基于酵母产孢的syntaxin家族蛋白SNARE区域功能分析

真核细胞中大部分膜融合过程由SNARE蛋白介导,但其功能和调节机制尚未完全清楚。酵母孢子形成是研究囊泡融合机制包括SNARE蛋白的理想模型系统。在该过程中涉及t-SNARE蛋白Sso1,它是突触囊泡融合所需蛋白syntaxin 1A的同源物,两者SNARE区域有51%的同源性。尽管如此,将SSO1的SNARE区域完全替换成syntaxin 1A,而构建的嵌合体却无法回补sso1△突变的产孢缺陷。为了确定哪些残基为Sso1功能所必须,作者进行了嵌合体和突变分析,发现Sso1/syntaxin 1A嵌合体中syntaxin 1A的SNARE区域的220位丙氨酸换成谷氨酸后获得产孢功能。另外,Sso1发生相应的突变-218位谷氨酸突变成丙氨酸后失去其功能。因此,218位谷氨酸残基为Sso1产孢功能所必须。     

CK2 Phosphorylation Is Required for Regulation of Syntaxin 1A Activity in Ca2+-Triggered Release in Neuroendocrine Cells

The polybasic juxtamembrane region (5RK) of the plasma membrane neuronal SNARE, syntaxin1A (Syx), was previously shown by us to act as a fusion clamp in PC12 cells, as charge neutralization of 5RK promotes spontaneous and inhibits Ca²⁺-triggered release. Using a Syx-based FRET probe (CSYS), we demonstrated that 5RK is required for a depolarization-induced Ca⁺²-dependent opening (close-to-open transition; CDO) of Syx, which involves the vesicular SNARE synaptobrevin2 and occurs concomitantly with Ca²⁺-triggered release. Here, we investigated the mechanism underlying the CDO requirement for 5RK and identified phosphorylation of Syx at Ser-14 (S14) by casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a crucial molecular determinant. Thus, following biochemical verification that both endogenous Syx and CSYS are constitutively S14 phosphorylated in PC12 cells, dynamic FRET analysis of phospho-null and phospho-mimetic mutants of CSYS and the use of a CK2 inhibitor revealed that the S14 phosphorylation confers the CDO requirement for 5RK. In accord, amperometric analysis of catecholamine release revealed that the phospho-null mutant does not support Ca²⁺-triggered release. These results identify a functionally important CK2 phosphorylation of Syx that is required for the 5RK-regulation of CDO and for concomitant Ca²⁺-triggered release. Further, also spontaneous release, conferred by charge neutralization of 5RK, was abolished in the phospho-null mutant.     

Dynamics of subcellular organelles, growth hormone, Rab3B, SNAP-25, and syntaxin in rat pituitary cells caused by growth hormone releasing hormone and somatostatin

Rab3B is involved in the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles and secretory granules in the central nervous system and the anterior pituitary cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate both the role of rab3B in GH secretion and the mutual relationship of rab3B and SNARE proteins. Adult male rats were injected intravenously with 10 microg of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) or 10 microg of somatostatin (SRIF). Untreated rats were used as controls, and their pituitary glands were sectioned for histochemical examination. Rab3B is localized on the limiting membrane of the secretory granules and the cytosol. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation of immunohistochemical double staining of rab3B and GH revealed that immunoreactivity of rab3B increased in GHRH-treated rats and decreased in SRIF-treated rats. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation of immunohistochemical double staining of SNAP-25, syntaxin, and rab3B revealed the co-localization of rab3B and these SNARE proteins in GHRH-treated rats, and their dissociation in SRIF-treated rats. These results suggest that rab3B plays a principal role in GH secretion in the anterior pituitary cells and that SNAP-25 and syntaxin act as co-workers with rab3B in the functional regulation of GH secretion.