MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INTELUGENCE UNIT Intermediate Filaments Jesus M. Paramio, Ph.D. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology CIEMAT Madrid, Spain LANDES BIOSCIENCE / EuREKAH.coM SPRINGER SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA GEORGETOWN, TEXAS NEW YORK, NEW YORK U.S.A. U.SA INTERMEDIATE FILAMENTS Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit Landes Bioscience / Eurekah.com Springer Science+Business Media, LLC ISBN: 0-387-33780-6 Printed on acid-free paper. Copyright ©2006 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media, LLC All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher, except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. 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QU 55 1609 2006] QH603.C95I58 2006 611'.0181-dc22 2006009316 CONTENTS Preface ix Desmin and Other Intermediate Filaments in Normal and Diseased Muscle 1 Denise Paulin and Zhigang Xue Desmin in Mature Skeletal and Heart Muscle Cells 1 Desmin and Other IF Proteins in Different Muscles 2 Functions of Desmin in Striated Muscles 4 Function of Desmin in Smooth Muscles 5 Gene Regulation 5 Desmin-Related Myopathies (DRM) 6 Intermediate Filaments in Astrocytes in Health and Disease 10 Milos Pekny and Ulrika Wilhelmsson IFs in Astroglial Cells during Development 10 GFAP znd Its Regulation 11 Vimentin and Nestin and Their Regulation 13 Formation of IFs in Astroglial Cells 13 Astrocyte IFs, CNS Trauma and Regeneration 16 Astrocyte IFs and Resistance to Mechanical Stress 22 Astrocyte IFs, Osmotic Stress and Ischemia/Hypoxia 25 Astrocyte IFs, Cell Proliferation and Tumorigenesis 25 GFAP Mutations and Alexander Disease 26 Neuronal Intermediate Filaments and Neiu-odegenerative Diseases 35 Gee Y. Ching and Ronald K.H. Liem Neuronal Intermediate Filament Proteins 36 Neuronal IFs in Neurodegenerative Diseases 38 Neurofilaments: Phosphorylation and Signal Transduction 52 Sashi Kesavapany, Richard H. Quarks and Harish C. Pant Neurofilaments Are Members of the Intermediate Filament Family 53 Neurofilaments and Axonal Caliber 55 Phosphorylation of Neurofilaments 55 Neurofilaments and Their Associated Kinases 56 Neurofilament Tail Domain Phosphorylation 57 Axonal Transport of Neurofilaments 58 Phosphorylation of NFs and Disease 59 Neurofilaments and Signal Transduction Pathw^ays 60 5. Keratin Intermediate Filaments and Diseases of the Skin 74 E. Birgitte Lane Epidermal Blistering Caused by Keratin Mutations 7A Candidate Genes in Other Epithelia 75 From Candidate Genes to "Candidate Diseases" 77 Supramolecular Stability versus Molecular Flux 77 Keratin Filaments as Tensile Structures 78 Significance of Keratin Role in Skin Fragility Disorders 79 6. The Keratin K6 Minifamily of Genes 83 Manuel Navarro Conservation of Sequence in the K6 Polypeptides 84 Expression of the K6 Genes 87 Expression and Partners 89 Functional Considerations 89 7. Transcriptional Regulation of Keratin Gene Expression 93 Miroslav Blumenberg Transcriptional Regulation of Keratin K5 Expression 93 Regulation of Kl4 95 Regulation of Kl 5 96 Regulation of Kl and KIO 96 Regulation of K4 and K13 97 Regulation of K3 and K12 98 Regulation of Hair Keratins 99 Regulation of Keratin Gene Expression by Hormones and Vitamins 99 Regulation of Keratin Gene Expression by Growth Factors and Cytokines 101 Regulation of Small Keratins, K7, K8, K18 and K19 101 Specific Transcription Factors Implicated in Regulation of Transcription of Keratin Genes 103 Conclusions and Future Directions 105 8. Simple Epithelial Keratins: Expression, Function and Disease 110 M. Llanos Casanova, Ana Bravo andjosi L. Jorcano Suggested Functions of Simple Epithelial Keratins Ill Simple Epithelial Keratin Proteins and Disease 114 Altered Simple Epithelial Keratin Expression and Cancer 115 9. Keratins as Targets in and Modulators of Liver Diseases 120 Kurt Zatloukal, Conny Stumptner, Andrea Fuchsbichler and Helmut Denk The Keratin Cytoskeleton of Hepatocytes and Bile Duct Epithelial Cells 120 Alterations of the Keratin Cytoskeleton in Human Liver Diseases 121 Animal Models to Study Hepatocytic Keratin Alterations 122 Mallory Bodies as a Product of the Cellular Response to Misfolded Keratin 124 How Can Keratins Influence Toxic Cell Injury? 125 Mutations of Keratin Genes and Liver Diseases 127 10. The Search for Specific Keratin Functions: The Case of Keratin KIO 131 Mirentxu Santos, Carmen Segrelles, Sergio Ruiz, M. Fernanda Lara and Jesus M. Paramio Keratin KIO Assembly and Dynamics 132 Keratin KIO Inhibits Cell Proliferation 134 Transgenic Mice Models to Study KIO Functions 138 The Paradigms ofKlO Knock Out Model 139 Reconciling Hypotheses 141 Index 147 - ViTWTTWi 1 -bUl 1 wK 1 J esiis M. Paramio Department of Molecular and Cell Biology CIEMAT Madrid, Spain Email: je [email protected] Chapter 10 I — —^ r^O^TT'^TTJT rnrr^ T>c \\ • K^VJ Miroslav Blumenberg Andrea Fuchsbichler The Departments of Dermatology Institute of Pathology | and Biochemistry Medical University of Graz and Graz, Austria The