ALG-2-interacting Tubby-like protein superfamily member PLSCR3 is secreted by an exosomal pathway and taken up by recipient cultured cells

Biosci Rep. 2013 Mar 7;33(2):e00026. doi: 10.1042/BSR20120123.

Abstract

PLSCRs (phospholipid scramblases) are palmitoylated membrane-associating proteins. Regardless of the given names, their physiological functions are not clear and thought to be unrelated to phospholipid scrambling activities observed in vitro. Using a previously established cell line of HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney-293) cells constitutively expressing human Scr3 (PLSCR3) that interacts with ALG-2 (apoptosis-linked gene 2) Ca²⁺-dependently, we found that Scr3 was secreted into the culture medium. Secretion of Scr3 was suppressed by 2-BP (2-bromopalmitate, a palmitoylation inhibitor) and by GW4869 (an inhibitor of ceramide synthesis). Secreted Scr3 was recovered in exosomal fractions by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Palmitoylation sites and the N-terminal Pro-rich region were necessary for efficient secretion, but ABSs (ALG-2-binding sites) were dispensable. Overexpression of GFP (green fluorescent protein)-fused VPS4B(E235Q), a dominant negative mutant of an AAA (ATPase associated with various cellular activities) ATPase with a defect in disassembling ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport)-III subunits, significantly reduced secretion of Scr3. Immunofluorescence microscopic analyses showed that Scr3 was largely localized to enlarged endosomes induced by overexpression of a GFP-fused constitutive active mutant of Rab5A (GFP-Rab5A(Q79L)). Secreted Scr3 was taken up by HeLa cells, suggesting that Scr3 functions as a cell-to-cell transferable modulator carried by exosomes in a paracrine manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Biological Transport / genetics*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Exosomes / genetics
  • Exosomes / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lipoylation / drug effects*
  • Palmitates / pharmacology
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / genetics
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • PDCD6 protein, human
  • PLSCR3 protein, human
  • Palmitates
  • Phospholipid Transfer Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • 2-bromopalmitate