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Platelets affect vascular integrity by secreting a host of molecules that promote hemostasis and its sequela. Given its importance, it is critical to understand how platelet exocytosis is controlled. Post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation and acylation, have been shown to affect signaling pathways and platelet function. In this dissertation, I focus on how these modifications affect the t-SNARE proteins, SNAP-23 and syntaxin-11, which are both required for platelet secretion. SNAP-23 is regulated by phosphorylation. Using a proteoliposome fusion assay, I demonstrate that purified IκB Kinase (IKK) phosphorylated SNAP-23, which increased the initial rates of SNARE-mediated liposome fusion. SNAP-23 mutants containing phosphomimetics showed enhanced initial fusion rates. These results, combined with previous work in vivo, confirm that SNAP-23 phosphorylation is involved in regulating membrane fusion, and that IKK-mediated signaling contributes to platelet exocytosis. To address the role(s) of acylation, I sought to determine how syntaxin-11 and SNAP-23 are associated with plasma membrane. Using metabolic labeling, I showed that both proteins contain thioester-linked acyl groups which turn over in resting cells. Mass spectrometry mapping showed that syntaxin-11 is modified on C275, 279, 280, 282, 283 and 285, while SNAP-23 is modified on C79, 80, 83, 85, and 87. To probe the effects of acylation, I measured ADP/ATP release from platelets treated with the acyl-transferase inhibitor, cerulenin, or the thioesterase inhibitor, palmostatin B. Cerulenin pretreatment inhibited t-SNARE acylation and platelet function while palmostatin B had no effect. Interestingly, pretreatment with palmostatin B blocked the inhibitory effects of cerulenin suggesting that maintaining the acylation state of platelet proteins is important for their function. Thus my work indicates that the enzymes controlling protein acylation could be valuable targets for modulating platelet exocytosis in vivo.

Platelet secretion is important for hemostasis and thrombosis. The components released are also involved in atherosclerosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Though the exact mechanism(s) of platelet secretion is still elusive, accumulating evidence demonstrates that SNAREs (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor Associated Receptor) and their regulatory partners are critical for platelet exocytosis. Formation of a trans-bilayer complex composed of one v-SNARE (i.e. VAMPs) and two t-SNAREs (i.e. syntaxin and SNAP-25-type) is minimally required for membrane fusion. Regulatory proteins control the rate and specificity of the complex assembly. VAMP-8 and SNAP-23 (a SNAP-25-type t-SNARE) are clearly important; however, the identity of the functional syntaxin has been controversial. Previous studies, using anti-syntaxin antibodies in permeabilized platelets, suggested roles for both syntaxin-2 and -4. These conclusions were experimentally tested using platelets from syntaxin knockout mice and from a Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis type 4 (FHL4) patient that lacks syntaxin-11. Platelets from syntaxin-2 and syntaxin-4 single or double knockout mice had no significant secretion defect. However, platelets from the FHL4 patient had a robust defect, though their morphology, activation, and cargo levels appeared normal. Semi-quantitative western blotting showed that syntaxin-11 is the most abundant syntaxin in both human and murine platelets. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that syntaxin-11 forms SNARE complexes with VAMP-8 and SNAP-23. These data conclusively demonstrate that syntaxin-11, but not syntaxin-2, or -4, is required for platelet exocytosis. We also show that a syntaxin binding protein, tomosyn-1, is important for platelet exocytosis and hemostasis. Tomosyn-1 was identified from platelet extracts using affinity chromatography, RT-PCR analysis, and western blotting analysis. Tomosyn-1 was co-immunoprecipitated with syntaxin-11/SNAP-23 from both resting and activated platelet extracts. Platelets from tomosyn-1-/- mice displayed a secretion defect, but their morphology and activation appeared normal. Tomosyn-1-/- mice showed impaired thrombus formation in two different injury models. Given the importance of platelet secretion to hemostasis, it is hoped that the insights gained from these studies in this dissertation will help to identify new and more valuable therapeutic targets to control clot formation.