Cancer Institute Chapter 9 NYU School of Medicine New York, New York, U.S.A. Jos^ L. Jorcano Email: blumem01@ med.nyu.e du Department of Molecular Chapter 7 and Cell Biology CIEMAT Ana Bravo Madrid, Spain Department of Animal Pathology Email: [email protected] 11 Veterinary School of Lugo Chapter 8 University of Santiago de Compostela 11 Madrid, Spain Sashi Kesavapany Chapter 8 Laboratory of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Neurological M. Llanos Casanova Disorders and Stroke Department of Molecular National Institute of Health and Cell Biology Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. CIEMAT Chapter 4 Madrid, Spain Email: llanos.casanova@ciemat. es E. Birgitte Lane Chapter 8 Cancer Research UK Cell Structure Research Group Gee Y. Ching Cell and Developmental Biology Division Departments of Pathology and Anatomy University of Dundee and Cell Biology School of Life Sciences Columbia University College Dundee, U.K. of Physicians and Surgeons Email: [email protected] New York, New York, U.S.A. Chapter 5 Chapter 3 M. Fernanda Lara Helmut Denk Department of Molecular Institute of Pathology and Cell Biology Medical University of Graz CIEMAT Graz, Austria Madrid, Spain Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Ronald K.H. Liem Sergio Ruiz Departments of Pathology and Anatomy Cancer Research Center and Cell Biology University of Salamanca Columbia University College Salamanca, Spain of Physicians and Surgeons Chapter 10 New York, New York, U.S.A. Email: [email protected] Mirentxu Santos Chapter 3 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology Manuel Navarro CIEMAT Department of Molecular Madrid, Spain and Cell Biology Chapter 10 CIEMAT Madrid, Spain Carmen Segrelles Email: [email protected] Department of Molecular Chapter 6 and Cell Biology CIEMAT Harish C. Pant Madrid, Spain Laboratory of Neurochemistry Chapter 10 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Conny Stumptner National Institute of Health Institute of Pathology Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. Medical University of Graz Email: [email protected] Graz, Austria Chapter 4 Chapter 9 Denise Paulin Ulrika Wilhelmsson Biologic Mol^culaire de la DifF^renciation Department of Medical Biochemistry Paris, France Sahlgrenska Academy Email: [email protected] at Goteborg University Chapter 1 Goteborg, Sweden Chapter 2 Milos Pekny Department of Medical Biochemistry Zhigang Xue Sahlgrenska Academy Biologic Mol^culaire de la Diff^renciation at Goteborg University Paris, France Goteborg, Sweden Chapter 1 Email: [email protected] Chapter 2 Kurt Zadoukal Institute of Pathology Richard H. Quarles Medical University of Graz Laboratory of Molecular Graz, Austria and Cellular Neurobiology Email: [email protected] National Institute of Neurological Chapter 9 Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Health Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. Chapter 4 -PREFACE -- M olecular biologists' concept of cells is a "biological container" where important molecules float and interact with one another more or less randomly. However, a close view of this "bag" reveals an as tonishing net of fibrous proteins crossing throughout the cytoplasm: the cytoskeleton. This structure is composed of three different elements: actin microfilaments, tubulin microtubules, and a third class denoted, due to their size, intermediate filaments (IF). This last network is built by different proteins in different cells types, forming the largest family of cytoskeletal proteins. They are divided into six categories and, except for type V, the lamins, they all form a cytoplasmic web. Types I and II include the epithelial keratins and comprise more than 20 different polypeptides. Type fflf includes vimentin (expressed in cells of mesenchymal origin), desmin (characteristic of muscle cells), GFAP (in glial cells) and peripherin (in the peripheral nervous system). Type IV IF proteins are found in neurones and include the neurofilament proteins (NF-L, NF-M and NF-H) and a-internexin. Type VI may include, depending on different group criteria, nestin, synemin, paranemin and tanabin. The function of these proteins has long been associ ated with a structural role. However, this common function does not explain their tissue- and differentiation-specific expression patterns. Evidence is now emerging that IF act as an important framework for the modulation and control of essential cell processes. In this book, research groups summarize their findings in the IF field in particular focusing on the possible functional roles of IF proteins in cells and their relevance in pathological situations. Paulin's and Pekny's groups summarize these aspects in desmin and GFAP, respectively. In other words, how the functions of muscle cells and astrocytes are dependent on IF. The neurofilaments are covered in two chapters by Pant's and Liem's groups. They focus on mutation and phosphorylation of these proteins and their relationship with neurodegenerative disorders in mouse models and