Showing papers by "Jean-Pierre Gorvel published in 1997"

Tyrosine and serine protein kinase activities associated with ligand-induced internalized TCR/CD3 complexes.

Abstract: Ligand engagement of the TCR/CD3 complex leads to its internalization and modulation from the cell surface. In the present study, we analyzed the intracellular fate of internalized TCR/CD3 complexes following activation of a CTL clone with an anti-clonotypic mAb (anti-TCR mAb). Confocal microscopy using fluorescent anti-TCR mAb showed that after 15 min the TCR/CD3 complex colocalized with the transferrin receptor within endosomes, whereas at later times (2 h) it migrated in late endocytic compartments devoid of transferrin receptor. Using a cell fractionation technique, CD3 components could be detected in early endosomes in the absence of ligand-induced internalization, but were detected in late endosomes only after 2-h anti-TCR-induced internalization. In late endosomes, the internalized TCR/CD3 complex was found to be associated with an active protein kinase, distinct from p56(lck) and p59(fyn), which were mainly present in early endosomes, and ZAP-70, which was only present in the postnuclear supernatant. Phosphoamino acid analysis following an in vitro kinase assay of CD3 immunoprecipitates from early and late endosome fractions showed that the CD3 zeta- and epsilon-chains were phosphorylated exclusively on tyrosine, whereas the CD3 gamma- and delta-chains were phosphorylated on serine and tyrosine, as were 40-kDa and 60-kDa associated proteins. Furthermore, the serine phosphorylation was increased in late endosomes compared with early endosomes. These results suggest that the TCR/CD3 may be associated with different kinase activities during its intracellular pathway following ligand triggering.

A dominant-negative mutant of the Rab5 GTPase enhances T cell signaling by interfering with TCR down-modulation in transgenic mice.

Abstract: TCR triggering results in the down-modulation of engaged receptors by endocytosis. As a result of this process, Ag-binding sites are depleted from the surface and signaling responses should be attenuated. To test the importance of TCR down-regulation on T cell signaling, we generated mice expressing a dominant-negative form of Rab5 (Rab5N133I) in T cells. Rab5, a monomeric GTPase of the Ras superfamily, has been implicated in the regulation of early steps in the endocytic pathway. In Rab5N133I mice, mature thymocytes developed, but the absolute number of CD4+CD8+ double positive thymocytes was reduced. Fluid phase endocytosis was severely impaired in the transgenic thymocytes. In peripheral T cells, the kinetics and rate of ligand-induced TCR down-modulation were delayed and reduced. These effects were correlated with enhanced early and late signaling responses. Analysis of thymocyte development in doubly transgenic mice for Rab5N133I and a lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) peptide-specific TCR demonstrated that TCR signaling was enhanced by dominant inhibition of Rab5 function, resulting in altered thymic selection. These findings suggest that TCR endocytosis is an important regulatory component of TCR signaling and that defects in this regulation can result in prolonged signaling and alter thymic development.

Early endosome membrane dynamics characterized by flow cytometry

Abstract: Early endosomes are very dynamic intracellular membrane organelles that undergo multiple fusion and fission events. In this study, we developed a novel assay based on multiparametric flow cytometric analyses and early endosome sorting to characterize better the mechanisms of early endosome membrane dynamics in vitro. In particular, we have investigated the role of rab4 and rab5, two small GTPases known to regulate distinct steps of membrane traffic in the endocytic pathway. We show that early endosomes undergo homotypic fusion reactions, which lead to the formation of fusion intermediates with increased size. Fusion is efficiently stimulated by recombinant rab5 but not by recombinant rab4. Subsequently, membrane fission consumes this larger fusion compartment. This fission process is stimulated by rab4 and by the GTP hydrolysis-defective mutant rab4Q67L. Cytometry 29:41–49, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

When intracellular pathogens invade the frontiers of cell biology and immunology.

Abstract: Cellular microbiology has recently been described as a new discipline emerging at the interface between cell biology and microbiology (Cossart et al., 1996). Many microbial pathogens can enter eukaryotic cells and live intracellularly either inside vacuoles or in the cytoplasm. The different steps during the invasion process are on the way of being dissected at the molecular level revealing new insights in basic cellular functions. Indeed, bacterial pathogenesis can help us to better understand the dynamics of cell cytoskeleton, intracellular membrane traffic and signal transduction events. The recent advancements in the field of microbial pathogenesis are creating a new cross-talk between cell biologists, microbiologists and immunologists. In this review, the different strategies used by several pathogens are presented and the mechanisms elaborated by host cells from the immune system to eliminate the parasites discussed.

Flow cytometric sorting and biochemical characterization of the late endosomal rab7-containing compartment

Abstract: Rab7 is a small molecular weight GTPase that is known to be associated with late endocytic compartments. Studies in which wild-type or mutant forms of this protein have been overexpressed in mammalian cells have indicated that rab7 plays a role in controlling membrane transport between late endocytic compartments. However, both the precise site(s) of action and localization of rab7 remain unclear. In the present study, we have used density-gradient centrifugation in combination with a new epitope-specific flow cytometric sorting method to isolate rab7-containing vesicles from baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Electron-micrographs of sorted elements showed a homogeneous population of vesicles that resembles late endosomes. The polypeptide composition of rab7-containing vesicles was then analyzed by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Rab7-containing vesicles were enriched in the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor and especially in the precursor forms of cathepsin D. Taken together, these results show that the rab7-containing vesicles are a component of the endocytic pathway that connects late endosomes and lysosomes and in which precursor forms of lysosomal hydrolases, segregated from their receptor, might be included.

Two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of endovacuolar organelles

Abstract: Cells perform their multiple functions with the aid of a series of distinct membrane organelles. In the last years, many of these compartments have been isolated, purified, and extensively studied. The major roles of each organelle in the cell are well understood. However, most of the molecular basis by which they perform their functions is poorly known. The recent identification and study of a handful of proteins associated with endovacuolar compartments has had a major impact on the understanding of the molecular details of organelle functions even though two-dimensional (2-D) gel analysis indicates that hundreds of proteins are typically associated with a complex organelle. This shows that many details and surprises are still to come for cell biologists. In the present study, we have analyzed and compared different organelles of the endocytic and phagocytic apparatus using 2-D gel electrophoresis.