Papers by Caroline Grabbe
European Journal of Neuroscience, Jun 1, 2008
The role of the conserved Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) family of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) i... more The role of the conserved Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) family of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) in the development and physiological functions of the CNS has long been an area of interest among neuroscientists. In this report, we observe that Drosophila mutants lacking Fak56 exhibit a decreased life span, accompanied by a bang-sensitive phenotype, which is characterised by sensitivity to mechanical and high-frequency electrical stimulation. Fak56 mutant animals display lower thresholds and higher rates of seizures in response to electroconvulsive stimuli, and direct measurements of action potential conduction in larval segmental nerves demonstrate a slowed propagation speed and failure during high-frequency nerve stimulation. In addition, neuromuscular junctions in Fak56 mutant animals display transmission blockade during high-frequency activity as a result of action potential failure. Endogenous Fak56 protein is abundant in glial cells ensheathing the axon bundles, and structural alterations of segmental nerve bundles can be observed in mutants. Manipulation of Fak56 function specifically in glial cells also disrupts action potential conduction and neurotransmission, suggesting a glial component in the Fak56 bang-sensitive phenotype. Furthermore, we show that increased intracellular calcium levels result in the dephosphorylation of endogenous Fak56 protein in Drosophila cell lines, in parallel with our observations of highly variable synaptic potentials at a higher Ca 2+ level in Fak56 mutant larvae. Together these findings suggest that modulation of Fak56 function is important for action potential propagation and Ca 2+regulated neuromuscular transmission in vivo.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Dec 29, 2015
Abstract Ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (Urm1) is a ubiquitin-like molecule (UBL) with the dual cap... more Abstract Ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (Urm1) is a ubiquitin-like molecule (UBL) with the dual capacity to act both as a sulphur carrier and posttranslational protein modifier. Here we characterize the Drosophila melanogaster homologues of Urm1 (CG33276) and its E1 activating enzyme Uba4 (CG13090), and show that they function together to induce protein urmylation in vivo. Urm1 conjugation to target proteins in general, and to the evolutionary conserved substrate Peroxiredoxin 5 (Prx5) specifically, is dependent on Uba4. A complete loss of Urm1 is lethal in flies, although a small number of adult zygotic Urm1n123 mutant escapers can be recovered. These escapers display a decreased general fitness and shortened lifespan, but in contrast to their S. cerevisiae counterparts, they are resistant to oxidative stress. Providing a molecular explanation, we demonstrate that cytoprotective JNK signaling is increased in Urm1 deficient animals. In agreement, molecular and genetic evidence suggest that elevated activity of the JNK downstream target genes Jafrac1 and gstD1 strongly contributes to the tolerance against oxidative stress displayed by Urm1n123 null mutants. In conclusion, Urm1 is a UBL that is involved in the regulation of JNK signaling and the response against oxidative stress in the fruit fly.
Retrovirology, Aug 28, 2015
suppresses MAPK activation in neuromuscular junction growth
In Drosophila melanogaster, development of the part of the peripheral nervous system that is dedi... more In Drosophila melanogaster, development of the part of the peripheral nervous system that is dedicated to orchestrate locomotion, relies on an intricate interplay between the motor neurons that ema ...
In order to build a multi-cellular organism and to regulate cellular functions, cells need to com... more In order to build a multi-cellular organism and to regulate cellular functions, cells need to communicate with each other, as well as tightly regulate their behaviour in response to environmental changes. For these purposes all eukaryotic cells express a large number of membrane spanning receptors that either themselves contain catalytic activity or via cytoplasmic effector enzymes, function to transmit “signals” from the cell exterior to induce appropriate responses within the cell. Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are important signalling molecules, represented by the transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in addition to the cytoplasmic non-receptor PTKs, which alter cell behaviour by phosphorylating target proteins. An additional requirement for proper signalling and multicellular organisation is the adhesion between cells as well as adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Adhesion between cells and the ECM is mainly mediated by the integrin family of cell surface receptors, which functions as a structural link between the ECM and the actin cytoskeleton as well as important centres for signalling. Mammalian studies have implicated the cytoplasmic Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), as a major transmitter of signalling emanating from integrins, regulating cell migration, survival, proliferation and differentiation. In our studies of the sole FAK family member in Drosophila, Fak56, we have concluded that the deletion of Fak56 from the fruit fly genome causes no obvious defects in integrin-mediated adhesion, migration or signalling in vivo. Consequently, in contrast to the embryonic lethality observed in mouse knockouts, Fak56 mutant flies are both viable and fertile. However, we do find a clear genetic interaction between Fak56 and Drosophila integrins. Additionally, overexpression studies indeed indicate Fak56 as a negative regulator of integrin adhesion, given that excess Fak56 protein phenocopies loss of integrin function, causing phenotypes such as muscle detachment and wing blistering. In Drosophila, as well as in mammals, FAK family proteins are highly abundant in the CNS and in our studies we have identified a requirement of Fak56 in synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions. Lack of Fak56 causes a weakening of action potential conduction, resulting in sensitivity to high-frequency mechanical and electrical stimulation, manifested by epileptic-like seizures and paralysis in Fak56 mutants, a phenotype known as Bang Sensitivity (BS) in flies. We also show that Fak56 phosphorylation is directly modulated in response to alterations in intracellular calcium levels, supporting a role for Fak56 in neurotransmission. Fak56 is directly activated by the Drosophila Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase, DAlk, receptor which was identified in our lab. We characterised DAlk as a novel RTK that is expressed in the embryonic