WASH complex regulates actin dynamics on endosomes by activating the Arp2/3 complex, which subsequently induces generation of branched actin patches. WASH complex is required for proper recycling of many important transmembrane proteins. Although the general physiological function of WASH complex is known, the role of its single subunits have not yet been adequately specified. This work focuses on one of these subunits - protein SWIP. This protein maintains vesicular localization of some WASH complex subunits in the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum and a point mutation in its sequence causes a severe neurodegenerative disease - autosomal recessive intellectual disorder (ARID). Our results show that SWIP truncation results in its inability to incorporate into WASH complex. However, the C-terminal part of SWIP is able to localize onto intracellular vesicles, which are not WASH complex positive. We have also studied the impact of ARID-causing SWIP mutation, and we show, that it does neither change the protein's ability to bind the complex nor the overall localization of WASH complex.

The dynamics and function of the actin cytoskeleton depends on polymerization and branching of actin filaments, an event that is stimulated by Arp2/3. Arp2/3-dependent branching is closely linked to the pentameric WASH complex which consists of WASH, strumpellin, SWIP, CCDC53 and FAM21. WASH complex is associated mainly with endosomes. It was traditionally localized to retromer-coated domains of early endosomes which enable sorting and recycling of endocytosed material. However, latest scientific data extend the role of WASH complex to other endosomal or even non-endosomal sites. Of all the subunits of the WASH complex, FAM21 is the most prominent hub for protein-protein interactions, thanks to its long unstructured C-terminal domain. In my diploma thesis FAM21 was localized to early and late endosomes and lysosomes of U2OS human cell line. Dictyostelium discoideum was then used as a model organism to investigate FAM21 protein interactions as well as the proteins associated specifically with the C terminal domain of FAM21. Results of the study shed new light on the complex network of FAM21 interactions and question the long-standing theories on the function of WASH complex in cells. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Actin polymerization facilitated by the Arp2/3 complex plays a critical role in a wide range of cellular processes such as motility, endocytosis and cargo recycling. Activation and appropriate localization of the Arp2/3 complex is mediated by an interaction with the nucleation-promoting factor (NPF). WASH complex is the major endosomal NPF which plays a crucial role in the cargo recycling back to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) or plasma membrane. It is composed of five subunits: WASH1, SWIP, FAM21, CCDC53 and strumpellin. While WASH1 and FAM21 have been extensively studied, much less is known about strumpellin, a protein causally implicated in the onset of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). This work focuses on strumpellin function in the cells, showing that only full-length protein incorporates into the WASH complex. In a strumpellin knock out cell line, we demonstrated that loss of strumpellin resulted in destabilization of the other WASH complex subunits. Still, an incomplete WASH complex without strumpellin was assembled. Cells also displayed enlarged endosomal subdomains and WASH complex nucleation activity on endosomes was largely diminished as assessed by loss of the actin patches. Finally, the absence of strumpellin was also accompanied by the accumulation of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)...

Actin polymerization facilitated by the Arp2/3 complex plays a critical role in a wide range of cellular processes such as motility, endocytosis and cargo recycling. Activation and appropriate localization of the Arp2/3 complex is mediated by an interaction with the nucleation-promoting factor (NPF). WASH complex is the major endosomal NPF which plays a crucial role in the cargo recycling back to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) or plasma membrane. It is composed of five subunits: WASH1, SWIP, FAM21, CCDC53 and strumpellin. While WASH1 and FAM21 have been extensively studied, much less is known about strumpellin, a protein causally implicated in the onset of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). This work focuses on strumpellin function in the cells, showing that only full-length protein incorporates into the WASH complex. In a strumpellin knock out cell line, we demonstrated that loss of strumpellin resulted in destabilization of the other WASH complex subunits. Still, an incomplete WASH complex without strumpellin was assembled. Cells also displayed enlarged endosomal subdomains and WASH complex nucleation activity on endosomes was largely diminished as assessed by loss of the actin patches. Finally, the absence of strumpellin was also accompanied by the accumulation of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)...

