modifications which are important for the function of the lysosome. The main objective of this thesis is to identify proteins and mechanisms that allow the cell to regulate the transport of enzymes toward the lysosome. We formulated the hypothesis that proteins mutated in lysosomal diseases and that have no known functions could play a role in transport toward the lysosome. Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses form a family of lysosomal storage disorders that are very rare but are also the most frequent infantile neurodegenerative diseases. The work presented in this thesis identified ceroid-lipofuscinosis neuronal-5 (CLN5), which is located at the late-endosomal/lysosomal compartment as a necessary element for the recruitment and activation of Rab7. Rab7 is an important GTPase that controls traffic from the late-endosome to the trans-Golgi network. Rab7 has been implicated in the recruitment of the retromer complex, which regulates retrograde transport of the lysosomal sorting receptor such as sortilin and the mannose-6-phosphate receptor. In the cells where CLN5 is depleted, the lysosomal sorting receptors are less recycled and degraded more rapidly. Using photolabelling assays we were also able to show that Rab7 is less activated in the absence of CLN5. To perform their function, Rab proteins have to be recruited to membranes and activated by the exchange of a GDP nucleotide for GTP. The recruitment of Rabs to membranes necessitates a lipidic posttranslational modification to raise the affinity. Using yeast as a model we demonstrated that the Rab7 homolog, Ypt7 is palmitoylated. We have also showed that the yeast palmitoyltransferase Swif1 is required for Ypt7 membrane recruitment. We have also observed that retromer subunits in yeast are less recruited when palmitoyltranferases are depleted. In mammals we have shown that Rab7 is also palmitoylated and that this palmitoylation may be done by palmitoyltransferases DHHC1 and DHHC8. The palmitoylation of Rab7 occurs on the C-terminal cysteines that are required for membrane recruitment and were previously only shown to be prenylated. By using Click chemistry we have discovered that when Rab7 prenylation is blocked the level of palmitoylation is augmented. To characterize the interaction of Rab7 and CLN5 we performed experiments to definitively establish the topology of this latter protein. Our results show that CLN5 is a heavily glycosylated protein that is initially translated as a type II transmembrane protein and subsequently cleaved by a member of the signal-peptide peptidase (SPP) family. This protein can then possibly interact with another member of the CLN family, CLN3 that is predicted to be palmitoylated to recruit and activate Rab7. Our studies establish for the first time that CLN5 is required for the recruitment and activation of Rab7 and may cooperate with the possibly palmitoylated protein CLN3 to sequester Rab7 in specific membrane domains with sorting receptors to allow their recycling toward the trans-Golgi network.