CNS and mesoderm where it drives activation of the ERK/MAPK pathway. Indeed, we found DAlk to ectopically induce protein tyrosine phosphorylation and specifically phosphorylation of ERK, resulting in autonomous cell transformation and uncontrolled tissue growth. Subsequently, we identified a requirement for DAlk function during Drosophila embryogenesis, where it displays an essential role in gut development. Specifically, we identified the secreted molecule Jelly belly (Jeb) as a ligand for DAlk and showed that Jeb-DAlk interaction activates an ERK-mediated signalling pathway essential for visceral muscle specification and fusion, and consequently formation of the gut. The potent ability of PTKs to regulate cell behaviour, together with the strong linkage between RTK dysregulation and tumour formation, renders the negative regulation of kinase activity an important area of research. We have identified the Drosophila homologue of Cbl-interacting protein of 85kDa, dCIN85, an adaptor molecule which in mammalian cells has shown involvement in RTK endocytosis and downregulation, as well as in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics. In the fruit fly, dCIN85 displays essential functions, given that dCIN85 loss of function mutants display a grand-child less phenotype. Generation of a dCIN85 antibody, together with isoform-specific transgenic flies, have allowed us to observe a punctuate localization pattern of the SH3-domain containing dCIN85 variants, representing Rab5-positive endosomal structures. This, in addition to the confirmation of a direct dCIN85-dCbl interaction, indicates an evolutionary conservation of dCIN85 function. Interestingly, dCIN85 co-localises with dRICH1, a Cdc42 specific RhoGAP, in differentiated photoreceptor cells in eye imaginal discs. This may imply a role for dCIN85 in the regulation of the specialised endocytic recycling processes required for the assembly/maintenance of tight junctions and establishment of cell polarity in epithelial tissues.
Journal of Virology, 2015
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-induced adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma is an aggr... more Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-induced adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma is an aggressive malignancy. HTLV-2 is genetically related to HTLV-1 but does not cause any malignant disease. HTLV-1 Tax transactivator (Tax-1) contributes to leukemogenesis via NF-κB. We describe transgenicDrosophilamodels expressing Tax in the compound eye and plasmatocytes. We demonstrate that Tax-1 but not Tax-2 induces ommatidial perturbation and increased plasmatocyte proliferation and that the eye phenotype is dependent on Kenny (IKKγ/NEMO), thus validating this newin vivomodel.
PLoS ONE, 2010
C3G is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and modulator of small G-protein activity, whic... more C3G is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and modulator of small G-protein activity, which primarily acts on members of the Rap GTPase subfamily. Via promotion of the active GTP bound conformation of target GTPases, C3G has been implicated in the regulation of multiple cellular and developmental events including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The Drosophila C3G orthologue exhibits a domain organization similar to that of vertebrate C3G. Through deletion of the C3G locus, we have observed that loss of C3G causes semi-lethality, and that escaping adult flies are characterized by a reduction in lifespan and general fitness. In situ hybridization reveals C3G expression in the developing embryonic somatic and visceral muscles, and indeed analysis of C3G mutants suggests essential functions of C3G for normal body wall muscle development during larval stages. C3G mutants display abnormal muscle morphology and attachment, as well as failure to properly localize bPS integrins to muscle attachment sites. Moreover, we show that C3G stimulates guanine nucleotide exchange on Drosophila Rap GTPases in vitro. Taken together, we conclude that Drosophila C3G is a Rap1-specific GEF with important functions in maintaining muscle integrity during larval stages.
Neural Development, 2008
Background Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) functions in cell migration and signaling through activati... more Background Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) functions in cell migration and signaling through activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade. Neuronal function of FAK has been suggested to control axonal branching; however, the underlying mechanism in this process is not clear. Results We have generated mutants for the Drosophila FAK gene, Fak56. Null Fak56 mutants display overgrowth of larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Localization of phospho-FAK and rescue experiments suggest that Fak56 is required in presynapses to restrict NMJ growth. Genetic analyses imply that FAK mediates the signaling pathway of the integrin αPS3βν heterodimer and functions redundantly with Src. At NMJs, Fak56 downregulates ERK activity, as shown by diphospho-ERK accumulation in Fak56 mutants, and suppression of Fak56 mutant NMJ phenotypes by reducing ERK activity. Conclusion We conclude that Fak56 is required to restrict NMJ growth during NMJ development. Fak56 mediates an extra...
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2011
In the past decade, the diversity of signals generated by the ubiquitin system has emerged as a d... more In the past decade, the diversity of signals generated by the ubiquitin system has emerged as a dominant regulator of biological processes and propagation of information in the eukaryotic cell. A wealth of information has been gained about the crucial role of spatial and temporal regulation of ubiquitin species of different lengths and linkages in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, endocytic trafficking, protein degradation and DNA repair. This spatiotemporal regulation is achieved through sophisticated mechanisms of compartmentalization and sequential series of ubiquitylation events and signal decoding, which control diverse biological processes not only in the cell but also during the development of tissues and entire organisms.
Nature, 2011
SHARPIN is a ubiquitin-binding and ubiquitin-like domain-containing protein which, when mutated i... more SHARPIN is a ubiquitin-binding and ubiquitin-like domain-containing protein which, when mutated in mice, results in immune system disorders and multiorgan inflammation 1,2. Here we report that SHARPIN functions as a novel component of the Linear Ubiquitin Chain Assembly Complex (LUBAC) and that the absence of SHARPIN causes disregulation of NF-κB and apoptotic signalling pathways, explaining the severe phenotypes displayed by chronic proliferative
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Papers by Caroline Grabbe