Abstract The role of vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) in exocytic and endocytic membrane transport processes was studied by using its specific inhibitor, bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1), as a tool. On the exocytic pathway, both brefeldin A- and nocodazole-induced retrograde transport of Golgi proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) were inhibited by Baf A1. Furthermore, p58/ERGIC-53, which normally cycles between the ER, the intermediate compartment (IC), and cis-Golgi, was arrested in pre-Golgi tubules and vacuoles, and the number of p58-positive 80-nm Golgi (COPI) vesicles was reduced, suggesting that the drug inhibits the vesicle-mediated retrieval of the protein from post-ER compartments. The small GTPase rab1p was efficiently recruited to the tubules, accumulating in the presence of Baf A1. In contrast, these tubules showed no enrichment of anterogradely transported proteins, indicating that they participate in retrograde transport. Interestingly, acidic lumenal pH could only be detected in the more central pre-Golgi elements. The forward (anterograde) transport of newly synthesized Semliki Forest virus (SFV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoproteins from the ER to the cis-Golgi was largely unaffected by Baf A1. However, maturation processes occurring in the trans-Golgi were inhibited, and the amounts of viral glycoproteins appearing at the cell surface were reduced. Newly synthesized VSV glycoprotein accumulated into rab1p-positive Golgi membranes in the presence of Baf A1, indicating that the transport from cis-Golgi was affected. Furthermore, O-glycosylation of the expressed CD8 chimeras and lectin cytochemistry experiments indicate that Baf A1 affects the transport from cis-Golgi. Instead, Baf A1 did not affect the transport of viral glycoproteins from the trans-Golgi network to the cell surface. We propose, that anterograde intra-Golgi traffic may be affected indirectly by Baf A1, as it inhibits retrograde vesicle-mediated transport and thus cisternal maturation. Baf A1 inhibited the entry of SFV into BHK-21 cells. Thus, V-ATPase was responsible for the acidification of the endosomes needed for virus entry. In cells infected with VSV and subsequently treated with Baf A1, virus particles were found to be accumulated in tubular membrane structures, which also contained endocytosed BSA-gold. Neither VSV nor BSA-gold particles were detected in lysosomal glycoprotein (lgp) 120-positive lysosomes, however. Thus, secreted and further endocytosed virus particles accumulate into tubulated endocytic organelles, apparently early endosomes, in Baf A1-treated cells. We conclude that the transport from endosomes to lysosomes is inhibited by Baf A1. The bulk of rab7 GTPase, which participates in vesicle fusion to late endosomes, was localized to the ruffled border (RB) membrane of bone-resorbing osteoclast. This indicates that the membrane has some characteristics of late endosomal membranes and that endocytic membrane transport is oriented towards the RB. Consistently, both endocytosed lumenal horseradish peroxidase and receptor-bound transferrin were delivered to the RB. The delivery of membrane-associated transferrin to the RB further indicates that the RB has some endosomal characteristics and suggests that the endocytic pathway contributes to the maintenance of functional RB. The endocytic pathway could act in balancing the membrane traffic associated with transcytosis from the RB to the basal plasma membrane. Endocytic processes in osteoclasts appeared to be very sensitive to Baf A1. Thus, blocking of the endocytic membrane traffic towards the RB could explain the inactivation of cells by low concentrations of the drug.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and at the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of invertebrate. The characteristic similarities to CNS glutamatergic synapses in vertebrate and the anatomical simplicity of invertebrate NMJs favor the investigation of glutamatergic synaptic functions in this system. This dissertation mainly aimed to physiologically separate two functional vesicle groups, the reserve pool (RP) and readily releasable pool (RRP) within presynaptic nerve terminals of Procambarus Clarkii and Drosophila melanogaster. This was addressed in part by blocking the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGlut) with bafilomycin A1. Various frequencies of motor nerve stimulation, exposure time, and concentration of bafilomycin A1 were examined. The low-output tonic opener NMJs in crayfish exposed to 4μM bafilomycin A1 and 20Hz continuous stimulation decreased the EPSP amplitude to 50% in ∼30min with controls lasting 3h. After activity and bafilomycin A1-induced synaptic depression, the EPSPs were rapidly revitalized by serotonin (5-HT, 1μM) in the crayfish preparations. The 5-HT action can be blocked almost completely with a PLC inhibitor, but partially with a cAMP activator. The higher output synapses of the larval Drosophila NMJ when stimulated at 1Hz or 5Hz and exposed to 4μM of bafilomycin A1 showed a depression rate of 50% within ∼10min with controls lasting ∼40min. After low frequency depression and/or exposure to bafilomycin A1 a burst of higher frequency (10Hz) can recruit vesicles from the RP to the RRP. Physiological differences in low- (tonic like) and high-output (phasic like) synapses match many of the expected anatomical features of these terminals, part of this dissertation highlights physiological differences and differential modulation and/or extent of the vesicles in a RP for maintaining synaptic output during evoked depression of the RRP in crayfish abdomen extensor preparation. With the use of bafilomycin A1, the tonic terminal is fatigue resistant due to a large RRP, whereas the phasic depresses rapidly upon continuous stimulation. Upon depression of the tonic terminal, 5-HT has a large RP to act on to recruit vesicles to the RRP; whereas, the phasic terminal, 5-HT can recruit RP vesicles to the RRP prior to synaptic depression but not after depression.

