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Open Access Publications from the University of California

Scholarly Works (10 results)

  • Article
  • Peer Reviewed
UC Berkeley Previously Published Works (2015)
Calcium ion channels that determine many of the properties of cilia are different in motile cilia as compared to primary cilia and flagella.
    Cover page: Signaling the differences between cilia
    • Thesis
    • Peer Reviewed
    UC San Francisco Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2017)

    Synaptic transmission relies on the transport of neurotransmitters into specialized endocytic compartments, synaptic vesicles. Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) package glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter, primarily using the membrane potential. Knockout of either of the two major VGLUT isoforms results in perinatal lethality. Two peculiar and controversial properties of VGLUTs are the extraordinary dependence on Cl and a putative Cl conductance. This study investigated this essential transport process and the relationship of Cl, the Cl conductance, and protons using precise electrophysiology techniques.

    Two-electrode voltage clamping of Xenopus Oocytes expressing internalization-defective VGLUTs revealed a pH- and Cl-dependent Cl conductance. This Cl conductance was sensitive to both a drug that inhibits vesicular glutamate transport as well as glutamate. Although vesicular glutamate transport was not observed in Xenopus Oocytes, patching on HEK293T endolysosomes expressing VGLUTs revealed both glutamate and Cl conductances. These conductances required luminal Cl and were potentiated by cytoplasmic Cl. Using site-directed mutagenesis of conserved, charged amino acids, we identified key transmembrane residues that regulate anion and glutamate conductances including one responsible for activation by luminal Cl. This finding demonstrates that the mechanism for allosteric activation by Cl is distinct from permeation. In addition, Cl competes with vesicular glutamate transport. This competition is modulated by luminal protons. This study is the first to electrophysiologically reveal the regulatory mechanisms behind the transport of a neurotransmitter, and can be used as a model for the study of other vesicular neurotransmitter transporters.