Membrane fusion is essential for survival in eukaryotic cells. Many physiological processes such as endocytosis and exocytosis are mediated by membrane fusion, which is driven by highly specialized and conserved family of proteins. Neuronal soluble Nethylmaleimide- sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) mediate vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane during neurotransmitter release; however, the mechanism for SNARE-mediated membrane fusion remains to be established. In the current work, we aimed at investigating this mechanism using atomic force microscope (AFM) spectroscopy. We established an AFM lipid bilayer system, which proved effective in detecting fusion of bilayers and measuring compression forces required to generate fusion. It also revealed that SNARE-mediated membrane fusion proceeds through an intermediate hemifused state. Using this system, we revealed the energy landscape for membrane fusion using a dynamic force approach. We carried out compression force measurements at different compression rates and a significant reduction in the force was observed when SNAREs were present in the bilayers. The results also indicated that a single energy barrier governed membrane fusion in our experimental system. The energy barrier is characterized by its width and height, which determine the slope of the activation potential. With SNAREs in the opposing (trans) bilayers, the width of the barrier increased > 2 fold, which is interpreted as an increase in the compressibility of the membranes and subsequently a greater ease in their deformation and fusion under compression. Moreover, specific perturbations to the SNARE interaction interfered with the observed facilitation of membrane fusion, which indicated the involvement of SNAREs in the observed fusion facilitation and increase in the fusion rate. Furthermore, dissociation kinetics analysis of the SNARE interaction revealed a strong binding force during trans SNARE-complex formation, and a correlation between the strength of the SNARE interaction and the degree of fusion facilitation was established. In conclusion, the present findings provide support for a mechanism for SNAREmediated membrane fusion, where trans-interaction between SNAREs provides close apposition of the membranes and reduces fusion energy requirements by locally destabilizing the bilayers, in which the SNAREs are anchored, through pulling on or tilting of their transmembrane segments.

KATP channels couple cell metabolic status to the membrane excitability by sensing the cytoplasmic ATP/ADP ratio. Present studies examined how conserved motifs (Walker A (WA), signature sequence (L), and Walker B (WB)) within each NBF of SUR2A bind to Syn-1A to affect its actions on cardiac KATP channels. In vitro binding experiments illustrated that Syn-1A binds cardiac SUR2A at WA and L of NBF-1 and WA, L, and WB of NBF-2. Electrophysiology experiments on stably expressing SUR2A/Kir6.2 cell-lines showed that only L and WB of NBF-1 and all three NBF-2 motifs could abrogate the inhibitory effect of Syn-1A on SUR2A/KATP channels. These results lead me to hypothesize that more independent motif in NBF-2 can bind and abrogate Syn-1A’s inhibition than NBF-1 on SUR2A/KATP channels. A corollary postulate is that Syn-1A acts as a scaffold to secure the NBF-1 and -2 in dimer conformation required for SUR2A to modulate Kir6.2 gating.

KATP channels couple cell metabolic status to the membrane excitability by sensing the cytoplasmic ATP/ADP ratio. Present studies examined how conserved motifs (Walker A (WA), signature sequence (L), and Walker B (WB)) within each NBF of SUR2A bind to Syn-1A to affect its actions on cardiac KATP channels. In vitro binding experiments illustrated that Syn-1A binds cardiac SUR2A at WA and L of NBF-1 and WA, L, and WB of NBF-2. Electrophysiology experiments on stably expressing SUR2A/Kir6.2 cell-lines showed that only L and WB of NBF-1 and all three NBF-2 motifs could abrogate the inhibitory effect of Syn-1A on SUR2A/KATP channels. These results lead me to hypothesize that more independent motif in NBF-2 can bind and abrogate Syn-1A’s inhibition than NBF-1 on SUR2A/KATP channels. A corollary postulate is that Syn-1A acts as a scaffold to secure the NBF-1 and -2 in dimer conformation required for SUR2A to modulate Kir6.2 gating.

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4 Abstract Mechanism of fusion of intracellular membranes in eukaryotic cells involves several protein families including soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins and Sec1/Munc-18 related proteins (SM proteins). It is known that the transport is evolutionary conserved from yeast to man. Therefore for facilitating of the research, we can use simple eukaryotes Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mammalian SNARE protein syntaxin 16 has a yeast homologue Tlg2p which is used in this study as a model for studying affects of phosphorylation to the syntaxin 16 function. Also their binding partners, SM proteins mVps45p (mammalian) and yeast Vps45p are homologous. Phosphorylation of SNARE proteins is known as a possible way of regulation of membrane fusion. Abolishment of one of the putative phosphorylation sites in Tlg2p protein, serine 90 leads to dominant effects on the exocytic and endocytic pathways. The work presented in this study shows some phenotypes of mutants based on this phosphorylation site of protein Tlg2p. Those mutants are S90A (cannot be phosphorylated) and S90D (phosphomimetic - acid carboxyl group mimics phosphate group). It was revealed that the phosphorylation of Tlg2p protein at serine 90 or the mutation Tlg2p-S90D may play some role in protecting Tlg2p...

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