Archazolid is a novel and highly efficient inhibitor of the V-ATPase, a ubiquitous membrane energizing protein complex consisting of a cytosolic ATP-hydrolyzing V1 domain and a VO domain which mediates proton translocation via a membrane embedded ring of c subunits. The intention of the present thesis was to characterize the archazolid binding site within the V-ATPase on the molecular level. Initial labeling experiments with 14C-derivatives of archazolid and the Manduca sexta V-ATPase clearly identified the c subunit as binding partner for the inhibitor. Concurrently performed site-directed mutagenesis studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, revealed that the amino acids tyrosine 142 and leucine 144, located within the fourth transmembrane helix of subunit c, contribute to archazolid binding. Strikingly, mutation of these amino acids to either asparagine or isoleucine resulted in a V-ATPase approximately 10-fold more sensitive to the inhibitor, indicating increased inhibitor-target interaction in both cases. In addition, inhibition assays with different derivatives of archazolid suggested close proximity of the C-15 of archazolid and tyrosine 142 of subunit c. Competition assays with NCD-4, a covalently binding inhibitor which specifically targets a highly conserved glutamate within subunit c that is essential for proton translocation, revealed that the archazolid binding site also comprises this amino acid. Since the three amino acids tyrosine 142, leucine 144 and glutamate 137 (positions according to the S. cerevisiae c subunit) form a triangle within the central part of subunit c, the archazolid binding site most likely resides within a single c subunit and the inhibitor probably directly prevents proton translocation by the c ring. A spin labeled derivative of archazolid was used to enlighten the stoichiometry of c subunits within the VO ring. The measurements, performed via double electron electron resonance spectroscopy on spin labeled archazolid bound to the M. sexta V-ATPase, revealed a clear distance distribution that suggested, based on the supposed binding site of archazolid, a number between 9 and 11 subunits in the ring. This number is in line with a previously suggested decameric arrangement of the M. sexta ring and excludes a hexameric structure which is frequently assumed to be valid for V-ATPases.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus represents a metabolic disease reaching epidemic dimensions in the 21st century. Fatty acid-induced apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells significantly contributes to its pathogenesis. Saturated fatty acids (FAs) are strongly cytotoxic for β-cells, whereas unsaturated FAs are well tolerable by β-cells, they are even able to inhibit proapoptotic effects of saturated FAs when co-incubated. According to recent studies, FAs-induced apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells is partly regulated by autophagy, a catabolic process involved in the degradation and recyclation of cell components in lysosomes. The aim of this diploma thesis was to contribute to the clarification of the role of autophagy in FAs-induced apoptosis regulation. We induced apoptosis in human pancreatic β- cell line NES2Y by 1 mM stearic acid (SA) and inhibited it with 0.2 mM oleic acid (OA) co- incubated with SA. We revealed, that the saturated SA used in apoptosis-inducing concentration simultaneously inhibits the autophagic flux in pancreatic NES2Y cell line. When SA is co- incubated with unsaturated OA in concentration sufficient for inhibition of proapoptotic effect of SA, OA is also able to inhibit the block of autophagy induced by the effect of SA. Application of unsaturated OA alone in this concentration did not...