humans. Keratins, the largest subfamily of IF proteins, are expressed in epithelial cells. Remarkably, the expression of different keratins is strictly regulated in tissue- and differentiation-specific patterns. In this case, data obtained in transgenic mice and genetic analyses of human hereditary syndromes in the early nineties clearly demonstrated that keratins provide cells with mechani cal resilience against physical stress. This is reviewed in Lane s chapter. How ever, there are many intriguing questions to be solved with respect to these proteins. The diversity of keratins is highlighted in the chapter by M. Navarro. He concentrates on the keratin K6 minifamily, in which minimal differences can be observed, discussing the hints about their possible different biological functions. The transcriptional mechanisms regulating keratin expression, which ultimately gives rise to their characteristic expression pattern, are reviewed in M. Blumenberg's chapter. As commented above, the function of keratins as essential mediators of structural integrity was proposed as a result of the discovery of point mutations in human keratin genes in patients suffering from different epi thelial disorders. However, this is only the overall function of the stratified epithelia keratins. Aspects relative to the functions of simple epithelia keratins are covered by two chapters. Zatloukal et al summarize the role of these keratins in chronic liver diseases. Casanova et al review the functionality of keratins K8 and K18 as putative modulators of signaling and apoptosis and their relationship with tumor development and progression. Finally, in the chapter by Santos et al we summarize our findings which suggest that kera tin KIO is a mediator of keratinocyte homeostasis. Overall this book reviews most recent developments in this growing and exciting field and will help those interested in the study of these inter esting proteins. Jesus M. Paramioy Ph.D. CHAPTER 1 Desmin and Other Intermediate Filaments in Normal and Diseased Muscle Denise Paulin* and Zhigang Xue Abstract T he intermediate filament proteins (desmin, vimentin, nestin, synemins and paranemin) synthesized by muscle cells depends on the type of muscle and its stage of development. Desmin is present in all muscles at all stages of development. The others appear transiently or in only certain muscles. The muscles of mice lacking desmin and those of human having a mutated desmin gene that encodes a nonfunctional desmin are abnormal. The severity of the human disease depends on the location of the mutation; it may cause skeletal myopathies, cardiomyopathies or altered vascular elasticity. This report summarizes the function of the desmin gene in the skeletal and smooth muscles, the gene regulation and desmin-related myopathies. Desmin in Mature Skeletal and Heart Muscle Cells The cytoskeleton of muscle cells includes proteins whose primary function is to link and anchor structural cell components, especially the myofibrils, the mitochondria, the sarcotubular system and the nuclei.^ The cytoskeleton has three major filamentous components, interme diate filaments (IFs); microfilaments (actin); and microtubules. The IFs are so named be cause their diameter (8-10 nm) is intermediate between those of the thick (myosin, 15 nm) and thin (actin, 6 nm) filaments. The cytoskeleton may also be subdivided into the extra-sarcomeric, the intra-sarcomeric and the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton; the IFs form the extra-sarcomeric cytoskeleton. Desmin is the main IF protein in mature skeletal and heart muscles. It is encoded by a fully characterized single copy gene, which has been mapped to band q35 to the long arm of hu man chromosome 2 and to band C3 of the mouse to chromosome 1. Desmin is one of the first muscle-specific proteins to be detected in the mammalian embryo, appearing before titin, skeletal muscle actin, myosin heavy chains and nebulin. It can be detected at 8.5 d.p.c. in the developing mouse embryo, in the ectoderm where it is transiendy coexpressed with keratin and vimentin. The protein is also found in the heart rudiment on 8.5 d.p.c, and its concentration increases over time, continuing in the myocardial cells during later cardiogenesis. From 9 d.p.c. onwards, desmin can be detected in the myotomes. The concentration of desmin in skeletal and cardiac muscles remains high throughout em- bryogenesis and early posmatal life. There is much more desmin in heart muscle cells (2% of total protein) than in skeletal muscle cells (0.35%) of mammal. It forms a three-dimensional scaffold around the myofibrillar Z-disc and interconnects the entire contractile apparatus with the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton, the nuclei and other cytoplasmic organelles (Fig. 1). Desmin also *Corresponding Author: Denise Paulin—Biologie Moleculaire de la Differenciation, Paris Cedex, France. Email: [email protected] Intermediate Filaments, edited by Jesus Paramio. ©2006 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media.