Le complexe Arp2/3 génère des réseaux d’actine branchés, qui produisent une forcée de poussée permettant à la cellule de remodeler ses membranes. Le complexe WASH active le complexe Arp2/3 à la surface des endosomes et facilite ainsi la scission membranaire des intermédiaires de transports contenants des récepteurs internalisés tels que les intégrines α5β1. De ce fait, le complexe WASH en favorisant le recyclage des intégrines, joue un rôle crucial dans l’invasion des cellules tumorales durant la progression tumorale. Cependant, le mécanisme d’assemblage du complexe WASH est inconnu. Dans cette étude, nous rapportons l’identification du premier facteur d’assemblage du complexe WASH. Nous avons identifié la protéine HSBP1 grâce à un crible des protéines qui se lient aux formes précurseurs des sous-unités mais plus au complexe une fois assemblé. La reconstitution biochimique et la modélisation moléculaire nous a permis de montrer que HSBP1 est associé avec le précurseur trimérique CCDC53, le dissocie et forme un hétérotrimère qui va éventuellement libérer une forme monomérique de CCDC53 pour l’assemblage du complexe WASH. Le rôle de HSBP1 dans l’assemblage du complexe WASH est conservé. En effet, WASH est déstabilisé dans des cellules mammaires par le knock-down de HSBP1 et dans l’amibe Dictyostelium par le knock-out de HSBP1. La déstabilisation du complexe WASH par le knock-out de HSBP1 phénocopie la déplétion de WASH dans l’amibe Dictyostelium. Dans des cellules humaines de carcinomes mammaires l’inhibition de l’expression de HSBP1 altère le recyclage des intégrines à la membrane plasmidique. Il en résulte des adhésions focales défectueuses et des capacités invasives réduites. De plus, HSBP1 est localisé aux centrosomes et est requis pour la polarité des cellules lors de la migration. Enfin, nous avons trouvé que la surexpression de HSBP1 dans des tumeurs mammaires est associée à une augmentation des niveaux du complexe WASH et à un mauvais pronostic pour les patientes atteintes de cancer du sein. En conclusion, HSBP1 est un facteur d’assemblage conservé qui contrôle les niveaux du complexe WASH. / The Arp2/3 complex generates branched actin networks, which produces a pushing force that helps the cell to remodel its membranes. The WASH complex activates the Arp2/3 complex at the surface of endosomes and thereby, facilitates the membrane scission of the transport intermediates containing internalized receptors such as α5β1 integrins. Hence, by promoting integrin recycling, the WASH complex plays a crucial role in tumor cell invasion during cancer progression. However, how cells assemble the WASH complex at first is unknown. Here we report the identification of the first assembly factor of the WASH complex. We identified HSBP1 in a proteomics screen for proteins binding to precursor forms of subunits, but not to the fully assembled WASH complex. Through biochemical reconstitution and molecular modeling, we found that HSBP1 associates with the precursor CCDC53 trimer, dissociates it and forms a heterotrimer that will eventually contribute a single CCDC53 molecule to the assembling WASH complex. The role of HSBP1 in WASH complex assembly is well conserved since WASH is similarly destabilized upon HSBP1 knock-down in mammalian cells or upon HSBP1 knock-out in Dictyostelium amoeba. In line with the defective assembly of the WASH complex, the HSBP1 knock-out closely phenocopies WASH knock-out in amoeba. In human mammary carcinoma cells, HSBP1 depletion results in impaired integrin recycling to the plasma membrane leading to the defective development of focal adhesions and reduced invasion abilities. Moreover, HSBP1 was found to localize at the centrosome and was required for the polarization associated with the migration. On the other end, in mammary breast tumors, we found that HSBP1 was often overexpressed and that its overexpression was associated with increased levels of the WASH complex and with poor prognosis for breast cancer patients. Hence, HSBP1 is a conserved assembly factor that controls the levels of the WASH complex.