Struktur, Funktion und Regulation der Plasmamembran V-ATPase von Manduca sexta. Die V-ATPase im larvalen Mitteldarm des Tabakschwärmers Manduca sexta energetisiert die gesamten sekundär aktiven Transportprozesse in diesem Epithel. Sie ist einer der best untersuchten Vertreter dieser Klasse von Ionentransport-ATPasen und hat sich als ideales Objekt für die Untersuchung von Struktur, Funktion und Regulation dieser Proteinfamilie erwiesen. In der vorliegenden Dissertation wurde die Struktur des V1Vo Holoenzyms, des V1 Komplexes und des Vo Komplexes, die Regulation der V-ATPase-Aktivität und die Hemmung der V-ATPase durch Makrolide untersucht. Mit der Modifikation von bestehenden und der Etablierung von neuen Protokollen gelang es das V1Vo Holoenzym, den V1 Komplex und den Vo Komplex in Milligramm-Mengen zu reinigen und damit die Vorraussetzung für neue Erkenntnisse über die Struktur der V-ATPase zu schaffen. Durch N-terminale Sequenzierung, Immunfärbung und/oder MALDI-MS konnten neben den bereits bei M. sexta bekannten Untereinheiten A, B, E, F, G, c und d auch die restlichen Untereinheiten C, D, H, a und e identifiziert werden. Das als Kontamination der V-ATPase häufig auftauchende Protein B´ wurde als ein mitochondriales Hsp60 identifiziert. Bei dem sowohl im Holoenzym als auch im Vo Komplex vorhandenen 26 kDa großen Protein handelt es sich sehr wahrscheinlich um ein Dimer der Untereinheit c und nicht, wie bislang vermutet um deren Isoform c´´. Für die im V1 Komplex nur substöchiometrisch vorhandene Untereinheit C konnte gezeigt werden, dass sie im Gegensatz zur Situation beim V1Vo Holoenzym nur sehr schwach gebunden ist. Sie lässt sich schon unter relativ milden Bedingungen (0,01% C12E10) vom V1 Komplex abtrennen, reassoziiert aber andererseits auch sehr leicht wieder an den V1 Komplex, wie mit einer rekombinanten Untereinheit gezeigt werden konnte. Durch die Behandlung des V1 Komplexes mit chaotropen Ionen ergaben sich Hinweise, die eher auf die Untereinheit D als auf die Untereinheit E als Homolog der V-ATPasen zur g -Untereinheit der F-ATPasen schließen lassen. Durch die Erhöhung der Ionenstärke während eines Reinigungsschrittes gelang es erstmals, die Untereinheit a bei einer Insekten V-ATPase darzustellen. Dies gelang sowohl für das V1Vo Holoenzym als auch für den Vo Komplex und war besonders wichtig, da die Untereinheit als der Favorit für die Bindung der V-ATPase spezifischen inhibitorischen Plecomakrolide angesehen wurde. Wie sich allerdings herausstellte, ist die Untereinheit c des Vo Komplexes die einzige Untereinheit die durch das semisynthetische Concanamycin-Derivat, 9-O-[p-(Trifluoroethyldiazirinyl)-benzoyl]-21,23-dideoxy-23-epi-[125I]Iodo-concanolid A (J-Concanolid A) spezifisch markiert wird. Durch MALDI-MS konnten einige Bereiche der Untereinheit c bestimmt werden, die potentiell mit der Sonde interagieren. Diese Abschnitte befinden sich alle auf der luminalen Seite der Membran. Beim Testen einer Reihe neuer Makrolide zeigte sich erstaunlicherweise, dass Salicylihalamid, Apikularen und Archazolid ähnlich wie Concanamycin A, Bafilomycin A1 und B1, mit einem IC50 von ca. 20 nM die V-ATPase schon bei sehr niedrigen Konzentrationen hemmen. Das ebenfalls getestete Cruentaren lag mit einem IC50 von 60 µM hingegen deutlich höher. Neben Concanamycin und den Bafilomycinen ist auch Archazolid in der Lage, die Markierung durch J-Concanolid A zu unterbinden, was auf eine gemeinsame Bindestelle dieser drei Makrolide hinweist. Die Untersuchung der Enzymaktivität der V-ATPase zeigte zum einen eine deutliche Endprodukthemmung durch das entstehende ADP und zum anderen dass Mg2+ nicht durch Ca2+ zu ersetzten ist, da Ca2+-ATP im Gegensatz zu Mg2+-ATP keinen Protonentransport unterstützt. Für den Mechanismus der Dissoziation des V1Vo Holoenzyms in seinen V1 und Vo Komplex scheinen Nukleotide von entscheidender Bedeutung zu sein. Während das V1Vo Holoenzym praktisch nukleotidfrei ist, sind im abdissoziierten V1 Komplex ein bis zwei Moleküle ADP enthalten. Die Bindung von ADP oder AMP-PNP an das Holoenzym bewirkt keine Dissoziation der V-ATPase. Allerdings genügt bereits die Hydrolyse von nur einem Molekül Mg2+-ATP pro Enzym, um eine Dissoziation zu induzieren. Aus diesem Befund kann geschlossen werden, dass die V-ATPase während der Hydrolyse einen Konformationszustand durchläuft, in dem sie instabil ist und zur Dissoziation neigt.