      Cover page: ROLE OF CHLORIDE IN VESICULAR GLUTAMATE TRANSPORT
      • Article
      • Peer Reviewed
      UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2012)
      The mitochondrial calcium uniporter is a highly selective channel responsible for mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter shapes cytosolic Ca(2+) signals, controls mitochondrial ATP production, and is involved in cell death. Here using direct patch-clamp recording from the inner mitochondrial membrane, we compare mitochondrial calcium uniporter activity in mouse heart, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney and brown fat. Surprisingly, heart mitochondria show a dramatically lower mitochondrial calcium uniporter current density than the other tissues studied. Similarly, in Drosophila flight muscle, mitochondrial calcium uniporter activity is barely detectable compared with that in other fly tissues. As mitochondria occupy up to 40% of the cell volume in highly metabolically active heart and flight muscle, low mitochondrial calcium uniporter activity is likely essential to avoid cytosolic Ca(2+) sink due to excessive mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake. Simultaneously, low mitochondrial calcium uniporter activity may also prevent mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload in such active tissues exposed to frequent cytosolic Ca(2+) activity.
        Cover page: Activity of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter varies greatly between tissues
        • Article
        • Peer Reviewed
        UC Berkeley Previously Published Works (2023)
        Coenzyme Q (CoQ, aka ubiquinone) is a key component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) and membrane-incorporated antioxidant. CoQ10 deficiencies encompass a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical phenotypes and can be caused by hereditary mutations in the biosynthesis pathway or result from pharmacological interventions such as HMG-CoA Reductase inhibitors, and statins, which are widely used to treat hypercholesterolemia and prevent cardiovascular disease. How CoQ deficiency affects individual tissues and cell types, particularly mitochondrial-rich ones such as brown adipose tissue (BAT), has remained poorly understood. Here we show that pharmacological and genetic models of BAT CoQ deficiency show altered respiration that can only in part be explained by classical roles of CoQ in the respiration chain. Instead, we found that CoQ strongly impacts brown and beige adipocyte respiration via the regulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. CoQ deficiency in BAT robustly decreases UCP1 protein levels and uncoupled respiration unexpectedly, resulting in increased inner mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased ADP/ATP ratios. Suppressed UCP1 expression was also observed in a BAT-specific in vivo model of CoQ deficiency and resulted in enhanced cold sensitivity. These findings demonstrate an as yet unappreciated role of CoQ in the transcriptional regulation of key thermogenic genes and functions.
          Cover page: CoQ Regulates Brown Adipose Tissue Respiration and Uncoupling Protein 1 Expression
          • Article
          • Peer Reviewed
          UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2016)
          For placental mammals, the transition from the in utero maternal environment to postnatal life requires the activation of thermogenesis to maintain their core temperature. This is primarily accomplished by induction of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in brown and beige adipocytes, the principal sites for uncoupled respiration. Despite its importance, how placental mammals license their thermogenic adipocytes to participate in postnatal uncoupled respiration is not known. Here, we provide evidence that the "alarmin" IL-33, a nuclear cytokine that activates type 2 immune responses, licenses brown and beige adipocytes for uncoupled respiration. We find that, in absence of IL-33 or ST2, beige and brown adipocytes develop normally but fail to express an appropriately spliced form of Ucp1 mRNA, resulting in absence of UCP1 protein and impairment in uncoupled respiration and thermoregulation. Together, these data suggest that IL-33 and ST2 function as a developmental switch to license thermogenesis during the perinatal period. PAPERCLIP.
            Cover page: Perinatal Licensing of Thermogenesis by IL-33 and ST2
            • Article
            • Peer Reviewed
            UC Berkeley Previously Published Works (2016)
            Steroids regulate cell proliferation, tissue development, and cell signaling via two pathways: a nuclear receptor mechanism and genome-independent signaling. Sperm activation, egg maturation, and steroid-induced anesthesia are executed via the latter pathway, the key components of which remain unknown. Here, we present characterization of the human sperm progesterone receptor that is conveyed by the orphan enzyme α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2 (ABHD2). We show that ABHD2 is highly expressed in spermatozoa, binds progesterone, and acts as a progesterone-dependent lipid hydrolase by depleting the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2AG) from plasma membrane. The 2AG inhibits the sperm calcium channel (CatSper), and its removal leads to calcium influx via CatSper and ensures sperm activation. This study reveals that progesterone-activated endocannabinoid depletion by ABHD2 is a general mechanism by which progesterone exerts its genome-independent action and primes sperm for fertilization.
              Cover page: Unconventional endocannabinoid signaling governs sperm activation via the sex hormone progesterone
              • Article
              • Peer Reviewed
              UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2022)
              Mitochondria generate heat due to H+ leak (IH) across their inner membrane1. IH results from the action of long-chain fatty acids on uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in brown fat2-6 and ADP/ATP carrier (AAC) in other tissues1,7-9, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. As evidence of pharmacological activators of IH through UCP1 and AAC is lacking, IH is induced by protonophores such as 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and cyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP)10,11. Although protonophores show potential in combating obesity, diabetes and fatty liver in animal models12-14, their clinical potential for treating human disease is limited due to indiscriminately increasing H+ conductance across all biological membranes10,11 and adverse side effects15. Here we report the direct measurement of IH induced by DNP, FCCP and other common protonophores and find that it is dependent on AAC and UCP1. Using molecular structures of AAC, we perform a computational analysis to determine the binding sites for protonophores and long-chain fatty acids, and find that they overlap with the putative ADP/ATP-binding site. We also develop a mathematical model that proposes a mechanism of uncoupler-dependent IH through AAC. Thus, common protonophoric uncouplers are synthetic activators of IH through AAC and UCP1, paving the way for the development of new and more specific activators of these two central mediators of mitochondrial bioenergetics.
                Cover page: Mitochondrial uncouplers induce proton leak by activating AAC and UCP1
                • Article
                • Peer Reviewed
                UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2019)
                The mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier (AAC) is a major transport protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane. It exchanges mitochondrial ATP for cytosolic ADP and controls cellular production of ATP. In addition, it has been proposed that AAC mediates mitochondrial uncoupling, but it has proven difficult to demonstrate this function or to elucidate its mechanisms. Here we record AAC currents directly from inner mitochondrial membranes from various mouse tissues and identify two distinct transport modes: ADP/ATP exchange and H+ transport. The AAC-mediated H+ current requires free fatty acids and resembles the H+ leak via the thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 found in brown fat. The ADP/ATP exchange via AAC negatively regulates the H+ leak, but does not completely inhibit it. This suggests that the H+ leak and mitochondrial uncoupling could be dynamically controlled by cellular ATP demand and the rate of ADP/ATP exchange. By mediating two distinct transport modes, ADP/ATP exchange and H+ leak, AAC connects coupled (ATP production) and uncoupled (thermogenesis) energy conversion in mitochondria.
                  Cover page: H+ transport is an integral function of the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier
                  • Article
                  • Peer Reviewed
                  UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2022)
                  Molecularly targeted cancer therapy has improved outcomes for patients with cancer with targetable oncoproteins, such as mutant EGFR in lung cancer. Yet, the long-term survival of these patients remains limited, because treatment responses are typically incomplete. One potential explanation for the lack of complete and durable responses is that oncogene-driven cancers with activating mutations of EGFR often harbor additional co-occurring genetic alterations. This hypothesis remains untested for most genetic alterations that co-occur with mutant EGFR. Here, we report the functional impact of inactivating genetic alterations of the mRNA splicing factor RNA-binding motif 10 (RBM10) that co-occur with mutant EGFR. RBM10 deficiency decreased EGFR inhibitor efficacy in patient-derived EGFR-mutant tumor models. RBM10 modulated mRNA alternative splicing of the mitochondrial apoptotic regulator Bcl-x to regulate tumor cell apoptosis during treatment. Genetic inactivation of RBM10 diminished EGFR inhibitor-mediated apoptosis by decreasing the ratio of (proapoptotic) Bcl-xS to (antiapoptotic) Bcl-xL isoforms of Bcl-x. RBM10 deficiency was a biomarker of poor response to EGFR inhibitor treatment in clinical samples. Coinhibition of Bcl-xL and mutant EGFR overcame the resistance induced by RBM10 deficiency. This study sheds light on the role of co-occurring genetic alterations and on the effect of splicing factor deficiency on the modulation of sensitivity to targeted kinase inhibitor cancer therapy.
                    Cover page: Deficiency of the splicing factor RBM10 limits EGFR inhibitor response in EGFR mutant lung cancer
                    • Article
                    • Peer Reviewed
                    UC San Francisco Previously Published Works (2019)
                    Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor and bi-functional lipid and protein phosphatase. We report that the metabolic regulator pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase1 (PDHK1) is a synthetic-essential gene in PTEN-deficient cancer and normal cells. The PTEN protein phosphatase dephosphorylates nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-activating protein (NKAP) and limits NFκB activation to suppress expression of PDHK1, a NF-κB target gene. Loss of the PTEN protein phosphatase upregulates PDHK1 to induce aerobic glycolysis and PDHK1 cellular dependence. PTEN-deficient human tumors harbor increased PDHK1, a biomarker of decreased patient survival. This study uncovers a PTEN-regulated signaling pathway and reveals PDHK1 as a potential target in PTEN-deficient cancers.
                      Cover page: Synthetic Essentiality of Metabolic Regulator PDHK1 in PTEN-Deficient Cells and Cancers
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