No description available.

L’ischémie/reperfusion (I/R) occurrente à toutes transplantations d’organe solide, constitue un stimulus pro-autophagique/pro-apoptotique pour les cellules endothéliales. Nous avons récemment démontré que les cellules endothéliales apoptotiques (CEapo) sécrètent des vésicules apoptotiques exosome like (ApoExo) qui induisent une réponse auto-immune et accélèrent le rejet vasculaire dans un modèle de greffe aortique chez la souris. Ces ApoExo qui diffèrent des corps apoptotiques classiques par leur structure et leur contenu protéique contiennent le fragment C-terminal du perlécan, LG3. Le LG3, un auto-antigène d’importance en transplantation, favorise le remodelage vasculaire et est augmenté en circulation chez les patients greffés rénaux atteints d’un rejet vasculaire. De plus, la présence d’anticorps anti-LG3 avant la transplantation est associée à un risque plus élevé de développer un rejet vasculaire chez des patients greffés du rein et à la perte du greffon à long terme. Il est connu que la génération du fragment LG3 implique la protéolyse du perlécan par la cathepsine L, une protéase lysosomiale, mais le mécanisme de transport de ce fragment au sein des ApoExo est encore inconnu. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que l’activité lysosomiale et l’autophagie jouent un rôle important dans la maturation et le chargement du LG3 dans les vésicules ApoExo sécrétées par les CEapo. Une étude longitudinale de microscopie électronique chez les cellules endothéliales humaines carencées en sérum pendant 1h, 2h et 3h, nous a révélé la présence du perlécan / fragment LG3 au sein de compartiments autophagiques (autophagosomes et autophagolysosomes) à différentes étapes du processus autophagique. Après 3 heures de carence en sérum, nous avons identifié le fragment LG3 dans des vésicules membranaires situées au sein de grands réseaux vacuolaires s’apparentant à des autophagolysosomes. L’inhibition de la cathepsine L, de l’acidification du lysosome et de l’autophagie diminuent la présence du fragment LG3 dans les vésicules ApoExo sans affecter la sécrétion de vésicules démontrant donc le rôle de l’autophagie dans l’intégration du fragment LG3 au sein des ApoExo. Toutefois, l’injection de vésicules ApoExo LG3-, provenant de cellules murines aortiques traitées à la bafilomycine, dans un modèle murin de greffe aortique induit une réponse auto-immune anti-LG3 ainsi qu’un remodelage vasculaire à des niveaux similaires aux souris ayant reçu des ApoExo véhicule. Une analyse protéomique de ces vésicules ApoExo LG3-, nous a révélé que la bafilomycine modifie le contenu protéique des ApoExo en induisant une augmentation de la présence de protéines lysosomiales et de la matrice extracellulaire dont le perlécan. Ceci suggère que la présence du motif LG3 au sein du perlécan natif non clivé dans les ApoExo LG3- pourrait être responsable de la mise en place de la réponse anti-LG3 observées chez les souris. Les travaux de ce doctorat ont permis de mettre en évidence que l’autophagie dans les cellules endothéliales productrices d’ApoExo ne régule pas l’immunogénicité des ApoExo. Cependant, elle régule au sein des cellules endothéliales apoptotiques le transport et le clivage du perlécan qui lui est immunogène. En effet, l’autophagie module les différentes formes de perlécan natif et clivé sécrétées dans les ApoExo. L’étude chez la souris greffée nous a donc permis de considérer non plus l’implication du fragment LG3 mais l’implication du motif LG3 présent au sein du perlécan natif non clivé et de ses différentes formes intermédiaires dans la réponse auto-immune anti-LG3 et le rejet vasculaire. La modulation de la sécrétion du perlécan et du LG3 dans les ApoExo constitue une cible thérapeutique potentielle afin de diminuer la réponse auto-immune pouvant augmenter le dommage vasculaire après la greffe / Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) occurring in all solid organ transplantation, constitute a proautophagic / pro-apoptotic stimulus on endothelial cells. We recently demonstrated that apoptotic endothelial cells (CEapo) secrete apoptotic exosome-like vesicles (ApoExo) that induce autoimmune response and accelerate vascular rejection in a mouse aortic transplant model. These ApoExo, that differ from classical apoptotic bodies in structure and protein content, contain the C-terminal fragment of perlecan, LG3. LG3, an autoantigen of importance in transplantation, promotes vascular remodeling and is increased in circulation in renal transplant patients undergoing vascular rejection. In addition, the presence of anti-LG3 antibodies prior to transplantation is associated with a higher risk of developing vascular rejection in kidney transplant patients and long-term graft loss. It is known that the generation of LG3 fragment involves the proteolysis of perlecan by cathepsin-L, a lysosomal protease, but the mechanism of export of this fragment within ApoExo is still unknown. We hypothesized that lysosomal activity and autophagy play an important role in the maturation and the secretion of LG3 in ApoExo vesicles secreted by CEapo. Longitudinal electron microscopy study after 1h, 2h and 3h in serum starved endothelial human cells revealed the presence of perlecan / LG3 fragment within autophagic compartments (autophagosomes and autophagolysosomes) at different stages of the autophagic process. After 3 hours of serum starvation, we identified LG3 fragment in membrane vesicles located within large vacuolar networks reminiscent of autophagolysosomes. Inhibition of cathepsin-L, of lysosomal acidification and of autophagy decrease the presence of LG3 fragment in ApoExo vesicles without affecting vesicle secretion thus demonstrating the role of autophagy in the secretion of LG3 fragment within ApoExo. However, Injection of ApoExo LG3- vesicles from bafilomycin-treated aortic murine cells into a murine aortic transplant model induces autoimmune anti-LG3 response and vascular remodeling at levels similar to the ApoExo vehicle mice control group. Proteomic analysis of ApoExo from bafilomycin-treated aortic murine cells has demonstrated that bafilomycin modifies ApoExo protein content by inducing an increase of the presence of lysosomal proteins and the extracellular matrix, including perlecan. This suggests that the presence of LG3 motif in uncleaved native perlecan in ApoExo LG3- could be responsible for the establishment of the anti-LG3 response as well as the vascular remodeling observed in mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate that autophagy in endothelial cells producing ApoExo does not regulate the immuogenicity of ApoExo. However, it regulates within apoptotic endothelial cells the processing and cleavage of perlecan who is immunogenic. Indeed, autophagy modulates the different forms of native and cleaved perlecan secreted in ApoExo. Grafted mice study thus allowed us to consider neither the involvement of the LG3 fragment but the implication of the LG3 motif present in the uncleaved native perlecan and its intermediate forms in the anti-LG3 autoimmune response and vascular rejection. Modulating perlecan and LG3 secretion in ApoExo vesicles is a potential therapeutic target to reduce the autoimmune response that can increase vascular damage after transplantation.

No description available.

Safety concerns arising from cytotoxic behavior of nanoparticles (NPs) in complex biological environment remain the main problem limiting NPs application in biomedicine. In this study, we have investigated cytotoxicity of NPs with different composition, shape and size, namely SiO2 NPs (SiNPs, 7-14 nm), superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIONs, 8 nm) and carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTCOOHs, diameter: 60-100 nm, length: 1-2 μm). Cytotoxicity was evaluated with newly designed screening assay capable to simultaneously assess activity of cell dehydrogenases, activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released from cells into environment and number of intact cell nuclei and apoptotic bodies in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) culture growing in the very same well of the 96-well plate. Aforementioned attributes were subsequently utilized to obtain information about cell viability and necrotic and apoptotic aspects of cell death. Results from this "three-in-one" cell death screening (CDS) assay showed that SiNPs and CNTCOOHs evoked pronounced cytotoxic effect demonstrated as decrease of cell viability and development of apoptotic bodies formation. In contrast to this, SPIONs induced only mild cytotoxicity. Moreover, SiNPs impaired cell membrane leading to increased LDH release...